Fatally Disappointed--The Thread I never wanted to write.

View attachment 58014 View attachment 58015 View attachment 58016 Thanks everyone that responded.

I'll just try to blanket answer some questions.

No Pictures? Because Toyota's response just happened yesterday, and I wrote the post at about 1o am, and I was venting. Really didn't feel like posting pictures. I can and will.- There isn't too much to see, they are just rust colored spots that appear to be under the clear coat.

Also, I agree that it is quite possible this material IS something that somehow fell on my vehicle. Even if I don't have any idea how it would of happened.

When I approached this process, I wanted to try to see if Toyota would cover it under warranty, I wanted it documented, in case it was rust coming from underneath ( I think it isn't...but nobody IMO is really sure ).

I should be clear, that I understand and accept that "Bad Things Can Happen To New Cars". And maybe that is the case here. My disappointment in Toyota isn't really based on the ultimate denial of this being a warranty issue, it's the fact that they started the process, doing things under warranty...and then changed the definition. I personally think there is enough gray area here- where if I was Toyota I'd side with the customer. I certainly feel that if you start a process of remedy, as a company you've accepted responsibility and should continue to resolution and remedy. It's the "second" inspection, without me present, and the redefinition of the problem and withdrawal of support that has lead me to disappointment. But I accept that these spots actually may be some type of incredibly evil industrial fall out, and of course their attachment and evil penetration of the Toyota clear coat isn't Toyota's fault. But the bottom line to me, is I believe no diagnosis given so far is 100%, and starting the process of remedy, I believe should signify taking responsibility for complete remedy. Redefinition mid-stream, was a "sleazy" way of Toyota getting out of warranty coverage.

I suppose I would say I'm also incredibly disappointed in Toyota Clear Coat. Like I said, especially with a new car, I'm very, very active in keeping it clean, and this pass summer I was enjoying cleaning it almost every weekend. So I know that whatever landed on it, wasn't on it for more than a week. I've never had a vehicle that had something like this happen to it. Whatever the substance is? The Clear Coat failed miserably at repelling it. I waxed the car about 2-3 weeks after I initially got it, then I was washing it by hand almost every week, I think I let it go 2 weeks once or twice, but NOT the week I first discovered the spots. I've been using, as I have used for years Meguiars Gold Class Car Wash. So anyway, as an Owner, I think my actions were above the norm for finish maintenance.

As far as why would Toyota think an acid wash would remove something "beneath" the clear coat? Well on the day of the initial inspection I was told that the acid wash actually "lifted" contaminates out of the clear coat. I was dubious of the definition, but when you are trying to go step by step and get support and warranty coverage, you are forced to accept the definitions of Toyota. They wanted to do it, They recommended it. Since I THOUGHT they had accepted responsibility and were going to help me all the way to resolution, I let them do it, thinking the worst case scenario would be failure, probably followed by repainting or replacement. I didn't think the reality would be failure of the acid wash...then Toyota backing out of any support.

Whether you agree with me or not, I'd like to thank everyone that responded. Yes...it's only a car. I'm disappointed in Toyota. But I'll continue to make decisions and one way or another, I'll reach resolution.

I am sorry, I know that when ever anyone post's a "problem" people want pictures. I'm really old school as far as technology. I thought "Blue Tooth" was a dental condition. I'll try to attach a picture or two.

Ignore the links above....technology FAIL on my behalf.

 

Once again, I was never really NOT willing to accept that this wasn't some type of fall out. But the definition of what it is, IMO has never been firmly established, since it has been changed as the remedy process unfolded and then was halted.
It's not the ultimate definition reached that bothers me, as much as the proclamation that I would be helped to resolution, the starting of a remedy process and THEN the redefinition and withdrawal of support.

Which would be better? I don't know if I want to get my Auto Insurance involved. Wouldn't that raise my rates? I've never had to have a complete car repainted, and I'd want a quality job. What type of cost are we looking at?

And if anyone knows of a great, great auto painter.....unfortunately I may need one.

LOL!

You know the ironic thing, is I've always favored darker colored vehicles. My last one was black. It was a departure for me to choose Sea Glass Pearl, and a big part of my decision was the idea that it would be easier to maintain, and NOT show defects or swirls and dirt as easy.

But it turns out this is the ONLY vehicle I've ever had any problem with. Next time maybe I'll just go with "Rail Dust Rust Pearl"...and call it even.

About 2-3 weeks after I purchased it, I applied Turtle Wax ICE wax to it. It looked great at the time.

 

That's fine, and believe it or not I agree.
But my argument is that at every step I asked if this was being covered "under warranty" and that was the term being used. It wasn't until after the failure of the acid wash that suddenly it wasn't warrantable and everything was a "good faith" effort.

Even if we weren't talking about me, my basic feeling is if you are dealing with anything, on a very, very new car, and there is a gray area of definition, my perhaps idealist and naïve belief or hope would be that Toyota would back the customer.

Over the years I've read posts where people had ripping or tearing of seats, and Toyota could of denied warranty coverage citing environmental damage or just customer inflicted damage but they sided with the customer.

So when the initial remedy process was started, I believed that was a process that would lead to resolution...not abandonment.

It appears I was regrettably wrong.

I hope you are right, I'll let you know if you are.

I'm NOT going to immediately drive it to an Auto Painter and have it repainted. I will try a auto detailer first.

My only apprehension is that evidently 3 acid washes did NOT remove the spots.

Whatever this stuff is? It's E.V.I.L......

 

Well since my original post was about as long as "War and Peace" I left this out. But during the entire waiting process I did take the vehicle to 3 detailers recommended on Angies List. Just to get their opinion and have some knowledge. 2 0f the 3, had no idea what it was....and actually seemed fearful of doing anything.

One thought it was rail dust, and said he thought he could remove it. But he warned me, that he might have to go so deep into the clear coat that I might have problems with the paint in the future.

At the time I was doing everything step by step through Toyota, so this was just an opinion and information exercise. The 3rd detailer seemed pretty sharp to me. He at least had an idea and opinion. I think I may try him. He was rated high on Angies List. Ultimately if you don't know someone in the business you're always hoping you are getting someone competent. This guy hit me as being the most professional and competent.