Initial 6 Month Toyota Care Experience

Purchased a 2024 Prius Prime XSE Premium at end of February 2024. Sticker on windshield and email reminder stated inspection due in July. Now that’s 5 months not 6 months after delivery date. First omen ? The last Toyota I bought was in 1985 - the van they came out. Not a great effort in my opinion coupled with the 1983 Toyota diesel pickup I had purchased. Became a Honda fan boy subsequently.

I had a dead aux battery event a few weeks prior to my visit. Based on my research, I determined that my issue was probably related to the TSB regarding the potential for aux battery depletion if charging cable left plugged in for extended time. I printed out the TSB and a detailed report of my experience and basic investigation. That said, I had to authorize a diagnostic fee for this in case it was determined to be owner issue.

1. Their diagnose of the dead aux battery was basically unable to duplicate. Car starts good and battery tests good.
2. When I got home, opened up the battery access cover and found the red protective cap for positive terminal was loose and not properly secured.
3. On initial arrival, they advised of open recall for rear door locks and would I like that done on this visit. Affirmative I stated. When car was ready for pickup, I asked SA if recall was done. He stated affirmative. When I got home, the RO states for the recall PARTS ON ORDER.
4. I get the second key FOB. When I got home, I noted no mechanical key was with FOB. I called the service department and they advised it was included with initial delivery package. I found it. Would have been appreciated if the SA told me that since it was more than 6 months I took delivery and had never experienced not getting 2 key sets on any new car purchase.
5. They did rotate the tires. I marked a valve cap to check up on them. I always do a retorque on the lug nuts after wheel install at about 100 miles or so. On each wheel, there were 2-3 lug nuts that turned about @1/4 turn at the 76 ft/lbs torque. Interesting that the anti-theft lug nuts did not rotate. I wonder if they used torque sticks for the non anti-theft lug nuts. I had the wheels off early after delivery to install mud guards. On checking of torque post install, experienced no loss of torque.

They are friendly people at the service department. I have always done my own servicing. Honestly, even though the oil change at 12 months included with Toyota Care, I don’t feel comfortable with them doing it. I did an oil change at 2055 miles. It’s very easy oil filter/change on car ramps. Cost was $35. Bought the Toyota oil, filter and plug gasket online from Toyota dealer in Oregon. Toyota has an online parts and accessories site that discounts the items and allows you to choose the dealer that is part of the program. Free delivery if over a dollar amount. My local dealer is not part of this online ordering. Prices are not honored at the dealer parts counter - only online website orders.

Cheers

 

One additional item I forgot to list regarding initial visit. Future attention needed but not this visit from the multipoint inspection:

cabin air filter est cost $216.31

engine air filter est cost 216.31

Crazy, eh ?

Cheers

 

Dealer service entries show up in the Toyota online account under service records. You can manually enter service done by yourself or an outside vendor. That said, I still keep a spreadsheet with date, mileage and what was done along with receipts for documentation.

 

you create an account

Toyota Owners Registration

 

I turned 76 this year and still do my own routine maintenance. Stopped doing tire rotations on my truck. Let Discount Tire do them now. Those truck tires are heavy. DT has always done a great job for me plus that’s where I buy my replacement tires.

I have used the online / app to keep track of both dealer and self maintenance performed on Ford, Mazda and Subaru vehicles I have owned with no issues. That said, my experience with the Toyota online account was not that great. It showed the oil change I did in June but the date was not showing correctly. I tried calling Toyota support but never got a call back. The following day, the online service records area worked OK and I was able to fix the June entry. But I have my spreadsheet that includes dealer and owner entries. Plus receipts for oil, filters purchased from a Toyota dealer online. For now, I will make entries in both.