"I Bought A Toyota Tundra Limited With The TRD Package And Love It, But The Dealer Is Trying To Scam Me For A Minor Issue That Falls Under Warranty, And Charges Me $125 To Have It Inspected"

Toyota owners are one of the largest automotive communities, and there is no shortage of topics there. This is especially true with the brand's recent mishaps and what seems to be quality control issues. While the Tundra is one of the most popular full-size pickup trucks money can buy, the current generation is plagued by various issues. While not all Toyota Tundra owners experience engine issues there are other irritations with this Japanese full-size pickup truck. 

I learned about the latest case from the Toyota Nation forum where a member complained about a dealership that attempted to charge money for what seems to be an issue that falls under warranty. Here's what this Tundra owner is saying: 

Beltzbill says: “I recently purchased a new Tundra Limited with the TRD package, during the test drive there was a issue with the back seat bottom cushion tab, I was in a rush a few days later when I picked up the truck and did not check to see if it had been resolved when going thru the delivery inspection. About two weeks later when I picked up my new tags I stopped at the Service Department, and they said I would have to make an appointment for anyone to look at the issue which I did.  

The earliest available was about two weeks later, when I arrived for the appointment the service writer informed me that I would have to authorize a $125.00 inspection fee before they would look at it, I asked why, and their response was their service techs have to be paid, to say the least I was very upset and proceeded to the Sales Manager since the Service Manager wasn't available and all he said was it was Toyota's Policy and refused to do anything.  

I requested to speak to the General Manager and was given the same response; both the sales manager and the General manger were both very rude. It is hard to accept you now have to pay for what isa  warranty issue up front and hope the dealer decides to give your money back.” 

There is no shortage of dealerships that are attempting unethical practices so they can charge you extra money. The Tundra is not the only Toyota model plagued by issues. One Toyota Tacoma owner complained that his brand-new truck doesn't start after only seven months of ownership, and the dealer seems to be clueless so far.

Situations like this make it look like dealing with any sort of issue seems to be a novelty for many Toyota dealerships, as they either refuse to deal with them or are trying to get you off their back by charging for repairs that the bumper-to-bumper warranty should cover.  

While I am not suggesting this is true for all dealerships, Toyota owners have a lot to say on the subject. 

CamPoo says: “That is why they are often referred to as Stealerships - I only use them for warranty work and OEM parts. I have waited for cars at different brands and the Toyota ones seem to be the worst scoundrels taking especially advantage of Women - I hear them tell them all kinds of lies to get them to commit to more services. 
 
Like these guys do not have a Mother, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Grandmother to relate to - unbelievable what they try to get away with and they continue with you on what should be a pure and simple new purchase warranty - WOW.” 

The most logical thing to do is to go to another dealership, like some other forum members suggest. My personal experience has shown that while there is no guarantee the next dealership will be better, complaining from the previous dealership might prompt their competitor to take your issue seriously, thus gaining a potential client in the future."

Last year, Akio Toyoda assured that the company would not compromise on quality following a 2023-2024 Toyota Prius recall. Judging from all the complaints owners have, this doesn't seem to be the case just yet, which is why many owners opt for or continue to drive their older Toyotas (please, Toyoda san, do something. We love your cars). The Toyota Tundra is still popular, and owners love modifying them, but in light of all the issues, there is a particularly strong case to be made for the previous generation of Toyota's full-size truck. 

If you have had any experience dealing with unethical dealerships that are trying to scam you or have encountered any issues with your Toyota, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.

Image source: 2025 Toyota Tundra