Warranty Concerns

[ticktockmac]

Before I purchased by Prius I was most impressed by favourable comments here about Toyota's sense of fair play when it comes to interpreting their warranty. Just 2,200 miles after buying an 07 Prius, I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth the paper it's written on. I'd love to know if others here think I'm being unreasonable in my expectations. Just before Christmas I found a screw in one tyre and managed to get to the nearest Toyota dealer (which was not the one I bought the car from). He checked out the tyre and said that as the screw hadn't penetrated the tyre casing, it was okay to use it - and the good news is that he made no charge. A few days later that dealer sent me a cash sales invoice confirming that no payment was due. This document included a Visual Safety Report that was carried out free of charge. This said "ADVISE: Front tyres 94% worn and rear tyres 78% worn. Advise replacement of all tyres - £120.49 each".

The used car page of Toyota's website describes the company's Used Car Programme as follows: "All major components of your vehicle are included in the 12 month Toyota Warranty." Am I being naive in thinking that tyres are major components? I appreciate that it is unreasonable to expect tyres to be included on cars that hsve done high mileages, but on a car that has done much less than 2,500 miles since it was bought seconhdhand at 17,000 miles, I think they should still be quite serviceable. Am I wrong? Was it reasonable for a dealer to sell me car without pointing out that two of the tyres were very badly worn and would need replacement very soon? I did not expect to find that after driving just 2,200 miles in a car that had only done 17,050 miles and was covered by Toyota's Used Car Programme, that I would then be warned 2,200 miles later that two of the tyres were 94% worn and the others 78% worn. The Toyota dealer who sold me the car has now checked his records and admits that one of the front tyres should have been replaced before delivery, but not the other. He is now offering to change one of them - but I believe it is common practice to recommend against changing only one tyre on the same axle. It's strange that when he checked the car before delivery, wear on the front tyres was not equal and he says that he should have replaced just one of them, and yet 2,200 miles later a different dealer reports that both tyres have identical wear with inner, middle and outer tread depths of 2, 4 and 2mm - just 0.4mm above the legal minimum on the edges.

Some time ago I posted a comment here that my speedo was inaccurate by up to 10%, according to my satnav. I wonder if the high reading was caused by the very worn from front tyres? Perhaps new ones will rectify the speedo problem - whoever pays for them. (I'm aware of the need for recalibration when tyres are changed.)

I don't want to give the wrong impression: I'm still delighted with the Prius and the novelty still hasn't worn off, but I'm astonished by the rate of tyre wear and disappointed, to say the very least, by the treatment I have received under Toyota's Used Car Warranty programme. Toyota's explanation is that each dealership is operated as a franchise and Toyota has no control over any franchise holder's interpretation of the warranty. I'll report back if the dealer's offer is improved.

Perhaps the moral of this story is that if you're buying a used Toyota, check the tyres very carefully and haggle for them to be replaced if there is much sign of wear.

[Phoenix999]

Perhaps the moral of this story is that if you're buying a used Toyota, check the tyres very carefully and haggle for them to be replaced if there is much sign of wear.

Totally correct Not just for a Toyota but for any car ;)

Tyres and brake pads are a normal wear and tear items and will not be covered by any warranty whether a main dealer one or one purchased from an insurance company

As for the speedo.... a 10% 'over read' is quite normal when compared to a sat nav read-out

[benw123]

I think you might still get both replaced if you push the dealer a bit harder. I agree they should have done better, but dealers are always either looking to save or make money.

For instance, when my Audi A3 Sportback went in for a service, I asked for a couple of things to be looked at (the xenon headlight levelling and a missing clip which supports the cord in the parcel shelf). They couldn't attend to either of these, claiming there wasn't time and that the car would have to be booked in separately, but the service advisor and the mechanic still came back to me in the waiting area to ask me if I wanted to replace all four tyres, at a cost of £720. They were nowhere near illegal either, still lots of life left, so I was left wondering why my original requests couldn't be looked at.

[cabcurtains]

Perhaps the moral of this story is that if you're buying a used Toyota, check the tyres very carefully and haggle for them to be replaced if there is much sign of wear.

Totally correct Not just for a Toyota but for any car ;)

Tyres and brake pads are a normal wear and tear items and will not be covered by any warranty whether a main dealer one or one purchased from an insurance company

As for the speedo.... a 10% 'over read' is quite normal when compared to a sat nav read-out

I totally agree with Steve on this, and i would add changing the tyres won't change the speedo read out.

Get the tyre replaced free of charge and ask for the other one to be fitted at cost price if they won't do it for free and call it a lesson learned.