Faults:
Gas tank was replaced due to recall.
Check engine light after approximately 150 miles after replacement.
Dealer said, "We had not put the gas cap on correctly." I explained to the dealer his mechanic had filled the tank last when they replaced the gas tank. Dealer fixed nothing. I called Toyota corporate customer service and asked them if they had trained the dealerships in installing the tanks. Got a warm fuzzy call from the dealership's clueless part-time warm fuzzy customer service gal.
Another fill-up with gas, and check engine light comes on again after about 150 miles. Take it back to dealer again. This time I get a loaner car and am told the car will be ready tomorrow. Tomorrow turned into three days, at which point they told me the parts were on backorder and I would not get it back for 21 days. I call Toyota corporate again, and get a "parts expediter" looking for parts. Called my lawyer as by our state laws if a vehicle is out of service for more than 20 days it's a lemon and the dealer gets to eat it. Three more days and they get it fixed Toyota corporate has opened one of the incomplete tank kits to give the dealer the parts needed. So, as you can imagine I have become extremely frustrated.
In addition to gas tank problem, the interior molding is falling apart, and the sliding door squeaks loudly while the car is in motion. Looking at the door it is obvious the pads and mounts do not line up, but dealer is unable to fix it.
The transmission is extremely slow to engage.
General Comments:
The product is not as good as expected.
I recommend that no one buy a new model Toyota. Instead wait three years and look for the recalls and complaints. Who would have thought it would fail safety testing? The lowly Kia van ranked well in safety. Do we know the dealer installed anything that it any safer than the original flawed design? This is my family in this vehicle and I don't like depending on a company which sold a defective product.
Luckily, we never sold our 1998 Nissan Maxima (95,000 miles) or our 1994 Nissan pickup (153,000 miles) which both have performed far better than we ever imagined. Minor maintenance only.
I only wish the Nissan Quest minivan were as large as the Toyota. I believe Nissan makes a better engine/transmission package, but the interior design team needs help.
16th Feb 2004, 21:00
I forgot to mention that the only thing I disliked was that the standard JBL Premium Sound System wish 6 Disc In-dash CD Changer was replaced with the same system except a single-disc feed. It was because the GPS Navigation took over the same space and the CD Player and Cassette player is hiding behind the navigation system. The navigation flips down to reveal it.