Toyota Spins Around, Approves GR86 Owner's Blown Engine Warranty Claim
A 2022 Toyota GR86 owner is apparently being punished for posting a photo of their car drifting at a testing and tuning event. The GR86 suffered an engine failure, allegedly due to oil starvation—a relatively common and known issue on this model—but the owner was rejected under the Toyota warranty after the photo of the car drifting turned up in the automaker's investigation. Evidently, Toyota initially rejected the warranty claim because of evidence the car was driven at an off-street event, which seems ridiculous considering the encouraging nature of the model's marketing materials.
The story comes from Blake Alvarado on Facebook posting to the SCCA Official Members group, whose GR86 suffered its engine failure after just 13,770 miles on the road and two oil changes. Alvarado says a post-failure engine teardown revealed grey sealant material in the oil pickup, an issue that is now being tracked in a spreadsheet by GR86.org, which currently lists five suspected instances of the issue causing engine failure, not including similar claims dating back all the way to 2013, as Alvarado says.
But, Toyota wouldn't know firsthand about the cause of Alvarado's engine failure, as he says the assigned field technician never checked the engine in determining his warranty claim. Here's what happened, according to the Facebook post: "Instead either he or someone at the dealer looked me up on social media. They showed me a photo of me taken at a local Test & Tune event (untimed, non-competition) in late March (I was testing different setups and playing around with tire pressures. This was the only time the car was driven in the way the photo shows). They also showed me an onboard video of me driving in someone else's white GR86 (mine is Black)."
Based on this "evidence," his warranty claim was denied and Alvarado was instead quoted an $11,000 repair estimate, or told he had to remove his car from the dealership. His attempt to negotiate with the dealer's service manager was denied, so Alvarado had the car towed to a Subaru specialty shop where he was quoted $7,000 for a low-mileage engine replacement.
The real kicker in this situation is Toyota's own marketing materials. As Alvarado points out, Toyota's marketing frequently mentions the GR86 being "track tested," and even let new owners sign up for a complimentary NASA track day as a promotion, which is used for the Toyota Supra, as well. MotorTrend reached out to Toyota, and a spokesperson provided the following response:
"Toyota takes its customer concerns seriously. We work hard to deliver a rewarding ownership experience, and we stand behind the quality of our products. A vehicle's warranty excludes damages from activities such as misuse, improper maintenance, or modifications. Toyota is currently looking into the case you referenced and will continue to work with the customer directly on this issue. As always, we encourage customers who experience any issues with their vehicle to contact their authorized Toyota dealer or call the Toyota Brand Engagement Center (1-800-331-4331) when a dealer is not able to resolve a matter."
Alvarado urges other enthusiasts to be wary about posting photos and videos of their warranty-covered cars out of extra precaution, as you never know how an automaker is going to respond to vehicles being driven in any manner other than daily duty.
But Wait, There's More!
Update, August 4, 2022: Speaking to The Drive, Alvarado has confirmed that Toyota's executive office reached out to him after all of the social media coverage of his blown engine and has ultimately decided to cover the issue under warranty. The Drive reports a Toyota representative said Alvarado and others should be able "to use the vehicle at future autocross and track day events without putting [the] warranty in jeopardy.
You may also like
Jeep is in the middle of one of its greatest product expansions, adding larger three-row models to the lineup, and there are more electrified vehicles to come. So, we sat down with Jeep brand chief Jim Morrison to see how the brand is doing.The rollout of the fifth-generation of the venerable Jeep Grand Cherokee started last year with the unusual step of launching with the new three-row 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. It marks the first time a product with the venerable Jeep Cherokee name comes with seven-passenger seating. The larger L is in full sales swing and doing what it was intended to do: keep loyal buyers from leaving the brand when they need a third row, while attracting new customers who could not find a Jeep that met their needs before, Morrison says.Jeep is in its second month of sales of the fifth-gen of the traditional five-passenger, two-row 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the SUV is turning quickly, within days on the lot.It is still early, but Morrison thinks the mix of two-row and three-row Grand Cherokees could end up being about half and half. The segment skews 70 percent three-row, but the smaller Grand Cherokee has a loyal following with more than 7 million on the road. It comes down to the customer's stage of life; how much do they need tow and how much room do they need. "I like the fact we have an option for them," Morrison says. The SUV is attracting buyers new to the Jeep brand, customers the automaker hopes to keep in subsequent purchases.2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Close to LaunchJeep is preparing to launch another new variant, the 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid, which will reach dealerships this spring. It follows the formula Jeep used for the Wrangler 4xe that has been well received. The Grand Cherokee 4xe, which gets 25 miles of all-electric range and 56 MPGe, has an even more sophisticated 4WD system than the Wrangler, with faster torque transfer.With its capability, Morrison thinks the take rate of the 4xe could be 30 percent or more of total Grand Cherokee sales. Press reports have highlighting the high price tag—it costs about $10,000 more for the 4xe than an equivalent model with the entry-level V-6. But Morrison says the figures need some context. Not only does the 4xe provide greater performance and tech, but the high residuals and government rebates for electrified vehicles could result in monthly leases or payments being less for the 4xe than the gas-powered model. Orders are strong so far, but the brand chief will not say how many there are.Is there more to come? Morrison won't say if there is a Grand Cherokee Trackhawk in the works. He points out that the 4xe provides superior performance to a V-8. And then there is the timing: performance versions traditionally come online a few model years after launch to keep the lineup fresh.What Gets 4xe Treatment Next?With plans to electrify all Jeeps by 2025, we want to know which model gets 4xe treatment next and when we will see it. "The engineers are working on a lot of Jeeps," is all the tight-lipped Morrison will say.It is not necessarily easier to add a plug-in hybrid to a new model like the Wagoneer family as opposed to an older model like the Jeep Gladiator pickup truck, he says. Jeep is working on dedicated platforms which will make the rollout the smoothest.Once again the automaker will use the annual Easter Jeep Safari event to showcase electrified Jeep concepts and gather customer feedback.Response to New Wagoneer FamilyMeanwhile, the new 2022 Jeep Wagoneer three-row SUV and the more upscale 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer play in white space for Jeep as full-size premium SUVs. The automaker is happy to have the storied nameplate back in the lineup. "We just like saying Grand Wagoneer again," Morrison says.When the Grand Wagoneer left the marketplace it had a reputation as the most luxurious and technically advanced and capable vehicle, Morrison says. "It's getting that reputation again with the best 4WD system and advanced safety and tech and capability. People buying them love them."The fullsize SUV segment runs about two-thirds mainstream models, one-third premium. So far, the Grand Wagoneer is selling above expectations, Morrison said. Some of it is early adopters but some of it is the strength of the nameplate.There is a bit of cross-shopping between the Grand Cherokee L and the Wagoneer but when customers see them in the showroom and see the difference in size and towing capacity, they are able to easily make the choice right for them.
Think back to the cabins of the land yachts that plied American highways from the 1970s and you will no doubt call to mind the phrase, "," made famous by the as he smiled at camera from somewhere in the vicinity of a mid-decade Chrysler Cordoba. However, a more comprehensive view of the market back then reveals an endless wave of a synthetic material every bit as warm and lush as Montalbán's dulcet tones—velour. For a stretch of 15 or so years, it was nearly impossible to order a Detroit-built barge that didn't feature floor-to-ceiling wannabe-velvet as its interior pièce de résistance.Velour's dominant turn at the tiller of automotive styling was in step with the fashion and design trends of the day, reflecting the deep-pile carpets, upscale throwback upholstery, and of course the full velvet suits dominating both nightlife and the gym as the world reveled in a new polyester paradise.At the same time, it presided over the last hurrah for what could be considered adult-oriented automotive advertising, the tail-end of TV and print campaigns that targeted a more mature audience—rather than pandering to the approaching swell of youthful yuppies that were poised to take over the consumer mainstream with their endless amounts of disposable income.Science Brings Luxury to the Masses Ads For Mom and Dad(dy)Out With the Softest of Whimpers
VW Bus Meets ID Buzz What Powers It?How Far Can This Bus Go on a Single Charge?Styling the BusWhat's InsideHow Much Is a VW ID Buzz and When Can I Buy One? 2024 Volkswagen ID Buzz (Standard-Wheelbase) Specifications BASE PRICE $45,000-$60,000 (est) LAYOUT Rear-motor, RWD, 2-6-pass, 3-4-door van MOTOR 201-hp/229-lb-ft permanent-magnet-type electric TRANSMISSION 1-speed auto CURB WEIGHT 5,300 lb (MT est) WHEELBASE 117.6 in L x W x H 185.5 x 78.1 x 76.3 in 0-60 MPH 8.5 sec (MT est) EPA FUEL ECON Not yet rated EPA RANGE (COMB) 270 miles (MT est) ON SALE Fall, 2024 Show All
0 Comments