Previous owner before me, reported problems of overheating, low and dirty coolant, (coolant never appearing as a leak on the ground) at 96k miles to a supposed reputable Toyota Dealer in CT .... The mechanic filled fluid level and even one time changed the radiator cap, and the timing belt and water pump. The problem was reported again and the only thing mechanic's comment was "could not duplicate the problem". Unaware of these problems, I purchased the vehicle at 123k from this previous owner who never mentioned any of these problems -- except for a small oil leak. I started having these problems of overheating and low dirty coolant within a month or two of my purchase. Again another Toyota repair shop, never once mentioned a head gasket problem. Finally, another two months passes, still having low dirty coolant, and there is actually steam coming from the tailpipe. I searched, searched and searched for a mechanic that would not charge me hundreds of $ to diagnose the problem --- I got an answer that I did not like - yes blown head gaskets.
Now if I could find the problem on the website searching by the problems, how come those earlier Toyota dealers could not --- and if they suspected it, why was it not mentioned to the previous owner in writing on the repair receipt? Who dropped the ball here?? As Judge Judy would say ---"you should have had the vehicle inspected before you purchased it" --- well, I went against that rule because I trusted the person I purchased the vehicle from -- and, I had just lost my entire savings ($4,000) on repairs for a 1999 Toyota RAV4, with another $2,000 to go.
Please - anyone, someone tell me something that would make me put any trust whatsoever in Toyota. Would I even have
a case against Toyota if I filed a complaint against them?
Previous owner before me, reported problems of overheating, low and dirty coolant, (coolant never appearing as a leak on the ground) at 96k miles to a supposed reputable Toyota Dealer in CT .... The mechanic filled fluid level and even one time changed the radiator cap, and the timing belt and water pump. The problem was reported again and the only thing mechanic's comment was "could not duplicate the problem". Unaware of these problems, I purchased the vehicle at 123k from this previous owner who never mentioned any of these problems -- except for a small oil leak. I started having these problems of overheating and low dirty coolant within a month or two of my purchase. Again another Toyota repair shop, never once mentioned a head gasket problem. Finally, another two months passes, still having low dirty coolant, and there is actually steam coming from the tailpipe. I searched, searched and searched for a mechanic that would not charge me hundreds of $ to diagnose the problem --- I got an answer that I did not like - yes blown head gaskets.
Now if I could find the problem on the website searching by the problems, how come those earlier Toyota dealers could not --- and if they suspected it, why was it not mentioned to the previous owner in writing on the repair receipt? Who dropped the ball here?? As Judge Judy would say ---"you should have had the vehicle inspected before you purchased it" --- well, I went against that rule because I trusted the person I purchased the vehicle from -- and, I had just lost my entire savings ($4,000) on repairs for a 1999 Toyota RAV4, with another $2,000 to go.
Please - anyone, someone tell me something that would make me put any trust whatsoever in Toyota. Would I even have
a case against Toyota if I filed a complaint against them?
- Carol B., Colchester, CT, US