Ok, so I bring my car in for service to my local dealership where I bought the car - Toyota/Scion Of Westport in Westport, CT.
I brought it in to have the security system made more sensitive after reading about a horror story here on the forum. As some of us know, that means that they had to remove the glove box to do so. When I pick up the car, I find 6 dents on the side panel just above the passenger door, the radio is turned on and blasting (after I closed the door to the radio and turned it off), and the glove box is literally hanging down. So of course, I FREAK!!

This morning, I went to the dealership and the people SEEMED nice enough. They flat out said that they didn't think that they did it, but they will fix it non-the-less. 8 hours later, they call me and say that it's going to cost more than they thought and that they want me to pay half. Paying half of the procedure to put pins in and then repair it ($300 would be my half). Of course I said no and I am now taking them to small claims court and I am going to have them pay to replace the whole side panel!

Lastly, they lie. They said that when I dropped the car off, the mechanic saw the dents and wrote it down. Today, the guy changed his story and said that they scion service manager actually went out and look at it (yea, like that would ever happen). I told him flat out, b/c he didn't know, that I was standing there the whole time watching the mechanic walk over to get my car (didn't look at it) and drove it into the garage where the door then shut. They didn't know that I was there still, so the scion manager felt tight, but still is not willing to fix it. So I just called scion corporate and we'll see what they'll do, and it looks like I'm going to court and I'll get more out of it that way anyway!

Moral: Don't buy a car from Toyota/Scion of Westport in CT and I would suggest going over the car with one of the service guys before you give it to them so this doesn't happen to any of you. Better yet, don't EVER bring it to the dealer!!!!

P.S. Sorry guys, had to vent!

 

Addition: I washed and waxed it the night b4 and it then went into the garage until it went to the dealer...I think I wouldve notice it and I don't think that I got 6 little dents on practically the roof of my car on the way there!

BTW they also charge a $500 conveyance fee to buy the car from them Just another reason to say f*** you!!

 

Sounds like you are getting hosed. Call this number: 1-866-707-2466. If the dealer gives a rat about their CSI scores then you will get action. If they don't care, then small claims might be your best friend.

 

Yep, already got off the phone with scion corporate and told them the deal...they have been useful in the past, so I am hoping. They are going to have a specialist give me a call tomorrow to talk, but they said that they are going to fight with me side by side against the dealership! Nice to know we have a friend when we need it! Thanks for the help dude, and yea, I'm hoping small claims is gonna help me out, b/c at that point I am making them replace the whole side panel - a few grand right there!

 

wow, that's unfortunate. i'm always wary about taking my car into the dealership because of these horror stories.

 

Did you pick the car off after the dealership closed?

I guess I'm wondering why you didnt discuss your issue with them when picking the car up.

Sorry to hear about it. I keep my car nice and would expect the dealer to at the least not damage it.

I usually try to wait with the car and make sure they are open when I pick it up. I also document the miles on the car when I drop it off to make sure they don't go on extended test drives.

Good luck getting things resolved. Let us know how it goes.

Paul G.

 

I documented the miles as always, but that was ok. There was the problem of the radio and the glove box as I mentioned.

I picked up the car at 8:00PM but the service dept is open until midnight mon-fri (I know, thats crazy). I told them I was annoyed about the glove box and radio when I picked it up, but I was able to fix the glove myself and the fact that I was annoyed - the service manager already had left for the day, so I was gonna speak to him the next day. Since it was dark when I picked it up, I didn't see it until I pulled into my garage at home and walked around it - this is when my jaw dropped.

I'm with you, I'd expect them not to damage it...these are supposed to be the ppl that you pay extra so they won't damage it.

Thanks for the help - I'll keep you all updated, but I'm sure it'll be a while until something happens with the court unless they decide to do something for me tomorrow morning when I tell them that we are going to court.

 

Update: After writing a letter to the general manager of the place before filing to court papers, I get a call that he wants to meet. He immediately said that he will fix it and then called the other 2 guys in that said "no" and read them my letter aloud. I guess thats a strike against them. So they're paying it b/c they know they'd lose it court.

 

I guess the moral of the story is to do a full inspection on your car before even leaving. I too had an issue with a dealership after my window motor had been replaced, there was a dent coming from the inside outward, but I dont reall care much about it because it has to been seen in the right light to be noticed.