Pulled out from where I was parked at work the other day, hit a dip in the road, and I heard a *BLAM!* sound like something hit the car.

So of course I parked again, walked around the car, didn't see anything wrong.

I got home, tried to open the hatch to get my gear out... Wow, that thing is HEAVY with nothing supporting it. I know it's the passenger side, because the strut was leaking fluid pretty badly.

Called Power Toyota of Irvine, and I'm kind of irked they refuse to order the part before I bring the car in, without me paying for it first, when it's obviously a warranty repair, and I pay them $30.00 bucks a month for the extended warranty.

Anyway. Just thought I'd whine about it here.

 

that sucks man.. i've noticed since i had my tC that the rear hatch struts seem really weak, and make funny groaning noises- they'll probably be the next to blow.

my driver's side sun visor broke (it wouldn't fold up) and my dealer did the same crap to me.. they were like "no we won't order the part first. you have to bring your car in (took a week to get an appointment) and we have to inspect it first to make sure its covered by warranty.. then, if we deem it is, we'll order the part." it was a complete waste of my time, but then again, my dealer's always sucked.

 

replaced a few rear hatch struts on tC's
i dont know where they got that they were gonig to charge you for them, but
take it so they can at least order the parts, because we do no usually stock them

 

Did you have your hatch open for a long period of time?
My rear hatch blew out 4 months after I got it. I called the dealer just like you did,
they want me to go in for an inspection, then they will order the hatch struts
it took them over a month and had to place a "critical" order to get them. It should be much better now as far as ordering goes. I end up calling SCION complaining about it they gave me a $300 coupon to buy Scion products from Dealer. No more problem anymore after strut replacement.

 

What bothers me about this is that I pay the dealership an additional $30.00 each month for an extended warranty to cover things like this, no questions asked. Even the factory warranty would cover this.

I just think it's garbage that I have to take the car in, let them do the oil change, then come back three days later so they can fix my trunk.

It's not like I cut it off with a bolt cutter. The dealership should at least have the decency to order the part before I have to drive all the way down there and take more time out of my day because something on my car broke.

 

First of all, what is this $30 extended warranty going to do for you?? The rear hatch
strut is covered under the 36 months bumper to bumper warranty.

2nd, the reason why your dealer's service department asked you to go back twice
is almost 100% sure that they have a small service department that don't
stock up a lot of parts like that, that is why you have to go in initilally for inspection
then for repair. I asked the servie manager the exact same question when this happened to me. Call scion later to complain, you probably will get something out from them.

 

I don't think its hydraulic, its gas. Hydraulic fluid will not compress so I think its gas. Correct me if I am wrong I just thought it over.

Man I hope this never happens to me!

 

is it a stock size? i replaced one in my jeep that went for maybe $10, and was a REAL simple DIY. check out an auto parts store.

 

I heard they only regularly stock parts only if its needed more than 3 times a year. Is this true?

 

wow, that sucks. i hope my dealership isn't a pain on warranty things.

 

they dont stock parts that aren't used that much, its a complete waste of space and money.

 

Yes... it's gas.. or, air... Pneumatic.