It seems like Toyota's warranty program is not in sync with their marketing strategy.

Clearly the xB is marketed and promoted as a car that can and should be "modified". If you read articles in magazines with Toyota marketing executives they repeatedly state that this car is specifically designed for the younger driver who will want to make the xB an unique and individual expression of their driving needs and aesthetic tastes. To then say that doing so will pretty much make the warranty void is absurd!

I went into my dealership last week and when my sales person saw my aftermarket rims (which are 15" BTW) he gave me the wink and nod and said "I hope you have your stock wheels because if you have any suspension problems your warranty is voided". The whole time I'm looking at the six xB's they have on display out front with 17's and 18's and low profile tires. I asked if they would be under warranty and was told "yes". As if some guy at the dealership can put on a wheel any better then the average bozo. I'm no lawyer, but this seems to violate about a zillion anti-trust laws.

For Toyota to market the box as a highly customizable car, have the dealers sell these aftermarket options and then say that this is the only way not to void the warranty is not acceptable and probably not legal. I just took a second to flip through two issues of the Scion brochure (a.k.a Scion magazine) and the brochure for the car (the PRIMARY MARKETING MATERIALS) is laden with pictures of the xB with all sorts of non-Toyota parts. In fact, there are advertisements from Blitz, Enkei and GReddy to name a few. The ONLY full on pictures of the xB are the SEMA cars that are totally tricked out. I realize that under each picture in small text is: "Vehicles shown are SEMA show cars, modified with non-Genuine Scion parts and accessories. Modifications using non-Genuine parts or accessories may void Scion Warrenty.....bla, bla, bla", but the dealers are selling these very parts. Scion is making the use of these parts the centerpiece of their marketing campaign and are letting these aftermarket part manufacturers advertise in the vehicle brochure.

I wonder how this would all play out in court. The Scion brand is doing very well and most owners are modding at least a little. Toyota knows that any individual, unless they have a lot of money and time on their hands is probably not going to mount a civil warranty case against them. However, if the dealers don't become more forgiving with warranty work, some ambulance chasing law firm could make a bundle on a Scion warranty class action. The Scion brand is a unique one and due to their marketing strategy might make this possible. Almost certain not to happen, but perhaps worth some letters to Toyota USA. Perhaps they will put pressure on their dealers to be more liberal with warranty work. Additionally, a few high profile write-ups in reputable car magazines about the inconsistencies between Toyota’s marketing and warranty policies, might make them change their attitude (at least a little).

 

It does seem contradictory. But don't forget, you're basing this on the statement of a SALESMAN. Some are not as informed as others...

 

you would still be under warranty. everything up to 18" would still be covered. if you go to 19" and have a problem, it wouldn't be under warranty. even the trd 19" wheels would cause problems with warranty work. my rep told me not to even sell them.

 

The problem is that Toyota has no control over the mods that owners make. There are accessories that definitely increase the stress on the vehicle, and it is rather unfair to expect Toyota to cover the cost of all owner experimentation for the warranty period.

The warranty service is part of the cost of the car, and as a buyer I'd rather not be forced to finance someone else's experimentation.

As far as accessorized cars on display and in brochures, if a Ford dealer had a NASCAR Taurus on display. Should they have to provide warranty service for it?

 

And you didn't let him have it? So, you didn't get into his face and say are you seriously gonna say that to me after seeing those other scions with rims. You should find out who his supervisor is and tell them about his un needed remarks. :?

 

Moss-magnussson act

 

A turbo definitely puts stress on a car

 

Also, I would point out that he is condoning warranty fraud and even insinuating they might be preparing for some of their own, if one of their modified cars has a problem...

 

it seems a little bit odd from toyota... their cars are usually the best in quality ant they usually have the best ( or near the best) warrenty's there are

 

the scion is marketed as a car that should be modified. as long as you use THERE over price crappy mods. the thing is if say you put aftermarket wheels on your car and your suspension goes to crap then its up the toyota to pinpoint your wheels (or anyother mod you put on) as the problem which would be very hard for them to do. or if something does go wrong just swap you mod with the stock and start blaming the stock part

 

I think that you meant to yell "THEIR".

 

rofl!

 

2 things here ...and not tryong to ruffle feathers..lol

1. Ford prolly wouldnt be SELLING that Taurus Nascar ..how ever if i went to a scion dealer with 23 thou in cash , and said i was interested in the scion with the ps2, 19inch spinners, and 3 tvs, an amp..blah blah...then they would sell me it ...and provide warranty work on it..

ALSO need thoughts on this


2. I was informed recently by another scion dealer , that some mods by scion dealers are ONLY warrantied by the installing dealer , due to it is not a genuine scion part...*example.... my wife called another dealer here in florida, and had a question on the alarm installe dat our dealer (audioxvox prestige 2 way w remote start) ...as it had started chirping more times than it had the previous day when setting it... the guy at the "other" scion dealer said he could not help us cause another dealer installed it and it was not a genuine scion part...that only the dealer who installed this alarm could warranty this...

now my question..is this TRUE? or just a load of BS?

 

If a dealer has a vendor install an aftermarket part, such as alarms, wheels, springs or the such the vendor would be responsible for warranty repairs on those parts. Your dealer should have had you sign an aftermarket agreement stating such and if they did not would be held liable for any repair work. That being said another dealer who does not use the same vendor would not know where to send the vehicle for repairs and would HAVE to send you back to your original dealership to remedy the problem.

Hope this helps. :D

 

Any equipment that does not have Toyota's or Scion's name on, it not going to be covered by warranty, even if a Toyota dealership installed it.

This creates an interesting situation in FL and the South. South East Toyota (SET) is not owned by Toyota and installs a number of aftermarket parts on the cars at the port. They arrive at the dealer with non-factory stuff and even print it on the window sticker. That stuff is NOT covered by Toyota's warranty. They are warranted through SET, but if you move from the region, that can make things difficult.

 

Well what if (I hate to start a sentence with "what if") I were to buy some discounted items with the TRD name from ebay? Then I were to install them myself, or better yet have the dealer install them. Say there was a problem with the suspension on these hypethetical items of purchase...Then what would they do?

I only ask this because I'm planning on buying items for my box from ebay at a steep discount.

 

I wouldn't worry about your suspension at all. They just don't have too many problems with them. And never listen to a salesman, they are just too low on the food chain to know about the warranty coverage of your car . Warranty work is performed through the service department and they get paid to do warranty work and are not going to turn away work if it can possibly be covered.~~~~~~~~~~~~scott

 

Ordered my box with 15" steelies and hubcaps.

When it finall came in, I showed up at the dealer with a set of 16" rims/tires in the bed of the truck.

They bolted the (non-scion) rims onto the car (even balanced the rim/tires) for me while I signed the paperwork, for free.

800+ miles later, I get a slight left pull. They rotate, re-balance and re-align my car, with it's aftermarket rims. All under warrenty.

Moral of the story? Make sure you get a good dealer, one who understands what "customer service" is. :D

 

This is the moral of this topic. If you have a cool dealership/service dept. then light aftermarket mods shouldnt be a problem. By light i mean wheels, strut bars, tials, possibly even suspension. NOT, turbos, superchargers, engine swaps, brakes, stuff like that. IT IS TOTALLY UP TO THE DEALERSHIP YOU USE. Ask questions, and see if your local dealer makes you comfortable.