I'm hoping some of you might be able to advise me as to where I can go from here
with an issue I'm having with Toyota?
I purchased a brand new 2018 model Hilux SR5 last year in April.
And as many of us do, I got the factory tow bar, tub liner, and tonneau cover fitted to it by the
dealer prior to delivery.
All was good with the vehicle until one day in October last year.
After washing the vehicle, I was standing just back from the right hand rear taillight having a quiet
beer when suddenly I as I looked straight along the side of the top section of the tub, I noticed a couple
of small dents. I checked the left side of the tub by looking along it, and it also in one dent in that side.
The dents were pushing outward slightly from the inside of the tub.
So I removed the tonnaeu cover to have a look at how these dents have appeared there.
Straight away I could see that where the rivets are that go through the folded over section of the tub to
hold the tub liner in place, the dents were directly in line with those rivets.
Obviously the person that had fitted the tub liner had been pushing that hard on the drill when he was doing the holes, that as he went through with the drill he was hitting the outer section of the tub causing the small dents to protrude outwards.
I have contacted the dealer a few times regarding the matter, they have inspected my vehicle, and they are not disputing what has happened which is one positive.
The negative is, they are offering to get their scratch and dent men in to fix it for me.
I said to them, I purchased a brand new vehicle that was not supposed to come with dents, so I would
like it fixed in a brand new manner in the form of a new white tub fitted, as I didn't want my new vehicle to have panel work done on it, no matter how minor it was.
I have seen these sorts of stress type dents patched up before on vehicles, only to have them crack up with crows feet in the paint a few years down the track.
After the dealer refused to replace the tub, I contacted Toyota directly to discuss the issue, and the answer from Toyota is something every new vehicle purchaser should be aware of, but that don't tell you about.
Toyota said to me that any accessories, including genuine accessories fitted by the dealer when you purchase a new vehicle is not the responsibility of Toyota, and Toyota are not obligated to fix any issues, it is up to the dealer to attend to it as they see fit.
Toyota said they would speak to the dealer to see if anything else could be done, but when they got back to me, I got the same story, it's the dealers responsibility, and they reserve the right to fix it as they see fit.
I thought that with the amount of white tubs that Toyota dealers remove from vehicles to fit trade trays, boxes etc, it wouldn't be to be an ask to have a tub put on it so I have a brand new vehicle again.
Can anyone offer some advice on this issue?
Surely my vehicle isn't the only one this has happened to with Toyota?
Where can I go from here to take the issue further?
Or am I being unreasonable?
Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.