Busted diff - Page 8

Diamond Dave · 09-13-2007, 10:07 PM

I blew my rear diff as well with a total of 3 off-road trips and a 4000 combined miles. Toyota covered it but they gave me a lot of crap about this being abuse and asked if I had been jumping the FJ.

My FJ trips were on tough terrain but at low speeds and nothing stupid behind the wheel. Certainly nothing beyond what they advertise the vehicle doing on TV or the web. I was disappointed that the diff was blown.

4000 miles since without issue (knock on wood)...

I made a point of putting back on my stock wheels when I towed it in for service - I think that was a good choice on my part...

Good luck to you.

Milkyxj · 09-13-2007, 10:28 PM

I've been thinking that instead of letting Toyota put its gears back into my diff I could regear 4:56 front and rear and toss a front locker in too. Price would be about the same, but it might hurt my case against toyota. I'll wait until I talk to a lawyer and see what he says, whether i should fix it myself and then sue or just let it sit until it goes to court. I'll keep you guys updated.

mkiv94tt · 09-14-2007, 07:44 AM

Best of luck to you... I'm taking notes regarding what dealership to stay away from in that area, as my family just bought a house in Blairsville. I'm heading up in Christmas time and was thinking of messing around up there. Last thing i want is to have something happen and then get sent to Milton Martin Toyota only to get black balled! GOOD LUCK TO YOU, and i hope everything turns out in your favor!

PS, a letter to Jim Press CEO of Toyota couldn't hurt. He got things rolling when i had problems with my 2nd FJ after the 1st one was lemon lawed.

Dan

Kyle Dreaden · 09-14-2007, 11:00 AM

Spoke with the Uncle over at United Motors (Atlanta Toyota). I explained as best I could what Milky has been told as far as being blackballed by Corporate, etc. and he said that at that point, even he couldn't get someone at his store to touch it.

Looks like it's time to serve a suit =\

However, I'm really for the idea of organizing a group of cruisers to hang out at one of the dealers, maybe put together a little flyer that talks about who the ATLFJCs/Georgia Cruisers are, what we do, mentioning the toys for tots/trail cleanups, etc., as well as a nice little note about what we've experienced at Milton Toyota on Milky's behalf.

From a common sense perspective, I don't see how you could lose this lawsuit. They can't reasonably call this abuse when they clearly show FJ's doing things more extreme BONE STOCK. Obviously, they could pull the "aftermarket parts" card, but we have people who have blown diffs with stock tires! Like the law says, it's on THEM to prove that the aftermarket part caused the failure.

Slam dunk in my opinion. Not to mention, it would cost Toyota a lot more to fight this lawsuit than to settle and cover the repair.

The bigger issue, in my mind, is the overall problem with the early FJC's rear diff. If this is a known issue and Toyota isn't interested in doing some kind of service bulletin or recall, we need to shove it down their throats and make sure that people know this is a defect of some kind. There's no excuse for a company (especially Toyota) selling a defective vehicle. Granted, 90% of people who buy them will never stress the diff, probably NEVER engauge their rear lockers, etc., it's no excuse for neglecting the people that DO! This is what the FJC was advertised to do. It is Toyota's OFF-ROAD vehicle.

This just seems ridiculous to me and rather pathetic. I always held Toyota to a higher level of quality and customer service, but if this doesn't get resolved in a big way, I may have to reconsider my loyalty.

mkiv94tt · 09-14-2007, 11:26 AM

Get any attorney to read this thread and then show him Vol I-III of the dealership/Toyota provided FJ books and all they will say is "Implied Warranty". More than likely(90%), you will win. It's all a matter of the amount of time and money you want to invest in this battle.

Dan

Sean K. · 09-14-2007, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Kyle Dreaden previously said:

The bigger issue, in my mind, is the overall problem with the early FJC's rear diff. If this is a known issue and Toyota isn't interested in doing some kind of service bulletin or recall, we need to shove it down their throats and make sure that people know this is a defect of some kind. There's no excuse for a company (especially Toyota) selling a defective vehicle. Granted, 90% of people who buy them will never stress the diff, probably NEVER engauge their rear lockers, etc., it's no excuse for neglecting the people that DO! This is what the FJC was advertised to do. It is Toyota's OFF-ROAD vehicle.

This just seems ridiculous to me and rather pathetic. I always held Toyota to a higher level of quality and customer service, but if this doesn't get resolved in a big way, I may have to reconsider my loyalty.

Agreed. What I don't understand is that this is the same company that STILL wants to replace my "defective" steering link in my 1991 Toyota 4wd truck....even though I keep telling them that it no longer has IFS or that centerlink so the recall is not applicable to my vehicle. Not only that, but Toyota is the same company that still replaces free of charge 3.0L headgaskets if you are the 19th owner and have the original defective design....yet they don't want to take care of a rear end issue that is obviously a factory defect.

I don't get it.

Sean

DanKunz · 09-14-2007, 11:24 PM

*sigh* Toyota sounds like they are trying to control the recall level issues with these trucks.

2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser

This site CLEARLY shows a stock truck in much harder terrain than what you were on when you broke.

I have been with two trucks that broke in less terrain than on the Toyota website. There is no disclaimer that this would constitue abuse.

Take it to a lawyer, sit on the rig. Make them fix it.

Sean K. · 09-15-2007, 10:07 AM

Wow, if that's gonna be their advertisement for what their vehicle is capable of.....they DAMN WELL better warranty a rearend that blows up on something less difficult.

Sean

PaulThePhotographer · 09-15-2007, 10:20 AM

It seems the decision is in the hands of the individual Dealership and not with Toyota Headquarters!

And we all know how well educated (sarcastic comment) some of these Service people/managers can be about Fj Cruisers, advertisements and or problems!

I think this might need to be brought to the attention of Toyota Corporate!

One other question!

Does any one know how many FJ Cruisers were made in one month?

Lets say the month 06/06, since it seems that is the build date on some of the defective FJCs and happens to be mine also?

I know this will not tell a whole lot because a high percentage of FJC owners do not go wheeling, but I think it would be interesting anyway.

Milkyxj · 09-18-2007, 04:23 PM

I met with an attorney today, he's taking my case. Hopefully Toyota will settle soon because this is expensive. I'm paying 1900 out of pocket to get my diff fixed, 1500 as a retainer for my lawyer to sue Toyota to get my 1900 back. Thank god for Mastercard. Here are some pics of what my diff looked like. I'll post any updates I get.