Car repair rant

[graycrait]

My 89 yr old MIL's '11 Venza 2.7 is getting its transmission replaced at the Toyota dealership in Frankfort, KY for $6,200 and change, 3 weeks after getting its 60K service at her home Toyota dealership in Mason City, IA with no indication of any issues. The replacement tranny is one of Toyota's remans with the 12 month warranty. Now I know why only 12 mos. I told my MIL to trade her Venza (of course it is going to be at a loss) for a Honda next summer before the transmission warranty is up, if there are any decent used Honda's on the lot and not having "stupid" prices.

Now that I have read a lot of the Venza transmission threads I'm pretty disappointed in Toyota USA. In fact I am kind of giddy that I have a 10yr old Honda sedan, 20 yr old Honda CRV and a Ford F150 and have never had a Toyota. At one time I was "hot" for a 6cyl 2012 RAV 4 but my aluminum bodied 3.5L F150 fills that need for "minor league" speed.

This Venza transmission "thing" reminds me of the transmissions I had in late 80s and early 90s Dodge/Chrysler products. It seems technology sometimes marches 1 foot forward and 2 steps backward. Regardless of MIL's initial purchase price Toyota has managed to "squeeze" more big dollars out of her for what seems a vehicle with questionable design/production/QC issues even though it has relatively low miles.

 

[stringertom]

My 89 yr old MIL's '11 Venza 2.7 is getting its transmission replaced at the Toyota dealership in Frankfort, KY for $6,200 and change, 3 weeks after getting its 60K service at her home Toyota dealership in Mason City, IA with no indication of any issues. The replacement tranny is one of Toyota's remans with the 12 month warranty. Now I know why only 12 mos. I told my MIL to trade her Venza (of course it is going to be at a loss) for a Honda next summer before the transmission warranty is up, if there are any decent used Honda's on the lot and not having "stupid" prices.

Now that I have read a lot of the Venza transmission threads I'm pretty disappointed in Toyota USA. In fact I am kind of giddy that I have a 10yr old Honda sedan, 20 yr old Honda CRV and a Ford F150 and have never had a Toyota. At one time I was "hot" for a 6cyl 2012 RAV 4 but my aluminum bodied 3.5L F150 fills that need for "minor league" speed.

This Venza transmission "thing" reminds me of the transmissions I had in late 80s and early 90s Dodge/Chrysler products. It seems technology sometimes marches 1 foot forward and 2 steps backward. Regardless of MIL's initial purchase price Toyota has managed to "squeeze" more big dollars out of her for what seems a vehicle with questionable design/production/QC issues even though it has relatively low miles.

Just make sure your local oil change “techs” don’t top off your Honda power steering reservoir with their generic PS fluid. That mistake caused a leak I had to deal with for the remainder of my Prelude’s road life or bite the bullet and pay hundreds to replace the entire assist system.

 

[ollinger]

A far more troubling Toyota issue afflicted me this past weekend. I went out early Sunday morning and noticed the 2020 Avalon's clock said 8:30, but my phone said 9:30. The thing is supposed to adjust itself for Daylight Savings Time, but it did so two weeks early. I have retained an attorney and expect to be compensated for my "injury."

 

[graycrait]

@ollinger , I am still laughing. The clock on my 2001 Honda CRV gave up a few years ago. I researched and then did the repair of resoldering, etc. 6 mos later it again died. I took a small single AA battery clock and "velcroed" it to my dash. Problem resolved quickly and cheaply.

My MIL's 1999 Avalon has been "adopted" free gratis by my SIL and has had no significant troubles in its lifetime. So we are running 50/50 with Toyotas, while running near 100% for "old" Hondas.

 

[graycrait]

Just make sure your local oil change “techs” don’t top off your Honda power steering reservoir with their generic PS fluid.

As questionable it may be I do both my Honda's routine service. I even installed a new radiator in my CRV and flush the other systems myself in both Hondas. I am lucky, I have the time and space to do it.

 

[esgee48]

During that period, did the MIL ever flush the transmission and replace the transmission fluid? I sorta do that every 3-5 years. Just check the smell of the fluid annually when you change the motor oil.

 

[Harry_Wild]

Never fall in love with a 30 year plus car unless you are an AST Master Technician or you are as rich as Jay Leno is!

 

[Mr.Lob]

Since your MIL's Venza's transmission expired 3 weeks after it's 60k mile service, I suspect a transmission fluid flush where the wrong transmission fluid was used, or an improper amount of fluid was used. Toyota transmissions are generally considered among the best.

 

[Crocodile]

$6200 is a bit expensive for a replacement transmission especially for a car made in 1989. I replaced a transmission for a 1985 Nissan 300zx ( 3 speed plus overdrive ) at an automatic transmission place ( not Nissan) for $2800 AU.
For $6200 you are better off buying something else to drive.

 

[Sudacafan]

$6200 is a bit expensive for a replacement transmission especially for a car made in 1989. I replaced a transmission for a 1985 Nissan 300zx ( 3 speed plus overdrive ) at an automatic transmission place ( not Nissan) for $2800 AU.
For $6200 you are better off buying something else to drive.

That’s totally out of the question. It’s already clear enough to me that his 89 y. o. MIL is keeping that 1989 vehicle no matter what.
Some data in this report was not randomly given.

 

[Booger]

Why is an 89 year old still driving around? Take that $6200 and buy an uber gift card. Will probably last her until the end of her days.

 

[Sudacafan]

Why is an 89 year old still driving around? Take that $6200 and buy an uber gift card. Will probably last her until the end of her days.

This is all about Morgan Freeman requests to drive Miss Daisy.

 

[USMC-615]

What specifically was done with this '60K mile service' relating to the transmission as it's itemized on the bill...anything at all?

 

[TTMR]

@ollinger , I am still laughing. The clock on my 2001 Honda CRV gave up a few years ago. I researched and then did the repair of resoldering, etc. 6 mos later it again died. I took a small single AA battery clock and "velcroed" it to my dash. Problem resolved quickly and cheaply.

This slapdash repair job is exactly why our roads are a death trap. A malfunctional clock is a risk to you and others on the road. Your vehicle should fail inspection and be immediately impounded and sold at auction. It's for your safety and everyone else's.

 

[Sudacafan]

This slapdash repair job is exactly why our roads are a death trap. A malfunctional clock is a risk to you and others on the road. Your vehicle should fail inspection and be immediately impounded and sold at auction. It's for your safety and everyone else's.

I hope that your son’s car in which he lived for some years has passed all the inspections prescribed by applicable laws and regulations.

 

[USMC-615]

$6200 is a bit expensive for a replacement transmission especially for a car made in 1989. I replaced a transmission for a 1985 Nissan 300zx ( 3 speed plus overdrive ) at an automatic transmission place ( not Nissan) for $2800 AU.
For $6200 you are better off buying something else to drive.

'89?...he says in the first sentence it's a 2011.

I hope that your son’s car in which he lived for some years has passed all the inspections prescribed by applicable laws and regulations.

 

[sureshs]

A far more troubling Toyota issue afflicted me this past weekend. I went out early Sunday morning and noticed the 2020 Avalon's clock said 8:30, but my phone said 9:30. The thing is supposed to adjust itself for Daylight Savings Time, but it did so two weeks early. I have retained an attorney and expect to be compensated for my "injury."

You can bill the patient for 2 hours instead of 1 to compensate for it.

 

[ollinger]

You can bill the patient for 2 hours instead of 1 to compensate for it.

Or just write for less adderall so they have to come back sooner

 

[TTMR]

Or just write for less adderall so they have to come back sooner

I admire entrepreneurs like yourself, living the American dream.