2007 Prius Destroyed by Toyota Dealer

[jpartdq]

Hi all,

I'll make a long story short.

This weekend I was getting my oil changed in my 2007 Prius at the 20,000 mile service point. The dealer was using a "new tool" (so they say) to put in the drain plug. I drove off and broke down on the Interstate. They towed my car back to the dealership and said they screwed up, the drain plug wasn't put in properly, it fell out, so did all the oil, and now I need a brand new engine.

Has anyone seen anything like this happen before on this website? I'm waiting for them to call me today to find out the final diagnosis, but can anyone give me some advice on what I should do? They admitted complete fault and they said they'd do whatever it takes to make me whole, but now I'm really upset about my new car. Somehow I don't think it will ever be the same, as a brand new engine seems like massive work. Two, does anyone think this will diminish the value of my car since I will now have to disclose this, right?

Thanks,
Ben

[efusco]

It really should be fine with the new engine...it's not the first report of something similar though the "new tool" comment is interesting....and probably a lie.

Just make sure they supply a free rental and do the appropriate amount of butt kissing while they have your car in.

[ctbering]

Originally Posted by jpartdq

Hi all,

I'll make a long story short.

This weekend I was getting my oil changed in my 2007 Prius at the 20,000 mile service point. The dealer was using a "new tool" (so they say) to put in the drain plug. I drove off and broke down on the Interstate. They towed my car back to the dealership and said they screwed up, the drain plug wasn't put in properly, it fell out, so did all the oil, and now I need a brand new engine.

Has anyone seen anything like this happen before on this website? I'm waiting for them to call me today to find out the final diagnosis, but can anyone give me some advice on what I should do? They admitted complete fault and they said they'd do whatever it takes to make me whole, but now I'm really upset about my new car. Somehow I don't think it will ever be the same, as a brand new engine seems like massive work. Two, does anyone think this will diminish the value of my car since I will now have to disclose this, right?

Thanks,
Ben

I don't have any experience with what happened to your car Ben. However, I am impressed the Toyota Dealership, or any service department dealership for that matter, took responsibility for the engine damage. In this world where no one takes responsibility for any mistake, I would be relieved.
I would express your feelings to the dealership and tell them you want a 2009 Prius, same package. The rationale is, just what you stated, the damage is significant and the car may never be the same (other parts could be affected by the result of the engine damage). Look at what your Prius would have been worth now...probably more than you bought it for. If the dealership balks at the idea get a lawyer. I'm sure they would give you blue book + for a trade-in value.

[MagneticGrayIndy]

Replacing the engine with a brand new one should be no problem.. plug and play... also, You have a brand new engine. I would however make them give you a brand new loner for the entire time they have your vehicle and a promise to give you one sweet deal on your next purchase. The fact that they immediately took the blame and promised to make you whole says a lot for their integrity.

[kohnen]

Originally Posted by jpartdq

Hi all,

I'll make a long story short.

This weekend I was getting my oil changed in my 2007 Prius at the 20,000 mile service point. The dealer was using a "new tool" (so they say) to put in the drain plug.

Thanks,
Ben

The drain plug needs nothing more sophisticated than a wrench. If they want to get fancy, they could use a torque wrench. It's just a standard drain plug like on any other engine.

Yeah. I think they're blowing sunshine regarding the use of a "new tool."

[freshmtt]

Wouldn't this have to be shipped back to Japan?? I mean the entire car is made in Japan, so if the car needs a whole new engine, isn't this something that would require the entire car to be shipped back to Japan to put a new engine in??, How is Toyota going to get a brand new engine for this Prius?, Are they going to order just an engine from Japan and wait for it to be shipped here.

I would be very interested to hear how they go about replacing something as significant as this on the car. I don't know enough about cars and parts and such, so I am totally ignorant as to what they do in a situation like this when the entire car is produced in Japan. Does Toyota just order specific large parts like this from the plant and have it shipped here.

[Patrick Wong]

Originally Posted by freshmtt

Wouldn't this have to be shipped back to Japan??

Hi Michelle,

The dealer would order a replacement engine from the Toyota parts distribution system. The regional warehouse may already have this in stock. When the new engine arrives, the dealer tech would remove the engine/transaxle as one large component. Once that assembly is removed, the transaxle would be separated from the engine. The new engine would be mounted to the transaxle. As needed, minor parts from the old engine not supplied with the new engine would be transferred over. Then the new engine/transaxle assembly would be reinstalled in the Prius.

[chrisspaulding]

Assuming all the other dependent parts accept the new engine fine, this will INCREASE your car value and be a win win for you, right?
You're back to a brand new engine! 0 miles!

If it were me, I'd argue tooth and nail to get the book value reimbursed to me, then apply that toward a 2010 model!

If you plan(or are considering) taking action in any different direction than what your service department is suggesting as a fix, don't accept let them start fixing the issue or sign anything yet until you're all squared away on the plan.

[freshmtt]

Originally Posted by Patrick Wong

Hi Michelle,

The dealer would order a replacement engine from the Toyota parts distribution system. The regional warehouse may already have this in stock. When the new engine arrives, the dealer tech would remove the engine/transaxle as one large component. Once that assembly is removed, the transaxle would be separated from the engine. The new engine would be mounted to the transaxle. As needed, minor parts from the old engine not supplied with the new engine would be transferred over. Then the new engine/transaxle assembly would be reinstalled in the Prius.

HI Patrick,
Thanks for explaining this!!!, In this case, I would agree that letting them put a whole new engine in sounds pretty good.

Keep us posted on what you decide to ask for.

That is very sloppy work from Toyota to forget to make sure the drain plug was screwed back in properly. I would expect some half as* work from a place like Wal-mart,, which I had a similiar experience, and never again will I ever take my cars back to them for an oil change.

When I still had my VUE, I took the car in for a regular oil change, and I only live about 1 mile from the store, when I got about half-way home, the engine area started smoking a bit and I was like WTF?? I thought maybe some oil was spilled on the engine and it was just burning off. When I got home it was smoking even more!!, I was freaking! My husband was home and I told him to drive it back to Wal-mart and have them check what they did to my car.

WEll, the stupid fool who put the oil in, put it in the wrong place, how that is possible I don't know,,, but they had to drain it out of the area where it was put in and put in fresh oil in the right hole.... OMFG!!!! You work at a oil change place and DON"T KNOW WHERE TO PUT THE OIL!!!!

Now I expect that kind of stupidity from someone like me , who doesn't know shit about cars,, but not from someone who does this every friggen day... But then again, that was Wal-mart....... I decided after that to NEVER take my car back to them.

But this,, what happened to you,, was at the Toyota dealership...

[john1701a]

Having the liability so obvious on the dealer, having to tolerate a loaner will probably be the only real problem in the end. Connecting a new engine is actually less intrusive of a repair than other owners have had to deal with.

For me, it was my Taurus. The engine was designed with too high of a compression. That caused the head gaskets to eventually leak. Under a recall, mine got fixed... but the car was never the same. A bearing was somehow affected. It eventually broke and took the piston with it. That of course, destroyed the engine. The replacement Ford provided worked just fine. I was pleased with the outcome... but pretty ticked off when it first happened. Makes you wonder why I now drive a Prius, eh?

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