QuestionDear Mr. Ruestra,
I have a 2002 Toyota 4Runner. I bought it new with 2 miles on it. A week after I bought it, the unit showed an error message. I brought it into the dealer, and they said that the only remedy they had, was to replace it with another unit, send the old unit down to Los Angeles, and that in 4 - 6 weeks I would get back in the mail, the CD's that were in the original changer.
I was NOT happy with this solution. This seemed like a pathetic audio unit. I have had many, many vehicles over the years, with an even wider array of stereos and changers. NONE of them have ever completely stopped working for something as trivial as having trouble reading a disk, and CERTAINLY, NONE of them prevented me from ejecting the troubled disc, so that the CD changer could get back to work, after the troubled CD has been removed from the changer.
I have honestly NEVER seen so pathetic a unit, in design, as the excuse for a stereo that Toyota put into this 2002 4Runner. And the price they charge for the unit!!!! What a racket!
Anyway, since it was under warranty, at least I did not have to pay for them to replace the unit. But I was not at all happy that I had such a poorly designed stereo in my 4Runner.
A year later, the replacement unit displayed an error message, and again would not play CD's. Like before, it would not play CD'd, nor eject or accept them. It was as if the CD player just died.
Like before, the player displayed an error message that the dealership could only solve, by replacing the unit with a new unit, and sending the old unit down to LA. to get the CD's back.
At this point, I demanded to know if there was another stereo make or model, that could be put into my 4Runner, as this model was clearly defective. I was informed that no other stereo that they installed into their line of vehicles, would fit into my 4Runner. So I reluctantly accepted yet another replacement of the same model, and waited 4 - 6 weeks for my CD's to be returned to me.
That stereo lasted almost 3 years. My 4Runner is now 4 years old, exactly, and the CD player went out again. It displays ERROR 3, and will not play CD's, eject or accept them - just as in the previous two times.
But this time, when I brought my truck into the dealership, they told me that the vehicle was out of warranty, and that they would not replace the stereo. When I said that the model was defective, and that I never wanted that stereo after the second time it had to be replaced, they said that they were simply not liable as the warranty had expired. I said that I spent a lot of extra money for an extended 7 year, 100,000 mile, bumper-to-bumper warranty, but they said that the radio was not covered under that warranty.
I feel it is important to note, that I do not drive my vehicle that much. After 4 years, it only just passed 50,000 miles. Additionally, I rarely listen to the CD player, preferring to listen to the radio, my Laptop - if it is plugged into the stereo through the tape player for long trips to Tahoe (which - BTW - comprises 90% of the miles on the vehicle) - or not listen to anything at all. I would saym, that the CD player is on less than 25% of the time I have driven the vehicle. I don't think it's too much to ask of a car CD player, for it to last more than 15,000 miles of mainly smooth highway use!
My question is, are you aware of this problem? If so, is it common? Is it a design flaw, as I suspect, in the model. And if so, why doesn't the manufactureer fix it, or why doesn't Toyota go to another manufacturer to get a better stereo unit to put into their vehicles?
Also, if there is a history of problems with this stereo, and they know about it, why don't they recall them or at least do something to extend the warranty on them?
Lastly, is there any way to cheaply fix this problem on my own? And if not, do you think I have a legal basis to sue Toyota and the dealership to pay to reoplce this piece of crap stereo, or at least, get them to refund me the cost of the piece of crap stereo, so that I can go out and get another brand installed?]
I have copies of the work orders for the prior two times the stereo broke and had to be replaced. I had thought Toyota strived for excellence in product and service. Apparently, on this account, they came up short in both departments.
i wish this was the only problem I had to report abou tthis vehicle. I have had persistant problems with the brake rotors vibrating and the tires pulling almost since I bought the vehicle. I have complained endlessly about ALL of these problems practically since I purchased the vehicle, and they have NEVER permantely fixed ANY of the problems.
They say that NONE of those things are under warranty anymore. When I say that I complained endlessly about them, and that they never fixed any of the problems, they don;t seem to care, now that the vehicle is out of warranty, and the extended warranty conveniently doen;s cover ANY of these problems.
I feel WHOLLY ripped off. I am facing having to get the rotors turned, new brake pads, four new tires (there's 15,000 mile still left on the ones I have), and getting the stereo fixed or areplaced.
I figure all that wioll cost in excess of $2,000, and I feel Toyota should pay for all or part of it. In fact, I feel like taking them to court. Do you feel I would stand a chance of prevailing in small claims court?
I realize I have asked a LOT of individual questions here. I would appreciate an answer to each and every one of them ( that you can offer advise on), so that I can determine the best course of action to take.
Thanks, in advance, for any assistance you can render on this subject.
Sincerely,
Steve T.
Answerwow i am going to be here all night lol
yes the radio is bad the idea was bad the plastic trays move ,once they move and the cd wants to go in that position or two cd go in to the same tray the cd changer is history can not be repair
the way it works is the laser moves in to the cd changer location with some plastic trays
and the cds are alwys in the same position
there are options there is a total of 3 radios they look very similar the delphi and the eclipse they have the same problem
the other radios are the delphi again and the panasonic
this radios are a single cd and tape same radio just one disc this radio is bullet prof all of this radios have external controls for cd changer single cd mp3 or ipod controls there is also a AUX plug in the back for any audio source all this are optional items
the new radios in 2006 and up change no more plastic trays
now they are eclipse and pioneer made radios so far no problems but they don't fit your vehicle the best way to go is a single cd
also a bumper to bumper warranty is that and it covers the radio i was looking at the warranty on some vehicles i found online and none have a part that saids no radio
so call any other toyota dealer and ask them if you purchase this warranty what is not going to cover
if not you can find one here
http://www.partydown.com/subcat171.htm
