MG
Moderator
“I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side, be an advocate for myself and others like me.”- Maya Angelou.Sep 24, 2018
The snippet below is something we here at Toyoheadquarters run across quite often. I hope that Toyota owners, who read this post, will learn a few things that will help them become their own advocate for their transportation needs and personal finances.
When it comes to LSC (Limited Service Campaign), SSC (Special Service Campaign), CSP (Customer Support Program) or Recalls, Toyota will notify the registered vehicle owner via snail mail or Email. Toyota uses an industry provider who works with each state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to receive registration or title information, based upon the DMV records. Please make sure your registration or title information is correct. If you would like to update your vehicle ownership or contact information, please visit https://www.toyota.com/recall/update-info-toyota. You will need your full 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to input the new information.
If you want to be proactive and look these up yourself, you can use your vehicle's VIN number and search here... Lookup Safety Recalls & Service Campaigns
or you can visit/call your local Toyota Dealer to ask them. They can even print you out a copy for your records.
Why is this important?
First off a "relationship" with your Toyota Dealer is very beneficial to you. It allows you access to singular space, vehicle maintenance record keeping, which in turn helps with resale/trade-in value. It can afford you discounts on vehicle services/repairs/parts as well as having the same service advisor or technician work with you on maintaining your Toyota as it ages.
Also, once you are out of your vehicle's warranty period, a Toyota Dealer service history can help with any "Goodwill" repairs that may need Toyota's authorization. In other words, your Toyota Dealer can help go to bat for you when repairs are needed outside of the normal warranty repair time/mileage. They look at it, as you have been a loyal Toyota Dealer customer, they want to show that loyalty in return.
In the following video, this Youtuber will expound on this--
Remember, Toyota Dealers are most often a franchise and have to follow guidelines set forth by Toyota Corporate. If the dealer makes a warranty repair on your vehicle, it fronts the cost of the parts/labor, then seeks reimbursement from Toyota. If they make an unauthorized repair, Toyota will deny reimbursement and the dealer will eat the cost of said repair. Imagine that being a $2,000-3,000 transmission replacement.
When you go to your Toyota dealer for service, you should see a Service Advisor who will write a Repair Order (R.O.) on your vehicle for what service you are requesting. This service history is where notes are made and should be printed on your final invoice/copy for your records. These records are available at any Toyota dealer nationwide and may look like this...(See line #4)
If, when you visit the Toyota Dealer and request a repair and parts are not available, this will be noted in your records. Hold on to your copy and make sure that it states which parts are on order and for which LSC, CSP or Recall. If you don't get it in writing, it never happened.
NOTE: Dealers have an internal sales memo called an AVO (Avoid Verbal Orders) that goes with every sold vehicles paperwork. This prevents a salesman from telling the parts department to order something expensive and the claiming that he never told them to order it, thus leaving them to have needless parts on hand. If the AVO was signed and delivered to parts telling them to order it, when it comes in, it automatically gets billed to the new car department. The same applies here to your car. Its a paper trail that shows you were in the time frame when the LSC/CSP was in effect and parts were ordered.
The snippet below is something we here at Toyoheadquarters run across quite often. I hope that Toyota owners, who read this post, will learn a few things that will help them become their own advocate for their transportation needs and personal finances.
When it comes to LSC (Limited Service Campaign), SSC (Special Service Campaign), CSP (Customer Support Program) or Recalls, Toyota will notify the registered vehicle owner via snail mail or Email. Toyota uses an industry provider who works with each state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to receive registration or title information, based upon the DMV records. Please make sure your registration or title information is correct. If you would like to update your vehicle ownership or contact information, please visit https://www.toyota.com/recall/update-info-toyota. You will need your full 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to input the new information.
If you want to be proactive and look these up yourself, you can use your vehicle's VIN number and search here... Lookup Safety Recalls & Service Campaigns
or you can visit/call your local Toyota Dealer to ask them. They can even print you out a copy for your records.
Why is this important?
First off a "relationship" with your Toyota Dealer is very beneficial to you. It allows you access to singular space, vehicle maintenance record keeping, which in turn helps with resale/trade-in value. It can afford you discounts on vehicle services/repairs/parts as well as having the same service advisor or technician work with you on maintaining your Toyota as it ages.
Also, once you are out of your vehicle's warranty period, a Toyota Dealer service history can help with any "Goodwill" repairs that may need Toyota's authorization. In other words, your Toyota Dealer can help go to bat for you when repairs are needed outside of the normal warranty repair time/mileage. They look at it, as you have been a loyal Toyota Dealer customer, they want to show that loyalty in return.
In the following video, this Youtuber will expound on this--
Remember, Toyota Dealers are most often a franchise and have to follow guidelines set forth by Toyota Corporate. If the dealer makes a warranty repair on your vehicle, it fronts the cost of the parts/labor, then seeks reimbursement from Toyota. If they make an unauthorized repair, Toyota will deny reimbursement and the dealer will eat the cost of said repair. Imagine that being a $2,000-3,000 transmission replacement.
When you go to your Toyota dealer for service, you should see a Service Advisor who will write a Repair Order (R.O.) on your vehicle for what service you are requesting. This service history is where notes are made and should be printed on your final invoice/copy for your records. These records are available at any Toyota dealer nationwide and may look like this...(See line #4)
If, when you visit the Toyota Dealer and request a repair and parts are not available, this will be noted in your records. Hold on to your copy and make sure that it states which parts are on order and for which LSC, CSP or Recall. If you don't get it in writing, it never happened.
NOTE: Dealers have an internal sales memo called an AVO (Avoid Verbal Orders) that goes with every sold vehicles paperwork. This prevents a salesman from telling the parts department to order something expensive and the claiming that he never told them to order it, thus leaving them to have needless parts on hand. If the AVO was signed and delivered to parts telling them to order it, when it comes in, it automatically gets billed to the new car department. The same applies here to your car. Its a paper trail that shows you were in the time frame when the LSC/CSP was in effect and parts were ordered.