In my experience, ever since 2010 the dealers and the service mgrs. hands have been scrutinized to a tee on all warranty repair work. They can't even replace a part over a set amount without getting corporate approval anymore. IN 2007, I had a major drivers seat issue knocking over every single chop in concrete road very bad. Took it for a spin with tech who didn't care and 2 hours later knock in seat still was there. Drove immediately back and demanded ride with service mgr.. Service mgr. heard it dozens of times in 10 miles of driving tops. He immediately told me he will order a new track and seat no questions asked. Replaced the following week problem solved. In 2010, I had a similar issue with my new 2010 after 16K miles or so. Same dealer and same service mgr. would NOT replace seat and track under warranty and tried repair attempts 5 different times. Each time was useless. Had it so filed complaint with toyota corp. and service mgr. called me and told me the regional serv. mgr. will be in to listen and hear for noise and so I waited and brought in to let her deal with it. She totally blew me off even though I could replicate the noise easily all the time and she heard it vs. a new identical but 1 year newer 2011 tundra NO changes in seat or track. She told me she would not replace seat and track since costs like 1500 bucks. I said you have already wasted guessing 1500 bucks in dealer and my time so get it done or I will file lemon law. After a 30 minute discussion with same serv. mgr. they invited me in to office and told me a ONE time courtesy replacement under 3/36K. I said that will NOT be in writing and I will be bringing it in under 3/36K yet again if it goes bad again and I said in a pissed off voice that this seat lasted 1 1/2 years and 16K so hopefully this one lasts until 3/36K is over hopefully and toyota needs to get this issue of the drivers seat knocking resolved. NOW, 2012 tundra identical seat/track was very BAD at ONLY 7K miles. Brought it in to the selling dealer 2 times and even though they heard the seat pop and make noise easily at every stop sign, they told me they will NOT replace seat and track w/o regional approval. Did same thing filed complaint with toyota and bitched dealer out big time. They reluctantly ordered new seat and track after 1 month of doing NOTHING and NOW YET AGAIN after 3,000 miles, the seat is starting the same crappy knocking and popping but not as often as before which was daily driving. FRICKING seats/track are junk, trust me!
Oh yah, the 2010 tundra dealer, even the assistant service mgr. who knows 10x more than his boss told me just that year in 2010 the warranty claims over a set amount NOW have to go thru regional approval since toyota is cracking down on warranty repairs and the dealers' hands are tied meaning they cannot honor the warranty UNLESS they get babysat by some regional mgr. who, in my 1 experience with her, knows absolutely nothing about vehicle repairs.
Since 2010, I have lost almost all my faith in decent customer service with Toyota dealers in my area. They pass the buck and do not care about doing the right thing because mother Toyota will not allow them to do their job even though the dealer knows there is a problem and can see and hear it, they don't do a damn thing about it unless you push them into doing something. Stick to your guns and demand replacement of your seat because in my experience ever since 2007 when these tundra's came out, NOT ONE of these power driver's seats will last being solid and no knocking EVER in the full 3/36K warranty. Total fricking joke!
