Joe Myers Toyota rippoff breech of contract failure to honor committment unprofessional arogant poor customer service Houston Texas

After failing the emissions test I took my 2000 Toyota Avalon to Joy Myers Toyota to have it checked out and serviced. They said it needed a new catalytic converter which would cost $1100.00.

This car had earlier polution control equipment problems. Toyota, after denying any design defect for many months finally had to admit it when tens of thousands of owners had problems. Even then they denied it until articles in major national newpapers reported the extend of the problem. Many engines had to be rebuilt because defective pollution control equipment and an apparent design defect that caused parts of the engines to run too hot. This caused the oil to become oxidixed forming acids and sludge which plugged up the engine and caused smoke, acids and sludge to blow out the exhaust.

Joe Myers Ford service manager continued to expouse the party line saying the only engines that had problems were ones that the owners failed to take care of. In light of the overwelming evidence to the contrary this is nothing but a bald faced lie.

At any rate, while continuing to deny any relation between engine problems and early catalytic converter failure, the service manager offered to discount the converter 50%. I told the service adviser I thought they should pay 100% in light of the earlier problems. But I had no choice, I had to get the car back on the road. The part had to be ordered so I told the service advisor to order the part and call me when it came in and I would bring the car in to have it installed. I called the adviser a few days later to see it the converter had come in. She said it was in but the service manager had withdrawn the offer to charge me only 50%. I would have to pay 100%. I guess he got his feelings hurt because I called the national Toyota service number to request help with this claim. So I guess he was going to punish me by refusing to honor his committment. This constitutes breech of contract because in the state of Texas a verbal agreement is as legal as a written contract for periods up to one year.

Incidentally, there is growing evidence being reported on the internet of the relation between the earlier engine problems and premature catalytic converter failure. This will probably be another case of continued denial until they can't lie their way out of it anymore. Sludge formed in engines contains acids. Catalytic converters are very sensitive chemical reaction devices. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out they can be damaged by acids formed in an improperly running engine.

While I was deciding what to do I called Meineki Muffler Shop and got a quote for a catalyitic converter. They quoted me $160. So besides failure to honor their committment Joe Myers Toyota and Toyota Motor Company were ripping me off to begin with by charging me $1100.00 for a converter I could get anywhere else for $160. In my opinion this is outright theft and car dealers and auto companies executives that engage in such practices should be behind bars with the rest of the crooks. Auto dealers forsake the trust of their customers in pursuit of the almighty dollar. Because they are so big I guess they think they are above the law.

James
Houston, Texas
U.S.A.