TOYOTA drivers have been warned about a faulty piece of kit inside their motors that could prove dangerous.
The car giant is being forced to replace a key engine component in every faulty Tacoma truck model – at no extra cost.
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Customers who purchased the 2024 car have been complaining about their gearboxes – a vital and potentially dangerous area to break down.
But only those with eight-speed transmissions appear to be struggling.
Toyota appears to have admitted defeat, according to a CarScoops report, which says the company is offering to replace all the faulty transmission units in its 2024 Tacomas.
Though it isn’t as bad as a full product recall, the technical problem has been passed onto relevant car dealers.
In better news for drivers, Toyota isn’t deeming it a safety issue.
It’s also not replacing the transmissions on every Tacoma produced this year – just the ones which are already broken.
But in order to qualify for the fix on your car, your Tacoma has to pass a specific inspection.
After taking it to a dealership, the motor will be scanned by a diagnostics machine and it’ll have to show one or more of six fault codes to qualify for the replacement.
If it does, you’ll receive a new eight-speed transmission.
But the swap is not a quick or easy job, with Motortrend dubbing it a “huge upgrade”.
Manual models in the range aren’t affected by the transmission issue.
It comes after Toyota is set to release a GR version of its Corolla for UK drivers – previously only produced in Japan and marketed in the US and parts of Asia.
It has already proved a hit in the States, with strong sales figures year on year.
And it now looks like Toyota is prepping the model for a European arrival.
According to Autocar, a prototype Corolla GR has been spotted testing at the world-famous Nurburgring in western Germany.
While the ring offers anyone the chance to hop on track and set a lap, it also plays host to an extensive network of testing tracks closely mimicking European driving conditions.
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Dealership Tips
Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:
- 1. Set your price: Ensure you’ve calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car’s loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance.
- 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in test driving before you reach the dealership.
- 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
- 4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot
- 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.
Source: Kelley Blue Book
