Dealer sold my wife a RAV4 with double the correct oil amount

Yeah, I know a RAV4 hybrid isn't exactly a Tacoma but I'd like to hear some *useful* thoughts and real wisdom. Especially since this is a Toyota certified vehicle with 37000 miles already on it. It ended up being driven (not hard) for nearly two hours to get it home. She had already gotten about 45 minutes of hilly secondary and interstate driving in where I wasn't following her. But then when we met up again later and I followed her (in my Tacoma!), I noticed the RAV4 occasionally spouting out blue smoke on the uphills when the engine load was high as well as a burnt oil odor. I'm worried about any long term consequence for the engine but maybe I'm just paranoid.

Today I removed about 4.3 quarts which now brings it from the initial 2.5 inches above the excessive/maximum mark to just a smidgen below that maximum mark. As I took it out quart by quart, I could not believe how overfilled this thing was and it's no wonder it was making smoke. My guess would be the service department failed to drain the old oil before adding the new, especially since the oil I removed is as black as anything I've ever removed at a normal service interval.

It's clearly not the salesperson's fault or the finance person, so I hate to bother them. But who should I bother at this dealership? The questionable service department? Obviously, I'm never going to have that place work on or assess this vehicle because they've proven themselves incapable. And a free oil change as a solution ain't happening. Funny thing is this dealer offers lifetime oil changes on all the used and new Toyotas. No thanks.

 

I'd see if they'll throw on an extended warranty as I doubt they'd do anything that you haven't already done to the vehicle.

 

Someone will get a butt chewing over this, have you priced oil lately???

 

The big worry I would have is that they might have drained the transmission thinking it was the oil, and then overfilled the oil. People have done it to Tacomas, so I'd definitely be worried they did it here. Check the transmission fluid.

 

Oh crap. That would be terrible.

 

Indeed. That's why I'd be sure to check it.

 

If it was me I would return the car and cancel the deal if at all possible. Too much can go wrong at a later date and I would fear the dealer honoring whatever they would tell you to get themselves out of this situation. If they are really comfortable that there was not damage then fine, let them take the car back and sell it to someone else.

 

Yes, I have run across threads where members had done this. Scary.
Good thing they caught it.

 

Shouldn’t have touched anything, kinda hard to prove anything now.

 

bout the only way to get a dealership to cancel a sale is to catch them doing something illegal. Then it's "ok well forget all about this"

 

There is more leverage canceling a used vehicle sale then a new sale. They can always relist a used vehicle but once a new vehicle is sold it becomes impossible to make it new again. Maybe it won't work but you are no worse off if you ask and the answer is no.

 

Fool me once, shame on you

I wouldnt go back, find something better to do with your time. What would they do to help you or compensate you and will it be worth your time? Replace the pcv if you do your own work, or find another shop to do it . . .

 

I took several photos and videos from the moment of the overfill discovery and during the drain.

 

Wouldn't claiming you provided a service (oil change) when you did not provide said service be heading toward illegal?

 

The timeframe is the bigger thing. Lots of dealerships will work with you within a certain window after purchase. Some are more difficult, but the "they won't help unless it covers their ass" is a bit of hyperbole to illustrate that dealerships are pains in the ass.

 

I understand in general that you can get a dealer to acknowledge a problem or noise with your vehicle within warranty period (in writing in your service profile) (5year factory powertrain warranty, and there is some hybrid component warranty I believe), and then, if that problem or noise gets worse/failure outside warranty, the dealer may warranty the replacement. It's also my understanding that it's all at the dealer's discretion. And their mechanic will decide how, and how fast to complete the job / how many hours to flag that shift. A warranty doesn't mean anything will necessarily be good.

I've been to four different independent shops and they all have all their garage doors open. The work is more or less audible and the lifts in view. This feels more transparent. At the dealer the most I saw was the porter stomp on it in reverse to park my car.

Personally I think we should only buy new cars at dealers, hold your breath, don't look back, don't listen. Squeeze them into a one dimensional franchise. The dealership is a shameful place and it's just part of deciding that a particular car there is worth it to you. I do like going to the parts counter but I catch attitude from those guys even. Maybe because we both know they charge 25% over Toyota's list and I'm only confirming part nums and specs from them.

and like all sales people the dealer staff will abuse your time even if you don't hand over your keys to service

thank you OP. Feels good posting.

 

Well, I managed to have them cancel the sale of the vehicle and a tow truck driver is coming to get it on Monday. Feels like I hardly knew her. I was surprised they didn't really put up a fight, immediately refunded my credit card and will mail back my check. I'm sure the car will be an easy sale once it's back on the lot.