Dealership Installed Wrong Spoiler
 

I bought my car a couple weeks ago with the spoiler option. I wanted, and was told I would receive the 5AD spoiler, but when the car showed up it wasn't there. My salesman told me that they had to order it separately and would be installed when it arrived. I said no problem, just let me know when to drop the car off.

The spoiler arrived, and I went to have it installed. I triple checked with my salesman and was assured that the correct spoiler was going to be installed. I was almost about to leave with a loaner vehicle when I was told they had the spoiler, but not the template to install it. I was late to work, but was told my gas tank would be topped off to full when I returned to have it installed.

The template arrived, and I dropped my car off again under the assumption that the correct spoiler was being installed. I returned later that day to find out the OEM Scion spoiler had been installed. The OEM spoiler required them to drill holes through my trunk lid. Their tech did not clean up the metal shavings, and my gas tank was also not filled up as promised. I was not impressed.

I have spoke to the service manager, sales manager, and my salesman. Every one of them told me my only option is to swap trunk lids with another car they have on their lot. I have told every single one of them I am not swapping parts with another vehicle (not to mention I removed the Scion badges for the Toyota ones). I find it ridiculous that they expect me to be happy with swapping trunks on a vehicle less than a few weeks old due to their negligence.

I'm not sure what my options are here. What would you guys do?

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...pse0c963f1.jpg
Set fire to their service department.

Scott

Realistically, probably only option is to have them refund the amount of the spoiler.

Ideally, you'll have them replace it completely (bring up the fact that the VIN# on each body piece will no longer match) and they need to compensate you for time, and provide you with replacement badges.

Sometimes you just have to watch shit burn.

Yeah they just took a nice chunk out of resale value on a brand new car. I won't even buy a 10 year old Honda without VIN matching body parts I would not touch a brand new car with random parts on it regardless of the reason.

First off, that sucks! Sorry to hear it.

The trunk on the BRZs has the VIN on it. Not sure if the FRS has the same deal, but if you're dead set against swapping trunks you can use that as an arguing point.

But really, what's the problem with swapping trunks? Not sure where you'll lose value by doing this. Besides that it's a faster fix for you. You'll be without your car for days if they patch and reprint, and likely the patch job won't be perfect. Just do the swap, unless you have an unhealthy relationship with it and it has a name.

Keep the OEM spoiler until the right spoiler comes in then I would take the trunk lid from one of the new cars. Have them switch the badges and install the correct spoiler. That seems like a logical and relatively painless solution to me.

Does the 5axis one cover the holes they drilled? Why not have them fill them and put on the right spoiler?

They should get you a new trunk lid with the Five Axis Spoiler and Toyota badges!

A similar experience almost happened to me. I ordered the Five Axis spoiler from the dealership but they gave me the OEM Scion spoiler instead. I almost had them installed it but it was too expensive so I opted to install it myself. When I saw the screws and bolts...I knew something wasn't right since the Five Axis one uses 3M Tape. Anyway they credited some money back to me and ended up getting me the right spoiler. The parts manager said something about how since the car is still new...the only spoiler that shows in their system is the OEM Scion one. Beware ordering from the dealership!

I would've checked to see what spoiler they had before they tried to install it. I think you're at least partially at fault for your assumption that they would order the right part. Especially if you didn't provide them with a part# to order.

The situation sucks, maybe you can get them to purchase a new trunk, but if they swap the vin badges with the trunks on their lot, I don't see the problem.

This is a situation of you live and you learn. Its not that big of a deal as long as they try to make it right.

I was told the 5AD was the one I purchased and the one that was going to be installed. I'm not sure how I'm at fault when I was lied to by my salesman.

I won't be near my car until next week. Does anyone know if the FR-S trunk has a VIN on it? I was informed by my dealership that it doesn't.

I don't think they lied blatantly. I think they thought they ordered the correct part, but it wasn't. Honestly, do you think they would intentionally order the incorrect part and have to deal with the hassle of replacing a trunk and purchasing the correct spoiler after the mistake? That seems like a huge pita for a complete loss of money

The vin should be on the underside of the trunk lid near the glass. You can probably see it without even opening the trunk lid assuming you have your car.

Good luck to you :)

if they'll do the swapping for you i don't see what the problem is...

Clearly setting fire to the service department WILL get you arrested... And, as a matter of fact, IF you did attempt to set anything ablaze, I'd hope someone would detain you for more than attempt, but for terrorism, and attempted murder. Not to mention wrongful death suits, property damage, etc.

Besides, NO ONE IS SETTING ANY THING ON FIRE, internet tough guys... I swear...

Back on topic,
That sucks bro... car certainly loses value not having all matching vin numbers, and they are not going to build a new trunk with proper vin's. I'd stay with the OEM lid and have them refund the 5AD and make them pay for the OEM. But if you are hell bent on the 5AD, a body shop to patch the holes, repaint, and install 5AD is your only option.

Easy there internet-police. Pretty sure that was meant in levity...

No such thing as an internet police, just plenty of tough guys...

And you never know these days, there seems to be an abundant of "If they did <blank> to my car I'd roll up there and <blah, blah, blah>"

Raven, you really need to switch to decaf. Its just as yummy as the regular brand, I swear!

It was light-hearted humor, nothing more.:thumbsup:

Scott

:clap: Awesome, I'll try that advice.

What do you want them to do? Switching trunk lids seems like the only option, so I'd so go for it and have them install the correct spoiler and reimburse you for badge.

If it were me, I'd have them pay for everything, including the new spoiler and patching up the drill holes. If they don't do that, walk away because you just bought the car from them and they won't help you out. Threaten to go somewhere else.

I'm sorry to hear that! I don't think you can swap the vin labels because they would be damaged when removed. I bought an aftermarket spoiler that looks exactly like the OEM, came painted to my firestorm color,
2 holes were drilled by our collision center professionals. Perfect job and the paint was exact match by Carid

far as I know, you can't get replacement VIN plates from the dealer. I work at a bodyshop and I've once or twice before. If you order new door shells, for example, there is sometimes a flat spot where VIN would go, but you can't get a replacement VIN plate/sticker. Shows insurance companies that that door was replaced.

The plates act as a guide to help against fraud and such. If plates don't match, part was swapped for a reason.... and plate is gone, part was most likely replaced.

And of course, like everyone says, this would be a lost of value.

Tsk tsk bad dealership....

According to the owner's manual, the trunk doesn't contain your VIN.

First of all..WoW!
Sometimes even though you speak the same language, subtleties are still lost in transalation.

"The insignificant many, add to the vital few!" -Mark Wilcher-

Always Always Always DOUBLE Check everything in life.
Never assume. Period. IMO make 'em compensate you for all the things that went wrong on the Dealerships end, and call it a day.

In june I asked my dealership parts guy about the 5AD spoiler and all he could tell me was I could get the full body kit with the spoiler or just the body kit-no spoiler. Now one can get gthe OEM spoiler so I am thinking they just have no clue about your car and everyone involved just assumed that they were ordering what you (the customer) wanted.

Now you have exactly what you DONT want. I would NOT change trunk lids at all..color could be slightly off and or fitment could suck and If I were buying your car used I would see the marks on the trunk bolts in a second and be asking if the car was rear ended.

If they can get you the 5AD spoiler by itself and instal it over the holes I would just go that route

Who exactly is training these Scion technicians. I would think these guys would be car guys and up on all the new stuff. Very discouraging.

I love this.

Have them pay to patch and paint your trunk. Then install the correct spoiler. Hope you have documents regarding the order to prove it was for the 5ad. If they don't comply there is always small claims (though it may not be the easiest case, contact your local Bar association to do a consult with an attorney if need be)

What does having a miss matching vin on the trunk indicate exactly?

Swapping trunks is your best bet. Chances of anyone noticing are slim to none, and if the dealer is willing to do it, I would take advantage of it.
I would avoid having to paint ANYTHING at all costs. First of all, getting it to match is going to be nearly impossible. The finish will be softer than the original factory finish. Even a good painter will tell you that, they would explore other options before painting.
If they have another car with the same color with a close number in the VIN range, the chances are going to be better for matching.
They should be able to rectify the VIN issue, if necessary.

hes obviously joking. idiot.

Ask them to swap complete cars and install the correct spoiler this time. Make them pay to change over all your financial docs and plates to the new car also since it will have a different vin!
Problem solved and dealer will have paid for their goof up.

Good luck with this, they aren't going to do that.

Seems that you're stuck no matter what.

One way, you'd get a new trunk off another car. That has a risk of paint not matching and a different VIN sticker. But then for that you could get documentation so that in the future if you were to resell, you'd have that paper work.

The second way, you could ask them to patch the holes. This also doesn't seem quite as good and the paint might also not match. In that case, the new spoiler would go on, and I don't think it'd cover the holes that well, even if they patched it.

Either way, You'd probably have a risk with the paint not matching. I'd probably take the new trunk and documentation. The new trunk will have factory hardness paint, even if the color isn't 100% accurate and the documentation would protect you from future resale. For compensation you could request that they reimburse you a free spoiler for your troubles maybe?

burning shit smells really bad!

Ok. Let's put this into some perspective. This is a 25,000 car. It's not a classic Ferrari. And you're putting aftermarket parts on it anyway. No one who is going to buy your car down the road will be concerned with the VIN on the trunk (which will have been modified and non-OEM anyway).

The dealerships solution is reasonable as long as the paint matches. Swap the trunk, get the spoiler you want. Smile. Drive.

This.

Who cares about a VIN marking on a trunk lid? I have never heard of anyone looking for a VIN marking there. Why would they? To see if the trunk has been replaced with an exact duplicate?

--Dan
Mach V

you never know, some people are really ocd about these type of things.

Car could have been rear ended and repaired under the table, suspicion of frame damage is not unreasonable, big ding in the cars value a couple years down the road. At least if the buyer is pedantic.

Edit: Not saying don't do it, just saying there are reasons not to.

That's why you would get a detailed receipt for the work done to the trunk, and why, and then either keep it in your records with the car, tape it to the inside of the trunk lid or some such.

That should satisfy most reasonable folks looking to buy the car and question it.