First off, I know there are other threads that address clutch and tranny issues. I didn't want to hijack them so I decided to start a new one because my issue deals with a burnt clutch as well as a warranty problem. I'll try my best to explain. And obviously if anyone else has dealt with a similar issue, it would be good to know for all of us consumers. So let me try to explain.
On Saturday November 16th, my clutch failed at just under 4800 miles. No, I do not have a habit of riding the clutch. In fact, I've been driving manual transmission vehicles in addition to motorcycles since the mid-80's. This is a first for me. As I was downshifting, the clutch literally stuck to the floor as it was fully engaged. (Sound familiar? Toyota accelerators?) I have no idea why it got stuck. It wasn't because of the floor mat. I used my left foot to get underneath it and pull it up which I did, but after that I could only compress the clutch halfway and was unable to shift. The car was no longer drivable. After calling Toyota Roadside Assistance, I had the vehicle taken to Auto Nation Toyota Irvine where I leased the vehicle back in August.
I thought for certain this would be covered under warranty with such low miles. But today, November 19th, I got a call and they said that their service technicians determined that this was not a "factory defect", but caused by an "outside" issue, which they did not specify. So I'm left with a $1600 repair bill.
After I got the call I spoke with a couple attorneys to see if I could possibly contest this. In a nutshell, they said my chances are slim. I was told that Toyota tends to be difficult to litigate against and that they are one of the more arrogant car manufacturers that want to maintain a reputation of having non-defective cars. In addition, I made the mistake of taking the car back to the dealer (again, because I thought it would be covered under warranty) instead of an independent shop which might be able to provide proof that it, indeed, was a defective part. At this point, Auto Nation Irvine has disassembled my car and I've decided I'm going to eat the $1600 and just pay the damned bill. Should this problem occur again in the future, I don't know, maybe I can determine that I have a lemon on my hands. But for now, I'm frustrated and defeated.
