FIRST AND LAST TOYOTA I WILL EVER BUY OR LEASE. AFTER 3 YEARS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND DEALER I DUMPED TOYOTA. I LEASED A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA SE WHICH, SO FAR, HAD NONE OF THE TOYOTA PROBLEMS. I CAN'T SAY HOW HYUNDAI SERVICE IS SINCE EVERYTHING WORKS PERFECTLY AND MY FIRST SERVICE IS AT 7500 MILES WITH 4500 NOW. SEE LETTER TO TOYOTA BELOW: March 1, 2012 Mr. Akio Toyoda President Toyota Motor Corporation 1 Toyota-Cho, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture 471-**** Japan Re: 2010 Toyota Camry LE (US) Dear Mr. Toyoda: I had leased a Toyota, 2010 Camry LE, on December 31, 2012 from Toyota of Santa Monica, Santa Monica, CA, USA. Since I leased the vehicle, I have had to return it to the selling dealership or other Toyota dealers multiple times for recalls, etc. with disappointing results and no confidence. This vehicle has been out of service for recall/repairs multiple times with no assurances of safety other than Toyota stating “The recalls have been completed.” The vehicle was never satisfactorily repaired with the reprogramming of the computer associated with Toyota recalls substantially decreasing the miles per gallon. There never was compliance with Toyota’s agreement with the State of California Attorney General which was costly and time consuming for me. The current mileage on my vehicle is 15,501which is substantially below the mileage I projected having at this point in the lease although I prepaid for non refundable additional miles upfront. The lease of the 2010 Toyota was to replace my 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer but due to my lack of confidence in the Toyota Camry, Toyota dealerships and Toyota, I had to keep my 2003 Chevrolet. When I have to rely on a vehicle, it was not and is not the Toyota Camry but my old 2003 Chevrolet. What was intended to be a prudent step to a smaller, reliable, economical vehicle for daily use has instead turned out to be a very costly, disappointing and time consuming experience for me. In fact, this has been the most disappointing new car lease or purchase ever for me. Toyota’s ranking in the 2012 Consumer Report (US), behind Subaru and Mazda, in my opinion should be lower. Toyota’s formal consumer confidence ratings have dropped considerably in the United States with informal, grassroots confidence among owners below that. It appears this will ultimately reflect itself when it is time for those consumers misled into the lease or purchase of the 2010 Toyota and other Toyota’s to look for their next vehicle. Consumers have taken various approaches in addressing their differences with Toyota ranging from picketing Toyota dealerships through legal action. Substantial preleasing March 1, 2012 Page 2 confidence in Toyota influenced my decision to lease a Toyota. Consumer advocates now portray Toyota as aggressively opposing consumers under any circumstances. Personally, I look forward to the complete disassociation with Toyota at the conclusion of this lease; however, the “Toyota Experience” will forever be remembered and shared with my contemporaries. Mr. Toyoda, the world is an uncertain place with very little that can be predicted. However, you can rest assured, with definite certainty, that this will be the first and the last Toyota product I will ever buy or lease. Very truly yours,
HYUNDAI is a good car, but they have to do something with their
service (their service is terrible).