I am absolutely gutted. And torn about what to do.
Last week many of you helped me find a 2020 Toyota Rav4, and I tracked down what I wanted in Colorado (would fly up from Texas). The Costco price was excellent, and the manufacturer's incentive was good as well. Walking out at 12% under MSRP, a very happy camper.
https://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/need-help-locating-buying-new-awd-rav4-105774.html
But today while researching trailer hitches, I discovered on FB -- and followed up on Toyota and Rav4 discussion forums -- that there is a significant electrical problem with many 2020 Rav4s which renders them un-startable after not being driven. sometimes for as little as overnight! Some of the reports are for vehicles with <1000 miles on them, and one is for a vehicle purchased just a few days earlier: parked on Friday evening, and dead on Monday morning. It displays as a "SmartKey System Malfunction."
It is not known if it is a software glitch or a parasitic drain, but apparently the batteries, registering as "very dead" can be jumped, and when the vehicle driven to the dealership test out as "no problem. You must have left something on."
Some folks are being told that the new vehicles, with all their electrical and electronic components, need to be driven every two days at a minimum. That rules out parking at an airport.
Folks are also being advised to carry a battery jumper -- for a new $35K car. Others report their new vehicles sitting at the dealership for days for "diagnosis" only to come up with "nothing wrong."
I can't figure out just how pervasive the problem is, but on four forums the complaints were as recent as yesterday. It may also be a problem with the 2020 Camry.
I assume that if I call the CO dealer and express my concern, he will say there isn't a problem, or that a software update will solve it. Not according to folks on the forums who have had the DCM updated.
It might be more prudent to call on Monday and kill the deal, and just eat the $500 deposit. I can't have a vehicle I worry about. So much for reliable Toyotas.
And start the search again for another brand/model.
That's the right thing to do, right?
Any other ideas or advice? I am in a tizzy. And none of my friends are "savvy car people" to consult.
Last week many of you helped me find a 2020 Toyota Rav4, and I tracked down what I wanted in Colorado (would fly up from Texas). The Costco price was excellent, and the manufacturer's incentive was good as well. Walking out at 12% under MSRP, a very happy camper.
https://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/need-help-locating-buying-new-awd-rav4-105774.html
But today while researching trailer hitches, I discovered on FB -- and followed up on Toyota and Rav4 discussion forums -- that there is a significant electrical problem with many 2020 Rav4s which renders them un-startable after not being driven. sometimes for as little as overnight! Some of the reports are for vehicles with <1000 miles on them, and one is for a vehicle purchased just a few days earlier: parked on Friday evening, and dead on Monday morning. It displays as a "SmartKey System Malfunction."
It is not known if it is a software glitch or a parasitic drain, but apparently the batteries, registering as "very dead" can be jumped, and when the vehicle driven to the dealership test out as "no problem. You must have left something on."
Some folks are being told that the new vehicles, with all their electrical and electronic components, need to be driven every two days at a minimum. That rules out parking at an airport.
Folks are also being advised to carry a battery jumper -- for a new $35K car. Others report their new vehicles sitting at the dealership for days for "diagnosis" only to come up with "nothing wrong."
I can't figure out just how pervasive the problem is, but on four forums the complaints were as recent as yesterday. It may also be a problem with the 2020 Camry.
I assume that if I call the CO dealer and express my concern, he will say there isn't a problem, or that a software update will solve it. Not according to folks on the forums who have had the DCM updated.
It might be more prudent to call on Monday and kill the deal, and just eat the $500 deposit. I can't have a vehicle I worry about. So much for reliable Toyotas.
And start the search again for another brand/model.
That's the right thing to do, right?
Any other ideas or advice? I am in a tizzy. And none of my friends are "savvy car people" to consult.
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