Confused by VSA ...

Hello,


Happy to be a new member but have a big question that I am trying to solve regarding the dealership.


I just bought a new 2022 4runner SR5 Premium and had originally declined the extended VSA warranty due to a bunch of opinions on various forums (they pretty much stated that the VSA was overpriced). That was all fine until I had to go back up to our dealer to fix some of the paperwork and sat down with the Finance Director for the dealership. He wanted to be sure that we didn’t want to add the coverage and took the time to “explain” it to us:


He basically gave us some examples of maintenance repairs and how often the check engine lights came on for the new vehicles. He said that while a non-dealer mechanic might be able to fix the issue, they could NOT reset the check engine light/clear the code without my first paying for the VSA contract. He explained that we were “buying the rights” to our vehicle. He said that with the VSA, I would be able to take my new 4runner to any mechanic of my choice (including non-dealership) and they would cover everything that was covered within the VSA contract itself. Because our nearest dealership is over an hour away, we made very sure that what he was saying was that we did NOT have to go to a dealership to have our 4runner repaired and be paid for under the VSA. He suggested that all we would need to do at our mechanic was to show them our VSA membership card. We agreed to the VSA at the crazy rate of $3200 96mo/75000m (and he got us on the Toyota-Care as well for another fee).


So … a month later we finally got our VSA contract in the mail and right on page 7, it explicitly states that ALL repairs covered under the VSA MUST be done at the dealer. In my confusion, I reached out to my local mechanic (a known place with 65 locations in New England) and asked them about the VSA. They said that they didn’t do anything with it and didn’t file claims for it. They also said that I had the right to have my vehicle fixed anywhere and that I did NOT need any VSA contract to get my vehicle serviced or to have the check engine codes/lights reset. They said that it was simply a fear tactic to get consumers to buy the add-on coverages.


So … I am looking for any information/experience that someone might provide. I understand that some people will say don’t buy it and others love the peace of mind. I basically want to know if it really was required just for me to get complete service and I want to know if I was lied to. Our main issue is getting to a dealer with every issue we might have. I don’t want to be driving an hour every time. I have been dealing with my local mechanics for years now. I would like the peace and mind of a warranty but something is not right here.

sorry for the long first post !!

JL

 

What’s VSA?

 

VSA is Toyota's extended warranty program or Vehicle Service agreement.
I believe you have 60 days to cancel and would strongly consider it at that price.

 

Anyone can clear a code. Mechanic, dealer, auto parts store, buy your own OBD2 scanner, etc.

 

It has always intrigued me that the sales team promotes Toyota reliability and the Finance team immediately follows with how necessary a service agreement is.

You are allowed to have your vehicle serviced anywhere you'd like. As @kingrex mentions, reading codes and clearing them is typically easily performed via OBD2 scanner that can be purchased at your local auto parts store.

You might consider cancelling and setting aside that $3200 for the emergency repair fund, should you need it during the 96 mo/75k window (it's a Toyota; you probably won't)

 

makes me sad to hear he explained it in a way that you came away with that understanding... gives dealerships a bad name

 

Well, we also got taken in by the Toyota Care add-on. That is the the scheduled maintenance agreement that extends the regular scheduled stuff every 5000 miles out to 55k. That was another $1400. The spheel was that it would pay for itself in just the 15k, 30k, and the 45k service where they were about $450 a pop. If we made it up there for the other "free" services, it would be gravy

Was kind of a bad experience all around. Ended up paying $3k over MSRP due to "market value" and the chip shortage and then this on top. I have a call scheduled with the Finance Director so he can "explain" things to me again. Should be an interesting conversation.

Anybody here actually have and recommend the VSA ? Or am I the only sucker ...

 

You got jipped. Never heard it called VSA but you can purchase the extended warranty from any dealer for a much better price. I recently purchased from a dealer in Michigan and I live in California. Warranty work must be completed at the dealer but you can have anyone do normal service.

 

Every new Toyota comes with Toyota Care for the first two years, so you're paying a premium for those last couple services. I fell into the same trap with a prior Toyota, realized my mistake, and called Toyota directly and cancelled the add-on. They mailed me a check for the refund.

I'd go direct to Toyota and avoid talking to the dealer if you're set on cancelling one or both. The dealer has no incentive to let you cancel and will attempt to talk you out of it.

 

Personal opinion, when buying a Toyota, pay for absolutely nothing besides the cost of the actual vehicle.

 

Ok, thanks,

I was never offered that when I bought my 4Runner.

 

Toyota doesn’t offer a manufacturer warranty anymore?

 

They do ... I was just misled into believing that I would not be able to get my 4runner fixed at my local non-dealer mechanic.

To be clear .. I am not a 4runner noob. I have had them for 20 years or so now but this was the first vehicle in my 35 years or so of driving that I ever bought new. I am not much of a home mechanic and was basically looking for a vehicle that would last me for another 20 years with minimal fuss. I figured that maybe buying the extended warranty would help with that but I am seeing now that I just got suckered.

Being in the dealerships has always made me queasy ... only got rid of my previous 4runner because the frame rotted out on me (times 2)

 

Warranty won’t cover rusting through.

Dump the VSA.

Get your non warranty stuff done at a good indy mechanic.

You have 36k factory and 60k drivetrain.

 

So what about the Toyota Care coverage .. the one that covers scheduled maintenance? I assume that the manufacture warranty will only cover me as long as I do all the scheduled maintenance at the designated check points? I guess my other question is this: how many of you (that don't just do all your own service) actually bring your vehicles to a non-dealer mechanic? My dealer is an hour away so on my previous 4runners, I basically never went to a dealer for anything other than service recalls.

But I would consider having them do the main scheduled maintenance at 15, 30, and 45k. Is the consensus that I should dump that coverage too?

and thanks everybody for the thoughts .... I am no pro here for sure

 

There is no big ticket scheduled maintenance in the first 100k that would add up to over 3k even if you flush the front and rear diffs every 30k and replace brakes and rotors at 65k… in California.

 

Future reference for those that are not dealership savvy. When purchasing a vehicle (new or used) make the very best deal you can with the sales force - THEN (and only then) tell them to advise Finance that you are there to purchase the vehicle only. If you tell them this ahead of the negotiated price you will not get your "best deal", as they count heavily on the BS sales from Finance. I spent 25+ years of my working life in dealership service departments and I am well aware of their sales tactics.

 

What I hate about that plan is that you have to take your vehicle to the dealer. Most people on here will tell you, or you can do a search and find many horror stories, that taking your vehicle to the dealer is asking for problems, on top of ridiculous prices and wait times. The maintenance mechanics (lowest paying services for techs) are typically entry-level technicians (I once was one), and will often forget or strip skid plate bolts.

There is a national law (someone will chip in with the name eventually) preventing any manufacturer from voiding your warranty just because you serviced it yourself or took it to a third-party. Keep good records and you’ll be fine.

 

As for the Toyota Care scheduled maintenance stuff: the dealer conned us by giving us "standard" maintenance costs for what you would be paying out of pocket without the coverage for what he called the "three big ones". He had the 15k one at $385, the 30k at $479 and the 45k at $425. We then figured that paying $1400 for that care would then be in the ballpark. Not sure what mechanics you guys go to but I often find that my mechanic is not all that cheap either. Main point in using them was they were close. They are a "chain" of 65 locations in our area. Seems I get it from all directions ...

But if i don't need to go to the dealer even for those services, I just might ditch the Care package as well as you all recommend. Learning new stuff every minute and I appreciate it

 

Not sure where your located, but your story reminds me of dealerships in the 1980’s.

 

I was not waiting for Finance to call me back ... I plan on calling him. I had asked emailed him asking why he told me that I could have the VSA service done anywhere when the VSA contract specifically says that I cannot. So I plan to have him explain it to me again before I tell him off.

We are in NH. We were in a bind back in November to get a vehicle. Nobody had any in stock and they were projecting months before they had any. We ended up paying $3k over MSRP when one showed up unclaimed that fit our needs. Ouch. I knew better ... I feel so stupid.

 

This ^

And this^

Get your money back for the warranty and maintenance plans. But don't feel bad for paying over MSRP. It's smarter than not having an incredibly reliable and useful vehicle that, as a plus, already comes with a good manufacturer's warranty.

 

There's not much you can do about the $3k market adjustment after the fact, but you certainly can (and should) get the $4600.00 back by canceling those two contracts.

Thieves.

If the guys out on the sales floor talked about all the things that could go wrong with your brand new vehicle, and how necessary & valuable the service contracts were, they'd never sell anyone anything.

 

I agree, in today’s climate paying 3k over MSRP is probably the best your gonna do with maybe a few exceptions.

Regarding extended warranties, the odds are in your favor as far as problems after the factory 3/36-5/60 expires.

Usually 3/36 bumper to bumper issues show themselves well within that period.
Same for the powertrain 5/60.

I’ve driven Toyota’s for well over 20 years now and just had normal maintenance wear and tear work done.
Keep up with the recommended maintenance schedule and you should be good.

I tried really hard to test and critique my 4Runner before the 3/36 ran out, and I never had an issue.

Enjoy your new ride and welcome to the forum. We look forward to seeing pictures and hearing about your adventures.

 

Do not feel stupid paying $3k over msrp in this market, you should feel very happy! Here in my area, there are people paying $10k over on Camrys and Corollas, and $15k over on SR5 4Runners that are 2wd .

I just paid $3k over on my 22 ORP and feel damn good that I paid less than some people are paying for a car with an msrp of 10-15k less.

ENJOY THE CAR AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOUR PURCHASE!

Also, cancel the contracts, you can have your services done anywhere and any mechanic can reset lights, clear codes, etc… Imagine if all the used Toyotas out there didn’t have VSA contracts and had to adhere to your finance managers rules……. There would be millions of people in upheaval. He was, quite simply, lying in the worst and most idiotic way possible. When I bought my truck, my finance manager discouraged me from an extended warranty, he said “Don’t waste the money, it is a Toyota”.

Lastly, odds are your new car will run 100s of thousands of miles with less money spent on maintenance than the contract cost. If you can’t get a hold of him, read the contract and cancel it via the phone number on it directly.

Enjoy the new car, you did well !!!!

 

I started doing this. I find finance still goes through all the talk about service plans and extended warranties, but don’t generally push back trying to sell it. I’ve also found buying used Toyota’s from Ford dealerships results in an easy going finance experience. I’ve had them tell me, this is a Toyota, you should be good without this, but it’s an option if you want it.

 

When I bought my 4Runner in August, the first thing I told finance was “So my salesman just sold me on how reliable and durable the 4Runner and Toyotas in general are. Are you going to call him a liar and tell me how I need all sorts of warranty protection?” After that he goes, “well, I have to ask you some things for legal purposes anyway”, but he was not trying to upsell me at all. He knew I knew what I wanted.

 

Cancel the VSA contract while you can. Don’t go talk to him, Once you know you have been conned, it’s really never a good idea to go back to the conman to get an explanation.

If you do talk to him you’ll probably end up with another VSA contract on a car you havn’t even bought, and feel totally confident you did the right thing.

 

Ha! .. too funny and likely correct. I don't need to pay for yet another contract.

 

All the Toyota's and Lexus's here are owned by Servco. The sales guy does not talk to you at all about any add ons. You agree on the price of the vehicle with packages then the finance guy shows you the options (extended warranty, ceramic and all that other bs). So not all dealers try to stick it to you. Could just be down here.

They also do not sell above MSRP. So don't have to deal with the BS mark ups.


The 4R we did not get extended warranty. The RX we did since every god damn thing in it is power. Was only $2k to extend it to 10 years 100K miles.