NHTSA Complaint #10631060 — 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

I BROUGHT MY 4RUNNER IN TO A REPUTABLE TIRE STORE FOR A ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION. THE TECHNICIAN SNAPPED A LUG STUD. I THEN HAD TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO A SEPARATE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE STUD REPLACED. I ATTRIBUTED THE INCIDENT TO A POORLY TRAINED TECHNICIAN. RECENTLY, I BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN FOR ANOTHER TIRE ROTATION. AGAIN, THE TECHNICIAN BROKE A LUG STUD. THE MANAGER INSISTED THAT THEY ALWAYS USE A TORQUE STICK SET TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS AND THAT THERE WAS NO TECHNICIAN ERROR. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE SHOP HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER TOYOTA TRUCKS OF THIS VINTAGE. I THEN TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND, NOT SURPRISINGLY, THEY SAID THE TIRE SHOP WAS AT FAULT. THEY SAID ALL STUDS SHOULD BE EVALUATED. IN DOING SO THEY NOTED THAT 8 STUDS WERE DAMAGED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED FOR A TOTAL COST OVER $400.00. THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY CULPABILITY, SAID THE DAMAGE WAS NOT WARRANTABLE, AND I PAID THE FULL PRICE FOR REPLACEMENT. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT LUG STUDS BREAKING ON 2010-2012 4RUNNERS AND TACOMAS. HERE IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED EXAMPLE: HTTP://WWW.ARTSAUTOMOTIVE.COM/PUBLICATIONS/2-EXPLANATORY/170-2010-4RUNNER-LUG-STUD-PROBLEM I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1990 4RUNNER FOR 20 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH LUG STUDS BEING BROKEN OR DAMAGED. IN FACT, I HAVE NEVER HAD A LUG STUD BROKEN OR DAMAGED ON ANY CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. I BELIEVE THE 2010 4RUNNER LUG STUDS ARE DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY AND TOYOTA WILL NOT OWN UP TO THIS FACT. *TR