2004 Toyota Camry SE, dead transmission at 81,000 miles, orig owner

Toyota is being totally unreasonable with this. I take it that you have had your Camry serviced at the same dealership where you purchased and I also take it that you have faithfully followed all of their instructions. In this case, as a show of good faith, the dealership’s principal should have offered to split the difference on the transmission with you. The cost of the transmission in your area is about $5,000 so that figure is reasonable, but you should not have to pay it. Here are a couple of suggestions that may work:

— Contact the dealership’s principal, owner, and impress upon him or her that you have had your car faithfully serviced at the dealership and suggest that they cover half of the repair. Most dealers are reasonable, especially if you are a loyal customer

— Contact the local Toyota factory office and ask for the district manager in charge of the particular area in which the Toyota dealership is located. Show the manager your paperwork and emphasize you are a loyal customer and will likely buy other Toyotas in future. They may go to bat for you with the dealership.

— Contact Toyota’s consumer relations department and tell them your story. Though it may not seem like you can do much to influence a dealer or a carmaker, the record does show that a manufacturer does not like dissatisfied customers, especially if they will be buying further cars downstream. Many times, they will urge the automaker to do what is right.

— Contact your state’s attorney general or consumer affairs department and tell them your issue. Keep all of the paperwork on your car organized and show them the papers. It may not do much, but it may just put enough pressure on the dealer so that he or she will do the right thing.

— Contact a local consumer affairs reporter and detail your story. The reporter will contact the dealer and try to work something out. This is often the best way to accomplish your goal. It does work, really.