My Fortuner does not live up to its name
The Toyota Fortuner is a beautiful car, manufactured in Thailand. In the Netherlands a very wrong vehicle, with a three liter diesel engine and a weight of about 1800 kilos. But in Thai traffic, the car (possibly) offers protection in the event of a collision. Yet my Fortuner has spent more time in the garage than I can drive it. My Fortuner is anything but lucky.
When the red light of the (hand) brake came on, it was already too late. Not a drop of brake fluid, but I still had to go home to Hua Hin at night. So drove at a walking pace and called the Toyota garage the next day. He picked up the Fortuner. Repair would take over a week, because the (small) part had to come from Chiang Mai. Please note: the Fortuner is built in Thailand!
At the beginning of this year, the car was at the paint shop for a week, as prescribed by the insurance. Not only did the painters not do their job properly, the gas springs that had to keep the tailgate up also turned out to no longer work after that week. Own fault, big bump, that's what the company's defense came down to. At the Toyota dealer, where my car is regularly serviced, the gas springs were not in stock. Delivery would take more than a month. The floods, you know?
My four year old Fortuner (77.000 km) had been leaking fluid for some time. That gave dirty spots on the tiles in the carport. So to be sure to the garage. An unclear diagnosis was made there, which meant that all gaskets had to be replaced. That of course took the necessary time and more than 6000 Baht. I received a bag with empty oil cans and new brake shoes. Were they just replaced?
The next day the air conditioner stopped working. So back to the dealer. It was difficult to look there and after two hours of waiting and 1600 baht, I got the car back. Everything was okay and I'm satisfied, considering the price.
An hour later, the air conditioner was not working again. The dealer came up with a difficult story that basically boiled down to a major leak somewhere. I had already found that out. I left the Fortuner behind and got a call two hours later asking to come and have a look. The sight was terrible. Almost the whole car seemed demolished, including dashboard, steering and so on.
The radiator of the air conditioning, at the front of the engine block, turned out to be leaking. it is a mystery to me why they have to demolish the rest of the car. A new radiator now has to come from Bangkok, but the warehouse there is closed over the weekend. If all goes well, the Fortuner will be ready next Friday, so after a week. For a fee of 13.000 baht. And then just hope that all the parts are back in place.
This is because the mechanics have had no training at all. They also have to work without a workbench with bad tools. As soon as they disassemble something, they damage another part without seeing it themselves.
Had new tires put on my 1 year old bike this week as they were full of deep cracks. I didn't want Thai tires anymore, so I had Dunlop order them, after visiting the dealer 4 times, he hadn't received them yet, so I put Thai tires on them again (the original ones from Honda). When they were on it, the rims were damaged, paint was off, the front brake did not work anymore (greasy hands on the brake disc) and the tires were inflated very hard.
Me back, mechanic didn't get it about the brake but told him to clean brake disc. He rubbed the brake pad on the greasy concrete floor and tried to replace it. No, I said, rub it 2m further over the clean concrete, that works better...
He couldn't clean the disc because he didn't have thinner or brake cleaner. So I had to do it myself. The new tire that was put on had almost no tread, so it is dangerous in wet weather. The dealer told me to come back for service if I had any problems with that tire…If I crashed first?
Why they demolish half your car for the air conditioning is because the chief mechanic tells his helpers to completely free up the air conditioning so that he can track down the problem. Those helpers do that and then the leak turns out to be in the front, so everything was expanded for nothing. Let's just hope that they install it neatly again without damage… I'm afraid that won't work.
Without brake fluid you can not brake at all, great that you dare to take to the road. There is a big leak somewhere when all the fluid has drained out. Very sad that they don't have parts in stock for a Fortuner. But that's how it works here.
I would trade in the car for a new one if that is possible. From now on, every time you rattle you will think that your car has broken down.
on response from Nok,
no training?? no good tools?? no workbench??
where the hell do you live??
would just pay a visit to Toyota in Cha Am
I didn't even come across such a dealer in NL and for prices that you can only laugh about!
A typical Monday car, we would say in the Netherlands. What bad luck.
Now, in some dictionaries, Fortune is explained not only as fortune, but also fate, which can work both negative and positive. You clearly have the negative side.
By the way, the Fortuner is a car and that is a masculine noun, so not her name, but his name!
Good luck with your Fortuner
I've thought about the gender of my car for a long time. A mnemonic was always that the word was conjugated feminine if you could sit in it. Then the car is female. But the Fat Van Dale considers the car to be masculine, so we stick to that.
But a French car is called there: “La” voiture….
And in German das Auto, I think we've had them all.
This has nothing to do with the subject Hans. When I do I get a warning.
The Fortuner has the d4d engine which is very reliable, have one myself in Holland and never had any problems with it.
I really don't think much of Thai mechanics, there are very few with real expertise. Tools may seem like a lot to a layman, but they are not what we use in Europe. When I see how the Thai handle all parts and tools, tears come to my eyes. I have several cars myself and also self-built etc. I also had several of the one and only Voiture (la DS) and still do.
77000 km is little for us in Holland, for a Bkk car it can be a lot as they often drive in traffic jams. I also know that the dealers often try to rip you off by misdiagnosing and scaring you. Have seen it happen several times. Bkk's Quickfit also work there, huge bunglers and liars. Have they seen my wife's car align with the laser, but the measuring unit was even crooked on the rear wheel, when I pointed it out to him it was mai pen lai .... pffff what a mess.
Toyota for export from Thailand is a different quality than the one that stays in Thailand. It may sound strange, but e.g. Makita or Hafele do that too, Thai get a cheaper price and quality.
A Camry for 1.3 million baht is not expensive, but not the same as for Europe.
The fortuner looks tough but drives like a tractor, so it is still a delivery van. They were handy with the high water, but otherwise I don't think it's a handy car for the big city.
I tried to get something off the price for a new camry last week, but I just couldn't. They wanted to call and then I left it at that because I am waiting for the euro to be stronger. Good sales don't have to call and in Holland you talk a lot about it.
Toyota is also the best brand, would not want to buy / drive anything else. Am just still looking for the right dealer, but that can also be solved by reading forums like this.
Ha Lol a Monday morning car? No, just that Thai Gründlichkeit or dredging.
I think he was just cheated with a rolled back odometer. Looks like a Sjonnie has also driven it with those rims, so it could be good.
Well then you can choose, whether to keep throwing a lot of money in it or buy another one.
I don't see what Toyota can do about this. Turning back counters is not even a criminal offense in Holland, let alone here.
Hans, you don't live in Bangkok. That might be a little less.
Bought 2 brand new minibuses for sons who had a new job. Constantly drive around with those things. Completely VIP dressed. Are on average 2x per month in repair. Are Thai so they know where Abraham etc.
Have a great (totally different) antique clarinet. They don't know how to handle it when repaired.. Tone purity and tuning. They don't understand it. Go arrange this in Holland in March. Can be done anywhere.
That happens in the land of smiles. I hope it ends well for you.
But when I read it like this, I fear the worst.
bit strange story, I have a fortuner, purchased new, and is now at 70.000 km
under maintenance at Toyoya in Cha Am, the dealer in Hua Hin is not really good.
don't even have to replace a light bulb, car is completely problem-free!
but I have and keep it in its original condition and when I look at the photo with the complaint story, I already know enough! those rims alone, and that is often the problem, cut back on proper maintenance but all kinds of rubbish on it and stick to it!
and for the record, this is my 4th jeep from Toyota and with the first I already had a mileage of 340000 km WITHOUT any problems.
Well, cut back on proper maintenance…. The car goes to the garage for maintenance every 10.000 km. Those 20-inch Lenco rims were already on it. It may be due to the dealer in Hua Hin.
I have a now almost 6 year old vigo, same engine, but actually no significant problems.
In Thailand, however, the posturing starts at the dealer garages, that there are supposedly all kinds of parts broken, where nothing is wrong.
I was in the garage (toyota pattaya 1998) last week because my car smoked a lot and used engine oil.
Was a small thing, and for 2000 baht it was solved.
However, upon collection, the message came that the turbo was broken and urgently needed to be replaced. Price 58000 baht.
Since I do not have such a repair made without further ado, it should be clear, partly because the car drives fine.
Then drove to Toyota Rayong, had the car connected to the computer there, and got the message, sir, there is nothing wrong with the turbo of your car!
So be on your guard, especially at the authorized dealers, because the truck box from Europe has now blown over!
Hans,
you just bought the old (previous) model with problems that have been solved in the new model of course. That's what they always say...
Hans,
You just have to trade in such a Fortuner every year. With your mileage and then also four years old, then it is long over with a Thai product …….
And then all that mess on it, negro wheels, chrome mirror caps, sidesteps and countless spoilers, in the Efteling you will definitely not see a more beautiful attraction…….
Must also have a bunch of blue light on it, pfffff.
As written above, trade in this organ and separate yourself from the crowd and buy a Captivate or something.
Good luck with your car Hans.
Haha, nice comment. Negro wheels etc. You are not allowed to eat nigger kisses these days, so watch out. I'm still smiling!
Those wheels were already on it? Second-hand? Then unfortunately you never know the life history of him (the car).
But everything can be 100% different per dealer. I had a Ford first and both Ford in Pattaya and Rayong were just really bad. After 6 years and 170k km there was so much wrong with Ford that I bought a Toyota.
But also the Toyota dealer in PTY was not very good, but I only found that out when I went to the Toyota dealer here in Khon Kaen…. what a difference!
I noticed the same with the service of my Kawasaki motorcycle, at Mityon in PTY, oil is simply changed and that's it. In Udon a Kawasaki check-list is neatly completed and the results are discussed with me and only then is something really done.
Chang noi
Dear Hans,
I completely understand your annoyance.
My experiences with my 3.0 d Fortuner and the Toyota garage in Chaam get a big 10.
4 years old, 100.000 km, never any problem, return the car dirty for service, returned spotlessly clean, on time, according to the specification specified in advance. So it can be done that way, of course, but that is not news…..
With greeting
indeed, 1 of the best dealers! in Cha Am!
good and knowledgeable staff, top equipment, and super service!
yes here we go! a 2 hand fortuner, with how many km?? and I mean REAL miles!
An acquaintance bought a 450.000 year old Vios for 4,5 baht (a new Vios starts at 500.000!!!!!) The old model, with 140.000 km on the clock, turned out to be 440000 km!
and yes, with such rims that were already on it, only a dodo could have driven around with them, rims, preferably the most horrible and vulgar, bells and whistles, blue light underneath, juke boxes, etc. etc., but maintenance? no money for (over)
and so you wrongly give Toyota!!! a bad name,
my first jeep, land cruiser same engine, myself turned up 340000 km and the 2nd owner came to…………… don't be alarmed!!! 900000 km!! on 1 engine!
my 2nd 320.000 km without anything, my 3rd 400.000 without anything,
They are not always beautiful or very great to drive, but they are the BEST car in the world Toyota and Lexus, that's it!
pity for the arrogant eastern neighbors in NL with their star and propeller goggos
You're right.
I'm not ready for a car there yet, but there's a good chance it will be a Toyota pickup (Fortuner?). My girlfriend lives near Khonkaen, so hopefully I don't have to worry about the dealer.
Hans,
indeed I also understand your annoyance, but maybe you bought the wrong second-hand fortuner, and I walked away from the Hua Hin Toyota Dealer.
Have had a fortuner for more than 4 years now, bought at the Cha-am Toyota dealer and maintained there. Is always delivered spotlessly clean and it is clearly agreed in advance what needs to be done and at what price.
The counter is now almost at 100.000 km, no problem at all. And that garage is tip-top, and almost for free.
I do tires at the tire dealer at Palm Hillls, tip-top company and good professionals who know what they are talking about.
I would go to a real dealer for that Fortuner.
Brought my ISUZU B MAX to the dealer in Pattaya for a checkup last week.
Sitting in the air-conditioned waiting room on the 1st floor, you can look through an enormous glass wall into the workshop. You see your car drive in and they get to work.
Change oil-Check air conditioning and much more. It appears that 2 spring straps at the rear need to be replaced.
When everything is ready, the windows are still washed. Cost 1180,00 Bath.
And the coffee is free….
Frank
Frank: There is no shortage of secondary service at the Toyota dealer in HH. Here too, there is an air-conditioned waiting room, with even couches to watch the TV and a glass wall to monitor the work on your car. The coffee is free, but the work on the car is definitely not. Oh, we only possess our soul in patience….
That's why everyone walks away from the dealer in HH, probably due to the staff and knowledge, which is strange because the owner is also the owner of cha am and pranburi dealers!
but all in all, this one has had a ..#^&$%……… as the first owner because this is not possible and should not be done with only 77000 km, it should have just been run in at that mileage!
It could indeed be dealer related, as some people write above. Try another car company, they may solve the problems there in one go. As for the Fortuner, with 77.000 miles under its tyres, problems like this should be a long way off. Too bad, because it's a great car.
Your Forune is worth a "fortune" if you only know where to go
In the future, please check the spelling before passing on the comment?
Hans,
Separate story, after all Toyota is a strong car. I assume you bought the cart new. Are you out of warranty? I also have the impression that you have more affinity with your pen than with your car ;-).
Do you really have serious doubts about the expertise, I have a Dutch friend who has been a workshop chief at Mercedes and Toyota. Or else grab a major dealer in BKK.
I too often experience idiotic things, such as replacing the city lights. When I came back from lunch, the mechanic turned out to have removed the complete front. He did not know that these lights were replaced via the inner screen. 🙁
I don't trust a Thai until he has proven his skills to me.
success
More affinity with the pen than with my Fortuner. Hahaha… you could be right, although I love my car…
Incidentally, the warranty expires after three years and even during that period the garage in Bangkok (On Nut) managed to get out of it.
The Toyota is a strong car, that's true, but apparently some parts are not.
Hans,
You said it yourself: parts.
Here in Thailand, a lot of counterfeit parts are used. They all come from China and not from Japan. They are much cheaper, but of inferior quality. No one is averse to using them. And that is often the rub.
There's even a market here in Bangkok for that stuff.
Car Dealers: No one is more Catholic than the Pope.
And then you end up in heaven later, you can't even drive a car, do you know why, no car dealership ends up there. haha
Then trade it in LOL. You will surely get a hefty price back.
Succes
I bought a new Toyota sport cruiser 8WD with automatic transmission more than 4 years ago, I have now driven more than 200.000 km with it and no problems at all with the car.
I always go to the Toyota dealer for maintenance, before this I had a toyota soluna bought second hand from the dealer with only (real kms) 35.000 km on the clock, I have seen the past of the car in the computer, there are still 65.000 myself miles traveled with no problems.
My advice always go to the Toyota dealer, I live in Chiangmai and there is an excellent service provided by the various dealers.
Hans .
Only threatening to send your list of complaints to the main dealer with the evidence can sometimes help to never get bothered again.
If that doesn't help you really need to do it.
I was treated like royalty by my dealer after I got my car later than agreed.
In the meantime I got a free loaner car because I had already sold mine on the agreed date.
Every year I receive a gift from Bangkok at Christmas .
Show Your Teeth.
Indeed Toyota Thailand is very customer oriented and is the first to respond when a customer complains about a dealer. And that dealer comes very quickly to apologize.
I ordered my Prerunner, but after 3 weeks they still didn't say a delivery date. So I contacted Toyota Thailand and it turned out they hadn't ordered a car for me yet. Within 24 hours I was called by the seller asking if he could come by because something had gone wrong. A new purchase contract was made with an even slightly lower price and the car was delivered within 1 week. And that while officially there was no dealer 1 in stock, but they have an "extra stock" for special customers.
Chang Noi
Just tried to contact Toyota Thailand through the website http://www.toyota.co.th So you can forget that. Although part of the text is in English, the contact module only displays the Thai version. The search for dealers is also unsuccessful. Its a shame, but there is nothing to do about it.
just go to Toyota Cha Am anyway!
perfect dealer, good service, also the seller there Mr Amand or Armand or Anand
(don't know the exact name) speaks decent English and will assist you with anything and everything,
someone wrote here before, a big 10 for Toyota Cha Am!
I also have my other mobile phone, Teana, serviced at Nissan Cha Am, not as perfect as Toyota Cha Am but still very good, 10.000 km service 1600 baht!
Idd a different website than 2 years ago, but the Google translate gets you far enough to contact the right person (complains).
Chang Noi
Hi Chiang Noi,
I also ride a pre-runner, bought in BKK.
23.000 on the clock now, and nothing but perfect service, and in Bangkok, and in Chiang Mai.
never had a problem.
So far the best and most versatile car I drove, including Landrovers 109 / 110, Susuki Samourai Jeep, Chrysler Voyager, Chrysler PT cruiser, VW Golf, Citroen 2 CV, 2x BX, Saab 96/99 /99 turbo and the scooter of course.
it only had flat tires and dog shit.
So yes, I think Hans Bos just has a Monday morning car, I also had a Saab 96, new, of which 1 cylinders were still working in 3 year and on the highway the hood suddenly rose and completely blocked the view.
no wonder Saab is bankrupt….
landrover also had a lot of hassle, but that could always be solved yourself, no electronics.
That's why I drove my Landrover 110 alone in Africa for six months.
I think Toyota produces a prime car, but I do note that the dealer in Chaing Mai told me that the Toyotas for Europe and the USA were better than the Toyotas in Thailand.
Yes ? what kind of story is that? I know that in France many control functions are on the steering wheel, such as radio, left and right, and that is basic here, but the more luxury a car has, the sooner you have a failing car…..
just buy a Toyota, goodness? never had a problem with that, including the carryboy lighting malfunctioned... 20 minutes in the garage, no bill and just drive
good luck thai drivers…..
Ho-ho, Guyido,
Saab absolutely should never have gone bankrupt!!! Of the entire line of cars you mention, this was probably the best brand where you didn't close the hood properly...
Pooh pooh, a cylinder fails after a year, big deal. If you close the tailgate of such a BX the second time, the plastic breaks…….Susuki Samourai Jeep you probably mean a Suzuki Samurai, has nothing to do with Jeep though. And then those Land Rovers, oh boy, tractor with a garbage bag over it........ Ford block in it and an impossible to adjust driver's seat. And then also the arrogance to only produce such a loft when it has really been sold.
You think Toyota makes a great car?? I know for sure. Fortunately, Landcruisers are driving all over the world, from the old BJ to the new V-8. Ideal, if only to pull all those Landrovers smoothly …….
Dear H. Bos, organize a Fortuner meeting in TH !! Can be on the Burapa site as soon as those engines have left. Just remove those 20 Inch Lencos for comfort, friend, you can even feel a cigarette butt.
An unfortunate car, although from the manufacturer's point of view….
I read a lot of half-truths and untruths here, including a lot about “trashers”, “baggers” etc.
what do the whiners do here when everything is mess or dredge???? stay nice in NL,
and the fortuner is produced here in Thailand and only sold in Asia and South America, and there is NO difference in quality.
there may well be a "Monday morning" copy, where not ??, but
it is and remains a super brand, Toyota!
and those who always have bad luck, always have bad luck with other brands, could it be maintenance AND driving style?
you can destroy any brand,
I have driven all brands of which “people” always said, “don't buy just make them”,
including Alfa, Citroen DS, Lancia etc etc and I drove more than 100.000 km on it everywhere and NEVER a problem! But yes, if you don't have THE feeling......
Hans .
If you can't do it with your translator on Google, then you, as the man who knows almost everything, know someone who can translate it for you.
Having connections is important.
You really know how to find someone among your important connections who can help you further .
The German ANWB keeps track of breakdown statistics, see ADAC.de pan statistics for the different classes of cars
nice that ADAC, but just 1 thing, or 2
Auto Motor und Sport, the largest German car magazine, they also call it Auto Mercedes und Sport, says enough already??
in EVERY car test in any magazine in Germany, a German brand ALWAYS wins!
in france ALWAYS wins a french brand etc etc etc
objectively?? well no, not really.
I'm staying unfortunately? In my previous responses, with the exception of a lost Monday morning copy, (almost) everything depends on a/ driving style and b/ maintenance
and a little bit about me, 45 years of damage-free, race and rally driving, teaching, skidding courses, etc., etc.
and an average of over 100000 km p. years (last years here in Thailand print that with only 15000 km p year) and drove anything and everything from almost every country, any bad luck in all those years? a burnt piston through YOUR OWN fault!
gwb,
Burnt piston through your own fault ??
Was that anyway;
a/ driving style or
b/ maintenance ??
Haha, we've got a hold of you, old Teana owner !!!
Think that piston was due for maintenance.
Here you dare to have a 10.000 service performed on such a beautiful limo as a Teana for less than 40,00 euros, that is also a point 'b'…..
Just kidding gwb, personally I think it's wonderful when you see plenty of cars driving in a country that are produced there. So also in Thailand. In France, I quickly noticed that in the past and the Germans are also aware of this. If we had also come up with that plan in the Netherlands, there wouldn't be hundreds of extra unemployed people because of that Mitsubishi factory........
Mr. Ron,
the fortuner had a major service, 70.000 km for 3200 baht!!! @&$%#
well that teana was cheap because just a little year old so .... only 1600 baht
and yes old, well, I am too,
that burnt piston? actually the 1st and only time really panning, young and brash so it's a blast!!, did a competition with an E type on the autobahn, grunted there for half an hour at well over 220 km/h
with the E type, blue plumes also came out, so I pressed it a little further
with my Flaminia, so I was going to win, hahaha, unfortunately, there was a bang, a rattle, and a sputter and it dropped to 70 or 80 km/h, they looked strange at the border with all that smoke and rattle from under the hood, but got it home.
and yes, of course I saw the meters go up a bit, but JUST NOT yet in the red range, so young and brash, just keep going 🙁
Dear GWB,
You have your judgments ready way too quickly, this is just about a statistic of the breakdowns along the way, let toyata come out on top in the statistics for the small cars. http://www.adac.de/infotestrat/unfall-schaeden-und-panne/pannenstatistik/default.aspx?pstatid=3
Dear Mr.Hans,
Whether I have made my judgments (too) quickly is probably due to experience, it is normal that Toyota, and all Japanese brands, always do well in statistics. They are simply good!
It is also a well-known phenomenon that ADAC or other German institutions, car magazines (to a lesser extent in France and Italy) do everything they can to make “their” products appear better.
but we digress from the hapless Fortuner, that's what this was about in the first place,
so just a quick judgement,
a/ never buy, especially not here, a 2nd hand (see my response about a Vios with 440000 km)
b/ in your case, the 1st owner has seriously neglected everything, unless it was a rare, Monday morning copy, because all the problems that come to light on your car with its low mileage are NOT NORMAL for a Fortuner, for not 1 Toyota.
c/ go to a good dealer, as mentioned by several here, e.g. Toyota in Cha Am
the expertise is there! the equipment too! and they also have a workbench. :)