[X]
Write ReviewJump to 
16
Helpful
Votes
Votes
Toyota Motor Corporation Complaint - Satellite Radio Ready - as stated on sticker
Complaint
ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA -- I purchased a new 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid this summer. The sticker says "satellite radio ready" which I would think means "subscribe" for the standard fee. When I questioned the salesperson, he said that you needed to purchase some additional equipment - he thought about $300. I purchased the vehicle and thought after a couple of weeks I would have the XM satellite radio installed.
I checked with two dealers - one said $795 - the other said $695! I asked if they had to replace the radio!!
I finally decided to have it done - through a dealer friend for $545. I picked the vehicle up and noted a small black antenna inside the rear window glued on the ledge. I questioned this type of antenna (which looks like the one that comes with the standard $39 XM receiver). I was told that Toyota U.S.A. sent this as the "factory installed" type of antenna! I questioned Toyota - received an incident number in July - it is now almost December; no response.
The radio did not work very well - cut in and out by trees, etc. My dealer finally found an antenna and mounted it on the trunk (painted gray to match my auto.) Still no response from Toyota!
I question their advertising and most important, their lack of customer service from the Corporate Office.
I checked with two dealers - one said $795 - the other said $695! I asked if they had to replace the radio!!
I finally decided to have it done - through a dealer friend for $545. I picked the vehicle up and noted a small black antenna inside the rear window glued on the ledge. I questioned this type of antenna (which looks like the one that comes with the standard $39 XM receiver). I was told that Toyota U.S.A. sent this as the "factory installed" type of antenna! I questioned Toyota - received an incident number in July - it is now almost December; no response.
The radio did not work very well - cut in and out by trees, etc. My dealer finally found an antenna and mounted it on the trunk (painted gray to match my auto.) Still no response from Toyota!
I question their advertising and most important, their lack of customer service from the Corporate Office.
Comments:
Posted by Slimjim on 2007-11-27:
Sorry JayD but really how can a car claiming to be satellite radio ready, need hundreds of dollars worth of equipment just to be "satellite ready" for subscription. Including a cheap antenna is far from ready. As implied in the post, the better antenna OP installed after market solved the problem of cut out. I have both Sirius and XM in two separate cars, both with good antennas, and neither cut out unless sitting under a car port.
Posted by UrFriendlyPirate on 2007-11-27:
I'll have to agree with JayD here.
Posted by Lidman on 2007-11-27:
JayD, take your own advice and STOP ASSUMING!
You are really making an arass out of yourself and you are wrong!
You are really making an arass out of yourself and you are wrong!
Posted by Waller on 2007-11-27:
I guess I did not make it clear - $695-795 for installation of something that is suppose to be there? I have another factory installed radio - antenna on the roof - no problem! Leaves certainly do not impact the unit - even the "cheap" unit that I move from car to car.
Check out "factory installed" satellite radios on most autos - antennas on roof - colors match the auto color.
Check out "factory installed" satellite radios on most autos - antennas on roof - colors match the auto color.
Posted by Slimjim on 2007-11-27:
Waller, you are 100% right. Ready certainly DOES mean installed. The cheap antenna they included saved you nothing in installation costs.
Posted by superbowl on 2007-11-27:
Slim and Lid's seem to be "spot on" as always. We have a "factory installed" satellite radio on one of our cars. "Satellite Ready" meant calling into the service, telling them they were out of their minds wanting $189 a year and them accepting our offer of about $70 per year. In about an hour everything was working. All of the needed hardware was on the car "factory installed".
Posted by Lidman on 2007-11-27:
Waller, I am with you 100% and Leaves do NOT hurt anything as far as radio's go. Good review and thanks for the information.
Posted by Aerocave on 2007-11-27:
F.Y.I. We have had the same problem with Honda's...certain radios say "XM Ready" and I have had several customers assume that means it "has" XM already installed...however I have to add that to upgrade the radio to actually have XM is no where near $600...I think its about half of that. I wish they would change the wording (or just stop putting that on) because I can see how someone not in the business might assume that.
Posted by SouthernDan on 2008-07-09:
I have seen several Avalons and Camrys with the antenna mounted inside on the rear deck. This is done "at the port" as the dealership says. The reception is never as good because xm and sirius tell you to put the antenna OUTSIDE the vehicle.
The painted antennas look better, but are the same inside as the regular black plastic ones.
The painted antennas look better, but are the same inside as the regular black plastic ones.
Posted by SouthernDan on 2008-07-09:
That price they told you is ludacris. I moved my bosses outside to the trunk when we tinted his car. He said it worked much better than it ever had. That is the same antenna that sells for 20 bucks. dont be fooled- I've been installing for 20 years and seen alot of ripoffs but Toyota's Satellite screw the customer takes the cake!
Posted by forcomplaintsonly on 2008-07-09:
That is the price you pay for satillite radio, there can be multiple inteference from just about anything. unless you live in the desert and no trees, buildings, house, poles, etc, then you are going to not have great reception all the time, one other thing, sun spots can also cause havoc with it.
Note: All comments are reviewed by a moderator before being published. Please be sure to read our guidelines before commenting.
Company Reps: Post your company response!
