On December 13, 2023, my wife and I purchased a used 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited from Top…read moreNotch Used Cars for $17,288.60, including tax. We had already paid a $500 deposit on an earlier date, which was subtracted from the price above at the time of vehicle purchase. We received from the seller a 3-month, 3000-mile warranty as well. The following problems were discovered during the 3 months after we purchased the vehicle:
Dec 27, 2023: When driving to meet friends in Pigeon Forge for Christmas, a hybrid alert came on, and instructed us to pull over immediately. The vehicle was towed to Rusty Wallace Toyota for diagnosis: Hybrid Oil Pump with Motor Assembly failure, Code P2601.
- Towing cost to Rusty Wallace Toyota of Morristown and Top Notch Auto: $112.50.
- Diagnosis at Rusty Wallace Toyota of Morristown cost: $167.80.
- Rental car cost: $388.10.
- Replacement of hybrid oil pump with motor assembly by Top Notch Auto of Johnson City, TN: $850.65 (Not covered by our Top Notch warranty.)
Feb 29, 2024: When having tires rotated at Johnson City Toyota, the following issues were discovered:
- Front struts recommended replacing.
- Sway bar end links both front and rear rec'd replacing.
- Both front lower control arms rec'd replacing.
- Replace rear subframe due to bushings being dry rotted, torn, and rusted out.
- Fix driver side axle seal leaking.
- Fix banjo bolt on the back of the engine leaking.
- Replace broken air vent to the right of the steering wheel.
- Total diagnosis cost: $738.69.
- Proposed cost to perform all repairs by Johnson City Toyota: $19,252.38.
Top Notch Auto said that none of these repairs were covered by their 3-month warranty, but they told us we could drive the vehicle safely until we could afford to pay for them.
Mar 9, 2024: While driving to the North Carolina coast to meet family for vacation, a hybrid alert came on again instructing us to pull over immediately. The vehicle was then towed to Mark Jacobson Toyota of Durham, NC.
- Diagnosis: Hybrid Oil Pump with Motor Assembly failure, Code P2601 (same error as Dec 27, Top Notch said they repaired).
- Towing to Durham, NC & Johnson City, TN cost: $618.
- Diagnosis at Mark Jacobson Toyota, Durham NC: $172.
- Rental car cost: $475.76.
- We no longer trust the Highlander to be safe and stopped driving it after it was towed back to Johnson City. It's been sitting in our driveway unused since then.
Total cost of vehicle as of 30 July 2024 (already paid and future repair estimates):
$40,064.48
Still carrying the loan and insurance for that vehicle, we had to withdraw funds from an investment fund I've saved to since 2007 to buy another vehicle to replace the bad one. I intended that this investment fund would help take care of my severely disabled niece when I and the other elders of her family were no longer around to take care of her. She is 7 years old and lives with severe brain dysfunction, severe vision impairment, considerable motor difficulties, and severe speech impediment.
I recommend that anyone considering doing business with these people to please review their Better Business Bureau rating and review of "F" at
https://www.bbb.org/us/tn/johnson-city/profile/used-car-dealers/top-notch-used-cars-0533-90040679