Ordered AWD, Delivered FWD — Possible Bait and - kiwi
Ordered AWD, Delivered FWD — Possible Bait and Switch
On 5/28, I placed a $500 deposit for a 2026 RAV4 XLE Premium AWD and was told to expect delivery in 2-3 weeks. I called weekly for status updates while my elderly parents were waiting on transportation to medical appointments we had to postpone.
On 6/25, the sales agent called to say my car arrived but never mentioned it wasn't the car I ordered. Before signing anything, I ran the VIN they provided and discovered it was a FWD model, not the AWD I specifically ordered and paid a deposit on. When I confronted the agent, he called back saying no AWD was available and another 50-60 days would be needed — and offered only $200 off as compensation. Toyota's own customer service confirmed the FWD-to-AWD difference is $1,400.
It gets worse. The MSRP on the replacement car was higher than what I originally agreed to, making my out-the-door price $700 more than what I put my deposit down on. When I escalated to the General Manager, Jared White, he claimed he didn't know what happened to my original car, said I already received a big discount, and that there was nothing more he could do because "it's a popular car."
I strongly suspect my original AWD order was sold to another buyer at a higher price, and this FWD vehicle was offered as a substitution hoping I wouldn't notice the difference. Had I not personally verified the VIN before purchasing insurance, I would have driven away believing I had an AWD vehicle — only to find out on an icy road in New York this winter.
I filed complaints with both Toyota corporate and the Costco Auto Program (through which I received my discount) and have not received a callback from the dealer. Based on other reviews I've read, this is not an isolated incident at this dealership — customers are promised one vehicle on paper and handed something different at pickup.
This was a deeply frustrating and dishonest experience. Buyer beware — always verify your VIN before signing anything.
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