NHTSA Complaint #10071218 — 1994 TOYOTA CAMRY

WIFES CAR STARTED SMOKING AT 59,000 MILES. I WENT TO LOCAL TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THAT THE OIL HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED ON A REGULAR BASIS. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS NOT TRUE. I ASKED HOW MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE AND THEY SAID THAT TOYOTA ENGINES DO NOT GIVE ANY PROBLEMS WHEN THE OIL IS CHANGED. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME IN SECRET THAT SOME OWNERS HAVE PUT TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE OIL AS A DETERGENT AND BREAK UP THE SLUDGE. WE DROVE THE CAR UNTIL IT HAD 73196 MILES AND FOUND A TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER WHO HAD A SHOP WHO QUOTED ME THE $2100.00. HE SAID IT WOULD COST $4,800.00 IF TOYOTA DID IT. I WAS FURIOUS WITH TOYOTA AND LET HIM DO IT. HE TOLD ME HE AND A PARTNER WORKED AT TOYOTA 12 HOURS A DAY FOUR DAYS A WEEK TEARING DOWN FIXING AND REASSEMBLING TOYOTA ENGINES BECAUSE OF SLUDGE BEFORE HE BECAME SERVICE MANAGER