NHTSA Complaint #10093453 — 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, NO WARNING LIGHTS OR TEMPERATURE LIGHTS WENT OFF, BUT A RATTLING SOUND OCCURRED, PRIOR TO A "POP", WHICH WAS THE ENGINE "BLOWING" UP. THIS LATER WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE BLOW UP OF ROD #4, WHICH TORE THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK, WITH CURRENT REPAIR COST ESTIMATED AT $6000. THE VEHICLE HAS RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE INCLUDING OIL CHANGES WITHIN MANUFACTURER GUIDELINES. SINCE THIS YEAR AND MODEL WAS PART OF THE "OIL SLUDGE" MESS, I INQUIRED WHY I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS POTENTIAL FOR THE ENGINE TO SEIZE SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. THEY INDICATED MY VIN SUPPOSEDLY IS NOT PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN AND SINCE THE MILEAGE IS 96000 MILES, I AM NOT COVERED. TOYOTA TOTES A "QUALITY" PRODUCT, YET THIS IS THE FIRST CAR IN MY LIFE THAT HAS NOT MADE IT TO 140,000 MILES OR MORE. TOYOTA TO DATE HAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE WITH NO EXPLANATION OF WHY THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY DIE WITH SO FEW MILES. THEY INDICATE THAT THIS IS NOT RELATED TO THEIR OIL SLUDGE NIGHTMARE OR ENGINE DESIGN PROBLEMS.*AK