NHTSA Complaint #10133017 — 1999 TOYOTA TACOMA

DRIVING TO MY HOME ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, I HEARD A RAPPING NOISE START IN MY ENGINE. I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE GARAGE (D&J AUTO) THE FOLLOWING DAY. UPON THERE INSPECTION, THEY FOUND A HOLE IN THE BLOCK OF MY ENGINE. AFTER SWAPPING ENGINES OUT OF MY VEHICLE, I HAD FURTHER INSPECTED THE OLD ENGINE. I HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC FRIEND HELPING ME TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE TO FIND WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. WE HAD FOUND THAT A CONNECTING ROD HAD SHATTERED INSIDE THE ENGINE (ARM THAT CONNECTS PISTON TO CRANK SHAFT). I HAD CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. AND A FEW SERVICE MANAGERS IN MY AREA TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO COME AND INSPECT THE DAMAGE. I WAS TOLD BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT THE METAL CASTING OF THE CONNECTING ROD WAS FAULTY, I THOUGHT TOYOTA WOULD WANT TO VERIFY THIS BY INSPECTING THE PIECES THEMSELVES. I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AS OF YET AND IT HAS BEEN THREE WEEKS AND THE SERVICE MANAGERS KEEP SAYING; " THE ENGINE IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME". IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY THIS PROBLEM WOULD POSSIBLY HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY OR ACCIDENT TO ME OR OTHERS. I FELT SINCE THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ME, IT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO YOU. I HAVE DOCUMENTED THE DAMAGE WITH DIGITAL PICTURES AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE PIECES ANALYZED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE EXACT REASON FOR THE FAILURE. *NM