NHTSA Complaint #10137355 — 1994 TOYOTA CAMRY

AT 67,320 MILES, UPON TURNING THE IGNITION KEY, THE ENGINE EXPLODED BELOW THE FILTER HOUSING AND THE CRANKSHAFT WAS VISIBLE. ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS THE ONLY REMEDY. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE,I SUSPECTED THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE CAMRY ENGINE HAD SLUDGE-RELATED PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS ABOUT MY CAMRY THAT SHOW THAT OIL AND FILTER WAS CHANGED REGULARLY BY A TOYOTA DEALER OR COMPETENT CAR MECHANIC. THUS THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY NEGLECT. ON APRIL 24, 2005, I SENT A LETTER TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER, TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., TORRANCE, CA 90501 THAT DESCRIBED THE EVENT AND REQUESTED REPLY. THERE WAS NO REPLY TO THIS DATE. ON JUNE 18, 2005 I WROTE ANOTHER LETTER TO THE TOYOTA ASSISTANCE CENTER REMINDING THEM THAT I EXPECT BOTH A REPLY AND EXPLANATION OF WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE. AGAIN, NO REPLY TO THIS DATE. *NM