NHTSA Complaint #10263141 — 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY

WITHOUT WARNING, THE VVT OIL SUPPLY HOSE RUPTURED, SPRAYING ENGINE OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE, UNDERCARRIAGE AND HOT EXHAUST OF MY VEHICLE. THIS IS A 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE WITH THE 3.5 LITRE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE LOST ALMOST ALL OF IT'S ENGINE OIL IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND NO WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATORS EVER CAME ON. TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT PEAK OPERATING TEMPERATURES, THIS POSES A VERY SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE RUPTURED HOSE WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND WOULD TAKE AT LEAST 5 WEEKS TO GET. I CONTACTED TOYOTA'S CORPORATE OFFICES AND WAS TOLD THAT PRODUCTION OF THE HOSES COULD NOT MEET THE DEMAND FOR THEM AND THAT IT MAY TAKE 5 WEEKS OR MORE TO GET THE PART AT MY LOCAL DEALER. I WAS INFORMED BY A VERY RELIABLE SOURCE THAT AT THE PRESENT TIME, TOYOTA HAS APPROXIMATELY 1100 VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME ISSUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE OIL HAS COVERED ALL OF THE RUBBER SUSPENSION PARTS FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ALL THE WAY TO THE REAR TAILPIPE TIPS. AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, THIS CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO ALL OF THE RUBBER SUSPENSION PARTS. I FEEL THAT THE TOYOTA CORPORATION IS TRYING TO LIMIT IT'S EXPENSE FOR THESE PREMATURE FAILURES OF THIS OIL SUPPLY HOSE AND THIS POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF ANYONE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD CERTAINLY WARRANT A LOOK BY THE NHTSA AS IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM IS LARGER TAN THE ABILITY OF TOYOTA TO FIX. THIS ALSO PLACES AN UNWARRANTED BURDEN ON THE CUSTOMER WHO HAS TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE CAR THAT IS OUT OF SERVICE AND ALSO PAY FOR RENTAL TRANSPORTATION TO REMAIN GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. *TR