NHTSA Complaint #10276361 — 2006 TOYOTA AVALON

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE I-85 IN MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE A/C SHUT OFF AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WITHIN A MINUTE OR SO, THE "CHECK OIL" LIGHT STARTED BLINKING SLOWLY AT FIRST, THEN AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS IT WAS ON CONTINUOUSLY. BY THIS TIME I HAD PULLED OFF INTO A GAS STATION. AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE STATION THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD CLICKING NOISE. AFTER IT WAS PARKED, I CHECKED THE DIPSTICK AND THERE WAS NO OIL WHATSOEVER IN THE CAR. AS WELL, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COATED WITH OIL. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR, INCLUDING THE INSIDE OF THE WHEELS AND BRAKES WAS COMPLETELY COATED WITH OIL AS WELL. THE BACK OF THE TRUNK ALSO HAD A LIGHT COAT OF OIL ON IT, PRESUMABLY FROM THE SPRAY UNDERNEATH WHILE TRAVELING @ 65-70MPH. I THEN PURCHASED A QUART OF OIL, PUT IT IN THE ENGINE AND IT DRAINED ONTO THE GROUND. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TOWN & COUNTRY TOYOTA, A CHARLOTTE DEALER, WHO SAID THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS RUPTURE OF THE OIL BYPASS HOSE. AS I HAD NOTICED THE PREVIOUS NIGHT, THIS HOSE IS 1) VERY CLOSE TO THE GROUND AND SUBJECT TO HITS FROM ROAD DEBRIS, ETC. AND 2) VERY CLOSE TO THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE. THE USE OF A RUBBER HOSE FOR A PRESSURIZED FLAMMABLE LIQUID SYSTEM IN THIS LOCATION IS ABSOLUTELY RECKLESS. AT A MINIMUM, IT SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF ARMORED OR SHIELDED HOSE. I'M AMAZED THE CAR DIDN'T START ON FIRE FROM BEING DOUSED WITH FIVE QUARTS OF OIL LEAKING FROM THE RUPTURED HOSE AND SUSPECT THE WIND FROM INTERSTATE SPEEDS PREVENTED THIS FROM HAPPENING. THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2006 AVALONS AND HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ISSUED. THE ONLY THE ENGINE WASN'T DESTROYED (WITH 39,000 MILES ON IT) WAS BECAUSE I WAS LUCKY TO BE IN A GOOD POSITION TO PULL OFF. TODAY I FOUND THE SAME ISSUE DOCUMENTED ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. *TR