NHTSA Complaint #10282631 — 2006 TOYOTA AVALON

I WAS RUNNING MY AIR CONDITIONER WHEN SUDDENLY IT STOPPED WORKING AND I RECEIVED A CHECK AIR CONDITIONER. I ALSO HEARD A CLICKING UNDER THE HOOD. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO TOYOTA AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR IMMEDIATELY NEW THE PROBLEM, THE VVT, AN OIL VALVE, RUPTURED AND THIS IS ONE OF THE COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE AVALON. I DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME, BUT APPARENTLY THIS WILL DUMP MOST OF THE OIL FROM THE VEHICLE. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON TO INDICATE THAT THE OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW OR THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE VVT WAS FIXED AND I DROVE OFF ONLY TO RETURN DUE TO AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. COME TO FIND OUT DUE TO THE VVT VALVE RUPTURE AND THE DUMPING OF OIL, THE CAM WAS DESTROYED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 5600.00. TOYOTA IS THE ONLY PLACE THIS CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED. IF THE SERVICE ADVISOR KNOWS THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE TECH PERSON LOOKS AT YOUR CAR, SOUNDS LIKE A VERY ALL TOO FAMILIAR PROBLEM FOR THERE NOT TO BE A RECALL ON THIS PART. *TR