NHTSA Complaint #10284100 — 2006 TOYOTA AVALON

EXPERIENCED A LEAK IN THE "VVTI" OIL LINE TO THE REAR CYLINDER BANK IN THIS TRANSVERSE MOUNTED V6 ENGINE AT 78,000 MILES. FORTUNATELY, THIS WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE ENGINE FAILURE OR DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING EQUIPMENT OCCURRED. SEARCHING ONLINE, HAVE FOUND OTHERS WERE NOT SO FORTUNATE. THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IT COULD LEAD TO SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR ENGINE FIRE AS OIL LEAKS ON HOT PARTS. THE REPAIR COST WAS $202 FOR LABOR. TOYOTA PAID FOR PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR AS PART OF A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RESPONSE AFTER A COMPLAINT WAS MADE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REPLACE THIS PART, AS MY RESEARCH ONLINE REVEALS IT TO BE OCCURRING TO MANY PEOPLE WHEN THEIR CARS ARE OVER 70,000 MILES AND THEREFORE OUT OF THE NORMAL WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT AND NOT A NORMAL WEAR ITEM. *TR