NHTSA Complaint #10286701 — 2006 TOYOTA RAV4

ON TUESDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER, 2009, I CAME HOME AND PARKED MY CAR IN THE > GARAGE. WHEN I GOT OUT, I NOTICED THE SMELL OF BURNING OIL. I INVESTIGATED > AND FOUND OIL RUNNING OUT FROM UNDER THE FRONT END OF MY WIFE'S RAV4. THE > OIL WAS CONTINUING TO FLOW AND HAD COVERED MOST OF THE GARAGE FLOOR (I HAVE > PICTURES). I OPENED THE HOOD OF THE RAV AND FOUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT > COVERED IN SMOKING OIL. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WAS ALSO DRIPPING OIL FROM VARIOUS > LOCATIONS, WITH NO APPARENT DAMAGE BEING VISIBLE. I EXAMINED THE DIPSTICK, > BUT NO OIL WAS INDICATED. WHEN I OPENED THE OIL FILL CAP, SMOKE CAME OUT > WITH A STRONG SMELL OF BURNT OIL BEING PRESENT. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED > AMERICAN TOYOTA AND REQUESTED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THIS WAS SCHEDULED FOR > THE NEXT MORNING. NEXT I CALLED AAA AND ARRANGED TO HAVE A FLATBED TAKE THE > RAV TO AMERICAN. WHEN THE TOW SERVICE ARRIVED, WE PUSHED THE CAR OUT OF THE > GARAGE AND POSITIONED IT TO BE WINCHED ONTO THE FLATBED. OIL WAS DEPOSITED > ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY. > > I DROVE MY CAR TO AMERICAN AND MET WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR FOR > AMERICAN. I EXPLAINED THAT THE RAV HAD DEVELOPED A SERIOUS LEAK AND THAT > THE CAR WAS BEING TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE ADVISOR RELATED THAT THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE OIL SUPPLY LINE (TO THE HEAD) FOR THE RAV AND CAMRY > USING THE 3.5L V-6 ENGINE. HE EXPLAINED THE FAILURE MODE FOR THE LINE AND > STATED THAT THE PART SHOULD BE IN STOCK. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA REGARDING THIS SITUATION. MY ON-LINE RESEARCH AND DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR SHOWS THAT THE RAV'S FAILURE MODE WAS WELL KNOWN TO TOYOTA. THE RAV'S MAINTENANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PERFORMED AT AMERICAN, BUT NO ONE WAS PROACTIVE AND REPLACED THE OIL LINE OR EVEN ADVISED US THAT IT MIGHT BE A SUBJECT FOR CONCERN. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE RAV OUT IN REMOTE PART OF NM OR IT HAD BURNED MY HOUSE DOWN? TOYOTA IS NOT COOPERATING BY PROVIDING FAILURE OR REPAIR INFORMATION. *TR