NHTSA Complaint #10288539 — 2006 TOYOTA AVALON

CAR HAS MAJOR OIL LEAKAGE ON MY 300+ MILE DRIVE DOWN TO LA FROM SAN JOSE. THAT MORNING, THE CAR IS DRY AND FINE. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF OIL LOSS. THE OIL LIGHT DID NOT EVEN GO ON. LUCKILY WE TOOK A PIT STOP AT COALINGA, WHERE WE NOTICE BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE WAS EVERY WHERE (AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED). WHEN I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL, THERE WAS NO OIL LEFT AS INDICATED ON THE DIPSTICK. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA, WHICH DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A PENDING TSB ON THIS LINE, SO THEY CHARGED US FOR REPLACING IT. UP UNTIL NOW, I'M AFRAID TO TAKE THE CAR FOR LONG DISTANCE DRIVE. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WAS DONE DUE TO LACK OF OIL. AFTER I GOT HOME, I CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER, BUT THEY REFUSE TO LOOK AT IT, UNLESS I PUT OUT MONEY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. MY COMPLAINT AND CONCERN IS THAT THE PART THAT GOT REPLACED IS THE SAME PART THAT FAILED. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, I'M AFRAID THIS PROBLEM WILL REPEAT AGAIN IN ABOUT ANOTHER 44000 MILES, WHICH THE CAR IS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY. ALSO, THE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON, SO IT PROVES VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING ON THE LONG TRIP. *TR