NHTSA Complaint #10299773 — 2004 TOYOTA RAV4

ON DEC.6,2009, MY RAV4 OVERHEATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. THE COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO GRIND THE VALVES AND REPLACE. WHEN THIS WAS ATTEMPTED, 4 BOLTS THAT ATTACH TO THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE SECURED. THE ONLY OPTION WAS A NEW/REBUILT ENGINE. THE COST -$3700. I HAVE LEARNED THAT OTHER 2004 RAV OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS NOR HELP WITH LABOR COSTS. I HAVE CONTACTED THEIR CALIFORNIA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING BECAUSE I WAS NO LONGER PROTECTED BY A WARRANTY. IN ADDITION TO TAKING OVER 5 WEEKS TO REACH THIS CONCLUSION, MY CAR IS STILL NOT REPAIRED AS I PONDER WHAT I SHOULD DO. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION APPEARS NOT TO BE A MAJOR CONCERN OF LOCAL DEALER NOR TOYOTA CORPORATE. *TR