NHTSA Complaint #10300289 — 2004 LEXUS RX330

DEAR SIR/MADAM: I AM WRITING YOU BECAUSE I AM BEING IGNORED BY A LARGE PRODUCT MANUFACTURER. LEXUS/TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO HEAR MY CLAIM OR EVEN CONSIDER MY SITUATION ON THE CAR. I HAVE NOT HAD MY CLAIM DENIED BY LEXUS BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY WILL NOT EVEN CONSIDER MY ISSUE. I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 LEXUS RX 330 THAT HAS A FAILED ENGINE DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY VEHICLE MAINTAINED AT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND I GET THE OIL CHANGED IN A TIMELY MANNER. MY CAR HAS 110,000 MILES ON IT AND LAST SUNDAY THE ENGINE FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. IT NOW REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE THAT IS ESTIMATED TO COST ME $3,600 . THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY (1/9/10) SO I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO USE THE ONE TOWING OPPORTUNITY THAT MY INSURANCE COMPANY GAVE ME TO TOW MY CAR TO A NON-LEXUS/TOYOTA BRAND DEALERSHIP. THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY OIL SLUDGE. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY CAR SERVICED PROPERLY AND I REFUSED TO BE DENIED MY RIGHT TO BE HEARD. TOYOTA/LEXUS SETTLED A CASE FOR THE VERY SAME PROBLEM IN FEBRUARY 2007. THIS SETTLEMENT EFFECTED 7.8 MILLION UNITS MODEL YEARS 1997 TO 2003, HOWEVER I REFUSE TO GIVE UP THE FIGHT, MY CAR IS ONE GENERATION OUT OF THE SETTLEMENT. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT ALL ISSUES HAVE BEEN SOLVE THE VERY NEXT YEAR. I WANT TO FILE A CLAIM FOR MY CAR. HERE IS THE WEBSITE WITH THE DETAILS FOR THE SETTLEMENT: HTTP://WWW.OILGELSETTLEMENT.COM/ I CALLED LEXUS AND THEY BRUSHED ME OFF SAYING THAT I HAD TO GET THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AND EVEN THEN THEY WEREN'T OFFERING ANY TYPE OF MAINTENANCE CREDIT AT ALL. I CAN'T AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO HAUL MY CAR ALL OVER TOWN TO MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THIS COMPANY. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS WHICH BY ALL ESTIMATES WILL COST THEM LESS THAN WHAT IT WILL COST THEM AT A DEALERSHIP. WHAT REALLY UPSETS ME IS THAT CLEARLY THIS COMPANY HAS HAD AN ISSUE WITH SLUDGE, I LIVE IN ATLANTA WHERE TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY COLD WHICH IS A CAUSE OF SLUDGE AND THEY WON'T HELP. *TR