NHTSA Complaint #10311876 — 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA

THE ENGINE FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,000 DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILDUP. TRAVELING ON I-4 FROM TAMPA TO ORLANDO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED THEN WE HEARD A TAPPING FROM THE ENGINE,. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND AAA TOWED THE VEHICLE AND A RENTAL CAR COMPANY PICKED US UP. I HAD TWO ELDERLY PASSENGERS (IN THEIR 80'S) WITH WALKERS WHO HAD TO TRAVERSE THE GRASS ALONG THE INTERSTATE TO GET TO THE RENTAL CAR AND WERE NEARLY BLOWN OVER BY PASSING TRUCKS. TOYOTA REFUSED TO HONOR A CLAIM FOR REPAIRS ALTHOUGH THEY HAD AGREED IN A RECENT LOUISIANA LAWSUIT TO COVER SAID REPAIRS FOR 8 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. MY FAILURE WAS 8 YEARS AND 10 MONTHS FROM PURCHASE. THE SLUDGE TOOK MUCH LONGER THAN 8 MONTHS TO BUILD UP BUT TOYOTA REFUSED TO HONOR THEIR STATED COMMITMENT TO ASSIST ALL AFFECTED BY OIL SLUDGE DAMAGE (OVER 3,000 COMPLAINTS). THEIR PRODUCT WAS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS AND THEIR DENIAL TO ASSIST WAS DISHONORABLE. *TR