NHTSA Complaint #10429478 — 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM SHEEHY NISSAN ON SEPT. 25, 2010, WITH 89,720 MILES, ONE PREVIOUS OWNER AND NO ACCIDENTS/DAMAGE REPORTED TO CARFAX, AFTER HAVING A STATE INSPECTION DONE OF ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS. I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AT REGULAR INTERVALS (MOST RECENTLY, SEPT. 23, 2011 AT 110,990 MILES) AND HAD 100K MILE SERVICING DONE ON JULY 19, 2011. THE ENGINE FAILED DURING A DRIVE TO NEW YORK. CLIMBING THE BRIDGE OUT OF DELAWARE, THE RPMS ABNORMALLY INCREASED. I SAW THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATE, TURNED OFF THE RADIO, OPENED THE WINDOW AND HEARD THE ENGINE MAKING LOUD NOISES. I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER ON THE APPROACH TO THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP, THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE REMAINED AT THE MID-WAY POINT, BUT A GREASY FILM COVERED THE BACK BUMPER. AAA TOWED IT BACK TO MY SHOP, WHERE MECHANICS SAID THEY COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO TURN. THEY SAID THE OIL PUMP HAD FAILED. OIL WAS IN THE ENGINE BUT WASN'T CIRCULATING, AND THEY FOUND FRESH OIL AND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN. I PAID $3,819 FOR A COMPLETE ENGINE REBUILD FOR A FOUR-YEAR OLD CAR. SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND THIS WEBSITE, I SEE A NUMBER OF OWNERS OF 2007 TOYOTA CAMRYS HIGHLIGHTING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR'S ENGINE, INCLUDING SLUDGE BUILD UP. I HAVE RECEIVED NO INFORMATION FROM THE DEALER ABOUT RECALLS. THE USED CAR WARRANTY COVERED THE ENGINE BUT ITS DURATION WAS 30 DAYS OR 1K MILES, WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. IN ADDITION, THE SUN VISOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CONTINUALLY SLIPS, OBSCURING THE VIEW OF TRAFFIC ON THE RIGHT, AND WILL NOT REMAIN IN PLACE - A PROBLEM I SEE OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE REPORT. I DON'T SEE A PLACE TO ENTER THIS, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DEATHS BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. *KB