NHTSA Complaint #10446270 — 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING issue reported to NHTSA

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Complaint Details

ODI Number	10446270
Vehicle	2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
Component	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Date of Incident	November 28, 2011
Date Filed	February 2, 2012
Mileage	77,900 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	OH

Consumer Description

VALVE SPRINGS. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. I MANAGED TO STEER ACROSS 4 LANES OF FAST TRAFFIC TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS PISTON FAILURE. THE CAR WAS TOWED 140 MILES TO MOTORCARS TOYOTA FOR REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED: "A VALVE SPRING ON THE #2 CYLINDER BROKE IN FRONT HEAD AND DROPPED INTO THE # 2 CYLINDER, DESTROYING THE PISTON AND SEVERELY DAMAGING THE SHORT BLOCK ASSEMBLY. BLOCK HAD A HOLE IN IT AND #2 PISTON WAS BROKEN IN HALF". REPAIR INCLUDED: REPLACING SHORT BLOCK ASSEMBLY, FRONT HEAD, EXHAUST CAM, VALVE, SPRING. I HAD TO PAY APROX. $6000 FOR A PROBLEM TOYOTA PUBLICLY ADMITTED SOME 2008 V8 MODELS HAD. FAULTY VALVE SPRINGS WAS ACTUALLY A RECALL BUT ONLY FOR LEXUS MODELS. NOT FAIR! *KB

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