NHTSA Complaint #10462842 — 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

I SAW A SMALL POOL OF A RED-BROWN LIQUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, UNDER THE ENGINE. I DROVE IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC CALLED THE NEXT DAY TO SAY THE HEAD BOLTS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK WERE STRIPPED AND THE CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE. THIS REQUIRED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THE MECHANIC HAD CHECKED ONLINE AND CALLED HIS ENGINE FRIENDS AND IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. WWW.CARCOMPLAINT.COM DETAILS THIS PROBLEM WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. MY 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HAS BEEN VERY RELIABLE UP TO THIS POINT. WHEN I REPORTED IT TO TOYOTA, THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THEY WILL LET ME KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS. I UNDERSTAND THE CAR IS OLDER AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND AM LETTING YOU KNOW BECAUSE THIS APPEARS TO BE A "DEFECT", RATHER THAN NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON A VEHICLE. THE TOTAL BILL FOR THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT, WITH GETTING A FEW OTHER PARTS REPLACED WAS $6,272.86. *TT