NHTSA Complaint #10520868 — 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY

I WENT TO WORLD TOYOTA ON 3/1/13 TO GET NORMAL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I MENTIONED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND REPORTED THAT I NEEDED A R/R CAMSHAFT TIMING GEAR REPLACED.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS RESET. I WAS TOLD I DIDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART AT THAT TIME, BUT WOULD HAVE TO GET IT REPLACED WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MAINTENANCE REQ LIGHTS CAME ON 6/11.I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RUN. I WAS TOLD THE CAMSHAFT GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.I CONTACTED WORLD TOYOTA TO HAVE THE PART ORDERED AND MADE AN APPT TO COME IN ON 6/21. ON 6/17, I HEARD 2 LOUD POPPING NOISES. I CHECKED THE OIL B/C THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE OIL PAN. I CHECKED THE DIP STICK TWICE AND NOTICED IT WAS DRY. I PLACED 3 QUARTS OF MOTOR OIL IN THE CAR.I STARTED THE ENGINE. IT STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. I PARKED AND CONTACTED WORLD TOYOTA TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION. I TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 6/19.THE SVC ADVISOR TOLD ME THE SHORT BLOCK ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; THIS WAS DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN.THERE WERE NO NORMAL WARNING SIGNS: CHECK OIL LIGHT OR BLACK SMOKE. I GOT ALL THE RECOMMENDED SVCS AT THE CORRECT INTERVALS. WHEN I ASKED WHERE THE OIL WENT, I WAS TOLD IT EVAPORATED.THE INSPECTION REPORT STATES I NEED REFURBISHED ENGINE OR A NEW SHORT BLOCK FOR $5,500 AND $6,400. I WAS TOLD THOSE WERE THE BEST PRICES THAT WORLD TOYOTA COULD OFFER BECAUSE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I CALLED THE TOYOTA CX EXP CTR TO VOICE MY COMPLAINT AND EXPLAINED THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT THERE ARE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE, OIL CONSUMPTION. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD REIMBURSE ME $2,000 FOR REPLACING THE ENGINE OR GIVE ME $1,000 OFF THE PURCHASE OF A NEW OR USED TOYOTA VEHICLE ONCE I SUBMIT AN INVOICE STATING I PAID FOR THE SVC AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY WORLD TOYOTA. *TR