NHTSA Complaint #10594692 — 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

I NORMALLY RIDE A VANPOOL, BUT DUE TO FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS TODAY I DECIDED TO DRIVE MY CAR INTO THE OFFICE. MY HUSBAND CALLED ME AT WORK TO TELL ME HE NOTICED A BIG OIL SPOT ON THE GARAGE AFTER I LEFT FOR WORK. HE TOLD ME TO PULL OVER AND NOT DRIVE MY HIGHLANDER IF IT STARTED CLACKING OR SMOKING ON MY WAY HOME. MY HUSBAND JUST CHANGED THE OIL IN MY CAR A FEW DAYS PRIOR. BEFORE I COULD MAKE IT HOME THE CAR WAS SMOKING, KNOCKING, AND SHIFTING VERY LOUDLY. MY HUSBAND SAID I WAS LUCKY THIS DIDN'T LOCK UP THE ENGINE. HE DISCOVERED OIL SPLATTERS ALL OVER THE TIRE AND NEAR THE ENGINE. WE HAD NO ISSUES AT ALL PRIOR TO TODAY. WE ARE GOING TO TRY REPLACING THE OIL LINE AS DENOTED IN OTHER PEOPLES COMMENTS. THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THIS ISSUE MIRROR MY EXPERIENCE. I'M DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS AND NOT A SAFETY RECALL. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS I'M HAULING KIDS TO/FROM DAYCARE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC NOT TO MENTION LOCKING UP THE ENGINE. THIS CAME OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. *TR