NHTSA Complaint #10779438 — 2006 TOYOTA RAV4

THE 2006 RAV4 MODEL TOYOTA HAS A RECORD OF STUCK OR CLOGGED OIL RINGS CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WHICH CAN LEAD TO FAILURE OF ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS DEFECT CAUSES OIL TO BURN AT A RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 1 QUART OR MORE EVERY 1,000 MILES. MY RAV4 WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 7/16/2015 TO PERFORM THE FIRST PHASE OF AN OIL INSPECTION & CONSUMPTION TEST. ON 8/4/2015 THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR RE-INSPECTION. IT FAILED THE CONSUMPTION TEST & I WAS TOLD THAT AS SOON AS PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE I'D BE CONTACTED; HOWEVER, THERE WERE SEVERAL CUSTOMERS AHEAD OF ME AWAITING THE SAME REPAIR. TWO MONTHS HAVE PASSED & I HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP AS TO WHEN THE REPAIR CAN HAPPEN. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER 10/2/2015. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE WOULD LOOK INTO THE MATTER & RETURN MY CALL IN 15 MINUTES. HE NEVER CALLED BACK. TOYOTA HAS ONLY ISSUED A TSB ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO DEALERS/MECHANICS, THUS OWNERS MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT OIL IS BEING BURNED OFF AS THE EXCESS SMOKE IS ABSORBED BY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH CAUSES CAUSES PREMATURE FAILURE OF THAT PAR AS WELL. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ITEM. IF A CAR DOING 70MPH HAS AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO LOSS OF OIL THEN THE PERSON WILL LOOSE STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL LEADING TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH. THIS IS A MECHANICAL ISSUE AS WELL AS A SAFETY ISSUE.