NHTSA Complaint #10786744 — 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

I RECENTLY NOTICED A RATTLING SOUND OUT OF THE ENGINE AREA THAT OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. IT TYPICALLY OCCURS AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR A COUPLE HOURS AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE. THE SOUND HAPPENS FOR LESS THAN 2 SECONDS. THE TOYOTA DEALER IN OUR AREA DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAILURE OF THE INTAKE CAM GEAR PER TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 0094-09. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT IF THE ISSUE IS LEFT UNADDRESSED, IT COULD LEAD TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE UPDATED CAM GEAR MADE BY TOYOTA DOES NOT FIT THE EXISTING CAMSHAFT. THIS MEANS THAT ALL 4 CAM GEARS AND TWO CAMSHAFTS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED WHICH DRAMATICALLY INCREASES THE LABOR AND PARTS COSTS. I WAS GIVEN THE FOLLOWING QUOTE FOR THE REPAIR: PART'S $3748.00 LABOR $2137.00 TAX $348.00 TOTAL $6233.00 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER TOYOTA TO CONFIRM THE DIAGNOSIS AND THEY CONFIRMED THE ISSUE AND QUOTED ME AT A SIMILAR PRICE TO DO THE REPAIR. MESSAGE BOARDS ALL ACROSS THE INTERNET DESCRIBE A SIMILAR PHENOMENON. AFTER DISCUSSING THE MATTER WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE, THEY AGREED TO COVER 50% OF THE PARTS COST, BUT I BELIEVE THIS TO BE UNFAIR BECAUSE THEIR UPDATED PART INTRINSICALLY AND DRAMATICALLY INCREASES THE LABOR AND PARTS COSTS. EVEN THOUGH ONLY ONE CAM GEAR FAILED, THE REPLACEMENT OF ALL 4 CAM GEARS IS NOW NECESSARY.