NHTSA Complaint #10811715 — 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

NOTICED LARGE OIL PUDDLE IN DRIVEWAY. HAD CAR TOWED AS OIL LOSS COULD HAVE CAUSED FATAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE OIL LINE WAS DIAGNOSED AS DRY ROTTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT OIL LINE WAS VASTLY DIFFERENT THAN THAT OF THE ORIGINAL LINE INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE PREVIOUS DESIGN. THE LEAK BEGAN WHILE DRIVING AND WE WERE ABLE TO TRACE THE OIL FOR MILES LEADING HOME. THE OIL INDICATOR LIGHT DID NOT COME ON TO WARN OF LOW OIL. TOYOTA DID RECALL OTHER VEHICLES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM HOWEVER NOT THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL. AFTER TALKING TO TOYOTA'S RECALL DEPARTMENT I WAS TOLD IF I HAD HAD THE REPAIRS TAKEN CARE OF AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP I MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE REIMBURSED SLIGHTLY (A PERCENTAGE OF THE BILL) HOWEVER SINCE I USED THE SHOP OF MY CHOICE THERE IS NO OPTION FOR ANY REIMBURSEMENT.