NHTSA Complaint #10894254 — 2006 TOYOTA AVALON

STARTED CAR AND SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM THE EXHAUST WHILE STATIONARY. CHECKED OIL LEVEL AND FOUND TO BE WITHIN NORMAL RANGE. WHEN DRIVING, CAR WAS SLUGGISH UNDER ACCELERATION WITH INTERMITTENT SMOKE. TOOK CAR TO SAN MARCOS TOYOTA AND THEY FOUND THE ENGINE TO BE SLUDGED AND REQUIRE AN OVERHAUL OF THE ENGINE ($4900) OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE ($6900). THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 140,000 MILES. WE ENDED UP HAVING AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OVERHAUL/CLEANUP THE TOP SIDE OF ENGINE FOR $4000. I HAVE THE ESTIMATES AND RECEIPTS FOR THE WORK IF NEEDED. I HAVE RESEARCHED ON-LINE AND FOUND MANY OTHER AVALON OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN HOPE THAT TOYOTA WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE POOR ENGINEERING OF THIS V6 ENGINE AND ISSUE A RECALL AND REIMBURSE THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS ENGINE FAILURE.