NHTSA Complaint #10910406 — 2005 TOYOTA RAV4

1) EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION STARTED EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN OIL INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON WELL BEFORE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WAS DUE. INITIALLY, THE MECHANIC WAS NOT CONCERNED AND JUST TOPPED OFF THE OIL, AND I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT THE NEXT SCHEDULED DATE (MECHANIC DID NOTE THAT THE OIL WAS AGAIN LOW, BUT NOT LOW ENOUGH TO ENGAGE THE OIL LIGHT). ABOUT A 1000 MILES AFTER THAT CHANGE, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND THE MECHANIC DID THE SAME THING. WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE OIL CHANGED (EARLIER THAN SCHEDULED), AND PERSONALLY VERIFIED THE OIL LEVEL. SAME THING AGAIN, AND THIS TIME HAD THE SHOP RUN A DIAGNOSTIC ($250 TYVM) AND WAS TOLD THE REPAIR (REMOVE AND REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD VALVE STEM SEALS, HEAD GASKET, AND VALVE COVER GASKET) WOULD COST IN EXCESS OF $3,400.00. 2) CHECK ENGINE AND VSC TRAC INDICATOR LIGHTS ENGAGED AND MECHANIC INITIALLY INDICATED THAT AN NEW GAS CAP WAS NEEDED, HOWEVER THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE, AND HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RAN ($250 TYVM) AND WAS TOLD THE REPAIR (REMOVE AND REPLACE THE EVAC CANISTER) WOULD COST IN EXCESS OF $875.00. KIND OF DISAPPOINTED IN THE "TOYOTA QUALITY" AT THIS POINT.