NHTSA Complaint #11031796 — 2007 LEXUS RX350

ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29 2017 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2007 RX 350 AND SHE NOTICED A LINE OF OIL LEADING TO HER VEHICLE AS IT WAS BACKED INTO A PARKING SPACE. AFTER CHECKING THE OIL SHE NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD LOST 4 QUARTS OF OIL. UPON INVESTIGATING FURTHER IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE ENGINE LOST THAT AMOUNT OF OIL IN JUST A FEW MILES. WHEN WE DELIVERED THE VEHICLE TO OUR REPAIR SHOP ON OCTOBER 4TH WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS THE RUBBER OIL LINE THAT SPRUNG A LEAK. THEY SAID THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY OF THESE AS THEY ARE A DESIGN FLAW FROM LEXUS DIRECTLY. THE NEW PART WAS IMMEDIATELY ORDERED FROM LEXUS AND IS TO BE INSTALLED WHEN IT COMES IN. AFTER ALL OF THIS I HAVE A QUESTION. IF THIS IS SUCH A PROBLEM PART WHICH HAS BEEN NOW ALTERED TO ELIMINATE THE RUBBER PORTION ON THE PART, WHY WOULD I BE CHARGED FOR THIS PART? THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AS AN OWNER PAST AND PRESENT OF 9 (NINE) TOYOTA/LEXUS VEHICLES I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS SEEMS TO BE ACCEPTED BY TOYOTA MOTOR CORP AS APPARENTLY NO BIG DEAL. HAD MY WIFE NOT NOTICED THE LEAK THE ENGINE WOULD'VE RUN DRY OF OIL AND I'D BE LOOKING AT A BILL FOR A NEW ENGINE. PROBABLY $8,000. DOES ANYONE THERE HAVE AN ANSWER OTHER THAN THE QUALITY OF PARTS AND ENGINEERING AT TMC HAS TAKEN A DOWNWARD TURN. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.