NHTSA Complaint #11209101 — 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

VVT-I OIL LINE FAILURE CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED ON A HIGHWAY. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND REPAIRED DUE TO LACK OF QUALITY PARTS USED IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. TOYOTA IDENTIFIED THIS PROBLEM INTERNALLY YET FAILED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURE TO IDENTIFY ALL MODELS EQUIPPED WITH SUBSTANDARD OIL LINES AND, LIKEWISE, DID NOT ATTEMPT IN EARNEST TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF AFFECTED MODELS. THE RESULT OF TOYOTA'S LACK OF APPROPRIATE EFFORT IN NOTIFYING OWNERS RESULTED IN OIL LINE PARTS FAILURES OCCURRING OUTSIDE OF AN EXTENDED COVERAGE PERIOD INSTITUTED BY TOYOTA. BECAUSE TOYOTA DID NOT ACT IN GOOD FAITH, OWNERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY PUT AT RISK OF OIL LINE PARTS FAILURES RESULTING IN ENGINE DAMAGE OR EVEN ENGINE FAILURE. MANY OF THE AFFECTED MODELS ARE STILL IN OPERATION AND THE DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL HAVE NO IDEA UNTIL THE PART FAILS DUE TO TOYOTA'S LACK OF APPROPRIATE ACTION. TOYOTA OFFERS NO SUPPORT FOR THIS DEFECT OUTSIDE OF A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT OR LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN WHICH OWNERS WERE NOT SUFFICIENTLY MADE AWARE OF.