NHTSA Complaint #11297477 — 2007 TOYOTA SIENNA

AS I WAS DRIVING THE VAN, I NOTICED A SMELL LIKE BURNING RUBBER, ALTHOUGH ALL GAUGES WERE NORMAL AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. SINCE I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, I PULLED INTO THE GARAGE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND A TRAIL OF OIL ON THE DRIVE WAY. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL UNDER THE VEHICLE AS WELL. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE OIL COOLER HOSE HAD BROKEN. THE MECHANIC SAID IF I HAD DRIVEN IT TO THE SHOP, I LIKELY WOULD HAVE RUINED THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE OIL LOSS WAS SO SIGNIFICANT (OUT OF 5 QUARTS, ONLY .25 WAS REMAINING). THE MECHANIC ALSO SAID THAT TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THE REPLACEMENT HOSES ARE NOW STEEL AND NOT RUBBER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE ENGINE COULD HAVE SEIZED UP WHILE RUNNING (DUE TO THE QUICK LOSS OF OIL) CAUSING POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND INJURY.