NHTSA Complaint #11354006 — 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

I HAD AN ENGINE OIL COOLER HOSE RUPTURE AT 131000 MILES. I LEFT AN OIL SLICK A MILE LONG ON THE STREET CAUSING A HAZARD IN THE ROAD AND A MESS IN MY GARAGE. ENGINE OIL HAD SPRAYED ALL OVER THE LOWER HALF OF THE ENGINE AND ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH WAS HEAVILY SMOKING AND I NOTICED A SMALL FIRE DOWN IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SO I HAD TO POUR WATER ON THE FIRE. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR A GOOD 7 YEARS BECAUSE I RECEIVED A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE" (ZE2) IN 2014 STATING THAT THE OIL COOLER HOSE COULD SPRING A "LEAK" AND THEY WERE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR SAID PART TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. BUT TOYOTA PLAYED DOWN THE SEVERITY OF THE ISSUE STATING THAT A MAJORITY OF VEHICLES WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART WOULDN'T FAIL. TOYOTA KNEW THAT THE RUBBER HOSE WILL FAIL ON ALL VEHICLES DUE TO THE HEAT/COOL CYCLE BY ITS CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER (ABOUT 6 INCHES AWAY) SO THEY REDESIGNED THE OIL COOLER LINES TO BE ALL METAL. ALL TOYOTA/LEXUS VEHICLES WITH THE 2GR-FE ENGINE (2007-2011) WILL EXPERIENCE THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE RUBBER OIL COOLER HOSE(S) OVER TIME AND I'M SURE VEHICLE FIRES HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED DUE TO THIS KNOWN DESIGN FLAW.