NHTSA Complaint #735414 — 1995 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER

BLOWN HEAD GASKET RESULTED IN CONTAMINATION OF OIL, ENGINE FAILURE. BLOWN HEAD GASKET RESULTED IN CONTAMINATION OF OIL BY COOLANT, WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE NEEDS NEW SHORT BLOCK, AT COST OF $5,200-$6,200. TOYOTA SAYS "IT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM." HEAD GASKET REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AT 58,652 MILES. NOW ENGINE FAILS. HAVE LEARNED INDEPENDENTLY OF POSSIBLE COOLANT CONTAMINATION OF THE OIL AND SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ENGINE (E.G. CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS) WHEN HEAD GASKET FAILED. CUSTOMER NEVER NOTIFIED OF HEAD GASKET DEFECT OR RECALL UNTIL MINE FAILED. NEVER TOLD OF POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. INDEPENDENT MECHANICS HAVE ADVISED THAT THE SHORT BLOCK SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT TIME HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF PROBABLE COOLANT CONTAMINATION OF OIL, WHICH DAMAGES BEARINGS AND EVENTUALLY RESULTS IN ENGINE FAILURE. TOYOTA ONLY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. NOW UNWILLING TO COVER RESULTING DAMAGE TO ENGINE B/C OUTSIDE OF 100,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THEY DENY RELATED TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE.