NHTSA Complaint #757032 — 2000 LEXUS RX300

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A NORMAL SERVICE, AND WAS IMFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT I HAD A SLUDGE BUILDUP. THEY TRIED TO BLAME ME FOR IT BY SAYING THAT IT WAS DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR. I DISPUTED THIS SINCE I HAD RECEIPTS TO SHOW I HAD THE CAR SERVICED WITHIN THE NORMAL TIMEFRAME REQUIRED BY LEXUS. (HOWEVER NOT SERVICED AT THE DEALER) THEY TOLD ME THIS PROBLEM/REPAIR WOULD COST ME $6000. TO $12000 TO CLEAN OR REPLACE THE ENGINE. I FELT THIS WAS A DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE SINCE FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, OR KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. 6 MOS LATER I SPOKE WITH AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER AT NO COST. THE DEALER STATES THIS IS A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY ARE NOW WILLING TO COVER HALF OF THE REPAIR, THOUGH I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LABOR OF APPROX. $2500. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COMPLETELY COVERED BY LEXUS AND NOT PUT BACK ONTO THE CONSUMER. ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AS REQUIRED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. I BELIEVE THEY ARE TRYING TO COVER UP A DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE, SINCE THIS WOULD BE A EXTREMELY COSTLY RECALL. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT YOU CAN NOT HAVE SLUDGE BUILD UP IF YOU ARE GETTING YOUR CAR SERVICED WITHIN THE REQUIRED TIMEFRAME, WHICH I DID. SO WHY DO I HAVE A SLUDGE BUILD UP? ANSWER: MUST BE A DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.*AK