NHTSA Complaint #768603 — 1990 TOYOTA PICKUP

THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE HEAD GASKET RECALL BY TOYOTA, AS A RESULT THEY REPLACED THE ORGINAL ENGINE BLOCK DUE TO LEAKAGE OF COOLANT INTO THE CYLINDERS. AFTER APPROX. 45,000 MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING USING A CONNECTING ROD EXPLODED WITH NO APPARENT REASON. GIVING NO WARNING SIGNS OF ANY KIND. THE CONNECTING ROD EXPLODED WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO PRODUCE A 3 INCH DIA. HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE BLOCK AND ESTABLISH A CRACK ALONG THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF THE MOTOR. THIS EXPLOSION OCCURRED AT UNDER 35 MPH. I HAVE TALKED WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMERS RELATIONS AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME TOYOTA ISN'T INTERESTED. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE INSIDE OF THE MOTOR THERE WERE NO VISIUAL REASONS FOR THE CONNECTION ROD TO BLOW UP OIL PUMP WAS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER WITH PLENTY OF OIL THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM MY CONCERNS ARE IF THIS CAN HAPPN IN THIS MOTOR AND TOYOTA HAS REPLACED THOUSANDS OF MOTORS IN THEIR HEAD GASKET RECALL, AND THERE WERE DEFECTIVE RODS INSTALLED IN THOSE MOTORS, AT A HIGHER VEHICLE SPEED, GIVEN THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION SOMEBODY AT SOME POINT IN TIME IS GOING TO GET HURT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN. DT