I had the same problemat 78,000 miles when engine seized the first time resulting in no help from Toyota and costing me over $7500 to replace .Here I am with the SAME problem at 188,000 miles with $11,000 cost offered to replace engine again. When buying the vehicle in 1993 I noticed the 6th cylinder was oiling up my spark plugs. Toyota of Orange REFUSED to replace the plugs to see if there was a problem with the seals. Within 6 months the engine seized. Toyota refused to honor their warranty and I took them to court and lost like other Toyota owners that were there that day with identical problems. Judge decided since Toyota of Orange never gave me receipts( since it was under warranty) I could not PROVE that there was an ongoing problem.( YOU NEED RECEIPTS PEOPLE!) I bought a new engine at Power Toyota of Irvinefor $7500. I have just found out that in my Toyota history, they have no mention of anything from Toyota of Irvine specifically about the new engine that replaced the defective one. I was trying to tell Toyota of Tustin that there was the same defect before.. again unless I have paperwork.... I have no proof. The defect caused electroysis to the engine block ruining it. Cost to fix....$ 11,000!
Update from Apr 11, 2012: I know.. Toyota is covering themselves for this defect( 3 times) so I am taking the vehicle to another mechanic that can fix it for 1/4 of their price. Toyota will not take resposibility for the defect that they have admitted to in the past in a recall, and I have proof that Toyota continued to sell and install the same defective gasket seal years after the recall done by a study by the State of California.I sued the first dealership only to find out that because they refused to give me receipts for all the problems directly after buying this lemon, the judge would do nothing without receipts to prove there had been problems before my lawsuit. If they don't give you receipts... they are up to something criminal...BEWARE!
I had the same problemat 78,000 miles when engine seized the first time resulting in no help from Toyota and costing me over $7500 to replace .Here I am with the SAME problem at 188,000 miles with $11,000 cost offered to replace engine again. When buying the vehicle in 1993 I noticed the 6th cylinder was oiling up my spark plugs. Toyota of Orange REFUSED to replace the plugs to see if there was a problem with the seals. Within 6 months the engine seized. Toyota refused to honor their warranty and I took them to court and lost like other Toyota owners that were there that day with identical problems. Judge decided since Toyota of Orange never gave me receipts( since it was under warranty) I could not PROVE that there was an ongoing problem.( YOU NEED RECEIPTS PEOPLE!) I bought a new engine at Power Toyota of Irvinefor $7500. I have just found out that in my Toyota history, they have no mention of anything from Toyota of Irvine specifically about the new engine that replaced the defective one. I was trying to tell Toyota of Tustin that there was the same defect before.. again unless I have paperwork.... I have no proof. The defect caused electroysis to the engine block ruining it. Cost to fix....$ 11,000!
Update from Apr 11, 2012: I know.. Toyota is covering themselves for this defect( 3 times) so I am taking the vehicle to another mechanic that can fix it for 1/4 of their price. Toyota will not take resposibility for the defect that they have admitted to in the past in a recall, and I have proof that Toyota continued to sell and install the same defective gasket seal years after the recall done by a study by the State of California.I sued the first dealership only to find out that because they refused to give me receipts for all the problems directly after buying this lemon, the judge would do nothing without receipts to prove there had been problems before my lawsuit. If they don't give you receipts... they are up to something criminal...BEWARE!
- ilovenudism, Newport Beach, CA, US