BROKEN OIL BAFFLE. I have had this Avalon for two months, I bought this car from a private individual. I had oil changed 1/9/16 and this was pointed out to me by my Toyota dealer. Previous owner also had all service done at a different Toyota dealership. My dealership told me it was caused by shoving oil filler hose into engine too far This oil baffle is a flimsy piece of metal.

Update from Jan 10, 2016: I believe that Toyota should cover this problem. They must know this is a problem, otherwise they would not have issued a service bulletin. Going to call Toyota @ 1-800 331 4331 to formally issue a complaint.

Update from Jan 15, 2016: Took car back to the original Toyota dealership today to have the issue fixed. The mechanic took a pair of needle nose vise grips and removed the baffle. I was told that the baffle prevents the oil from hitting the oil filler cap. There is no harm done to the engine with the baffle removed. No worry of having baffle falling into timing chain. I did report the issue and fix to the Toyota complaint number above.

Toyota has issued TSB -0038-08 stating the oil baffle can be damaged from changing the oil and will fall into the timing gear and trash the motor. Toyota states THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY. I purchased a "certified" car and paid an additional $2,000 for a "platinum" warranty from a local Toyota dealer with 50,000 miles on it. I had my oil changed at 56,000 miles and this problem occured 3,000 miles AFTER MY LAST OIL CHANGE. The oil baffle falls into the timing belt and gear, causes the timing to get messed up, which bent all the valves, and jamed the pistons into the cylinder. Basically it completely trashed the motor block and valve train.

Toyota states the problem is my fault because the "oil was changed improperly" and is not covered under any warranty! The company that changed the oil in this car for me has been in business for over 50 years and has been servicing my vehicles, including a 2004 Toyota Camry (which also is included in the TSB-0038-08) for more than 10 years and now all of a sudden they change the oil one time and it's their fault? Give me a break!

The reason I paid significantly more for a "certified" car and paid more for "platinum" coverage, and purchased it from a local toyota dealer was to specifically avoid having these type of issues!

In researching this problem, it's been a problem for Toyota as far back as 2003. They issued the TSB in 2008 which covers essentially all of Toyota cars from 2004 - 2009. It's obviously a problem they don't want to take responsibility for.

Is it too much to ask to have Toyota notify owners of this problem? There's nothing in the owners manual that discusses "caution" when changing the oil, there's no "warning" sticker on the oil fill cap that indicats to use caution. To expect that average car owner to know this is a problem is completely unreasonable. Plus, the only way to "check" and see if it is damaged is to pull the valve cover off and look under it? Are you kidding me? So now after every oil change I have with this car I need to pull the valve cover off and have it checked before I drive it off the lot? Get Real! What's really ironic is the stupid car gives me a "check engine light" warning when the gas cap isn't sealed tight! Maybe some type of warning that your baffle is damaged would be a better warning that if my gas cap isn't tight enough!

IF YOU OWN A 2004 - 2009 TOYOTA, Please call and file a complaint with Toyota and your local dealer. The number for Toyota number is 1-800-331-4331.

The oil baffle under the oil cap breaks off and falls into the timing chain and gear, wrecking the valves, piston, and motor block. The baffle fails, according to Toyota, because Oil change facilities put to much oil into the car from a funnel, causing the baffle to break off from the valve cover and falling to the timing belt. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALMOST ALL TOYOTA MOTORS FROM 2004 - 2009 ACCORDING TO THE TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0038-08. TOYOTA INDICATES THEY WILL NOT COVER THE DAMAGE UNDER WARRANTY. I purchased a "certified" avalon from a dealer along with a "platinium" warranty and Toyota WILL NOT COVER IT. I've only had two oil changes since purchasing the car and the last oil change was over 3,000 miles ago. Toyota needs to do something to notify consumes of this problem because the damage is very extensive. I really frustrated with this because I was NEVER informed of any problem like this that could occur, and how do I know it wasn't damaged when I purchased the car? To expect the oil change facility to cover this after 3,000 miles is a joke! They were also not aware of this problem. I also checked with several other national oil change facilities and they also were not aware of this problem with Toyota.

This is clearly a manufacture's problem. To blame this on the "cheap" oil change service companies is a major cop out!