10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 4
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 1
- Average Mileage:
- 82,337 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Connecting rod failure. While I was checking my battery, the engine exploded, blowing a 4" hole on the engine body and spreading pieces of the connecting rod around the yard. No prior signs had indicated anything was wrong with the engine. Engine was running fine up to the last second before the explosion.
- Great Barrington, MA, USA
Engine froze while on NJ turnpike. Oil coagulated into gook/mudr
- Newark, NJ, USA
Hi, I have a 1997 Camry that's got roughly 150,000 miles on it.. recently my engine blew up/froze...and is a total loss-with little to no warning. I have been taking my car to jiffy lube for 3-4 years faithfully every $3,000 miles. Actually paying them for their "special" high-mileage oil every time. In late October I took my Camry to a independent dealer that did a $ $800 tune-up, replaced my PCV valve, and did a oil change.-I also paid this dealer to do a special "comprehensive-diagnostic" test to find any thing else they could find wrong with my car-supposedly a stem to stern inspection of my car. 3,000 miles later, Jan 6th 2009, I got my regular scheduled jiffy lube oil change and actually asked them to check for any oil leaks..as I was adding 1-2 extra quarts between oil changes. They told me "no leaks".. and sent me on my way. 250 miles and 21 days later my car died on Jan 27th, .stranding me in the middle of the road with no warning. Jiffy lube sent out "investigators"-...who looked at my engine, and said "sludge build-up" was so massive that the pressure blew out the PCV valve, causing a sudden massive loss of oil..and they were not responsible..as they said it was a maintenance issue. I changed my oil religiously every 3,000 miles with "jiffy lube's oil" no less...and just had a stem to stern tune-up and a new PCV valve put in.. help!!!!...I can't figure out who's responsible...Toyota defect" tune-up shop or bad jiffy lube oil" please help if you can.
- Quincy, MA, USA
1997 Toyota Camry caught on fire while driving on I-87. Fire began somewhere under the front hood of the vehicle. Brakes failed while moving to highway shoulder. Passengers were immediately evacuated and the fire department was called to put out the fire. The car was completely destroyed by the fire.
- Stony Point, NY, USA
My chek enigne light came on when I was headed out for a 250 mile trip. I took it to the dealer and got theis list of problems. Timing belt replacment, water pump, reseal oil pan, replace engine pipe, transmission gasket and filter replacement oxygen sensor, A/F sensor, EFI service, cam seal, crank seal, oil pump seal. Blue smoke coming from exhaust. I went on line and realized that I had oil sludge. Called toyaota, they told me to get it evaluated for oil sludge
- Brooklyn, NY, USA
Vehicle experienced oil leakages coming from underneath the vehicle. Dealer was not notified, and the cause of the problem has not been determined.
- Beach Park, IL, USA
The vehicle mad a loud explosive noise while on the expressway followed by a bang. The rod had broken and caused a hole in the engine. Incident date 01/28/2005.
- Abilene, TX, USA
At 72,000 miles engine blew. Perfectly maintained car with records to back it up. Needed new engine. At 39,000 miles valve seals had to be replaced. At 67,700 miles valve seals had to be replaced again. I believe this engine was defective since the time it left the factory. No response from manufacturer.
- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
The following is a complant that was sent to Toyota motor co. It is not my wish to have to write under these circumstances. However I must, because of the things that have come to pass. My family has supported Toyota, and ofcourse all own Toyota due to the beautiful work and craftsmanship of Toyota. However my Toyota Camry has made me to doubt the strong feeling I once had for my car. I turned my car over to Toyota of louisville for service and the repair of oil sledging. I assume that the problem was fixed. However at the time I witnessed no symptoms. I simply did not want to wait until the problem occurred. So I had it serviced to avoid any problem. Later after having my timing belt replaced I started to witness a sluggish acceleration, and worsening gas mileage, the problem worsened. Eventually the check engine light flashed. And the oil light also. However it was right before the engine threw a rod on the interstate on the way home from college for thanksgiving break. I would like to have my car restored to the state it was in before the special servicing. I would like to continue to do business with your company; I plan on purchasing from Toyota in the future. However this matter has placed me in salty waters, and as U can imagine that is not a very pleasant taste. I would like to hear something back from your office regarding this matter as soon as possible. Thank you for your time. Sincerely a faithful customer john R. cummings jr.
- Louisville, KY, USA
While driving at 60 mph consumer smelled gas in the vehicle. After parking the vehicle consumer was informed that the engine compartment was on fire. The fire totally destroyed the vehicle.
- San Pablo, CA, USA
Loud knocking heard from front right of vehicle. Toyota service department determined cause to be a bad cv joint. Additionally, during a routine engine oil change, I discovered an unusually large amount of beading sludge that had to be removed by hand to drail and fill the oil. I have read reports of the Toyota engines producing sludge and I would like to know how I go about getting this fixed on their recall if one occurs.
- Ofallon, IL, USA
The piston snapped suddenly totally destroying the engine. This car was well maintained. The oil was changed every 3,000 - 5,000 by a reputable local independent service station. The dealer at first attempted to blame the owner, saying the oil was not changed by the dealer and the service station had probably used the wrong grade and used the wrong type of air filters. However, they later backed off this claim and said it now appears the oil pump failed. They called this an 'act of god'. they also said something about the oil filter possibly being clogged. They refused to consider sludge as a possible problem.
- Lewiston, ME, USA
I received a letter last year from Toyota explaining a gelling problem and to watch out for blue smoke coming from the tail pipe when starting the car. I went into sears for an oil change and they indicated that it looked like moisture was getting in the oil and it looked sludgy. I took the car to the Toyota dealership for them to check out this gelling. The letter indicated that Toyota would pay for the part/installation. I got the estimated back from Toyota and they said I did not have any gelling or sludge in the oil/engine, but that I did have rotted valve stem seals and head gasket leaks, and oil pan leaks and thats why there was blue smoke. The car is barely 7 years old and I have changed the oil faithfully at 3000 miles. I did not have the problem fixed, because I wanted a second opinion from a mechanic that was referred to me that is trustworthy. I plan on taking the car in(an appt. Was made for 2 days after I took it to the Toyota dealership) and I have questions in hand about how this could have happened when I have not had 1 indication that the engine is going bad/valves are leaking(I.e. there have been no noises, leaking of antifreeze or other fluid when I park my car O/N or for a few hours).
- Nashville, TN, USA
I was involved in a 5 car pile up on interstate 94, hit vehicle in front of me going at 45-50 mph, and airbag did not deploy. According to Toyota, this is acceptable due to the particular type of frontal accident I had. If hitting a car at 45-50 mph dead on is not a good enough reason for the airbag deploying then what is" due to the airbag not deploying, I suffered a severe brain contusion with bleeding in the brain and loss time off of work. Earlier engine problem: Oil sludge in engine, once repairs were done 6 months later engine mounts had to be replace front motor mount and dog bone, injectors and gaskets, why", this was all replaced on the first engineering defect Toyota created and why should I pay a portion of their oil sludge engineering defects.
- Lindnehurst, IL, USA
My Toyota Camry's engine failed as I was merging onto a very busy freeway with my baby in the backseat. I was stuck on the shoulder of the fast lane for 2 hours before the tow truck arrived; my fancy driving is the only reason an accident was avoided. I had just received the letter about the oil gel and was going to get my oil changed the next day because the engine failed on my mother's birthday. Now both Toyota and my local dealer are telling me that my engine does not have oil caked inside the head so it could not be oil gel that caused my engine to throw a rod at 80,000 miles. When asked what could have caused it to happen they have no answer except sometimes that happens to engines and they want me to pay them a significant sum of money to open up the engine to find out if oil gel is present. If it is not the cause as they keep saying it is not yet I feel sure it is; I will have to foot the bill for a new engine at the dealer. Toyota also will not allow me to have the work done by an independent mechanic if I move the car and find oil gel is the cause. I have been without a car for over 3 months and have 2 small children and live in the country. Is the only way to detect oil gel a sludge on the head? I am so frustrated.
- El Paso, TX, USA
Toyota has completely denied my engine blew up due to engine sludge and in fact are holding my car hostage. They told me it was going to cost me $2200 for them to tear it down so Toyota could determine that it was engine sludge, then they denied it was and said that my cam shaft broke. A cam shaft should not have broke in a 5 year old car, especialy one that had been maintained and I had the oil changed 1 week prior at Toyota. I then got a call saying my car was ready and it was $7800, that they had replaced the cam shaft. I was furious and told them I never gave my authorization to replace a cam shaft for $7800. When I went to pick it up they wouldn't release it because they couldn't find the paperwork.. (suddenly) and I kept getting the run around.. now they say the cam shaft was never replaced.. ( I think they removed it).. needless to say my car has been parked at Toyota since last November or when I filed this report. I am furious that they won't fix it.. and they refuse to give me the persons name at Toyota Corp. Who turned down my request to have it fixed under the sludge problem..
- Garden Grove, CA, USA
My engine seized and needs complete replacement due to this oil sludge problem. As a result of the gelled oil, one of the pistons broke off creating a hole in the engine and the motor mount became displaced from the engine, causing the engine block to crack while I was driving the car. I bought the car used from greer Toyota in millbrook, NY in August of 2001 and was told that one of their mechanics would complete a thorough inspection before the car was turned over to me. I have since had the oil changed every 3,000 miles by a trusted mechanic. During that time, I had to replace the oxygen sensor at my own cost, but did not have any other problems until this month. Now in addition to the engine, it appears that my struts are failing as well. I am in the process of submitting a claim for the engine.
- Poughkeepsie, NY, USA
Exhaust blowing blue smoke, sludge buildup on valve covers, now check engine light is on, car vibrates. In shop again
- Huntington, WV, USA
When I took my Camry in for a routine oil change, I was told that I needed to have my engine \\desludged.\\ I was told that this was highly recommended and would prevent more costly repairs in the future.
- Richmond, VA, USA
- Richardson, TX, USA