2001 Toyota Highlander Engine

TOYOTA HAD A PROBLEM WITH THERE 4 CYLINDER ENGINES IN CAMRY AND HIGHLANDER WITH ENGINE MOUNTAIN THREADS PULLING AWAY FOR A THREE OR FOUR YEAR PERIOD. MY CAR STARTED LEAKING OIL ABOUT 90,000 MILES WHEN I TOOK IN TO A DEALER HE TOLD ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND TOYOTA DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL. I WAS TOLD ONLY FIX IS A NEW ENGINE. THEY ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ALSO AGAIN NO RECALL. *TR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF OUR 2001TOYOTA 3.0 HIGHLANDER. I ALSO OWN A 2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA PICKUP AND A 2008 LEXUS ES 350. OUR HIGHLANDER HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL VEHICLE. I HAVE PERFORMED ALL THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE ON OUR VEHICLES SINCE THEIR PURCHASE, OIL CHANGES, FLUIDS LEVELS, SERPENTINE AND POWER STEERING BELTS REPLACEMENTS, TIRE ROTATION, AIR AND FUEL FILTERS REPLACEMENT, WIPERS, STRUTS, AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. THE ONLY SERVICE THAT WAS PERFORMED BY TECHNICIANS WAS COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION OIL SERVICE. ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012 WHILE MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, I NOTICED THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED. WHEN I GOT HOME, I USE MY OBD CODE READER AND OBTAINED THE FAULT CODE OF P1349. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT MY VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE RUNNING NORMALLY. AFTER READING THE POSSIBLE CAUSES, I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AND HAD AN OIL CHANGE PERFORMED. I DID THIS BECAUSE I HAD A COUPON FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND FILTER FOR $14.99. I RESET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THEN DROVE THE VEHICLE WORK. ON THE WAY HOME, I NOTICED THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MY LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT HAD ACTIVATED. AS I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE IT OFF THE FREEWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE MOTOR START MESSING. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE OFF RAMP, THE ENGINE WAS EMITTING LOUD BANGING SOUNDS AND WAS STRUGGLING. BY THE TIME IS ABLE TO SAFELY PARK THE VEHICLE, THE MOTOR HAD CEASED. AS AN ORIGINAL OWNER, I DO NOT RECALL EVER RECEIVING A NOTICE REGARDING OIL JELLY. I AM REQUESTING THAT MY MOTOR FAILURE BE COVERED THE OIL GEL SETTLEMENT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CAR BEGAN SURGING ON THREE OCCASIONS. CAR WAS PARKED, IN PARK AT THE CURB, AND ENGINE WAS SURGING FROM IDLE TO APROX 2500 RPM. I PLUGGED AN OBD INTO THE CAR TO LOOK FOR ERROR CODES AND THERE WERE NONE. I CYCLED THE OBD AGAIN AND THE SURGING STOPPED. ?? *TR

WHILE MY 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS IN OPERATION THE ENGINE BOLTS PULLED LOOSE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND BE DESTROYED. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AT THE TIME AND HAD IT BEEN IN OPERATION ON THE FREEWAY COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE IS DESTROYED AND A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST $7000. I BELIEVE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INCIDENTS INVOLVING ENGINE BOLTS ON TOYOTA CARS AND TRUCKS AND THAT TOYOTA HAS ALWAYS BLAMED OTHER THINGS AND NOT ADDRESSED WHETHER THE BOLTS ARE DEFECTIVE OR HAVE NOT BEEN INSTALLED PROPERLY. THERE ARE VARIOUS REFERENCES ON THE INTERNET OF CUSTOMERS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE BOLTS ON TOYOTA VEHICLES..TOYOTA HAS NO EXPLANATION FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. I BELIEVE IT MAY BE THE INSTALLATION OF THE BOLTS OR THE QUALITY OF THEM. *TR

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY COMPLAINT. IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO GET TOYOTA MOTOR TO ADMIT A DEFECT IN MANY OF THEIR ENGINES. OIL AND COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE OF MY 2001 HIGHLANDER. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA SERVICE THAT THEY FOUND 3 STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS WHICH CAUSE THE LEAK AND IT ENDED UP COSTING ME $3,500 TO REPAIR THE HEAD AND BLOCK. NO GUARANTEE THAT THE BOLTS WOULD NOT SKIP OUT AGAIN. I HAVE READ A GROWING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM TOYOTA OWNERS WHO HAVE FACED THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO HELP OR ADMIT THAT THIS MAYBE A ENGINE FLAW. *TR

2.4 (4CYL) ENGINE MAKING NOISE, SOUNDS LIKE ROD KNOCKING. TOYOTA DEALER SAID SAME THING. ENGINE BLEW UP AT 45 MPH. OIL WAS ALWAYS CHANGED AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES. USED ON HIGHWAYS AND CITY STREETS. CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE. OUT OF WARRANTY. NEVER HEARD OF A TOYOTA ENGINE BLOWING A ROD. THIS HIGHLANDER WAS IN EX. COND. TO SOLD AS JUNK NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA AGAIN !!!!!! *TR

WE BOUGHT OUR HIGHLANDER JUST OVER A YEAR AGO AND WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY PUT OIL INTO VEHICLE. IT ONLY HAS 80,000 ON IT, AND WE HAVE TO PUT ABOUT A LITER OF OIL INTO IT EVERY OTHER WEEK. THE MANUFACTURER OF OUR AREA CHECKED IT TWICE, AND DETERMINED THAT WE NEED ANOTHER ENGINE, BUT THE COST WAS AROUND $7000 IN CANADIAN THAT ENGINE WOULD COME FROM JAPAN, AND IT WOULD BE A USED ONE, AND WOULD ONLY WARRANTY THAT FOR 1 YEAR. THEN WHAT AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED!! WE PLAN ON GETTING RID OF THIS THING AS FAST AS POSSIBLE AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA AGAIN..DO YOURSELVES A FAVOR AND TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THIS SO NO ONE GOES THIS .*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD WHERE IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SLUDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER ONCE BEFORE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE WAS CLEANED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED (CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO ON), WITHIN 24 HOURS OF HAVING IT REPLACED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN AND A SECOND OXYGEN SENSOR HAD FAILED,WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. *NM

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED AT ABOUT 42,000 MILES. IT BURNED OIL (1 QUART PER 1,000 MILES) FROM THE FIRST DAY I HAD IT. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN MONITORING THE OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND AGREED IT HAS A PROBLEM BUT IT WILL COST ME $2,600 FOR THEM TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG. THEY REPORT THERE IS "SLUDGE" IN THE ENGINE AND I SHOULD HAVE CHANGED THE OIL MORE OFTEN. THEY WON'T DETERMINE A PROBLEM OR DO ANYTHING ELSE FOR FREE EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY I DO HAVE A PROBLEM AND THEY KNOW THE WARRANTY IS UP IN ABOUT 2,500 MORE MILES WHICH SHOULD COVER THE ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN. PLEASE HELP. *JB

CHECK ENGINE AND ABS BRAKE LIGHT COME ON AT THE SAME TIME; AFTER A WHILE UPON RESTARTING THE ABS BRAKE GOES OFF AND THE CHECK ENGINE STAYS ON FOR A FEW HOURS THEN GOES OFF UPON RESTARTING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN THE SPEED, AT THE SAME CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THE NEED TO INSTALL A NEW ENGINE. HOWEVER, WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

ENGINE OIL SLUDGE. THE ESTIMATED COST OF OUR ENGINE PROBLEM WAS $7,200 (CANADIAN) AND IT STARTED AT 38,000 KM (24,000 MILES). THE MATTER WAS RESOLVED WHEN WE DUG UP AN OLD OIL CHANGE SLIP THAT MY WIFE AND I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT ALTOGETHER. BEFORE THE DISCOVERY WE WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A RECEIPT FOR EACH YEAR THAT WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR SO TOYOTA INSISTED THAT IT WAS CUSTOMER NEGLIGENCE THAT RESULTED IN THE OIL SLUDGE. TOP ENGINE BLOCK WAS REPLACED AND WE GOT OFF SCOTT FREE. WHEN AN OIL LEAK WAS DETECTED AFTER A WEEK OF GETTING THE CAR BACK FROM THE SHOP, WE BROUGHT IT BACK IN AND THEY FIXED IT AGAIN - NO CHARGE. I FEEL THAT THIS WAS A BIT LIKE DAVID KNOCKING OUT GOLIATH.

OIL SLUDGE ISSUE. THE TOYOTA WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 1.5 WEEKS. THE FINAL BILL DID NOT INCLUDE ANY TOTALS, BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED PARTS ALONE WERE CLOSE TO $1600. WE WERE VERY DISTURBED WITH TOYOTA'S POSITION THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE AND THAT THEY WOULD ONLY REPAIR THIS ISSUE ONCE WITHIN THE FIRST EIGHT YEARS. THEY INDICATED THAT WE FOLLOWED THE WRONG MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE OF NORMAL RATHER THAN SEVERE CONDITIONS FOR FLORIDA. CONSIDERING THE OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT SPECIFY THIS, AND THAT I OWN A LEXUS THAT HAS NO SIGNS OF PROBLEM AFTER FOLLOWING THE SAME SCHEDULE, WE WERE DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR RESPONSE. SINCE THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP COULD GIVE US NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE, EVEN IF THEY CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 5000 MILES AS HE DIRECTED, WE TURNED AROUND AND TRADED THE VEHICLE IN ON A HONDA THE SAME DAY. I DID CONTACT SW TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ACCUSED US OF THE SAME FAULTY MAINTENANCE AS THE SERVICE MANAGER. IT WAS OBVIOUS AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS THAT TOYOTA NO LONGER STANDS FOR QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. AS I INDICATED TO THEM IN A RECENT EMAIL AND A LETTER THAT I AM CURRENTLY DRAFTING, THEY HAVE LOST A TOYOTA OWNER FOREVER. NOW THAT WE HAVE DIVESTED OURSELVES OF THE HIGHLANDER, I PLAN TO SELL THE LEXUS AS WELL. I KNOW YOU DIDN'T NEED TO HEAR ALL THIS, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. TOYOTA HONORED ITS CSP (ONCE IN EIGHT YEARS), BUT I UNSURE HOW MUCH THE REPAIR COST WERE.

ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING RIGHT AT 25,000. CAR GAVE NO SIGN OF FAILURE OR ANYTIME OF PROBLEM. OIL CHANGES WAS PERFORMED EVERY 5000/MI AND CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL THE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND WE TOOK CAR TO CONCORD TOYOTA TO CHECK ON THE ENGINE LIHT PROBLEM. CONCORD TOYOTA SAID THE ENGINE WAS BURNED IN AND OUT DUE TO LACK OF OIL AND BLAMED THA CUSTOMER FOR POOR MAINTENANCE TO THE CAR AND REFUSE TO FIX THE CAR UNDER THE WARRANTY. IT'S BEEN 3MONTHS THAT CONCORD TOYOTA STILL HAS POSSESSION OF THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE OPENED APART AND STILL REFUSED TO COVER UNDER THE WARRANTY.

MY HIGHLANDER HAD SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS CLEANED OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT IF I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES INSTEAD OF 7,500.00 THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN. THE TOYOTA MANUEL STATES EVERY 7,500. REMEMBER MY CAR ONLY HAS 18,202 MILES ON IT. IT'S NOT EVEN 2 YR OLD YET. THE SERVICE ADVISOR ASSURED ME THAT IF I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 3,000 AND NOT EVERY 7,500 LIKE THE MANUAL SAYS THAT IF THIS HAPPEN AGAIN THEY WOULD COVER THE PROBLEM.

OIL SLEDGING PROBLEM IN MY 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. I AM CONCERNED THAT TOYOTA'S CSP POLICY WILL NOT GO FAR ENOUGH TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE BOTH BLAME FAULTY MAINTENANCE FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 7500 MILES AS INDICATED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. TOYOTA'S CSP WILL ONLY REPAIR THE ISSUE ONCE IN 8 YEARS, AND NEITHER WILL ADDRESS WHAT WILL HAPPEN SHOULD THIS ARISE AGAIN. THE DEALER MAINTAINED THIS WAS OUR FAULT UNTIL WE PRESENTED RECEIPTS TO SHOW THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MAINTAINED APPROPRIATELY. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE THE MECHANICS THAT CHANGED OUR OIL NEVER ACTUALLY CHANGED IT. BASED ON THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND FORUMS I MONITORED ONLINE, I FEEL THIS IS TOYOTA'S ATTEMPT TO AVOID TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR A LARGER PROBLEM. I ALSO OWN A LEXUS GS300, AND THE OIL WAS CHANGED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE HIGHLANDER AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH IT. *LA

MY 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IS BURNING APPROXIMATELY 1.5 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES. TOYOTA USA SAYS THAT THE ALLOWABLE LIMIT IS 1 QUART EVERY 1,000 MILES AND WILL NOT LOOK AT MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *LA