2006 Toyota RAV4 Engine

THIS IS MY STORY: MY WIFE, YORKIE, AND I WENT TO PICK UP MY SON AT PRESCHOOL EARLY THIS AFTERNOON IN WESTON, FL WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN WE HEAR A BRIEF WHINE NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS ON THE PANEL; THE ENGINE SHUT ITSELF OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. I CRANKED THE ENGINE ON AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FOR ANOTHER 100 YARDS. THE SAME WHINE NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE SAME LIGHTS AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE WOULD TURN ON AND IT IMMEDIATELY WOULD SHUT OFF; NOT A CHANCE TO ENGAGE TO DRIVE AND MOVE AN INCH. I LOOKED AT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL; THE OIL LEVEL WAS FINE (THE CAR HAS NEVER HAD A LEAK AND HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED), NO FUNNY SMELLS, ETC. BY THIS TIME WE WERE SWEATING AND GETTING CONCERNED. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE THAT THE A/C COULD BE PART OF THE PROBLEM SINCE IT ADDS LOAD TO THE ENGINE SERPENTINE BELT; I TURNED OFF THE A/C BY DEPRESSING THE A/C BUTTON ON CAR'S DASH AND THE ENGINE STAYED ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND PICK UP MY SON THANKFULLY. I WAS READY TO SEND MY WIFE ON A CAB TO GET HIM. MY QUESTIONS TO YOU GUYS ARE THE FOLLOWING: WHY WOULD TOYOTA DESIGN THE ENGINE TO SHUT ITSELF OFF IN A SITUATION WHEN SOMETHING IN THE A/C FAILS? IF MY WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY SON AND HAD THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, SHE WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY FREAKED OUT AND GOD FORBID IN AN ACCIDENT. ALL I CAN THINK OF IS THAT TOYOTA IMPLEMENTED A MECHANISM TO KILL THE ENGINE IF THE LOAD IN THE SERPENTINE BELT IS EXCESSIVE. YES, GOOD TO PREVENT ENGINE DAMAGE, BUT I VALUE MY FAMILY'S AND MY LIFE MORE. THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT SHUT OFF... THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE WARNING LIGHTS AND OTHER SAFETY MECHANISMS. *TR

THE ENGINE FOR MY 2006 TOYOTA IS BURNING OIL RAPIDLY. I HAVE ABOUT 115,000 MILES AND WAS HOPING THAT THIS CAR WOULD AT LEAST LAST ME ANOTHER 5 YEARS. THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT MY ENGINE NEEDS AN ENGINE OVERHAUL WHICH WILL COST ABOUT $3,000. I MAKE SURE TO TAKE CARE OF MY CAR AND BRING IT FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHEN IT'S DUE. *TR

THE VEHICLE LOSES 1-2 QUARTS OF OIL OVER 30-60 DAY PERIOD OR 1500-2000 MILES. NO SIGNS OF LEAKS, DRIPPING OR OTHER SOURCES OF LOSS ARE VISIBLE. IN CHECKING TOYOTA RAV4 OWNER FORUMS, IT SEEMS THIS CONDITION IS PREVALENT AMONG MANY AND SPANS SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. THE CONDITION HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, BUT WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST US AND SEEMED TO BE A SLOWER LOSS. NOW THE LOSS IS MUCH FASTER. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF PEOPLE WAIT TO CHECK OIL UNTIL NEXT OIL CHANGE, THEY MAY DAMAGE THEIR ENGINES. *TR

DRIVING CAR AND THE OIL LIGHT FAILED TO INDICATE OIL WAS VERY LOW. HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE SO I CHECKED THE OIL AND DISCOVERED THE OIL WAS LOW ALTHOUGH OIL HAD JUST BEEN ADDED A FEW DAYS EARLIER. I WAS NOT SURE IF THE VECHICLE WAS FIT TO DRIVE, SO FOR SAFETY REASONS I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND SAID THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE LACK OF OIL AND CONSTANT BURNING OF OIL DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE TOYOTA RAV 4 ENGINE/OIL SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES THE OIL TO COMBUSE AND BURN OFF PREVENTING THE OIL INDICATOR LIGHT TO ALERT THE DRIVER TO ADD OIL. THIS DEFECT CAUSES ENGINES TO SEIZE. AT THIS TIME I CALLED TOYOTA OF NORTH AMERICA (1800 331-4331) DIRECTLY TO REPORT THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT AS OF TODAY NO RECALL OR REIMBURSEMENT IS BEING ISSUED BUT IF EVERYONE WITH THIS PROBLEM CALL TOYOTA OF NORTH AMERICA DIRECTLY TO REPORT THEIR PROBLEM THEN AN INVESTIGATION WILL BE ISSUED. SO PLEASE CALL TODAY SO WE MAY ALL BE REIMBURSED FROM TOYOTA FOR THIS ISSUE THAT THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF AND ARE CHOOSING TO DO NOTHING FOR THE CONSUMERS. THEY WILL THEN GIVE YOU A CASE # THAT THEY TELL YOU TO KEEP JUST IN CASE A RECALL IS ACTIVATED. *TR

THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT WOULD BLINK INTERMITTENTLY ESPECIALLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. UPON INSPECTION OF OIL DIPSTICK, THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. BROUGHT TO A MECHANIC AND HAD THE OIL CHANGED (WITH SYNTHETIC MOBIL 1 AS RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA). MECHANIC NOTICED VERY LITTLE OIL DRAINED. AFTER REFILLING WITH NEW OIL, TEST DROVE THE CAR AND CONFIRMED THE DIPSTICK SHOWING OIL AT MAXIMUM LEVEL. AROUND 2000 MILES LATER, INSPECTION OF OIL DIPSTICK REVEALED ALMOST NO OIL AGAIN. THERE WERE NO LEAKS WHICH MECHANIC CONFIRMED AS THE UNDERSIDE WAS CLEAN AS A WHISTLE. MECHANIC BELIEVES PISTON PROBLEMS WHICH WILL BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. *TR

WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO GET AN OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING SHOWING ON THE DIP STICK. ALTHOUGH A LOW-OIL LIGHT NEVER APPEARED TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE OIL WAS LOW, THE OIL WAS VERY LOW. I STARTED CHECKING MY OIL LEVEL OFTEN AND NOTICED THAT I NEEDED TO ADD OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. I CAN ALSO SMELL BURNING OIL WHEN I ACCELERATE EITHER TO GET ON A HIGHWAY RAMP OR TO GO UP A HILL. A DEALERSHIP SUBSEQUENTLY TOLD ME THAT THE RINGS ON THE ENGINE BLOCK WERE WORN AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE THAT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $8,500. NOW I DRIVE AROUND WITH A CASE OF OIL IN MY BACK SEAT. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. *JB

THE CHECK ENGINE OIL LIGHT BEGAN FLICKERING UNDER HARD BRAKING. LIGHT NEVER WAS ON UNDER NORMAL IDLE OR TRAVEL. UPON CHECKING OIL ON DIPSTICK - NO OIL REGISTERED ON DIPSTICK. I IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDED TO THE CHANGE OIL AND THE OIL PAN ONLY CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 1.2 QUARTS OR 75% LESS THAN THE 4.5 QUARTS SPECIFIED. UPON WEB RESEARCH IT APPEARS RAV4 HAS PROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA USA AS I KNOW HAVE CONCERNS DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ENGINE AS WARNING LIGHT SHOULD HAVE COME ON SOONER. *TR

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON SUDDENLY WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE EXTENT, IT COULDN'T PICK UP A SPEED ABOVE 20-25 MPH. THIS COULD HAVE TURNED INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED BY OTHER CARS. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP OF THE MANUFACTURER FOR SERVICING BUT THEY COULDN'T PROVIDE ANY SERVICE FACILITY AS THEY HAD A BUSY SCHEDULE AND GAVE ME AN APPOINTMENT FOR MONDAY (8/13/2012). THEN I CALLED AAA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY TOWED IT TO THEIR NEAREST CERTIFIED SERVICE CENTER, WHO DETECTED THAT THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY WHICH IS AN ELECTRONIC PART FOR THIS TYPE OF CAR. REQUEST YOUR HELP TO GET MY CAR THOROUGHLY INSPECTED AND GET IT REPAIRED / REPLACED / MONEY REFUND BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

THE ENGINE COIL MALFUNCTIONED, SETTING OF 3 WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH (CHECK ENGINE, VSC, AND 4X4). THE ENGINE NOW MISFIRES. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME IN THREE YEARS. *TR

MY CAR HAS BEEN MAKING MORE NOISE THAN USUAL. THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ALWAYS REVVING UP, EVEN IN A PARKED POSITION. I TOOK IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT AND THEY OPENED UP THE ENGINE AND SAID THAT THERE WAS METAL ON METAL AND METAL IN THE PAN (I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THESE TERMS). OVERALL, IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE!!!!! HOW CAN A 6 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 94,000 MILES NEED A NEW ENGINE! IT IS WORTH NOTHING IT I DON'T PUT A NEW ENGINE IN IT! SEEMS LIKE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT SURE HOW TO GET HELP. *TR

MUFFLER & TAILPIPE AND HOUSING ON MY RAV4 ARE RUSTING EXTENSIVELY. HAD DEALER CHECK IT OUT. RECOMMENDS I REPLACE MY EXHAUST SYSTEM. THERE WERE HOLES IN MY EXHAUST SYSTEMS DUE TO RUST. CALLED AND COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ONLY OFFER A 3 YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY. CASE REF #1203230216. MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YRS OLD!!! MY EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN FALL OFF MY RAV4 ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WHO IS TO BLAME IN SUCH A SENARIO? TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY FOR MAKING INFERIOR EXHAUST SYSTEMS? THERE IS RUST ON GARAGE FLOOR WHERE I PARK MY RAV4!!! *TR

I OWN 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH 48,000 MILES. MY CAR WAS DRIVING FINE UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE THIS YEAR. LAST YEAR IN APRIL I RECEIVED RECALL LETTER SAYING I SHOULD REPLACE THE OIL RUBBER HOSE. 18 MONTHS LATER I NOTICE A LOT OF OIL UNDER MY CAR, THERE WAS NONE LEFT IN THE ENGINE. I HAD TO CALL TOWING COMPANY TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THAT THE HOSE IS BROKEN, THE ONE THAT SUPPOSED TO BE UPGRADED LASTED ONLY 18,000 MILES. THEY CHARGE US $700 BECAUSE OUR WARRANTY FINISHED IN JULY 2011 AND THE WARRANTY FOR THE RECALL IS ONLY FOR 1 YEAR. I TRIED TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEM BUT NOBODY EVEN LISTENED. WE LEFT THE DEALER WITH NOTHING, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR, HE PULLED TO THE PARKING LOT AND HEARD THIS BIG NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IT WAS 15 MINUTES AFTER WE LEFT THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE RIGHT AWAY AND THEY SAID THAT THEY TESTED THIS CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE BUT IF WE WANT WE CAN BRING THE CAR BACK. WE HAD TO CALL FOR TOWING COMPANY AGAIN. THE CAR CAME BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND THEY ADMITTED THERE IS A NOISE BUT FOR THEM TO EVEN LOOK AT THE ENGINE THEY HAVE TO CHARGE US $1200. I HAVE ALREADY CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SENDING ME BACK TO THE DEALER TO TALK TO THEIR CUSTOMER RELATION MANAGER. THE MANAGER SAID HE DID SOME INVESTIGATION AND MY PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE IS NOT CONNECTED WITH THE REPAIR THEY DID. I TALK TO MANY DIFFERENT MECHANICS OUTSIDE OF TOYOTA AND THE SAID IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ENGINE TO JUST DIE. BESIDES EVERY MECHANIC SAYS THE HOSE SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 18 MONTHS AND THEY BELIEVE THAT IT WAS NOT INSTALLED THE RIGHT WAY. TOYOTA MAIN OFFICE SAYS THE SUPPORT THE DEALER DECISION AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THEY DON'T FEEL ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SITUATION. YOU HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE WITH THAT, MAYBE YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME ADVICE. THANK YOU. *KB

I OWN A 2006 RAV4 V6. AT ROUGHLY 60,000 MILES THE ENGINE, VSC AND 4WD LIGHT WOULD START GOING ON AND THEN OFF AFTER SHUTTING DOWN. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE GAS CAP AFTER FILLING UP NOT BEING TIGHT. AT 64,000 MILES THE LIGHTS WENT ON AND STAYED ON. BECAUSE MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IS WORTHLESS, I WENT TO A TRUSTED MECHANIC. THE CODES SHOWED A BAD COIL IN THE #2 CYLINDER SO I REPLACED IT. THEY SUGGESTED THAT THESE COILS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO BE BAD AND THAT I SHOULD REPLACE ALL OF THEM. I DIDN'T WANT TO DROP $1300 AT THE TIME AND NOW AT 70,000 THE LIGHTS ARE ON AGAIN AND THE CODES ARE SHOWING ALL 6 COILS ARE BAD AGAIN. HOW IS IT THAT A CAR THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO GO 100,000 MILES BEFORE YOU EVEN NEED TO CHANGE THE PLUGS HAS ALL THE COILS GO BAD AT THE SAME TIME. THERE ARE WEB SITES FOR RAV4 OWNERS ALL OVER THE INTERNET COMPLAINING OF THE SAME THING AND TOYOTA HAS DONE NOTHING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE VAPOR CANISTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VAPOR CANISTER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REMOVING HARMFUL FUMES FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE HARMFUL FUMES PRESENTING A FIRE HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE, VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AT 78,000 MILES AND THEY FOUND A ENGINE COOLANT LEAK AT THE REAR OF ENGINE AND THEY CLAIM ENGINE MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. HAVE HAD NO INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE, NO OVERHEATING, NOTHING. ESTIMATED COST OF ENGINE THAT MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED IS $8,000 THAT DEALER CLAIMS TOYOTA WILL PAY HALF. I HAVE SERVICE RECORDS SHOWING THAT I COMPLAINED OF A SMELL OF COOLANT AT 4,000 MILES AND THE DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS UNDERCOATING BURNING OFF. SAYS THAT THE COMPLAINT AT 4,000 MILES IS NO WAY RELATED TO MY CURRENT PROBLEM AND WILL NOT HONOR MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AS ANYTHING RELATED TO NEW ISSUE. I HAVE SEEN THE AREA OF MY VEHICLE WHERE THE COOLANT IS LEAKING AND IT IS AT THE VERY SAME SPOT THAT OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES ARE HAVING ISSUE WITH THE BOLTS CORRODING DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND LEAKING COOLANT. TOOK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR SECOND OPINION AND HE SAYS VEHICLE IS IN MINT CONDITION AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AT ALL. WHY IS TOYOTA WILLING TO PAY 50% IF THERE IS NOT A LEGITIMATE PROBLEM? *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC AND SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AT 71000 MILES. CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER EVERY FEW MINUTES, FEELING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. DEALER SAID IT WAS OK TO DRIVE UNLESS LIGHTS WERE BLINKING, WHICH THEY WERE NOT. TOOK IT TO ADVANCED AUTOCARE WHO TOLD ME 4 PISTONS WERE REGISTERING AS MISFIRING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO CHECKED IT OUT, STATING THAT THE ONLY THING WRONG WAS A COIL WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BARELY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT WHILE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING! TOYOTA IS SAYING IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND IS NORMAL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THIS IS THE LATEST OF ISSUES WITH THIS CAR! DOOR SEALS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND HAD TO REPLACE THE BACK DOOR SEAL AFTER STANDING WATER WAS FOUND IN THE BACK AFTER IT RAINED. *TR

LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVING WITH MY YOUNG DAUGHTER ON A LONELY HIGHWAY WITH NO CELL SERVICE, MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 V6 LIMITED STARTED MAKING A NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED MY DASH AND NO LIGHTS WERE ON, PRESSURES OKAY. THE NOISE STOPPED AND I KEPT DRIVING. ABOUT TWELVE MILES FROM HOME THE NOISE STARTED AGAIN AND MY DAUGHTER NOTICED. I LOOKED DOWN AND MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT FLASHED ON AND RIGHT BACK OFF. WE BARELY MADE IT TO OUR HOUSE. WHEN I GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, OIL WAS EVERYWHERE. IT HAD RAN ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. WHEN I PULLED THE DIP STICK THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE STICK. MY HUSBAND CHECKED IT TODAY AND FOUND A HOLE IN A RUBBER HOSE. I WENT ON-LINE AND HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR STORIES. SUPPOSEDLY, TOYOTA WAS TO SEND OUT A LETTER IN OCTOBER 2009 TO ALL 2006 RAV OWNERS. WELL, I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER AND I'VE BEEN THE ONE AND ONLY OWNER AT THE SAME ADDRESS. SO, IT'S NOT LIKE I COULDN'T BE FOUND. NOW MY HUSBAND IS TRYING TO FIND THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE VVTI- OIL HOSE, THAT IS NOW CALLED A 'PIPE'. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS WASN'T CONSIDERED A RECALL ISSUE INSTEAD OF A LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN? THAT OIL HAD SPEWED ALL OVER AND UNDER THE HOT ENGINE ONTO THE MANIFOLD. THERE WAS NOTHING KEEPING IT FROM CATCHING FIRE WHICH COULD HAVE TAKEN BOTH OUR LIVES. IF I HAD RECEIVED THE LETTER (A YEAR AND A HALF AGO) THE HOSE COULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. NOW, I'M LOOKING AT REPAIR COSTS THAT COULD INCLUDE A NEW ENGINE. AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH DAMAGE WAS DONE. MY CAR IS PAID FOR AND I DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO BUY A NEW CAR OR HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. I WANT TO KNOW WITH ALL OF THE OTHER TOYOTA ISSUES IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WHY THIS WASN'T ADDRESSED? MY HUSBAND JUST CALLED A LOCAL DEALER TO GET THE REPLACEMENT PART. HE SAID THE WAREHOUSE HAS OVER 250 IN STOCK! WHICH TELLS THEM THAT THIS IS NO ISOLATED ISSUE. HE SAID THAT THE PART NUMBER HAS CHANGED ABOUT FOUR TIMES, WHICH MEANS TOYOTA KNOWS THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

MY 2006 RAV4 4WD (40,000 MILES) BEGAN LEAKING OIL AT A VERY FAST RATE, LEAVING A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, WHICH WASN'T IMMEDIATELY NOTICED BY ME. THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED, THEREFORE I HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT THERE WAS ALMOST NO OIL IN THE CAR. I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THERE WAS A PROBLEM IF MY BOYFRIEND HAD NOT CALLED ME FROM THE HOUSE TO WARN ME THAT MOST OF THE OIL THAT SHOULD BE IN MY CAR WAS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. TOYOTA REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE OIL LINE AND SAYS THAT THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR SYSTEM IS WORKING CORRECTLY, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THE NEXT TIME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY OIL DELIVERY SYSTEM, I WON'T HAVE ANY WARNINGS TO PREVENT ME FROM BURNING UP THE ENGINE. *TR

MASSIVE ENGINE OIL LEAK. THIS IS THE HOSE REFERRED TO IN LSC 90K - VARIABLE VALVE TIMING WITH INTELLIGENCE (VVT-I) OIL HOSE REPLACEMENT LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN. WHILE DRIVING IN THE LOCAL WALMART PARKING LOT VIRTUALLY ALL OF OUR ENGINE OIL DRAINED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING AT LESS THAN 10 MPH. WE HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH. OUR ONLY WARNING OF A PROBLEM WAS A HOT OIL SMELL. WE STOPPED AND I CHECKED THE DIP STICK WHICH WAS COMPLETELY DRY WITH OIL SPRAYED ALL OVER THE ENGINE WHICH EXPLAINS THE HOT OIL SMELL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEARS WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

TOYOTA: LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR VVT-I OIL LINE THIS IS HOW TOYOTA HANDLES THIS ISSUE I OWN A 2006 RAV4 SPORT WITH THE 2GR-FE V6 ENGINE. THE CAR WAS SERVICED ON 3/17/2010 FOR THE LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN RELATED WITH THE VVT-I ACTUATOR OIL SUPPLY HOSE - OR IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE METAL-RUBBER-METAL OIL LINE PART #15707-31030 HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH THE METAL-RUBBER-METAL PART #15757-31030 (A PALLIATIVE FIX), INSTEAD OF PART #15772-31030 'OIL PIPE METAL' THAT IS MADE ENTIRELY FROM METAL AND FITS THE 2GR-FE V6 ENGINES MANUFACTURED AFTER APRIL 2008. ALSO ON THE INVOICE THAT WAS RELEASED, THE LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR THE VVT-I ACTUATOR OIL SUPPLY HOSE SHOWS UP AS '90K OIL COOLER HOSE (RAV4)' THAT IS NOT THE SAME THING WITH ACTUATOR SUPPLY HOSE. I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE AGREED THAT THE METAL OIL SUPPLY LINE HAS A BETTER DESIGN, BUT HE REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REPLACEMENT WITH THE METAL COMPONENT BECAUSE ACCORDINGLY WITH THE VIN, THIS IS WHAT SHOULD BE USED. AS AN ENGINEER WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE I BELIEVE THAT THIS RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IN A TECHNICALLY SOUND MANNER AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED WITH THE CORRECT ALL METAL OIL PIPE PART #15772-31030. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FIX DO NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT DELAYS THE FAILURE OF THE OIL LINE THAT CAN CAUSE THE SEIZURE OF THE ENGINE IN MATTER OF MINUTES. THIS DEFINITELY IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. *TR

DRIVING ON I-495 ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL AT 70 MPH, ON CRUISE CONTROL, 2006 RAV4 STARTED MAKING NOISE, LOW OIL SORT OF NOISE, AND I STARTED TO PULL OVER. NO OIL LIGHT, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, BEFORE I COULD EVEN PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE ENGINE BLEW. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY REPLACED ENTIRE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE. COST OF NEW ENGINE AND LABOR WAS AROUND $9,000. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT WATER PUMP FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND BLOW PISTON 3 THROUGH THE SIDE WALL, BUT AS A AMATEUR MECHANIC, I AM 100% POSITIVE THIS IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAR. THE VVT-I OIL LINE RUPTURED ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOSE ALL OIL AND BLOW, BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO AGREE AND FORCED US TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET, RATHER THAN COVERING IT BECAUSE TOYOTA KNEW THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, AS IT HAD BEEN THE CAUSE FOR MANY TSB'S, AS WELL AS MANY MANY DOLLARS SPENT BY CONSUMERS TRYING TO REPLACE ALL OF THESE DEFECTED PARTS. *TR

THE ACCELERATOR IS VERY TWITCHY. ON ONE OCCASION, ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK IN OUR PARKING AREA. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND AVERTED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

THIS PAST WEEKEND WE HAD JUST DRIVEN OUR 2006 RAV4 WITH A V6 ENGINE OVER 150 INTERSTATE MILES AND PULLED OVER FOR A REST STOP. WE SMELLED OIL ON EXITING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN WE OPENED THE HOOD WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS OIL SPRAYING ON THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE OF THE ENGINE. ON CHECKING THE DIPSTICK WE FOUND THAT IT SHOWED NO OIL. NO WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE ENGINE HAD NOT MADE ANY UNUSUAL SOUNDS. SINCE WE WERE CLOSE TO OUR DESTINATION WE ADDED 3 QUARTS OF OIL AND MADE IT ANOTHER 30 MILES TO THE END OF OUR TRIP. UPON ARRIVAL I CHECKED THE DIPSTICK AND FOUND AGAIN THAT IT SHOWED NO OIL. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE IT TOWED FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT AN OIL LINE SUPPLYING THE VALVE HEAD HAD BROKEN AND THAT HE HAD THE PART TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. WHEN I ASKED IF THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE, THE SERVICE MANAGER (THIS IS A SMALL DEALERSHIP) SAID THAT HE STOCKED PARTS IF HE HAD 3 OR MORE INCIDENTS IN 12 MONTHS THAT REQUIRED SUCH A PART. WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE DID NOT HAVE MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE OR HAVE A FIRE AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY ACCOMMODATING. THE TOWING AND REPAIRS COST US $500. IN DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH, BOTH ON THIS SITE AND IN OTHER LOCATIONS, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM OCCURRING IN ANY OF THEIR LINES (AVALON, CAMRY , RAV 4, ETC).WITH THE V6 ENGINES AND THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT IT AND THAT THEY HAVE MODIFIED THE OIL LINE FOR NEWER MODELS. *TR

EMAIL TO TOYOTA I HAVE BEEN GENERALLY VERY HAPPY WITH MY 2006 RAV4 (6 CYL, 62K MILES) BUT THIS PAST THURSDAY I HAD A REAL SCARE. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A MEETING ABOUT 15 MILES AWAY VIA INTERSTATE. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR LEAVING THE MEETING, MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT BLINKED ON THEN WENT OFF. ALTHOUGH IT WAS UNUSUAL, I DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THINKING I WOULD CHECK MY OIL WHEN I GOT HOME. MIDWAY HOME, I BEGAN TO HEAR SOME STRANGE NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SINCE IT WAS FAIRLY HOT, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE FAN AND SHUT DOWN THE AC AND TURNED OFF THE RADIO TO LISTEN. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO MAKE STRANGE NOISES. AFTER STOPPING AT THE END OF THE EXIT RAMP NEAR HOME I ACCELERATED ONTO THE SIDE STREET AND THE NOISE BECAME VERY LOUD. I DROVE SLOWLY THE LAST 1/2 MILE HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME, I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS NO OIL READING ON THE DIPSTICK. NOTE THAT THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. I ADDED THE ONLY QUART OF OIL THAT I HAD AT HOME AND DROVE SLOWLY TO MY MECHANIC ABOUT A MILE AWAY. WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING, THEY SAID THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. A RUBBER HOSE THAT RAN FROM THE VALVE COVER TO THE OIL PUMP RESERVOIR HAD SPLIT AND PUMPED OUT ALL THE OIL. THEY SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE HOSE HAD SOME METAL SHIELDING, THE HEAT HAD DETERIORATED THE RUBBER CAUSING THE SPLIT. THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLACE THE PART AND CLEAN MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOR $600. I JUST DROVE IT ABOUT 300 MILES TODAY AND AFTER A FEW MILES OF DRIVING, THE ENGINE RETURNED TO ITS NORMAL SOUND SO I AM HOPING THAT THERE WAS NO LONG TERM DAMAGE. MY CONCERN IS THAT I HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A 2000 MILE TRIP TO CANADA AND IF THAT HAD HAPPENED DURING AN EXTENDED ROAD TRIP, MY ENGINE WOULD BE TOAST. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH HE HAS THE SAME ENGINE IN HIS 2008 TOYOTA. THERE IS NOTHING I COULD FIND IN MY OWNER'S MANUAL TELLING ME THAT I HAD TO HAVE THIS HOSE CHECKED. *TR