Engine Sludge/Oil Gelling--Toyota's Customer Response - READ ONLY

877 messages, Last post on May 09, 2002 at 5:24 AM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota, Lexus, Engine, Oil, Coupe, Convertible, Sedan, SUV

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#6 of 877 Welcome Everyone! by Mr_Shiftright HOST Apr 03, 2002 (4:39 pm)
Okay, the Sludge Topic is back! Everyone is invited! Quick Suggestions follow: 1. If you need to ask questions, try to frame them one or two to a post (John 339--my email to you about this bounced. Are you still JGFI555msn.com?) 2.If you wish to post detailed descriptions or links, please break up your posts into smaller segments. 3. I'm always around on e-mail if you need me. REMEMBER: The less you bunch your questions and your words, the better the response you will get from other posters and from the Toyota people! Mr. Shiftright Host
#7 of 877 Toyota Spokeman Question by john339 Apr 03, 2002 (5:06 pm)
How many sludge complaints has the company received to date. When the SPA was announced, there were 3100 complaints. How many have been received to date?
#8 of 877 First Question--And A Thank You. by pilot13 Apr 03, 2002 (5:08 pm)
For the record. This is the first instance where I've posted anything, anywhere, since last December. Too much contrived Toyota bashing, plus a serious car accident slowed things down a bit for me in the interim. Question. What are the results of Toyota's research on the cause(s) of sludge? Thank you. I think the position taken by Toyota is unprecedented and extremely generous. They've gone the extra mile IMHO. Hat's off to a great automaker.
#9 of 877 Sorry but by armtdm Apr 03, 2002 (5:21 pm)
Toyota is still blaming the customer for oil change intervals beyond the recommendation. They refuse to admit the owner's manual may be incorrect and need shorter change intervals. Quote "When maintained according to schedule, it is extremely unlikely that any vehicle powertrain will develop this condition" This means it is possible yet they refuse to admit it , they state quite emphatically, it is not a design problem. Sorry, but I am not really a Toyota basher but this is just SPIN CITY!!!!!!!!!!!!. Please jsut admit the owner's manul needs to be revised and go one with life
#10 of 877 Admitting the owners manual recommendation was wrong by bluedevils Apr 03, 2002 (5:26 pm)
Wouldn't this open Toyota up for additional exposure to warranty or Toyota-paid repair claims?
#11 of 877 thanks for reopening by pdalpsher Apr 03, 2002 (5:47 pm)
the topic. I also want to thank Toyota for their new position on this issue. I purchased one of the vehicles covered by this issue last summer and sold a '90 Camry that had 223k+ miles on it. I have to admit I don't have the same confidence today that I'll see 200k on this engine that I had when I bought the car. Based on my experience with the Camry I didn't even look at another brand. Questions for tmsusa1.... Will an explaination or root cause be officially recognized on this issue so I can do what needs to be done maintenance-wise to get my 200k+ miles on this Toyota?
#12 of 877 I for one... by webguyster Apr 03, 2002 (5:47 pm)
am relieved, and do not feel like I will get stuck down the road with a huge repair bill, provided I maintain my car properly. The "Toyota Customer Support Program" news release is at least not worded in a way to humiliate the customer, as the previous SPA letter. It provides piece of mind to know I did not make a HUGE mistake in purchasing a Toyota, as I found the original SPA insulting, from a "customer service, PR" point of view. Question's...Since the news release addresses the 1997 through 2002 models, will there be a change or modification to future models (2003)? IF so, will there be any recommended changes to the 1997-2002 models, such as maintenance, or part changes??? Thanks Toyota for stepping up to bat! (or is it still Toyoto! LOL)
#13 of 877 by sttropez1 Apr 03, 2002 (5:48 pm)
I don't think Toyota would ever admit any wrong doing on their part. Just the numbers tell us that their liability spans over 3.3 million engines produced since 1996. Do we need to bring this to the attention of the media, perhaps Mr. Bill O'Reilly of the Foxnews cable channel?
#14 of 877 questions for posters by Mr_Shiftright HOST Apr 03, 2002 (6:13 pm)
To: sttropez1 Hmmm.... how much better than this (see below) is a TV reporter going to do for you? I mean, if an 8-year warranty doesn't satisfy you, why not? AND To: armdtm: Why did you call this "spin"? If a person gets an 8-year warranty no matter what, plus incidental expenses, why do you think they, or you, would care about the ultimate technical aspects of the problem? Curious. "To make sure that customers have absolute confidence in their vehicles, this program will cover repair costs and incidental expenses for which a customer has paid or could incur as a result of damage due to oil gelling for a period of eight years from the date of first sale or lease without a mileage limitation."
#15 of 877 A question for tmsusa1 by mpyne Apr 03, 2002 (6:17 pm)
Does this mean that past owners who have had there engines rebuilt already will be reimbursed or is this just for future problems that may occur with current owners? Thanks