Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

[jbjennings]

I'm thinking about buying my wife a Toyota highlander, but getting online, have discovered that supposedly Toyota settled a class-action lawsuit related to their engines sludging up on 1998-2002 cars. I have relatives with a 2001 and 2002 camry and they have not had any sludge problems. Is this all bull-carP, or is there some truth to this? Folks are claiming their engines are going out even though they've had good oil change maintenance and such.
Just looking for some of your opinions or experiences with highlanders or toyota engines......
thanks,
JBJ

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

I worked at Toyota for 5 years and every car/truck with regular 6,000klm service looked like new on the inside. It could be they use poor quality oil or went way to long in between oil changes. lots of short trips in cold weather with out letting the engine warm up will also do it.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

78 fj 40
83 toyota sedan
gts twin cam year???mid -80s
97 sr5 trd, 2001
02 highlander
now and 06 4 runner.

no sludge. Take it for what it is worth. But in the other 36 vehicles, ( non- Toyota cars/ vans trucks) none in them either.Not including bikes or boats...Litigious America at its finest, if this is indeed true...

 

[Tig]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

I have had a 2000 Corolla for about 6 years. It has always used more oil than I thought it should but it runs well and it's not getting any worse. I have been running synth for that past 5 years. I've never heard of a sludge problem or class action lawsuit.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

Co-Worker lost his Siennas engine at about 50k miles. He neglected it pretty badly. I saw pictures of inside his engine and the rocker boxes were just full of gunk. Yota gave him a brand new motor to the tune of about $5g's.
He did not even have any oil change records or receipts and while he claimed he was on top of those oil changes I know he was never changing that oil, after all he bought a Toyota and nothing goes wrong with that brand. He was livid.
Even sadder after getting a new motor he traded in an almost paid for car for a pile of crap Kia van.
With how hot engines run today and how small some of the oil return passages are I can see how sludge can form over time with that amount of neglect.
It happens on more than Yotas as well.

Bottom line, use a good quality oil and change it often. Cheap insurance and really the best thing you can do for your engine. Coolant maintenance is also important this day and age.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

Thanks guys,
I looked a little further and it seems that it's a particular site that has all the folks with problems, although there are people that supposedly are having freakish problems on other sites as well.
I personally always thought that the recommendations about going 4 and 5000 miles between changes was not a good idea, and always have changed mine within 3000 miles. I hear the Europeans even laugh at us for doing this, but my last chevy pickup had 265, 000 miles on the engine and it literally ran like the day I bought it (at 170,000 miles). I'm a firm believer in keeping that oil clean. I also watch for color changes in my oil, since I believe that it's a good indication that it's starting to break down or get dirty.
If it's dirty, I change it. I am not really a fan of toyota lately. My father-in-law's new toyota needs a special tool just to take the oil filter off. They're extremely cramped in the engine compartment on those transverse mounted engines as well. I despise working on them. I just had to change my mother-in-law's timing belt on her 2001 camry. NO FUN! But as a whole, they have been reliable vehicles. I owned a toyota truck once, but the previous owner had used super unleaded all it's life and it would not run regular unleaded without pinging. It annoyed me so bad I sold it. It was a very well-taken care of truck.
But I've never had a problem with sludge in any of my vehicles. I did see the guts of my dad's chevy 350 after he neglected oil changes for a few years and it WAS sludged up. I think you're right that it must be neglect in combination with small oil journals and other passages.
Thanks for the responses, I feel a little better.:redface: Yes, I'm paranoid.
Later,
JBJ

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

Jeez, have ya even looked at/driven/considered a Chevahlay ?
265k miles on a motor designed in the 50's and ya say it still run good. Lots of good GM products out there.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

Jeez, have ya even looked at/driven/considered a Chevahlay ?
265k miles on a motor designed in the 50's and ya say it still run good. Lots of good GM products out there.

I already donated to GM when I wrote my annual check to the IRS I'll keep driving my fords.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

... Is this all bull-carP, or is there some truth to this? Folks are claiming their engines are going out even though they've had good oil change maintenance and such...

No, it's not BS. But it applies to more manufacturers than Toyota. It's related to an emissions change involving EGR, exhaust gas recirculation. With oils improving, many manufacturers were lengthening their required service intervals (Toyota and BMW are the ones I know of). Well, then an emission change comes along, and the EGR is changed, putting more heat in the engine. Many of these cars, while still adhering to their maintenance schedule, started to sludge up. It wasn't the oil's fault, either. And unfortunately, mechanics say you can pull the dipstick and the oil fill cap and not be able to tell a thing.

Good luck.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

yes the GM V-6 has small passages that would clog too. While it may sound like a gamble....... I will say the Highlander is a good gamble

 

[642mx]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

]My father-in-law's new toyota needs a special tool just to take the oil filter off.

Which Toyota is that?

They're extremely cramped in the engine compartment on those transverse mounted engines as well.

It seems like that with all the brands now days... My wife has a Solara with a V6, but its not too bad. I can have the oil filter off in seconds. So far after 35K miles, thats all its needed.

I owned a toyota truck once, but the previous owner had used super unleaded all it's life and it would not run regular unleaded without pinging. It annoyed me so bad I sold it.

Sounds like it was carboned up or had a bad knock sensor... both are an easy fix.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

I wonder what is going on over there, be interesting to find out after its all said and done. They're doing the right thing for themselves and their customers.

Toyota suspended U.S. sales of some of it's most popular vehicles -- including the best-selling car in America, the Camry -- to fix sticking gas pedals that could make the cars accelerate without warning.

In another blow to the world's No. 1 automaker, Toyota Motor Co. said Tuesday it would halt some production at five assembly plants beginning the week of Feb. 1 "to assess and coordinate activities."

The Japanese automaker said the sales suspension includes the following models: the 2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2010 Highlander, the 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequoia.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9DFQBH80.htm

 

[642mx]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

Toyota suspended U.S. sales of some of it's most popular vehicles -- including the best-selling car in America, the Camry -- to fix sticking gas pedals that could make the cars accelerate without warning.

I love the media... they take something and try to scare everybody... The most common sign that there is an issue is the pedal gets hard to depress... and then its a little slow to return. In VERY rare conditons, they could stick and not return all the way.

From the NHTSA website:

Make: TOYOTA Model: TUNDRA
Model Year: 2007
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. Mfr's Report Date: JAN 21, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V017000 N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLYEDAL/LINKAGE
Potential Number of Units Affected: N/A
Summary:
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 CAMRY, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX, RAV4, MODEL YEAR 2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SEQUOIA, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 TUNDRA. DUE TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FRICTION LEVER INTERACTS WITH THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSIDE THE PEDAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY, THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE LEVER MAY BECOME SMOOTH DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IN THIS CONDITION, IF CONDENSATION OCCURS ON THE SURFACE, AS MAY OCCUR FROM HEATER OPERATION (WITHOUT A/C) WHEN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS COLD, THE FRICTION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS OPERATED MAY INCREASE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMING HARDER TO DEPRESS, SLOWER TO RETURN, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION.
Consequence:
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY BECOME HARD TO DEPRESS, SLOW TO RETURN TO IDLE, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
TOYOTA HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A REMEDY PLAN OR AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Personally I think Toyota has set a new standard for responsibility and safety in the auto industry. They are stepping up and stopping production and sales until its fixed right. Toyota has always been a pro-active company and this is another example for there commitment to us, the consumers.

 

[pmat1]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

Jeez, have ya even looked at/driven/considered a Chevahlay ?
265k miles on a motor designed in the 50's and ya say it still run good. Lots of good GM products out there.

We own a few Chevy's, and personally, i wouldn't recommend one to the devil.
I dont think our 2007 Trailblazer will last much longer, 40k miles, and has a awful knock and the valves are ticking like mad.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

Personally I think Toyota has set a new standard for responsibility and safety in the auto industry. They are stepping up and stopping production and sales until its fixed right. Toyota has always been a pro-active company and this is another example for there commitment to us, the consumers.

I thought the exact same thing at first and it is good I admit cuz who wants to buy junk. Of course in reality Yota does not want another carload of people in a late model premium sedan to careen 300 yards off a freeway at 110 costing them millions/billions/cajillions. So really its more of a cover your butt type of move. Stopping production does speak volumes.
I agree the liberal media is garbage, consumer reports especially.

We own a few Chevy's, and personally, i wouldn't recommend one to the devil.
I dont think our 2007 Trailblazer will last much longer, 40k miles, and has a awful knock and the valves are ticking like mad.

I hear ya, where I come from the car and truck is a Ford !

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

Sounds like it was carboned up or had a bad knock sensor... both are an easy fix.

Probably carboned up from burning high octane fuel all the time.

 

[itsaboattime]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

I love the media... they take something and try to scare everybody... The most common sign that there is an issue is the pedal gets hard to depress... and then its a little slow to return. In VERY rare conditons, they could stick and not return all the way.

My opinion(worth what you paid for it lol)
ANY time a gas pedal sticks is a reason to be concerned.
It's a design flaw, and toyota should recall all the affected vehicles.

There is no scare tactic here. Just facts. The pedal gets hard and can stick. Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

Never had that problem with my Ford. Never heard of that problem with ANY American made vehicle for that matter.

 

[JRJ]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

We bought a new V6 4WD Highlander in 05. Still enjoying it

 

[642mx]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

My opinion(worth what you paid for it lol)
ANY time a gas pedal sticks is a reason to be concerned.
It's a design flaw, and toyota should recall all the affected vehicles.

There is no scare tactic here. Just facts. The pedal gets hard and can stick. Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

Never had that problem with my Ford. Never heard of that problem with ANY American made vehicle for that matter.

I'd rather have a sticking gas pedal than a Ford that could burst into flames and burn my house down. (had a friend lose everything because of it... and it was before Ford did anything about it!)

And pretty much all the Toyota's getting recalled with this issue are American made. Probably more American made than your Ford... did you know the Tundra has over 85% American content (not North American, like Ford claims) ... and that is the highest level of American content in any vehicle.

And lets remember that some of these vehicles have been drove 100K miles without incident. There are very few of these vehicles that will ever have this issue show up.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Toyota engine sludge class action suit??

Keep in mind that the Toyota's "gas pedal" is not connected via any cable to the engine. My toyota really does not have a gas pedal (but that is what we all call it) ....... what I have is actually a Potentiometer........ drive by wire controls.