2013 Scion FR-S

SATURDAY, 2ND FEBRUARY, I DROP OFF THE CAR AT TOYOTA OF SANTA CRUZ FOR THE VALVE SPRING RECALL. THE CAR IS FINISHED ABOUT A WEEK LATER, I PICK IT UP AND DRIVE IT FOR ANOTHER WEEK WITH NO ISSUES. I MAINLY USE THE CAR TO COMMUTE TO MILPITAS. TODAY, 21ST FEBRUARY, ON MY WAY TO WORK ON HWY17, JUST PAST THE LAST SCOTTS VALLEY EXIT, THE CAR STARTS KNOCKING AND LOSING A BIT OF POWER. THERE WAS NO "CHECK ENGINE" OR WARNING LIGHTS AT ALL. I DOWNSHIFT FROM 6TH TO 5TH AND THE CAR DIES. I COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY, ONTO VINE HILL RD. AND CALL AAA, MY BOSS, AND THEN CALL TOYOTA OF SANTA CRUZ TO GIVE THEM A HEADS-UP THAT I'M BRINGING THE CAR IN. WHEN I ARRIVE WITH THE CAR ON A FLATBED, ABOUT FIVE OR SIX TECHS POP THEIR HEADS OUT FROM THE SERVICE GARAGE AND START LOOKING AT EACH OTHER. I LOOK AT THEM, THEY LOOK AT ME POINT TO MY CAR AND SHAKE MY HEAD. THEY DISAPPEAR. THE SHOP FOREMAN AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAY THAT THEY WILL FIX THE CAR FOR FREE IF THEY CAN PROVE IT WAS THEIR FAULT, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS APPROX. 1K MILES ON IT SINCE THE SERVICE. I TOLD THEM I HAVE HOURS OF MIND-NUMBING DASHCAM VIDEO OF MY COMMUTE TO PROVE I DIDN'T ABUSE THE CAR. 2/22/2019 UPDATE:TOYOTA CALLED TODAY AND STATED THEY BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS INTERNAL, AND THE ENGINE IS COMING OUT AND WILL BE TAKEN APART TO FIND THE ISSUE. 2/25/2019 UPDATE: SERVICE CALLED AND SAID THEY PULLED THE OIL PAN AND FOUND THE #4 CYLINDER ROD BEARING SPUN. UPDATE: 03/04/2019 THEY LOOKED INTO IT AND FOUND THAT IT SHOULD MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA WITH WHAT THEY HAVE AT TOYOTA AND IN THEIR DATABASE AND SAY THAT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING GOING ON BEFORE THE CAR BROKE. FOR EXAMPLE: RUNNING A CUSTOM TUNE THEN RE-FLASHING THE STOCK TUNE BACK BEFORE MY HANDING THE CAR OVER TO THEM. UPDATE: I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP WHICH FOUND GASKET MATERIAL IN THE OIL PICKUP TUBE ~25% BLOCKED.

*REGARDING MY 2013 SCION FR-S VALVE SPRING RECALL. WHAT DO I DO WITH A CAR THAT, IF I DRIVE IT, THE ENGINE MAY SUFFER A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE; IF I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR "REPAIR", THE ENGINE MAY SUFFER A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE? NORMALLY WHEN YOU PURCHASE A PRODUCT WITH A MAJOR DEFECT, YOU EXCHANGE IT FOR A NEW ONE. (THROWS UP HANDS) THIS IS IDIOCRACY.

PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS TOO SENSITIVE. PLACING A WEIGHT SUCH AS A MOBILE PHONE ACTIVATES THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS. IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS TO A PASSENGER OR CAUSE ADDITIONAL UNNECESSARY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE IS FACTORY INCLUDING THE SEATS, ELECTRONICS, AND AIRBAGS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IF THE ENGINEER IS IN, THIS ISSUE IS PRESENT. ACCIDENTALLY DEPLOYED AIRBAGS MAY CAUSE INJURY IT DEATH.

HAD THE RECALL J02 DONE ON MY 2013 SCION FRS AT 37,739 MILES ON THE CAR AND 1,000 MILES LATER THE CAR HAS A MOTOR THAT HAS A BAD ROD DUE TO OIL NOT GETTING THROUGH. I HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR UNTIL AFTER THE MOTOR WAS WORKED ON BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. NOW THEY WONT FIX IT. DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. IT WAS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND RIGHT BEFORE THAT HAPPENED.

VEHICLE WAS IN DEALERSHIP (TOYOTA OF REDLANDS, REDLANDS CA) FOR THE F02 VALVE SPRING RECALL. UPON RECIEVING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE ENGINE WAS TICKING MORE THAN USUAL. 700 MILES LATER IT SPUN A BEARING RESULTING IN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, THEY DEEMED IT NOT THEIR FAULT AND WANTED TO STICK A 8K-12K BILL ON ME TO MOVE ON WITH REPAIRS. SMALL AMOUNTS OF SEALANT WERE FOUND ON PICKUP SCREEN. CAR RAN FLAWLESSLY FOR 97K PRIOR TO RECALL WORK.

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA FOR VALVE SPRINGS. I HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (TOYOTA OF MARIN, CALIFORNIA). SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, ON MY WAY TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC TO HAVE THE REPAIR INSPECTED (DRIVING ON A PAVED ROAD ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT SONOMA RACEWAY IN SONOMA, CA), I EXPERIENCED A BANG AND KNOCK IN THE ENGINE. I LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW SMOKE. I LOOKED FORWARD AND SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER AND A FIRE CREW HELPED PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT NOT BEFORE THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS DESTROYED.I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH TOYOTA. THEY INSPECTED THE CAR IN APRIL AND I AM AWAITING THEIR RESPONSE. THIS WAS A LIFE THREATENING EXPERIENCE. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE IT HAPPEN NEAR A FIRE CREW WHO COULD PROVIDE IMMEDIATE HELP. I FOLLOWED THE RECALL DIRECTIONS AND LOST MY VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE HELP IN DEALING WITH TOYOTA TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ATTACHED MY LETTER TO TOYOTA AND A PICTURE. THANK YOU. -[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

THE VEHICLE (2013 SCION FR-S, 69000 MILES) WAS IN A FACTORY AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER [XXX] TO HAVE RECALL J02 (NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 18V772000) PERFORMED. WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE CAR SUFFERED A MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEM FOLLOWING THE RECALL SERVICE, BUT BEFORE THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO US. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVED INDICATED THAT THE CAR WAS ON A TEST DRIVE FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE RECALL SERVICE AND REQUIRED TOWING BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER. WE WERE INFORMED OF THIS TWO DAYS AFTER ITS OCCURRENCE. A VISUAL OBSERVATION OF THE PARTIALLY DISASSEMBLED ENGINE INDICATES LIKELY OIL STARVATION AS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE SERVICE CENTER HAS RETAINED THE VEHICLE AND PARTS PENDING A DETERMINATION BY TOYOTA. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE SERVICE CENTER IS OF THE OPINION THAT A NON-FACTORY OIL FILTER CAUSED OIL STARVATION. THE OIL FILTER HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON THE CAR AND FUNCTIONING APPROPRIATELY FOR APPROXIMATELY 3500 MILES PRIOR TO THE SERVICE. THE OIL FILTER WAS NOT REPLACED DURING THE ENGINE OUT SERVICE WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF INTERNAL ENGINE COMPONENTS. WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED DURING THE 9 DAYS THAT THE SERVICE CENTERED HAD POSSESSION OF THE CAR PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM THAT THERE WERE ANY CONCERNS RELATED TO THE OIL FILTER - THE MAKE AND MODEL OF THE OIL FILTER HAS ONLY BECOME A POINT OF DISCUSSION AFTER OIL STARVATION OCCURRED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, ON THE ROAD, AFTER PERFORMING THE REPAIR FOR THE J02 RECALL ON THE VALVE SPRINGS. DEALER WHO PERFORMED REPAIR WAS RELUCTANT TO HELP ME TOW MY VEHICLE TO THEIR SHOP. AFTER REACHING OUT TO CORPORATE HQ, THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK FOR MY CAR. THE DEALER VERY CLEARLY DID NOT APPRECIATE ME GOING OVER THEM AND STRAIGHT TO TOYOTA, BECAUSE THEY TREATED ME VERY POORLY ONCE I ARRIVED AT THEIR SHOP. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF MY VEHICLE SINCE DROPPING IT OFF. MY ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES ON IT, AND RAN BEAUTIFULLY BEFORE TAKING IT IN FOR THE RECALL.

BEFORE I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR RECALL I MADE SURE IT WAS IN TIP TOP SHAPE NO LEAKS OR NOISES OF ANY KIND, NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER! POST J02 VALVE SPRING RECALL CAR WAS RETURNED WITH A 1/2' HOLE IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD DEALER SAYS IT WAS MY FAULT ALTHOUGH IT HAPPENED WHILE IN THEIR POSSESSION IT WAS AT THAT TIME THE SHOP FOREMAN DECIDED NOT TO ADDRESS THE ENGINE SQUALLING AROUND 5K RPM AND INSTRUCTED ME TO FIX THE EXHAUST AND DRIVE IT. 3K MILES LATER I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD 55MPH NORMALLY THE CARS STARTS BOGGING DOWN AND LESS THAN A MILE LATER STARTS KNOCKING VIOLENTLY AS I TURN AT AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE JUST DIES LEAVING ME QUICKLY EXITING THE VEHICLE TRYING TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE ROAD WITH THE HELP OF PASSING MOTORIST I FINALLY SUCCEEDED AFTER MY CAR HALF IN THE INTERSECTION SAT FOR 15 MIN BLOCKING TRAFFIC AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. DEALER WANTED ME TO PAY FOR INVESTIGATION IF THEY DETERMINED I WAS AT FAULT. I DECIDED NOT TO LET THEM CONTINUE AND CHOOSE TO HAVE A PRIVATE REPAIR FACILITY INVESTIGATE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THEY DETERMINED THAT SEALANT HAD BEEN SUCKED INTO THE OIL PICKUP TUBE CLOGGING THE SCREEN ESSENTIALLY STARVING MY ENGINE OF OIL LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THIS RECALL IS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME MY VEHICLES ENGINE HAS BEEN WORKED ON LEADING THE PRIVATE REPAIR FACILITY TO DETERMINE THE DEALER AT FAULT WITH A PROBABLE CAUSE BEING CARELESSNESS REMOVING OLD SEALANT FROM ENGINE AND TIMING COVER. CURRENTLY BEING TREATED AS A LIAR BY DEALER WHILE PROVIDING THE FINDINGS FROM PRIVATE REPAIR FACILITY TRYING TO GET THEM TO FIX MY CAR.

FOLLOWING THE J02 RECALL WORK MY 2013 FRS WAS PICKED UP AND BROUGHT TO ME 4.1 MILES AWAY WHEN I GOT OFF WORK AND STARTED MY VEHICLE I NOTICED A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. UPON ACCELERATION THERE IS A DISTINCT KNOCKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE, SINCE THEN I HAVE DRIVEN 12.7 MILES INCLUDING THE DISTANCE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE IS ONCE AGAIN. THERE ALSO APPEARS TO BE WAY TOO MUCH SEALANT APPLIED TO THE ENGINE WHEN THEY PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.