2000 Toyota Avalon

WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER TO DIAGNOSE/REPAIR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CALL FROM DEALER REPORTED AIR/FUEL SENSOR DEFECTIVE -- GAVE PRICE OF $449 TO REPAIR, DEALER WAS AUTHORIZED TO PROCEED. TWO HOURS LATER, ANOTHER CALL FROM DEALER REPORTED THAT SENSOR COULD NOT BE REMOVED (FROZEN OR "WELDED" IN PLACE), WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE COMPLETE MANIFOLD AT COST OF GREATER THAN $1000. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE TOYOTA'S RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO FAULTY ASSEMBLY. (SEE PREVIOUS REPORT OF INSUFFICIENT ANTI-SEIZE COMPOUND USED.) UNLESS ADEQUATE COMPENSATION IS FORTHCOMING, I WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THIS WAY, AS I AM TOLD IT WILL NOT DO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, BUT ONLY AFFECT GAS MILEAGE. HOWEVER, AS THIS IS PART OF THE VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM, I SUPPOSE IT WILL BE FURTHER DAMAGING AIR QUALITY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR FUEL SENSOR FAILED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED, THE MECHANIC DAMAGED THE MANIFOLD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LACKED ANTI-SEIZE COMPOUND. THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED DURING BOTH OCCURRENCES. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH THE 1999 AND 2000 MODELS LACKED SUFFICIENT ANTI-SEIZE COMPOUND TO PREVENT THE DAMAGE. THERE ARE THREE SENSORS THAT MAY FAIL AND THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE MANIFOLD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AFTER EACH FAILURE. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE FAILURE HAS BEEN CORRECTED IN SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000.