1994 Toyota Camry

AT 67,320 MILES, UPON TURNING THE IGNITION KEY, THE ENGINE EXPLODED BELOW THE FILTER HOUSING AND THE CRANKSHAFT WAS VISIBLE. ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS THE ONLY REMEDY. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE,I SUSPECTED THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE CAMRY ENGINE HAD SLUDGE-RELATED PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS ABOUT MY CAMRY THAT SHOW THAT OIL AND FILTER WAS CHANGED REGULARLY BY A TOYOTA DEALER OR COMPETENT CAR MECHANIC. THUS THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY NEGLECT. ON APRIL 24, 2005, I SENT A LETTER TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER, TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., TORRANCE, CA 90501 THAT DESCRIBED THE EVENT AND REQUESTED REPLY. THERE WAS NO REPLY TO THIS DATE. ON JUNE 18, 2005 I WROTE ANOTHER LETTER TO THE TOYOTA ASSISTANCE CENTER REMINDING THEM THAT I EXPECT BOTH A REPLY AND EXPLANATION OF WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE. AGAIN, NO REPLY TO THIS DATE. *NM

WIFES CAR STARTED SMOKING AT 59,000 MILES. I WENT TO LOCAL TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THAT THE OIL HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED ON A REGULAR BASIS. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS NOT TRUE. I ASKED HOW MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE AND THEY SAID THAT TOYOTA ENGINES DO NOT GIVE ANY PROBLEMS WHEN THE OIL IS CHANGED. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME IN SECRET THAT SOME OWNERS HAVE PUT TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE OIL AS A DETERGENT AND BREAK UP THE SLUDGE. WE DROVE THE CAR UNTIL IT HAD 73196 MILES AND FOUND A TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER WHO HAD A SHOP WHO QUOTED ME THE $2100.00. HE SAID IT WOULD COST $4,800.00 IF TOYOTA DID IT. I WAS FURIOUS WITH TOYOTA AND LET HIM DO IT. HE TOLD ME HE AND A PARTNER WORKED AT TOYOTA 12 HOURS A DAY FOUR DAYS A WEEK TEARING DOWN FIXING AND REASSEMBLING TOYOTA ENGINES BECAUSE OF SLUDGE BEFORE HE BECAME SERVICE MANAGER

NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH CAR FOR 3 YEARS OWNED. HAD CAR TOWED DUE TO SLUGGISH/ WANTING TO CUT OUT WHEN IDLING ISSUE. WHEN FT WAYNE TOYOTA CHECKED CAR, THE ENGINE HAD "SLUDGE" IN IT, WAS UNFIXABLE AND CAR NEEDED NEW ENGINE. LOOKED THEY SAID LIKE THE OIL HADN'T BEEN CHANGED OFTEN OR CORRECTLY. OIL CHANGES DONE APPROX EVERY 4000 MILES SINCE OWNERSHIP. PERSON AT FT WAYNE TOYOTA BOUGHT CAR TO PUT NEW ENGINE IN AND TOOK A SCOPE THROUGH IT- SAID ENGINE WAS FULL OF SLUDGE, METAL CHUNKS AND IT LOOKED LIKE THE RINGS HAD JUST SUDDENLY SNAPPED AND ENDED UP IN ENGINE.

I HAVE A 1994 TOYOTA CAMRY, AND I HAVE AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. I HAVE KEPT VERY GOOD RECORDS OF THE SERVICE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE, AND HAVE HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES, BUT SOMEHOW THIS WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. I APPLIED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE OIL SLUDGE PROGRAM BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS OLDER THAN THE MODELS IN THE OIL SLUDGE PROGRAM. I REALIZE THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE, BUT I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT OTHER MODEL VEHICLES ARE ALSO BEING AFFECTED BY THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM.