engine failure numbers released

not really but porsche is looking alot better LOS ANGELES -- Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. has quietly settled a class-action lawsuit that covers about 3.5 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles that may have been damaged by engine oil sludge. Details of the settlement, which allows for third-party mediation of sludge claims rejected by Toyota, have been mailed to 7.5 million current and previous owners. Critics contend Toyota has told customers and dealers too little about sludge issues. They say some customers took vehicles with dead engines to dealers who had little or no knowledge of the problem and often assumed it was the owners' fault. Unhappy customers had no remedy other than hiring a lawyer to go after Toyota. Under the agreement, owners whose claims have been denied by Toyota may submit them to a third-party mediator at no cost for binding arbitration. "This settlement breathes life into claims that have been dead for years," said Gary Gambel, a lawyer for plaintiffs who sued Toyota. "This is not a settlement that gives a few dollars to everyone. The relief is exactly tied to the problems and damages that someone might have." The lawsuit, filed in a Louisiana district court, is expected to be approved by the court in early February. Toyotas at risk About 3.3 million Toyota vehicles are susceptible to oil sludge, which can cause thousands of dollars in damage and require replacement of the engine. Here are the vehicles included in the settlement. VEHICLE MODEL YEARS Camry 4 cyl. 1997-2001 Camry 6 cyl. 1997-2002 Camry Solara 4 cyl. 1999-2001 Camry Solara 6 cyl. 1999-2002 Sienna 6 cyl. 1998-2002 Avalon 6 cyl. 1997-2002 Celica 4 cyl. 1997-1999 Highlander 6 cyl. 2001-2002 Lexus ES 300 1997-2002 Lexus RX 300 1999-2002 ***** in the armor? Sludge is gelled oil that fails to lubricate engine parts. It can lead to damage, often requiring a new engine at a cost that can exceed $10,000. Complaints about sludged engines have plagued several carmakers, but Toyota's troubles have been especially controversial in light of its reputation for vehicle quality. The issue highlights a possible ***** in the company's armor. Executives fear Toyota is growing too fast for its engineering resources. That could lead to quality snags and a tarnished reputation. When a customer takes a sludge-caked engine to a dealership, there is usually a "clean-out" procedure. The head is pulled and a service technician tries try to steam out the sludge. If that doesn't work, the engine must be replaced. Sludge can result from poor engine design; overly tight tolerances between moving parts; improper cooling; and poor maintenance by consumers. Toyota insists the problem arises mainly when owners fail to change their oil frequently enough. The agreement does not find Toyota at fault. "The settlement doesn't mean that Toyota or Lexus vehicles are predisposed to develop oil gel," according to the notice. "The court did not decide which side was right." After Toyota had received 3,400 sludge complaints by 2002 it extended its vehicle warranty to eight years and unlimited miles. The program was offered to owners of 1997-2002 Toyota and Lexus vehicles equipped with 3.0-liter V-6 or 2.2-liter four-cylinder engines. The company declined to give an updated number of complaints. The terms Under terms of the settlement: Owners of damaged vehicles have eight years plus 120 days from the original purchase date to file a complaint. If Toyota denies the claim, owners can appeal to a judge-appointed third-party administrator: J. Robert Ates, a New Orleans lawyer. Customers who have already made repairs may be able to recover the costs. Only those who elect not to participate in the settlement can sue Toyota individually. The deadline for that choice was Dec. 31, 2006. The settlement is transferable to future vehicle owners. The car only needs to show evidence of oil sludge. It is not necessary for the owner to have made repairs during the claim period. Damages that can be recovered include loss in value of the vehicle and incidental costs, such as rental cars. Past lawyers' fees, mental anguish and bodily injuries are not covered. A Toyota spokesman said the agreement is not a defeat for the automaker. "The settlement validates the customer support program we implemented four years ago," Xavier Dominicis said. "The terms of the program remain unchanged. There always was a way for customers to appeal our decision." Plaintiff lawyers disagree. They say Toyota failed to communicate the extent of the problem to its dealers and customers. Toyota's appeal process also meant hiring a lawyer, which many consumers could not afford. It costs nothing to file an appeal with Ates. "The consumer only needs to show reasonable maintenance in terms of oil changes," Gambel said. "You don't need to prove where the sludge came from, or explain your driving habits. If you have oil sludge, Toyota pays" the consumer. Consumers can get more information by calling [phone removed] or at ���.oilgelsettlement.com. You may e-mail Mark Rechtin at [email removed]

To me Porsche looks worse.

This kind of report could make a person worry about putting thick oil in their cars.

Here we go again. I think this time I am going to sit down, shut up, and just watch.

can the oil sludge problem not be resolved by using synthetic oil?? I thought that once you use synthetic oil it never loses it's viscosity

the e46 bmw M3 is have the same problems with major engine failure and BMW is stepping up http://members.roadfly.com/jason/m3engines.htm

I believe this was an issue for the early Mercedes ML's. MB switched ML's to synthetic shortly after, IIRC.

As an owner of a RX300 I'm very pleased with what Toyota has done. The key is they acknowledged the issue with an extended engine warranty. When I first heard of this issue, I was concerned about the resale value of my car. While I had been running synthetics since after break-in and not worried about the sludge problem, I was concerned about the overall resale getting hit. This extended warranty which is transferable to the next owner (Toyota mailed me an insert to include in my warranty book) will a long way to assuring the next owner that they're covered. So, as a result I have no problem purchasing another Lexus again.

Now I'm completely distraught! I was about to sell my 996 and buy a Camry due to the 996's potential RMS failure, which might lead to intermediate shaft failure, which might lead to simultaneous combusting, nuclear meltdown, supernova'ing, ... But, there goes the Japanese manufacturer's reliability record too. I wonder if US Customs will let me import one of the fabulous new Chinese makes? At least I won't read about any engine failures on these damn forums......yet.

that keep dirt and solids in suspension where they're captured by the filter or flushed out with oil changes. As oil is used it typically loses viscosity, that is becomes "thinner" from water and unburned fuel contamination. Short trips, stop/go driving, cooler climes, can result in higher rates of contamination. With low detergent oils, or even high detergent oils run too long, dirt can combine with combustion by-products in the oil and settle out of the oil in out of the way places in the engine. Sincerely, Macster.

VW have had exactly the same issues with sludge in some engines, and have now switched to synthetic oil only in their cars. The latest VW rated oils are all 5Wxx, except Mobil1 which is 0W40 :- The spec is NOT viscosity based (obviously), hence the range of options that all meet VWs current spec.