Consumers Beware:
I am a very unhappy owner of a 2002 Toyota Sienna Sludgemobile. On 4/03 after just 4 months of purchasing this vehicle I took my car in to Expressway Toyota Dealer in Miami because it was making a weird sound. The car at this time had about 10,000 miles on it. (when I bought it it was 1 year old). The Toyota dealer said that I had oil sludge on the engine and that the repair would be covered. At that time they agreed that Toyota had encountered a problem with some engines and pretty much fixed it without much hesitation.
It has been 2 yrs and about 5 months since that first incident. My car now has 53,000 miles. Same sound again. Took it to Expressway Toyota agency and they told me that it was the same sludge situation and I was immediately blamed without even questioning me of not doing oil changes on the vehicle. I told them that I had performed very routine oil changes about every 3,500 to 4,500 miles and provided them with receipts. They refused to pay for the repair and even after showing them proof kept insisting that it was my fault.
After much attempt on my part and many calls to Toyota's executive offices, Toyota called today (10-4-05) and offered to pay for 50% of the repairs. This is totally ridiculous. They know very well that this sludge problem is there's to own but they don't want to accept their responsibility. They are supposed to have a consumer support program to help consumers with this situation that covers vehicles for 8 years unlimited millage. This is BOLONY. Simply not true. Even though I gave them copies of my oil changes they are still not owning up to their promises.
Bottom line, just because I need my car back (very busy mother of two, I have agreed to accept this offer but I do want all the consumers out there to be aware of this situation and to get your oil changes done at the dealer even if you have to pay $20 more or so. They are blaming Tires Plus Total Car Care Co. For not doing my oil changes properly. I wonder what they would have said if my oil changes would have been done at Toyota.
I OWN A TOYOTA SLUDGEMOBILE AND I will pay 50% to fix the car and from now on make my oil changes at Toyota. I will wait about 2 more years for this to happen again to me for the third time which I am sure it will and then see what they have to say then.
ONE GOOD ADVICE TO ALL: DON'T EVER BUY A TOYOTA. I will make sure that none of my children, grandchildren, and anyone else I can get to hear my story ever OWNS a TOYOTA. I was much happier with my (competitor's name deleted - see below) that even though it was old I never had any trouble with it whatsoever. Shame on you toyota. This is life. BIG CORPORATIONS against the little people.
I would love to see a toyota executive or an employee of theirs go through a situation like this without fault of theirs to see what they would say then after they know they have made their maintenance on the cars.
Odalys
Miami, Florida
U.S.A.
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