It is worth noting that if one does a search on Toyota's web site for "Customer Support Program for Engine Oil Gelation" or anything close to it, nothing comes up! The only thing about this program that comes up on a Google search is what I have written about it!
What's REALLY going on at Toyota? Is the company intentionally hiding this very important information from its customers? Are dealerships acting like they don't know anything about the program?
Bruce Ertmann, CEO at Toyota, admitted that the first round of Toyota owner letters that were sent out in a staggered fashion in February was halted before the 3.3 million Toyota vehicle owners received them. The first letter was called the SPA or "Special Adjustment Policy" and it was good for 12 months. It covered repairs for engine oil sludge in an engine that was sufficiently maintained by the owner.
After a near online revolt by Toyota owners, Toyota then issued the CSP or "Customer Support Program for Engine Oil Gelation" in April. This program covers sludge repairs for EIGHT YEARS and UNLIMITED MILEAGE, starting with the purchase date. Once again, Toyota claimed that it would send out all 3.3 million Toyota owner letters in a staggered manner.
One year after this claim, Toyota owners continued to post that they had not yet received any such letter. The discussions took place on Edmunds.com "Town Hall" (now known as CarSpace.com "Forums"), on Cartrackers.com "Toyota Forum, " The Complaint Station for Toyota, and a number of other auto sites. Mr. Ertmann participated in some of the forums and he assured customers that their sludge issues would be addressed. He also assured owners that they would received their letter.
Well, it has been over seven years since this CSP was issued now and still many Toyota owners indicate that they received no such letter. Further, they tell stories about their experiences that mimic what the ORIGINAL SLUDGE VICTIMS posted about... Before any programs were initiated! Deja Vu?!? Sure it is! Apparently, Toyota never planned to send out all the letters. Further, it continues to keep quiet about the CSP and to keep its customers in the dark! Now that the sites where the discussions took place are defunct (hacking, etc.), Toyota customers are having difficulty finding the much needed engine oil sludge information.
Go ahead... Do a search on Toyota's very own web site and see what you find on this very serious engine condition! As of today, 7/16/07, SPA and CSP searches yield nothing... No owner letter information, no details about the programs, NOTHING! So, why is this? Why is Toyota keeping this information from the Toyota owners... 1997 vehicle owners some of whom still qualify for the program based on age and/or mileage?
Don't the 3.3 million Toyota owners have a right to know about this??? Why should the only mention of these progams be in my postings after a Google search? Does Toyota actively seek to remove negative complaints about its company from internet searches? Does it actively to remove key information about this engine oil gelation from internet searches?
Apparently, Toyota is associated with an internet company, "Complaintremover.com, " which promises to remove negative complaints about it from Google searches. This same company claims that it will PROVIDE positive postings to take the place of the negative ones! This company says it can "unlock Google cache" and manipulate what information appears on the first pages of a Google search!
Hmmm... Active manipulation of posted information... Particularly Toyota vehicle owner information! Does this sound like something you, a current Toyota owner and/or would-be Toyota would accept?!?
Forgive me, but this sounds like a company that is afraid of the truth! Why would a company that has risen to #1 in the auto marketplace need to intentionally manipulate search information?!? Is it afraid that this *sanitized* information might keep it from maintaining this status? Is it afraid that that Toyota owners might continue to ask the tough questions? WHY would it need to form a partnership with this "search engine optimization" (translated: removal of key information) company?!?
Something isn't right about this! Is the intent to weaken the power of the Toyota consumer? Is it to limit the Toyota owners' freedom of speech? Is it to keep the would-be Toyota owners from seeing what has transpired in the last few years... Especially concerning Toyota engine oil sludge?
It is my personal feeling that if consumers knew what companies like Toyota are doing to keep the real world experiences (perceived to be negative by the company) of its vehicle owners from coming forward, they would be SHOCKED!
This reminds me of what happened back in 2001 when I posted that the Toyota Financial Services web site had a "Engine Sludge" link. This was back when some "regulars" on Edmunds.com were saying that Toyota sludge was just one big hoax. This was back when Edmunds.com banned me from asking the tough questions about Toyota on its web site. This was back when Toyota blamed the engine oil sludge on the Toyota owners and made void the new vehicle warranty as soon as it surfaced!
I posted the information, including the link to that TFS "Engine Sludge" link, and within 72 hours, it was REMOVED! Guess that it might have been very embarrassing for Toyota... After all, NOTHING was revealed about engine sludge up to that point... Except by the Toyota owners posting online. POOF! Evidence removed, just like that! Wouldn't it be very interesting to find out what else has been removed online by the company?
Hmmm... I am wondering if this has anything to do with the "corporate protectors" following me around wherever I post to challenge my Toyota engine oil sludge information? Such personal attacks all because I am giving information that Toyota refuses to? Strange, isn't it? Let's just say that I am concerned about the current Toyota owners who have sludge and not one shred of information about the SPA or the CSP.
Now, the sludge is just one issue. There are many others associated with the Toyota Sienna that have also been swept under the table. Pulling to the left, recurrent brake problems (brake drums), sticking (sometimes breaking) sliding door locks, power steering problems, excessive tire wear, transmission failures, emissions control component failures, speedometer failure, excessive heat with highway driving, paint flaking, etc. And... I won't even discuss the 4Runner head gasket issue here!
One of the "corporate protectors" said that Toyota was no different than any other carmaker. Hmmm... That isn't what the Toyota owners were told in the advertisements!
Look. All we, the Toyota owners are asking for is the truth. We want Toyota to both acknowledge and fix, once and for all, the engine oil sludge problem. At this point, Toyota owners aren't even able to get the information from Toyota. Is this FAIR?!? This situation is unacceptable... And I am far from alone in this sentiment.
Charlene
Vienna, Virginia
U.S.A.
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