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Toyota Sludge • Toyota Agrees to Oil-Sludge Settlement • Toyota Coughs Up • Toyota Sludge Complaints • Lexus Complaints

JOSEPH of EVERETT, MA November 9, 2009

I had less than 100 miles on my rx350 and the tire came off the rim. It was not covered. it cost me 450

Jaimee of Cincinnati, OH November 6, 2009

My car has had 4 recalls and 3 of the times that I have had my car serviced was dealing with the brakes. I have been given the runaround via the Lexus Dealership and Headquarters. My car only has 21K miles on it and the brakes are messed up again. I am furious that my car sounds like I put my brakes on myself. I am being told to deal with it. I would love to be contacted by a lawyer in this matter.

Maria of Buffalo, NY November 3, 2009

My Lexus 2001 RX 300 was recently serviced for an oil change at Bison Automotive in Buffalo NY. A week after the oil light went on while driving out of town. I pulled over on the interstate and called the mechanics. They said to have my car towed to their shop. I had the car towed costing 127.00. After inspecting the car, the mechanic told me that I had sludge which damaged my engine and I will need to replace the engine. I called the Lexus customer service and told me I would have to bring my car to the dealer ship and have them assess it before they can out of "good will" determine if they can help me with any type of assistance. I also need to bring proof of my oil changes to ensure that i did properly maintained my vehicle. There was no guarantee given to me about at least not charging me for another diagonsitc done on my car to tell me what I already know. I was not prepared to have an engine replaced on my Lexus. I still have to decide if I am going to tow my car to the dealership to pay more money out than I would if my mechanic did the work.

diana of Crowley, TX October 30, 2009

We have a Lexus 2000 RX300 someone told us of this motor slodge and it was confirmed when we had our oil changed it was sludge We had a transmission pot in 2 moths ago not it died and the shop confirmed the motror was bad. 3500 for a used one!! we still owe 3000 on the transmission. Where can I get some help with this??

Tammy of Dacula, GA October 21, 2009

I have a huge crack down the base of my dashboard on the passenger side airbag just about the glove compartment. Car is in excellent condition and it kept in a garage. Researching the internet... seems to be VERY common. Lexus GX 470. "2003" model to "2005" models. Lexus says they will not replace even though they have replaced many already.

Nellie of Ottawa, ON October 18, 2009

My problems with Lexus started less than 6 months after I bought my 2006 Lexus RX330. Within those 6 months my transmission was completely shot. With this car, Lexus was actually cooperative- because my car was still under a one year warranty, I was allowed to reselect a new car. By the time this happened though, the dealer had already sold off all of their 2006 model vehicles and were now selling 2007s (however they had stopped selling the RX330 altogether, go figure.)

I chose to replace my 330 with the RX 400H. From the get-go, that car burned oil like it was nobody's business, and I had to keep getting it serviced. In spite of that, I still kept the car for a couple of years. It was the next problem that did me in. I was driving down the freeway doing about 80 kph/50 mph, and I hit a pothole. Next thing I know, my driver's side airbag deploys, and I'm swerving all over the place because I never expected it to happen. Somehow I managed to pull over to the side of the road to see what happened. I get out of my car (in agony, as I'd later learn that the airbag fractured my vertebrae), and I can't find any external damage to the car.

So anyways, I bring my car to the Lexus service centre, and the tech says it'll cost me 3273 and change to replace the airbag and fix parts of my dashboard that were damaged as a result of the deployment. I tell him that my car should still be covered under the 5 year extended warranty, and that Lexus should have to pick up part of the tab because the air bag deployed FOR NO REASON. He tells me to take it up with the head office- which is what I do. And you know what that a*hole manager says to me, "We've never had an issue with our airbags before- you probably just don't know how to drive an SUV like this", and he pretty much tells me to stop being such a pain! He fails to realize that I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE because of something that was entirely out of my control (I had my car serviced more than routinely, so I'm kind of astounded no one ever told me about the potential risk of a faulty air bag.)

In the end I managed to get the car fixed- a colleague of mine had a relative who was a licensed mechanic/body shop tech who had extensive experience servicing Lexus cars, and he offered to fix my car for less than half the price Lexus quoted. The car was restored to immaculate condition (even better than when I purchased it from the dealer when it was brand spankin' new), and I was able to re-sell it. I am now the proud owner of a BMW, and I haven't had any car problems since.

Les of Farmington, MN October 13, 2009

My problem is similar to Iana in Boise and Margret in Downingtown PA. I purchased a 2002 Lexus ES300 used with 104000 miles on the car. After a couple of weeks I noticed puffs of smoke and low oil level on the dip stick. During a 1500 mile road trip I was adding a quart of oil every time I filled in gas. When I called the Lexus dealer they told me the previous owner had brought it in for oil consumption. They had pulled the valve covers and determined it was not a sludge problem. I went back to the used car dealer from whom I had purchased the car. So far I have not had any success in getting them to return my money or fix the car. I have also come across the lawsuit about oil sludge/ oil consumption. It seems Lexus can easily deny that it is their problem. My question is what else could be causing these expensive engines to fail if it is not a bad design. I think Lexus/Toyota is not living up to their responsibilities.

Frank of Rosemere, QC October 5, 2009

Signed 48 month lease with Lexus Financial Services dated 2 June 2006.I signed because they offered 39 month return of vehicle no charge if mileage pro rate(2000 per month) and car not accidented.Clause added to contract by hand and signed by and in presence of sales director. Upon competion of 39 months went to return vehicle and pick up new one and was told that they are not respecting contract. Upon further prodding was threatened that if i complained they would say contract was forged. I contacted my lawyer and sent lawyers letter which up to now has gone unanswered.

lana of boise, ID September 24, 2009

My circumstances are very similar to Margaret in PA's experience. We bought our 2001 Lexus after much research. Shortly afterwards (two months) without any warning, the oil was gone, and then the car started smoking. Our mechanic said it needed a new motor. I accidentally found out about the class-action lawsuit and called Lexus. They instructed us to go to our local dealer and said we needed to prove that the oil had been changed regularly. We did not own the car so we have no proof and does not show up on car fax. Our local Lexus dealer inspected the car and said it is not sludge. I was told it most likely is a failed ring, but am having an independent expert looking at it tomorrow. I feel the same as Margaret, as I was told by another mechanic that the dealership mechanics do not want this work, as they get nothing for it, like they do for work brought in and paid for by customers. Seems like the engine may not only have sludge - but other problems as well.

Margaret of Downingtown, PA September 10, 2009

My 2002 Lexus RX 300 has 100k miles on it and has never given me any problems. However, in the past month, I have had to add 6 quarts of oil (2 at a time) to my car. There is no leak and I had just had my oil changed 10 days prior to this 1st incident. I have documentation proving that I have my oil changed, etc. well within the Lexus guidelines. Concerned about the need to add oil, I took my car in to my mechanic. They said that there was evidence of sludge build up which was causing the oil to leak into the gas tank. There was nothing they could do to fix my motor, I needed a new engine at a cost of 8700!

So, my husband looked this oil problem up online and found this consumer affairs website documenting a class action lawsuit against Toyota for similar circumstances. We then called Lexus of Chester Springs and asked them about the law suit...they said they had never heard of this before. (really?) They directed me to Lexus corp. who were all very pleasant and cooperative. They asked me to provide proof of ownership and maintenance, vin #, registration...which I did.

I asked Ritchie at Lexus corp, assuming they would replace my engine, would they replace it with the same motor (in which case I would have to deal with this problem again). He said "no" we have identified and corrected the problem, and unless I was to purchase a used motor from someone, I would not have this problem again. I then asked him HOW a motor defect can cause sludge build up. He told me that it was a maintenance issue...some people don't change their oil until it's been 10-20k miles. I asked him how it happened to me, then, since I have been properly maintaining my engine. He said he didn't know.

But my question is...why would Toyota agree to give a new engine to people that just didn't bother to get their oil changed? AND why would they re-design the motor if what he was saying...that it was a maintainence issue...was true? I dropped my car off at Lexus of Chester Springs last night...I just got the call...there is no sludge problem in my car. In fact, my engine is so clean, it looks like someone wiped it clean.

The car is still in the shop and they are not closing it up until we say so...we are paying our mechanic to deal with them now...since he understands what they are saying and we don't. Everyone (on this website and the sites my mechanic read) says the dealers deny it...I don't want to assume they are lying to me...but I don't want to walk away b/c they tell me to only to find out I was duped. Not sure what to do next! My car, with 100k miles on it is worth nothing unless I spend 9000 for a new motor. My mechanic says it appears to be related to the Toyota defect, Lexus denies the problem.

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