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Toyota Will Cover Sludge Problems

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

February 11, 2002
Thousands of Toyota owners, like Doug of Destrehan, LA, are facing costly engine repairs and replacements because of a problem with sludge build-up. Toyota has been refusing to cover the repairs but is now having second thoughts.

Doug had to spend $5,000 to replace the engine in his 2000 Sienna minivan after just 24,000 miles of use. Gregory of Lilburn GA had a similar problem with his 1998 Sienna. He had to replace the engine at 60,000 miles and, like Doug and about 3,000 others, got no help from Toyota, which said he had not maintained the vehicle properly.

The sludge problem occurs when oxidized oil builds up in an engine. Its forms a mucky goo that can cause the engine to seize up. Because the problem can be caused by failure to change the oil. Toyota has been refusing to cover repairs under its five-year/60,000-mile power train warranty.

But last week, Toyota sent letters to 3.3 million owners of vehicles equipped with the two engines affected by the problem -- the 1MZ V-6 and the 5SFE inline 4 -- saying it will pay for repair costs in cases where owners can prove they made "reasonable efforts" to maintain the vehicle.

Under the "special policy adjustment," which will be effective for only one year, Toyota says it will cover the cost of repairs if owners can show they made at least one oil change per year. The company, however, is refusing to back down from its contention that negligent owners are the cause of the problem, not a design defect or quality problem.

Toyota and Lexus owners manuals specify that the oil should be changed every 7,500 miles or every six months, whichever comes first. Under severe driving conditions, oil should be changed every 5,000 miles or four months.

It's not clear why the engines are susceptible to sludge buildup, although excessive heat is known to cause oil to become more "goopy," experts quoted by Automotive News said. Some suggested that changes in the design of the cylinder head in the affected engines is causing heat buildup. Others said leaky head gaskets could also be contributing to the problem.

Toyota maintains that with millions of vehicles on the road in the U.S., the 3,100 complaints are microscopic and shouldn't be construed as representing a widespread problem.

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