like all avalons, air conditioning light flashing and smelled burnt oil. saw pool of oil in driveway and right side underneath engine soaked with oil. had car towed to sloan toyota in jenkintown, pa. they fixed it quickly and well, as far as i know, replaced v v t oil hose as well as serpentine belt and a few other parts. there was no charge to me under drive train warranty. service was excellent and hopefully i avoided a catastrophic problem. the parts manager told me the new part was an upgrade and should not happen again. i would suggest toyota owners of years 05 through 09 have v v t hose replaced before it breaks, even if you have to pay for it yourself. bl

I WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE RETURN LINE ON THE OIL PUMP SPLIT WIDE OPEN .THE ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT DID NOT LIGHT .A/C LIGHT STARTED BLINKING DUE TO OIL NO PULLYS.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFTY HAZARD ON TOYOTAS PART TO LET ENGINE OIL RUN OVER VERY HOT EXHAUST PIPE WITH THE VERY LIKELY HOOD OF STARTING A FIRE AROUND THE ENGINE. I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE TOYOTA CORP. DOSE NOT WARN OWNERS OF THE DANGER THEY ARE IN .THEY ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. A SIMPLE NOTICE IN THE MAIL IS ALL IT WOULD TAKE

Update from Sep 11, 2009: on you tube they show a 2006 avalon with this problem by the oil pump. Toyota used what looks like rubber hose and two clamps . instead of hard piping it all the way from point A to point B. the weak link is the rubber hose! I read that in 08 they made a change and hard piped it all the way point A to B

Update from Sep 12, 2009: I WAS LOOKING AT THE REPAIR THE DEALER MADE THEY REPLACE METAL TUBE AND 3 INCHS OF HOSE WHERE OIL ENTERS BY OVER HEAD CAM THEY CALL IT BANK 1.THEN I JACKED THE CAR UP AND REMOVED FRONT PASSENGER TIRE TO LOOK AT OIL PUMP.THERE ARE MORE RUBBER HOSES BY PUMP,HOW ABOUT THOSE HOSES ARE THEY THE SAME POOR QUIALTY AS THE ONE THAT SPLIT WIDE OPEN.THE DEALER MADE REPAIR BUT THEY LEFT THE BOTTOM OF CAR SOAKED WITH OIL.I HAD TO CLEAN IT OFF MY SELF.I COULD GO TO HARDWARE STORE AND BY A BURST PROOF HOSE FOR MY WASHER OR TOILET WHY USE JUNK HOSE ON A 30,000$ CAR AND I DO HAVE TOYOTA EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY CHARGE THERE WARRANTY BACKER 212.00 $ NOT 500 OR 600 $

GENERAL MOTORS HAS BETTER DESIGN,THEY PUT OIL PUMP IN THE OIL PAN.

Update from Sep 15, 2009: avalon should move up to # 15

I can't believe Toyota has not made a recall on this problem. It would have saved them big $$ in the long run, not to mention all the many quarts of oil that have leaked out into the environment. People have endured a lot of aggravation because of this ongoing problem that the manufacturer has done nothing to nip it in the bud. My local dealer is covering the repair plus a rental but I am still livid. Any time someone does this major of a repair to a car it leaves you open to other problems in the future that may not be covered by warranty. I am seriously thinking of getting rid of this car as soon as it's paid for. This car is my first Toyota and probably will be my last.

We were fortunate, we saw the oil leak in our tire treads as we pulled into a shopping area - looked under the car and saw a heavy flow of oil leaking. Checked the oil - nothing registered on the dip stick. Put 3 quarts of oil in - it held until I started the engine, then started flowing out.

Had it towed to shop - was the 4" section of the external oil delivery system pipe, which is actually a hose for those 4 inches between 8" or so of high pressure line on either side - seems pretty strange design.

Replaced that and life is good, but could well have been stranded on the side of the road in 100 degree weather, with a burned up engine!

First symptom was the A/C inop with the blinking light. When arriving home 10 miles later noticed the engine noise was different (similar sound of a diesel engine). Shut it down and popped hood; I could smell the burning oil and see oil dripping on driveway. Like all the other complaints I never got an oil light. Called Toyota dude next day and he sent a tow truck and had it ready the day after that. All covered by warranty so no cost to me but a couple days without the car. I told service rep that I had read about numerous other Avalons with the exact same oil line ruptures. He stated he has seen this problem with a "few" other Avalons. They did use a better quality hose for the replacement so hopefully I am good to go now. If this had happened after 60,000 miles then it would be all out of my pocket. I would bet a 1000 bucks Toyota is not recalling these cars cause the vast majority of these cars will make it past 60,000 miles. Then Toyota can make big bucks on the repair costs. This is my first and last Toyota.

Seems to be same problem as others reported. I was on a trip from Tx to Al (and return); when I reached Al my air conditioner stopped cooling (light blinking)! No other lights, temp gauge fine! On return trip, finally got AC to cool, but literally 2 mi from home, check engine light came on and a clicking noise started. Stopped car immediately, had towed to independent mechanic. He has replaced this HOSE and said this is an incredibly bad design!! The hose had a pin-hole leak. Looks like we have a problem with the timing, mechanic looking at it. May have other damage - don't know yet. Evidently the leaking oil made the AC belt slip because the AC seems to be okay. My confidence in Toyota is destroyed!!! (Especially discovering that this is becoming a known problem - shame on Toyota for not notifying owners!!!!)

My problem was the same as others. We were on our way home to Illinois from Mississippi in our 2006 Toyota Avalon and started smelling oil burning about 30 minutes into our trip. Pulled over and I noticed the right side of my car was drenched in oil. Checked the oil and it was about a quart low. So we decided to proceed and the burnt oil smell got worse. We pulled over at the first exit in Missouri and when we did eventually what ever was leaking finally had to much and a large portion of oil spilled on the ground. I checked the oil and it empty. I bought a couple of quarts of oil and drove 5 miles it to the nearby Toyota dealer which is in Blythesville, Arkansas. It is currently there getting looked at. So far I know I will be out of $90 just for the diagnostic check that HAVE to be done. I am currently in Mississippi waiting to hear the new of what it is going to cost me to get home. I will keep you posted on what transpire from this!

Toyotas have been know for making reliable and dependable vehicles for years. It was a total shock to me. Problems like this don’t happen to Toyotas. Especially one of their higher end model vehicle.

I was coming home from the airport in Las Vegas, NV, it was actually raining in the desert (at least in some parts). I have drove thought the rain and it started to clear out. I was driving on the surface streets after exiting the freeway. As I sat at a red light I noticed a small cloud of white smoke coming from the engine. The smoke appeared to be coming from the wheel area. I thought the brakes were hot from it being wet and that is why it was smoking. Another theory was it was the car next to me which was a very old car that had white smoke coming from its exhaust. I didn’t think it was MY CAR! MY TOYOTA! Never in a million years would I think it was my car. I never had ANY PROBLEMS until today. I continued to drive on. Keep in mind no warning lights were indicated, the temperature was still in good standing, the power was there when I was accelerating, there was no smoke while driving, there was no smell, and it was a TOYOTA!! I noticed again more smoke started to build at the next street light. I then looked for a place to pull over and check it out for myself. As I was waiting at the light again, a guy in the next lane gets my attention and tells me my car is smoking form the engine. I COULD NOT BELIVE IT MY WORSE FEAR BECAME A REALITY! Once I pulled over I smelt burnt oil and open the hood and saw that the right side of the engine was completely wet with oil all the way to the back. I found the leak. (Well my uncle did) It was a hose. When the engine was turned on the oil would squirt out of it. I got a tow truck to tow it to Toyota. The service department was closed so they will not get a chance to look at it until Monday. I talked to a Toyota Service Writer early and informed him about the siatuon and he said there is an oil pressure line located in the right side of the engine and that should be the problem. He said it is covered under the Drive train Warranty. We will find out on Monday. This is a disappointment and a let down from Toyota. Class action lawsuits should be filed against Toyota Motor Corp. As I read in a pervious complaint “There's a very real possibility my car could've caught fire, given the amount of oil on the bottom of car, its proximity to the exhaust system”

Near the completion of a 60 mile trip to Busch Garden we heard a slight ticking noise. No engine light came on and I parked the car in the parking lot. When we got out of the car there was a strong burnt rubber smell. Not to disappoint the grandchildren we went to the park. Upon returning to the car 7 hours later, I started the car and the oil indicator light came on for a second and then went off. Our daughter followed us to the nearest gas station. The light never came on again, although there was a strong odor when we parked. We checked the oil and there was no oil on the stick. After putting 4 quarts of oil in, my daughter started the car and as I looked under the car, oil gushed out when she pressed on the accelator. I immediately called the dealer authorized towing service and the car was towed back to our local dealer and my daughter gave us a ride home. Early the next morning Toyota called and notified us that an oil pipe on the engine had broken and we had lost all the oil. They were aware of this possible defect but took no action when the car was in for a 45,000 mile check up just 2 weeks prior. The engine required major engine repair including cam shaft, timing chain, and O rings. We were treated great by the dealer, were given a rental car for 2 days and all repair costs were covered, although I understand that Toyota was billed over $4,000 for this repair. The car now runs great, but thank God the engine is guaranteed for life by the dealer because there is always that small doubt that everything is as good as new.

My 2006 Avalon is the fourth Toyota I've owned and the 2nd Avalon (first was a 2000). My situation was very similar to other postings and I was only LUCKY, thanks to a generous and kind tow truck driver, this wasn't worse. I was on the Interstate, coming home around 9 PM - about a 240 mile drive, when we stopped at a drive-through to eat. While we waited, I smelled burning oil but thought it was the adjacent car. When I got back on the Interstate and up to speed ~70 MPH, the A/C light started blinking, then the A/C shut down. Shortly thereafter, the check engine light came on and the oil light started flickering. I immediately pulled into a gas station in a remote part of South Carolina and looked under the hood. The right side of the engine compartment was wet with oil. Under and behind the car was soaked with oil as well. I checked the dipstick and it was DRY, so I put a quart in to check the severity of the leak. As you may guess, it drained right onto the ground. I was stranded 150 MILES FROM HOME and the nearest dealer was about 30 miles away and already closed for the night. By a stroke of luck, a tow truck was passing through to fill up and the operator agreed to tow us home - 150 miles, three big guys sitting in the cramped cab, etc. for $1/mile:) I still can't believe it! The next morning the Toyota dealer told the problem was a ruptured bypass hose in the oil system. I'd seen the hose when I looked under the car the previous night, but wasn't sure this was the problem because I couldn't believe Toyota would use an unbraided or otherwise armored hose to transport oil (a flammable liquid) 1) so close to the ground, where ruptures from road debris, etc. are more likely and 2) so close to the hot exhaust system. There's a very real possibility my car could've caught fire, given the amount of oil on the bottom of car, its proximity to the exhaust system, and that I was operating at interstate speeds. Toyota needs to issue a recall on this immediately and should be ashamed to use such cheap parts in a vital and potentially dangerous system just to save a couple nickels.

My story is much like the others. My wife came home from work without knowing anything was wrong. We took a short trip (luckily) in town and heard a strange noise. It would come and go. I did notice the oil light flicker once but it stayed off. When we arrived at our destination I got out and looked under the car. I saw the oil dripping all over the place. I first thought the filter had come loose but when I climbed under the car it was completely dry. The leak was coming from further back. I checked the dipstick and it was dry!!! I had a friend drive me home and picked up 6 more quarts of oil, filled the crankcase and drove it to my mechanic about 1 mile away. I turn it off and left it for him to check out. I found this website that night and called him the next day and told him this was a known problem on Avalons. (I also called the Toyota dealer and was told that since the car was out of warranty it wasn't covered.) My mechanic got the replacement part and fixed the car. He said the rubber hose didn't look that much different from the defective one. He couldn't understand why they didn't replace them with a wire braided high pressure hose. The total cost was under $300 and hopefully the engine wasn't hurt. I have been buying Toyotas for 20 years and have always been impressed with their quality and willingness to be up front and fix known issues. This incident has definitely caused me to rethink buying Toyota for my next vehicle.

I drove home from my volunteer position (I'm a retired lady), drove into my driveway and turned into the garage and then noticed the odor of burning oil or something. Got out of car and saw a trail of oil drip marks all the way up and out my concrete driveway, which had just been pressure-washed two weeks before! I looked under the car while it was in the garage and saw drips coming from the engine area. Had no warning lights, bells, or whistles telling me my oil was leaking. I backed out of garage to put car in position to be towed. Upon checking oil, only the very tip of stick showed any sign of it. Tow truck driver said he had seen several 06 Avalons with this problem and even some Camrys. Dealer said everything was covered under warranty and well it should be with only 26,470 miles on it. Dealer paid for tow job and I was treated very well. At that time I didn't realize the extent of the problem or I would have questioned him about a recall notice. Car was towed in around 10 A.M. and was ready for me the same day by 4 P.M. He did mention that he would provide a loaner if car needed to be kept overnight.

I don't understand all of the parts listed on the no charge invoice I got but there were three different gaskets, a timing chain cover, a fipg oil pan, some kind of belt and a pipe sub assembly. (Maybe you guys know what all this is.) The thing that really gets to me is that I have lost confidence in this automobile. Paid a lot of money, expecting to drive it until the wheels fell off, and now feel uneasy as I have already planned a long trip in this hot weather. I noticed someone said it happened more than once and I just pray that in my case once was enough. I researched Toyota, found the name and address of the President of Toyota Sales USA and plan on sending him my opinion as to their negligence in not issuing a recall to fix this problem. There are probably thousands of people driving around in these Avalon 06 time bombs, not knowing they could have a catastrophic engine failure that may result in more than just a ruined engine. It might be the cause of a vehicle accident especially if it happens on the interstate. I feel extremely lucky that if this had to happen, it occurred in my own driveway. I should be sending Toyota a bill for cleanup in my garage and driveway!

My husband and I had just left home on a Saturday morning in our 2006 Avalon for a two hour drive to a theme park. Five minutes from home, we stopped to pick up some things for the drive. On the walk into the store, my husband turned and noticed the trail of oil following us into the parking lot. My first reaction was, "it's not my car". Looking under the car there was a huge puddle accumulating under the front on the pavement and smoke was then coming from under the hood along with a smell of burned engine oil. When the hood was opened, oil had spewed all over the left side of the engine compartment. There had been no sensor warnings and no leak in the home garage floor. We started it and drove it less than a mile and parked it at a local garage (still no warnings) and called for a ride back home. We never checked the dipstick to see if any oil was remaining.

On Monday, I called the local dealership and they expected it would be covered under warranty (under 60K miles). They recommended towing and asked to have the tow driver bill them directly. Later that afternoon, the diagnosis was a ruptured "metal" (according to them) oil line. It was repaired the same day and the oil cleaned out of the engine compartment (still smells as still burning off though). The repair and tow costs were covered under warranty. The dealership, when asked, said they had seen this on Avalon's and Camry's but there was no factory recall.

I think we were lucky that we made the stop that morning and avoided being stranded further from home. I hope that the catastrophic leak will not result in future engine issues. I am accustomed to driving Toyotas upwards of 160K miles, 10 years with little more than routine maintenance costs and then trading or selling them.

This is a mirrior image of the already documented statements.

My wife was driving our 2006 Avalon to work and experienced a brief flickering of the AC button, She turned off the AC and it restarted without problems. She got to work without incident, drove home after work and then to her mothers house. after moving her car she noticed an OIL spot on the concrete. Called me, no further driving was done, I checked the oil stick!!!!!! I had to add 4 quarts of oil to the engine to fill to proper level. I cranked the car for 5-10 seconds, oil began shooting out of the base of the engine......Car has been towed to the dealership, we are keeping our fingers crossed. Hopefully no engine damage. Hopefully Toyota will back up the product they are selling. Results pending. NO ENGINE OR OIL LIGHT OR TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT AT ALL !!!!!!

Driving down the highway in rush hour traffic and AC light flutters and AC quits. A few miles down the road the engine oil light flashes and then goes out. I try to get across 5 lanes of bumper to bumper traffic and finally exit the highway pull off and left side of engine compartment covered in oil. Check dip stick and no oil. Put quart of oil in engine and no apparent leak, start engine and oil flying around everywhere. Towed vehicle to Toyota dealership and they confirmed that the oil line between top of engine and VVT broke on #1 bank. Car has 37,000 miles on it. Dealer cleaned up engine compartment and replaced oil line and timing chain cover. When I asked the service adviser about other engine damage (bearings, cam lobes, seals, rings, etc) they looked at me like I was stupid. They assured me that the engine was fine. I told them that if they were so confident they could provide extended warranty. They declined. I then spoke to the Service Manager and got nothing but more assurances. She stated that they have seen a lot of these oil lines break and have never seen an engine go bad as a result... I said prove it. When they conducted the repair they didn;t even change the oil filter....

I have always owned GM/Ford/Chrysler vehicles and thought that I would try a Toyota since everyone says the "ownership experience" is so great... NEVER AGAIN. My last two cars have been GM's (Buick with 165,000 when I sold it and a Chevy Impala with nearly 200,000 that my son still drives) No problems with either of them...

I'm sure my Dad rolled in his grave when I bought a Toyota, I'm also sure he's laughing his ass off now...

I was one of the fortunate ones with this problem. I went to work one day and my wife noticed a huge pool of oil sitting in the garage and followed a trail of oil down the driveway, out of the neighborhood to my workplace where my car sat in the parking lot leaking oil. I brought my car to the local toyota dealership where they told me that it would be a significant repair and would let me know. I then went online and found this site where I read everyone's complaint about the oil leaks. I contacted the dealership, talked to the manager and cited these complaints. My car was ready the next day and while I have over 50,000 miles on it there was no charge for the repair. If I didn't find this website and read everyone's complaints I really don't know what it would have cost me to get it repaired. For those of you who are reading these complaints and have not experienced the problem yet, contact your local Toyota dealership and have them replace the hose because what happens is the oil line had split. I was fortunate that I wasn't on a big trip when it happened.

Smelled oil. a/c light flickered. then check engine light came on then oil light flickered on and off. drove directly to coggin at the avenues in jacksonville florida. unable to fix car today but if they cannot get part in will give me loaner car. Did not mention any of the problems previous reported with avalon. stated I had 1 quart of oil left in engine. informed I would have to pay for oil change and replace ac belt.

I hope I have not damaged the engine. I will print off this site and take to dealer tomorrow if not treated right. I love my avalon but now I am wishing I would have stayed with Ford,

Update from May 23, 2009: I am still a happy avalon owner. coggin toyota replaced my vvti oil leak and I was back in my car next morning. Phew I was worried when I drove today but my engine sounds ok. Goodluck to everbody. I am passing the word.