My first and only new car- I have had all maintenance done by- Toyota in Jopin,, Mo- I've done everything by the book!

I went to Kansas City Ks which is maybe 130 miles - I noticed my car making a weird sound so I pulled into a gas station to check my oil - I had ZERO oil in my car and I had just had my oil change by Toyota 3 weeks earlier- I add 3 quarts of oil and drove home - I checked my oil again and had ZERO oil again! I took it to Joplin the very next day and they once again changed my oil and said keep an eye on it-with no suggestions on how to fix it - they changed the PVL valve or something like that- a year earlier cause it was doing the same thing-it doesn't leak any oil I park in the garage. so obviously its burning it or blowing it out- I called Toyota yesterday and now I'm waiting on a quote because their saying this is very strange but it sounds like your valves or rings or both - which will be very expensive!! Well after reading this site- it seems like this is a known problem and I think Toyota should do something to help their customers out - I paid 35,000 for this car that is a hell of a lot money in my books and I don't have that kind of money to buy another car. I didn't think I would have to. Toyota please help and stand behind your product!

JhopeKs

I purchased a 2002 Toyota Highlander from a shady dealership in my area. A short time after I puchased it, it started sounding like a diesl engine. I took it to get looked at it and it was just one thing after another. I ended up having to get a new transmission, a new short block in my engine and a new transfer case for the 4 wheel drive. This was covered thankfully by Toyota even though I was slightly out of my waranty. I started to experience some other problems with it and was afraid it was going to cost me money so I upgraded to the 2002 Toyota Limited because I love the vehicle despite the ENGINE TROUBLE lol. Before my last oil change my oil light would come on spiratically and eventually my check engine light came on. I took it in for an oil change and it fixed the problem.

I am a little more thank 2k miles away from my next oil change and the light is coming on with a lovely noise accompanied by the light. I am going to take it in to get it looked at on Wednesday and am horrified as to what I will find. I know in my gut they will tell me I need a new engine which is ridiculous since I JUST got my 90k mile check up and NOTHING was wrong...stay tune...

There is an engine defect (Toyota calls it "oil gelling") in the 2002 Toyota Highlander. There was a special extended warranty which Toyota offered to cover the repair cost for this particular defect. We have kept our 2002 Highlander running well, and have a perfect maintenance record. Now, suddenly, it's burning oil like crazy. An independent (and very trustworthy) mechanic told us we need a re-built engine, at a cost of $5,000-$7,000 (the vehicle only has 87,000 miles on it). The Toyota dealership service department looked at it and charged us over $100 to tell us our engine doesn't have oil gelling, so we don't qualify for the extended warranty coverage. We'll have to cover the cost of the re-built engine ourselves. It's peculiar that the Highlander would have TWO engine defects, and only one is covered (but not the one we have). The dealer offered us $1500 towards a new Toyota. We're not in the market for a new car -- we just want our old one to run (we really like our vehicle otherwise). We contacted Toyota headquarters several times to ask for assistance with the repair cost, but they are not willing to budge an inch on this. This company has truly disappointed us.