Toyota Reimbursement

[imbest123]

ok so i just got a letter in the mail from toyota saying that there was a oil gel (im just assuming thats oil) defect in a lot of 5sfe and 1mz engines and that any repairs or damage caused by oil gel would be reimbursed. here is the website http://www.oilgelsettlement.com, its straigth from toyota. my engine had to get rebuilt because of a huge lack of oil in my car and my oil light didnt even turn on and now i have a pretty big oil leak in my car. i know the oil leak is normal but im trying to milk it a bit =] anyway my engine rebuild was pretty costly and i was wondering if anyone else got this letter and what my chances of fighting this are because i would really like that fixed if that is the case. cars included are:

Camry 4 cyl 1997-2001
Camry 6 cyl 1997-2002
Solara 4 cyl 1999-2001
Solara 6 cyl 1999-2002
Sienna 6 cyl 1998-2002
Avalon 6 cyl 1997-2002
Celica 4 cyl 1997-1999
Highlander 6 cyl 2001-2002
ES300 1997-2002
RX300 1999-2002

[darksparkz]

It looks like it only covers 8 years from purchase, for the 1997 owners, 8 years would've been 2005.

Good news though, but doesn't seem to help the 97 owners.

[keithy]

Correct me if I am wrong. It says, apply only to people who bought the car new from toyota or leased if from them when the car was new. So, if you bought the car used, you will not get the benefit. right?

[imbest123]

Originally Posted by darksparkz

It looks like it only covers 8 years from purchase, for the 1997 owners, 8 years would've been 2005.

Good news though, but doesn't seem to help the 97 owners.

damn i didnt realize that! why would they even include 97 if the dont support it! and keithy you are correct. my mom is the first owner and its still registered under her name.

[carlo]

I got it too. Check out the website and download the "summary notice" pdf, which is exactly what I got in the mail. In some cases, owners have up to March 15, 2007 to report expenses.

[Toysrme]

A Toyota/Lexus dealer will not help you out of warranty. You'll need to get Toyota Coperate to front the bill & tell a Toyota/Lexus dealer to do it.
To meet the extended warranty, you *must* provide proof that you have done your best attempt at maintaining the car. You flat out are required to prove that you've changed the oil once within the last 10 months / 10,000 miles. Which is why relatively very few cars have been warranteed. The engines burn oil no more than any other ever created if you change the oil when you are suppose to.

Lexus Division
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
19001 South Western Avenue
February 2002 PC Box 2991
Torrance, CA 90509-2991



Re:
Special Policy Adjustment

Dear Mr.
Our records indicate that you own a 2001 Lexus with the vehicle identification number shown above. If you no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by returning the enclosed postage paid card.

We want to thank you for being a Lexus customer and remind you of the importance of the proper care and maintenance of your vehicle. Proper maintenance prolongs engine life, sustains good vehicle performance and protects the value of your investment.

Proper Vehicle Maintenance = Many Years Of Problem-Free Owner~q~

When you took delivery of your Lexus, you should have received scheduled maintenance information in your Owner’s Manual Supplement, which outlines the proper maintenance of your vehicle, including recommended intervals for changing the engine oil and oil filter under both “normal” and “severe” driving conditions. If you (1) drive on unpaved or dusty roads, (2) tow a trailer or use a car-top carrier and/or (3) drive repeated trips of less than five miles in cold temperatures, you should service your vehicle more frequently than drivers operating vehicles under “normal” conditions. Your Lexus dealer can help answer any questions about your vehicles maintenance requirements.

Since you are responsible for assessing your actual driving conditions and following the appropriate service schedule, we want you to know that a recent independent automotive study found that a majority of surveyed dnvers believed that they drove “normally,” despite regularly encountering the “severe” conditions listed above, which require more frequent maintenance.

The majority of Lexus owners follow the recommended maintenance schedule based upon the way they drive, assunng them of a long-lasting, well-running engine. On the other hand, a few owners fail to follow the appropriate vehicle mainteance schedule and put their vehicles at risk of developing a condition known as engine oil gelling

Engine oil gelling occurs when old, dirty oil becomes thick and no longer adequately lubricates the engine. If not properly maintained, it can lead to severe engine damage. Oil gelling is solely a maintenance issue, and we are not aware of any situation in which a properly maintained vehicle has experienced mechanical problems associated with this condition
What if You Haven’t Adhered Strictly to the Appropriate Maintenance Schedule?Lexus

Even if you haven’t strictly followed the recommended maintenance schedule for your driving conditions, you probably won’t have a problem IF you begin following the proper schedule now. In most cases, changing your engine’s oil and filter and following the recommended maintenance schedule from this point forward will reduce or eliminate oil gel and minimize most problems that may have begun to develop. In the unlikely event that you do experience a problem in the future, we would also remind you that it is your responsibility to keep all service records, repair orders and receipts documenting your maintenance, especially from this point forward.

Lexus Cares About Its Customers - A Special Program for Oil Gel Damage

If it is too late for this preventive step and you have already had to repair your engine because of oil gelling, please contact our toll-free customer assistance center at 1-888-654-6421. If you can show reasonable efforts to maintain the vehicle regularly, we will reimburse appropriate repair costs.

Also, as a special measure of protection, we will extend the offer to pay for repairs for engine damage from oil gelling for 12 months from the date of this letter, or until the expiration of the original Powertrain Warranty, whichever is less If you experience a problem, you should contact your Lexus dealer, and if you can show a reasonable effort to maintain the vehicle regularly, Lexus will pay the dealer to make the appropriate repairs. This one time offer is available only at a Lexus dealer.

This is a special, 12-month goodwill program during which we will waive full compliance with meeting the required scheduled maintenance for oil gelling issues only In no way does this imply that Lexus encourages or condones the lack of proper maintenance. After this special program ends, you will need to be able to prove proper maintenance to have a valid warranty claim. Remember that you are responsible for maintaining the vehicle on the schedule appropriate for your driving conditions, and proper maintenance is a condition of the vehicle warranty You must be able to prove proper maintenance through copies of your work orders, receipts or other appropriate service records.

What If You Have Questions?

If you have questions about this special program or the proper maintenance of your Lexus, please contact your Lexus dealer or call the Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 1-888-654-6421.

Thank you for being part of the Lexus family.

Sincerely,