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Engine And Engine Cooling
03/25/2005
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. OIL AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT; HOWEVER THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC NOTICED A HOLE THAT WAS BLOWN THROUGH THE ENGINE.
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Steering
03/13/2004
NOTE: TOYOTA CALLED AND SAID THAT SINCE I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED, THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING.....I SAVED THE PART. I AM WRITING NOW BECAUSE I SAW A TV NEWS STORY ABOUT THE ROLL-OVER CONCERN WITH SUV'S. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC ROLL-OVER IF NOT FOR THE LOCATION AND LOW SPEED. DEAR TOYOTA (EDITED FOR SPACE), IT IS RARE THAT I WOULD TAKE THIS STEP UNLESS I THOUGHT NOT SPEAKING UP COULD BE FAR MORE TRAGIC OR DISASTROUS. LAST WEEK, AS I WAS SLOWLY TURNING THE CORNER DOWN A SIDE STREET AT WORK (I WORK ON AN ARMY INSTALLATION), I HEARD AND FELT A TREMENDOUS CRASH. MY RAV-4 DROPPED ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE TIRE INSTANTLY BLEW. MY MOMENTUM WAS STOPPED BY A LARGE CONCRETE BARRIER OR I MAY HAVE HIT SOMEONE. AFTER I WAS TOWED (THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE), THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED WHAT I WAS TOLD BY SOME OF THE ENGINEERS - SOMETHING SNAPPED (COMPLETELY SEVERED) UNDERNEATH ("IN A WEIRD SPOT")....THAT SOMETHING WAS PART OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE. AS I TRAVEL ROUTE 80 IN NORTHERN NJ, I AM VER...
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Air Bags
02/12/2004
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER HIT ICE POT HOLE, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A GUARD RAIL, PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED HALF WAY. *AK *NM
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Power Train
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE OWNER HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE SWERVED ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER GO INTO 5TH GEAR. THE 4TH GEAR ALSO BEGAN SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER 40,000 MILES THE EXACT SAME FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE 5TH GEAR FAILING. THEY ARE NOT CLAIMING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. *JB
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Air Bags
THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT FORCEFUL IMPACT.*JB
