02-02-2007, 04:41 AM
Toyota Settles Sludge Problem
The Daily Auto Insider
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
January 2007
Toyota has agreed to settle with thousands of owners of its cars who sued the company because they claimed that oil-sludge build-up ruined their car's engines even though they followed maintenance guidelines, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The problem, according to Toyota's critics, was that certain oil passages were too small in some Toyota and Lexus engines, allowing them to become easily clogged by even tiny amounts of sediment. As a result, major components such as piston rings, crankshafts and connecting rods tend to fail, causing enough damage to require engine replacement, the story said.
Although Toyota claims that the sludge didn't result from any engine-design problem, under a pending agreement between Toyota Motor Sales and motorists who are part of a class-action lawsuit, the automaker will compensate owners of sludge-damaged cars for engine-repair costs and related expenses from towing and storage charges to rental cars, attorney fees and "inconvenience, annoyance, anxiety and aggravation," the WSJ said, citing the settlement agreement filed this month in Louisiana state court in Jefferson Parish. A judge is expected to approve the agreement in a Feb. 7 hearing.
The Daily Auto Insider
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
January 2007
Toyota has agreed to settle with thousands of owners of its cars who sued the company because they claimed that oil-sludge build-up ruined their car's engines even though they followed maintenance guidelines, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The problem, according to Toyota's critics, was that certain oil passages were too small in some Toyota and Lexus engines, allowing them to become easily clogged by even tiny amounts of sediment. As a result, major components such as piston rings, crankshafts and connecting rods tend to fail, causing enough damage to require engine replacement, the story said.
Although Toyota claims that the sludge didn't result from any engine-design problem, under a pending agreement between Toyota Motor Sales and motorists who are part of a class-action lawsuit, the automaker will compensate owners of sludge-damaged cars for engine-repair costs and related expenses from towing and storage charges to rental cars, attorney fees and "inconvenience, annoyance, anxiety and aggravation," the WSJ said, citing the settlement agreement filed this month in Louisiana state court in Jefferson Parish. A judge is expected to approve the agreement in a Feb. 7 hearing.