Engine Knocking Noise Problems of Toyota Highlander

On my way home on Saturday night, about 2 to 3 streets from my house, my dash started to say low fuel. I continued to drive home because I was so close. I get home and jumped out of the vehicle to listen to my car and everything sounded good. I shut the car off. On Monday morning, I walked out and noticed all the oil in the car had leaked out of the car onto my driveway. I immediately called Toyota and they said they would send a tow truck. The tow truck driver arrived and checked the oil with the dip stick. Since there was no oil in the vehicle, we did not start the engine. He towed the car to Toyota (where I have all my work done including inspections-which the last one was done 3 weeks prior to this incident). The Toyota mechanics looked at the vehicle. They called me and said a hose under the engine had cracked causing the oil to leak out. They had to order the part and it would fixed and ready by Tuesday. The part didn't come in as expected and the car was not fixed until Wednesday. I left work on my break to pick up the vehicle Wednesday night when they called and said it was ready. I picked up the vehicle from Toyota and drove back to work. On the way, I noticed a noise coming from the engine but assumed it was ok since it was just fixed. After my shift (Thursday morning), I came out and started the car. Immediately after starting the vehicle, a loud banging noise came from the engine. I called Toyota and had them tow the vehicle back to Toyota. They looked at the car and called me and stated the engine had blown and that it would cost $7000 to replace. They said I could keep the vehicle there until I decide what to do.

See all problems of the 2008 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

March 10, 2016 vehicle was taken to dealer for oil change. Parked vehicle after return home (10 miles drive between dealership and home) same day and after a few hours, noticed all oil had leaked from vehicle. Vehicle was towed back to dealer that day. Upon investigation dealer said the problem was the oil cooler pipe. Dealer said Toyota issued a technical service bulletin t-sb-0201-11 over 5 years prior that issued a repair procedure to replace this oil cooler pipe. Dealer replaced oil cooler pipe under warranty per technical service bulletin and assured me that no damage to the engine was "apparent" after the repair. July 18, 2016 returned to same dealer for a problem with the engine making a loud knocking sound upon fast acceleration. Dealer diagnosed problem as a rod knock and confirmed it was due to the oil cooler pipe leak from March. The repair involves replacing the engine an extensive and very expensive repair. Toyota needs to make this technical service bulletin problem a recall to avoid unnecessary engine damage and potential safety hazard to the 533500 estimated vehicles included in the bulletin.

See all problems of the 2009 Toyota Highlander 🔎.

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, she began to her a knocking noise in the engine. The contact parked the vehicle and had it towed to a certified mechanic which stated that the engine cooler hose had a hole and cause the engine oil to leak out of the vehicle and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.