Toyota Recalls Avalon, RAV4 on Oil Line Issue

Although this latest development is in no way related to the 8 million vehicles recall to fix sudden accelerator problems in Toyota vehicles, it's difficult to see how would this not add to the problem baggage Toyota currently has to carry.

Dubbed by the Japanese carmaker a "limited service campaign," the recall affects 128,800 Avalon (2007 – 2009 model year) and 89,000 RAV4 V6 (2007 – 2009 model year) in the US.

The problem with them is a rubber portion of the oil supply hose for the VVT-i actuator, which may degrade over time and may cause oil to leak from the VVT-i oil hose. This in turn would cause abnormal engine noise and the oil pressure light to illuminate.

Toyota however emphasizes that, despite the fact the measure has all the characteristics of a recall, it cannot be called so.

"This is not a safety recall and submitting a Defect Information Report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is not required.  Toyota has taken this step in the interest of customer satisfaction, informing owners that Toyota and Lexus dealers will modify their vehicle to help them avoid experiencing the condition."

To fix the problem, Toyota will replace the VVT-i Oil Hose with a newly designed one free of charge. According to Toyota, the repair will take approximately one hour.

The current measure is part of a program started last year, when 342,200 Toyota Avalon, Camry and RAV4 V6, as well as 374,000 Lexus ES 350, to fix the same oil hose problem.