My experience with Stevens Creek Toyota service dept., San Jose, CA

On Saturday July 22, 2000 I brought my car, Toyota Avalon 1995, for a 60,000-mile-service to Stevens Creek Toyota dealership in San Jose, CA. I received the car on Monday July 24 and paid $1450.78. That amount included $999.22 for labor and 395.72 for parts. I always bring my car for service to Toyota dealerships assuming that by paying a consuderably higher price I am bying a peace of mind. I was thinking that these guys couldn't do any harm to my vehicle.

After receiving my car back, after about 20 miles of driving I detected a white smog coming up from the front part of my vehicle. It had a smell of burning rubber. I stopped the car to look
what is wrong with my car. Shortly after that the smog disappeared, and I continued to drive. I remembered that something similar happened after a 30,000-mile-service. Toyota service guys told me at that time that it's OK if some smog appears for a short period of time immediately after service.

The next day I drove my car to work which is only one mile away from my home. The smog appeared after about 3/4 mile. After returning from work I found a long trace of oil on the driveway which started from my parking lot and then continued on along my usual route to work.

I called immediately to Service Dept. at Stevens Creek Toyota and asked to send a person to my place to look at what they did to my car. They refused and asked me to bring the car to the dealership. I told her that the car is not drivable. They were refusing to pay for the towing. But after I sent them pictures of oil leaking from my car, they agreed.

On Thursday July 27 I received my car back, and the same happened again. After 15 miles of driving I stopped at an intersection and saw a white smog coming from the front part of my car.

I brought my car back to the dealership on Friday July 28 and asked the manager of Service Department personally look at my car. After an hour, the manager came back to me and said that the engine had been damaged and that they will look at what they can doo for me.