2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.

Risk. In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.

Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.

Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a Pre-Collision System (PCS) as optional equipment. In these vehicles, the PCS may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object.

Risk. A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this campaign are F1V and F2E.

Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & manufacturing North America, Inc. (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Camry and Camry HV, model year 2013 Avalon and Avalon HV and model year 2014 Corolla vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the windshield wiper switch assembly may short circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems."

Risk. A short circuit could cause inoperative windshield wipers, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper switch assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid. The contact stated that several instrument cluster warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed the contact that they were unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the vehicle was a hazard and could catch on fire. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR MIRROR HAD SHATTERED. THE MIRROR WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY FOREIGN OBJECTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN O'NEIL JOHNSON TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 2900 MS-39, MERIDIAN, MS 39301, (888) 781-0044) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MIRROR AND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

WHEN IT RAINS HEAVILY (WITHIN THE TWO MONTHS I HAVE OWNED IT), THE ROOF AND/OR SUNROOF LEAKS CAUSING WATER DAMAGE IN MULTIPLE AREAS OF THE ROOF. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND A CAUSE AFTER THE INITIAL SUNROOF DRAIN WAS CLEARED.

WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, THERE IS A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AS THE RETRACTABLE REAR WINDOW SCREEN TRIES TO GO UP. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN GEAR THERE IS A DIFFERENT GRINDING NOISE. THE SCREEN HAS FROZEN IN VARIOUS STAGES OF UP OR DOWN, BUT NOW IS STUCK DOWN, OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO RAISE. ACCORDING TO MANY POSTS ONLINE, INCLUDING SOME FROM TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR OVER 10 YEARS. IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AT NIGHT WHEN THE SCREEN HAS BEEN STUCK IN THE UP POSITION AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE NOISE IS VERY LOUD AND DISTRACTING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERS WHO SAY IT WILL COST $1,600 TO REPLACE, BUT IT WOULD ONLY BE GUARANTEED FOR 1 YEAR. THE FUSE CAN'T BE REMOVED TO DISABLE IT AND STOP THE NOISE BECAUSE IT WILL AFFECT THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE BLINKERS. I WANT THE NOISE SILENCED. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE THROUGH A WARRANTY EXTENSION OR RECALL.

HEADLIGHTS BLOW OUT FREQUENTLY AND NEED REPLACING.

REAR WINDOW SHADE WILL NOT RETRACT. STAYS IN UP POSITION ALL THE TIME. HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. DEALER SAYS THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF SHADES THAT QUIT FUNTIONING. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. $1700 REPAIR IF WANT DONE. CAN'T EVEN DISABLE SO IT WILL RETRACT AND STAY DOWN.

AVALON RECALL NO 15V728. HAD THE RECALL "REMEDY" PERFORMED ON MY CAR 09/07/16 (WAS HAVING NO ISSUE WITH MY CAR BEFORE THE RECALL) AND NOW THE PCS WARNING BUZZES AND LIGHTS UP, AND THE RED BRAKE! MESSAGE LIGHTS UP EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE! CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE OFC (CASE #1609142106 & #1611100472) TO REPORT THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED, AND EXPRESS MY FEAR THAT THE SYSTEM WILL NOW NOT WORK WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO, BUT THE "CASE MGR" (CORY CARTER) STATED "THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO FOR ME", AND ADVISED ME TO "SEEK OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL HELP'. I ASKED IF THIS MEANT SEEKING AN ATTORNEY, TO WHICH HE REPLIED "YES". I FEEL MY CAR IS NOW UNSAFE, AND TOYOTA COULD CARE LESS!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V728000 (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND PERFORMED THE TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V728000 (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE). THE RECALL REPAIR REMEDY WAS UNAVAILABLE BEYOND A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE CONTACT WAITED LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V728000 (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE). HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

LETTER FROM SENATOR NELSON ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM FOR 2013 TOYOTA AVALON RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SYSTEM NEVER WORKED PROPERLY AND HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN 2014. IN LATE 2015, A RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN A VEHICLE TURNED IN THE LEFT LANE AS HE APPROACHED IT, THE PCS INITIATED FIVE OR SIX TIMES, AND TWICE STOPPED THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V728000 (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) WAS RECEIVED IN NOVEMBER OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SAFETY FEATURE WAS DEACTIVATED AND THE PART OF THE RECALL AND WAS NO LONG AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 05/03/16*LJ

I WAS PARKING HEAD-IN TO PARKING SPOT. AS I REACHED THE FINAL SPOT, AND WAS SHIFTING GEAR TO P (PARKING), THE CAR TOOK OFF LIKE A "ROCKET" AND JUMPED THE CURB. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CAR PARKED IN THE NEXT PARKING SPOT AND MY CAR. THE OTHER CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. I WAS ABLE TO STILL DRIVE MY CAR. THIS HAPPENED AT AN OFFICE BUILDING OUTDOOR PARKING LOT. PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE THE BUILDING (FOR SMOKING OR OTHERWISE) WITNESSED IT ALL. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THE CAR WENT LIKE A ROCKET AND THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

CAR LACKS AUTO SHUTOFF FEATURE IN THE ELECTRIC MODE WHEN PARKED. KEYLESS SYSTEM CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN THOUGH KEY IS MORE THAN 25' AWAY FROM THE CAR. IF HYBRID GOES 'QUIET' IN ELECTRIC MODE WHEN PARKED, ONE CAN WALK BLOCKS AWAY WITHOUT THE AUTO SHUTTING DOWN. WE RETURNED AFTER A TWO HOUR LUNCH TO FIND THE CAR WAS STILL 'RUNNING' EVEN THOUGH KEY WAS IN MY PURSE THE ENTIRE TIME. WE'VE SINCE TESTED THE SYSTEM SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULT. TOYOTA DEALER LOCATED ON LAKE CITY WAY IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON DENIES THIS TO BE A PROBLEM. WE CONSIDER IT BOTH A SAFETY AND SECURITY PROBLEM SINCE A CHILD COULD ACCESS AND DRIVE AUTO WITHOUT HAVING A KEY.

MY 2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID IS HAVING ENGINE REVVING PROBLEMS. WHILE OPERATING AT NORMAL SPEED (45-50). THE RPM'S SUDDENLY INCREASE TO HIGH LEVELS WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN SPEED. LACK OF CONTROL IS EVIDENT. IF YOU SWITCH TO "MANUAL" MODE WITH THE GEAR SELECTOR YOU CAN FORCE IT OUT OF PLAY...BUT THE REVVING CAN OCCUR SOON THEREAFTER OR IT WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN A DIFFERENT DAY. I TOOK THE CAR INTO BE SERVICED AND TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE REVVING PROBLEM. HE SEEMED TO BE VERY DOUBTFUL OF THE DESCRIPTION AND TOLD ME THEY COULD DOWNLOAD THE ENGINE HISTORY. THEY REPORTED "NO PROBLEM FOUND". IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER FOR A WHILE ON A FLAT PAVED COUNTRY ROAD AND COULD BE COAXED TO STOP WITH THE GAS PEDAL. *TR

2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID REQUESTING AIRBAGS TO BE REPLACED. *MW THE DEALER STATED THE HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THE REPLACEMENT OF AIR BAGS. SHE WAS ALSO INFORMED OF A RECALL CONCERNING AN ISSUE WITH THE SEATS, BUT NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. *JB

DRIVER SEAT WARMER STAY ON WHEN THE SWITCH IS OFF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A DRUNK DRIVER, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH THE VEHICLE INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND FRONT PASSENGER WERE INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500.

2013 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. LUCKILY, SHE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING OR ANYONE. HOWEVER, IT THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, AND IT WAS DETERMINED, THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT A RESULT OF ANY TYPE OF MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. *JB

THE TOP TWO CLIPS OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK DISCONNECTED FROM THE SEAT BACK TRIM PANEL AND THE TRIM PANEL CANNOT BE REATTACHED AT THE TOP CLIPS. THE BOTTOM HINGE IS STILL ATTACHED. THE TRIM PANEL IS NOW HANGING BACK, ALMOST TOUCHING THE REAR SEAT. *TR