1998 Toyota Avalon

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR HVAC FAN SPEED CONTROLS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN SMOOTHLY AND COULD STALL.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.

Defect. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS USED ON 1998-1998 TOYOTA RAV4, AVALON, AND SIENNA MODEL VEHICLES DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN "OPEN CIRCUIT" CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR HVAC FAN SPEED CONTROLS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN SMOOTHLY AND COULD STALL.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.

Tie rods detached from frame, along with steering parts became unsafe on minor highway speed turnes

All plastic parts are disintegrating, seer belts, door locks, door handles, AC vents , body trim, steering wheel, lights, & anything made of plastic

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC AT THE LIGHT, ALTERNATOR WAS TESTED. BATTERY LIGHT STAY ON, LIGHTS DIMMED OUT, LOST SPEED. HAD TO GET PUSHED OUT THE ROAD AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN ATLANTA GEORGIA ON CLEVELAND AVENUE.. BOUGHT A SECOND ALTERNATOR, SAME EXACT INCIDENT . ONCE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON AT NIGHT, CAR LOOSES TOTAL POWER. I HAD TO DRIVE FIVE BLOCKS AT NIGHT WITHOUT LIGHTS ON RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY BLVD, ATLANTA GEORGIA, EVEN THE HAZARD LIGHTS DRAINED A BRAND NEW BATTERY PURCHASED 12/02/2018.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE THROUGH TWO RED LIGHTS. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, ESTABLISHED A CASE NUMBER, AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO CENTRAL FLORIDA TOYOTA (11020 S ORANGE BLOSSOM TRAIL, ORLANDO, FL 32837, (407) 641-0600). THE DEALER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO REMEDY OTHER THAN THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT CONTACT NO LONGER OWNS VEHICLE. *TT

ONE DAY WHEN MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AND AFTER IT HAD SET FOR A FEW DAYS I STARTED IT NORMALLY AND NOTICED THE SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON MY DASH CAME ON. THIS IS BEEN ABOUT A MONTH NOW AND A LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THE CODE READING INDICATES THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. THEY SAID IT MIGHT NOT DEPLOY AS ITS SUPPOSED TO DURING AN ACCIDENT. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOVLED SOON. AIRBAGS ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND LIFE SAVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V278000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.....UPDATED 02/06/17 *BF CONSUMER STATED HAS NO DEFROSTER FOR THE FRONT WINDOW. UPDATED 7/2/18*JB *TR

WHEEL LOCKED THEN THE CAR WILL NOT START, ALARM SYSTEM LIGHT WON'T BLINK AND I'M HEARING A WINEING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON START UP, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION NOR WOULD THE VEHICLE START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO ALSO REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND PROVIDED A NEW KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THE LIGHTING WENT BLANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE FILLS WITH GASOLINE/FUEL FUMES EVERY TIME THE GAS INDICATOR REACHES 1/4 OF A TANK. TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED FUEL INJECTOR HOWEVER THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

AFTER GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY AND DRIVING ON SURFACE STREETS, I HAD A COMPLETE TIRE BLOW OUT. WHEN PULLED OVER THE RESULTING TIRE WAS TORN TO SHREDS. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS AGO WITH ABOUT 25,000 MILES ON IT. THE TIRES WERE RECENTLY MAINTAINED (ROTATED AND ALIGNED). THERE WAS A GOOD AMOUNT OF TREAD STILL REMAINING ON TIRE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT AND CALL FOR ROAD ASSISTANCE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE COMPLETE DISINTEGRATION OF THE TIRE, MY RIM WAS TOTALLY DAMAGED. I FEEL THAT BECAUSE I REGULARLY MAINTAIN MY CAR INCLUDING THE TIRES, THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED UNLESS FOR A DEFECT IN THE TIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN THE PARK POSITION. WHEN THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED SUDDENLY AND INDEPENDENTLY INCREASED UP TO 45 MPH CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE CURB AND FLIP OVER. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A BROKEN ARM AND A SHOULDER AND HEAD INJURY AS WELL AS INJURIES TO HER KNEES. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT AN INVESTIGATION WAS NOT OPEN ON LATE MODEL TOYOTAS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

1998 TOYOTA AVALON STUCK GAS PEDAL *GR THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND ACROSS THE SIDEWALK AND DOWN A SLIGHT DECLINE AND HIT A TREE ABOUT 40 TO 50 FEET FROM THE STREET CURB. APPLYING THE BRAKES DID NOT HELP. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 19, 2005. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT ASIDE OF A SHOE SHOP AND APPLIED MY BRAKE TO STOP. THE 1998 TOYOTA AVALON WHICH I WAS DRIVING REFUSED TO STOP AND CONTINUED ON INTO THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING AT MAYBE 30 MPH. I WAS SURE THAT I HAD APPLIED EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE BUT COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. I WAS SO DISTRAUGHT THAT I ASSUMED THAT MY FOOT SLID OFF THE BRAKE ONTO THE ACCELERATOR. AS I THINK BACK I AM SURE THAT I WAS ON THE BRAKE AND NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IF I WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR I WOULD HAVE HAD A JOLT FORWARD WITH EXTREME ACCELERATION. IT WAS LIKE I WAS IN A SLOW MOTION DREAM WORLD AND THE AVALON WAS UNDER ITS OWN CONTROL. I REPORTED IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AS BEING MY FAULT SINCE I HAD NO OTHER REASONABLE EXPLANATION. I AM NOW SURE THAT THE AVALON WAS UNDER ITS OWN CONTROL AND NOT MINE. UPDATED 03/24/10

MY DAUGHTER PURCHASED A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON FROM A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL. MY DAUGHTER'S FRIEND DROVE THE CAR HOME BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT DRIVE THE STANDARD VEHICLE MY DAUGHTER USED TO GET THE AVALON. MY DAUGHTER FOLLOWED IN THE VEHICLE THAT HAD STANDARD SHIFT. SUDDENLY, THE AVALON BEGAN ACCELERATING TO A SPEED OF OVER 90 MPH WHILE ON A SECONDARY ROAD. MY DAUGHTER'S FRIEND PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED, BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. MY DAUGHTER CALLED HER FRIEND ON HER CELL PHONE TO ASK HER WHY SHE WAS DRIVING SO FAST. HER FRIEND WAS HYSTERICAL AND SAID THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. MY DAUGHTER IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. JUST BEFORE A SHARP CURVE WHERE SHE WAS SURE SHE WOULD BE KILLED, THE CAR STOPPED. HER FRIEND GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND COLLAPSED ON THE GROUND. THE POLICE CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND ASSURED WITNESSES THAT SHE JUST HAD A LITTLE SCARE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE IN SAYRE, PENNSYLVANIA. RELUCTANT TO BELIEVE THAT THIS HAPPENED AS DESCRIBED, THE MECHANIC DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR FOR A DRIVE HIMSELF. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM, HOWEVER HE USED SOME METHOD TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. HE TOLD US THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE THROTTLE. WE CONTACTED ARE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM; WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING WITH A TOYOTA. IN JANUARY 2009, I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH MY DAUGHTER, WHO NOW RESIDES IN TENNESSEE. SUDDENLY SHE YELLED, "MY GOD!" AFTER A SHORT SILENCE THAT SEEMED LIKE AN ETERNITY, SHE SAID SHE WAS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE OR REVERSE AT A LOW SPEED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DAY HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27000. UPDATED 03/19/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS HESITATION FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. UPDATED 09/27/10

THE POWER STEERING ON MY TOYOTA AVALON KEEPS GETTING DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE MAINTENANCE GARAGE HAS FIXED IT ONCE INDICATING IT WAS A "STEERING SHAFT LUBRICATION PROBLEM". NOW IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. STEERING IS HARD TO TURN THEN SOMETIMES JUMPS BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING "KICKS-IN". *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, PROCEEDING TO A TRAFFIC STOP SIGNAL. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV EXCESSIVELY HIGH. THE DRIVER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE IDENTICAL FAILURES OCCURRED ON EIGHTEEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER COMING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE THROTTLE AND ACCELERATOR LINKS WERE CLEANED. THE FAILURES CONTINUED WHICH THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 03/15/10 *BF UPDATED 04/29/10.*JB

WHILE ACCELERATING MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, CAR'S ACCELERATOR STUCK "TO THE FLOOR", CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO 80MPH UNTIL THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PHYSICALLY LIFT THE PEDAL WITH THE SIDE OF HER FOOT. BROUGHT CAR TO REPAIR CENTER WHERE NO CAUSE WAS FOUND. PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE INITIAL INCIDENT.*CW

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 15 TO 30 MPH SHE CRASHED INTO A CURB. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE AWAY FROM THE CURB THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. SHE PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL TO ATTEMPT TO STOP AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND LANDED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. SHE BROKE HER LEFT ARM AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TOW YARD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY RENDERED THE VEHICLE AS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE POLICE REPORT INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.