1998 Toyota Avalon complaints

INSIDE FAN SPEED TURNS OFF RANDOMLY WITH SECURITY LIGHT AND AC CONTROLS , OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE READING. *LA

1998 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CLIMATE CONTROL RANDOMLY QUITS WORKING. NO HEAT,NO AIR, NO DEFROST NO BLOWER. CAUSES A DANGROUS SITUATION IS YOU NEED THE DEFROSTER AND IT DOESN'T WORK

AN ALLDATA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED 12/03/1999: "A/C - ATC SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY FAILS/BECOMES INOPERATIVE. AUTO A/C SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT. INTRODUCTION: A PRODUCTION CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE 1998-1999 AVALON A/C AMPLIFIER. THE INTERNAL LOCIC HAS BEEN CORRECTED TO ELIMINATE EXCESSIVE AIR INLET SERVO MOTOR TRAVEL, WHICH MAY EFFECT THE MOTOR AND/OR THE SERVO LINK. VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC A/C MAY INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCE ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: 1)THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE DISPLAY MAY GO BLANK; 2)FRESH/RECIRC INDICATOR LIGHT INOPERATIVE; 3)MODE INDICATOR LIGHT INOPERATIVE; 4)BLOWER INDICATIOR INOPERATIVE. NOTE: A/C SYSTEM MAY RESTORE TO NORMAL CONDITION UPON CYCLING THE IGNITION SWITCH. ALL APPLICABLE VEHICLES: ALL 1998 MODEL YEAR AVALON XLS PRODUCED BEFORE VIN:4T1BF18B*WU273780." I FIRST EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN SUMMER OF 2003. A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY ISOLATED THE PROBLEM AND ALLDATA BULLETIN WITH THROUGH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. NOTIFIED TOYOTA CORPORATE, WHO IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND UNWILLING TO COVER THE COSTS TO CORRECT: $800 PER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC & $1,000 PER LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. DURING THE SUMMER, THE ATC FAILURES CREATED POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS AS WINDOWS QUICKLY FOGGED AND VISIBILITY DROPPED TO ZERO. CURRENTLY, THE ATC SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND HAS NOT RESTORED BY ALLOWING THE CAR TO SIT AND CYCLING THE IGNITION SWITCH, CREATING INABILITY TO DE-ICE AND DE-FOG THE CAR WINDOWS. AL

AT 49,000 MILES, THE ENTIRE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED. BOTH THE COMPRESSOR AND THE CONDENSOR HAVE LEAKS AND THE WHOLE SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED. TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO OFFER ANY GOODWILL ASSISTANCE FOR THIS REPAIR WHICH COSTS IN EXCESS OF $ 1200.00 SIMPLY CLAIMING "ITS OUT OF WARRANTY." ALL THIS IS A "LUXURY, FLAGSHIP" VEHICLE. DON'T BUY THIS CAR! TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE STINKS!! THEY ARE ALOT OF TALK ABOUT REPUTATION BUT THEY FAIL TO LIVE UP TO THEIR PROMISES!! I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS CAR! ADDITIONALLY, MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEVERAL AVALONS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM WHICH HE WILL BE REPAIRING. TOYOTA FAILS TO ACCEPT IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THEIR AIR CONDITIONING PARTS!*AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THREE TIMES WHEN ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED, THE CAR SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE CEMENT AND SCRAPPED THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAS A VERY DANGEROUS UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE. *CB *JB

GOODYEAR, REGATTA II, SIZE P205/65R15, DOT UNKNOWN. SIDEWALLS ARE LEAKING AND ARE DEVELOPING BUBBLES INSIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

GOODYEAR PUT THE WRONG RATED TIRE ON THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TO LEAK FROM THE SIDEWALL. *AK

SLUDGE IN ENGINE CAUSING SMOKE TO COME FROM BACK OF CAR. *PH

A/C CLIMATE CONTROL SHUTS ITSELF OFF AUTOMATICALLY AFTER A SHORT PERIOD USAGE. THE OUTSIDE TEMP.INDICATOR,FAN SPEED,VENTILATION DIRECTION, AND OUTSIDE AIR RECIRCULATION CONTROLS ALL GO OUT. ALMOST GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD A/C DEFROST DID NOT WORK DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. STILL UNDER THE MILAGE WARRANTY(>36000), AND WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS QUOATED $900 TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. WILL CONTACT TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE NEXT. *AK

A/C CLIMATE CONTROL SHUTS ITSELF OFF AUTOMATICALLY AFTER A SHORT PERIOD USAGE. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATUR EINDICATOR,FAN SPEED,VENTILATION DIRECTION, AND OUTSIDE AIR RECIRCULATION CONTROLS ALL GO OUT. ALMOST GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE WINDSHIELD A/C DEFROST DID NOT WORK DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. STILL UNDER THE MILAGE WARRANTY(>36000), AND WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS QUOATED $900 TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. WILL CONTACT TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE NEXT. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL APART WHILE OPENING THE DOOR WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE BEING USED.*AK

LOUD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. WAS INFORMED BY TOYOTA THAT FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. THEY KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT ARE UNWILLING TO HELP.*AK

THE ENTIRE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WENT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE SYSTEM FAN REMAINED OFF NO MATTER WHAT SETTINGS I CHOSE. AFTER NOT RUNNING THE CAR FOR A WHILE, THE SYSTEM WOULD WORK AGAIN, ONLY THEN TO SHUT ITSELF OFF WITHIN A TIME PERIOD OF SECONDS TO AS MUCH AS A WHOLE DAY. I HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED BY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, WHO CHARGED ME APPROXIMATELY $1500. THOUGH THE COST OF REPAIR WAS VERY HIGH, I DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, SINCE I COULD NOT USE THE CAR IN THAT UNSAFE AND UNSATISFACTORY CONDITION. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA LIMITED ANY FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THAT REPAIR TO 36,000 MILES OR LESS. MY CAR HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT, SO NO SUPPORT WAS GIVEN. *NLM

VEHICLE'S KEY GETS INTERMITTENTLY STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN. RELATED RECALL 98E035000, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

THE HEAT DEFROSTER BLOWER HAD CUT COMPLETELY OFF AND DID NOT TURN BACK ON. SCC

PREMATURE FAILURE OF LEFT FRONT STRUT AT 63000 MILES ALONG WITH BOTH STRUT SUPPORTS.

CONSUMER STATED THE ROTORS WERE WORN, WHICH CAUSED A HEAVY VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING.*JB

WHILE MY USUAL MECHANIC WAS PERFORMING PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT 64,500 MILES, HE DISCOVERED A LARGE, BENT BOLT IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID PAN WHICH WAS NOT THERE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS LAST SERVICED AT 39,000 MILES. HE DID NOT NOTE ANY METAL SHAVINGS, ETC. AND THE CAR RUNS FINE. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE THE BOLT CAME FROM. HOWEVER, THIS IS AN OBVIOUS CONCERN AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TOYOTA HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT AND WHETHER IT IS LIKELY TO CAUSE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR FAILURE.

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER NOTICE A LOUD NOISE FLOWING WITH GLASS IN REAR SEAT OF VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

COMPLETE HYDRAULIC BRAKE FAILURE AT 16,800 MILES, CAUSED CAR TO GO THROUGH RED LIGHT. LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID. ROTOR FROZE AND BRAKE LINE FAILED AT ROTOR HOUSING. CAR DEALER HAD INSTALLED ALL NEW ROTORS AND PADS AT 9,200 MILES. MR

IN AUGUST OF 2001, THE REAR INSIDE LEFT DOOR HANDLE CEASED TO WORK. IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHILD'S SAFETY LATCH. THE MECHANISM INSIDE THE DOOR BROKE. NOW, IN 2002, THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE DOOR HANDLE MECHANISM INSIDE THE DOOR FRAME QUIT WORKING. THIS SEEMS TO BE MORE THAN JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT FIRST THE LEFT SIDE BROKE AND NOW THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS FAILURE COULD PREVENT PEOPLE FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE SAFELY IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. MR

A FAILURE OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE CAUSED THE LOSS OF ALL BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE RESERVOIR DOES NOT HAVE A SEPARATION THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED ALL THE BRAKE FLUID FROM BEING LOST. MOST MASTER CYLINDERS HAVE A PARTITION IN THEM, SO AT LEAST THE FRONT OR BACK BRAKES WOULD STILL BE FUNCTIONAL. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR FUNCTION THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I COULD HAVE HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD. AS IT WAS I HAD JUST PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND WAS UNLOADING PASSENGERS WHEN THE BRAKE LINE FAILED. NLM

HORN WORKS INTERMITTENTLY EVEN AFTER THE DEALER HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.AK

THE AIR-CONDITIONING FANS GO OUT AT RANDOM, WHICH MEANS THAT DE-FOGGING/DE-FROSTING ARE IMPOSSIBLE. THIS IS APPARENTLY A PROBLEM WELL-KNOWN TO TOYOTA AND THEY QUOTE $850-1000 TO REPAIR WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY TOYOTA IS NOT MADE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.*AK

STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP GOES OTHER DIRECTION. (NO CONTROL) OF STEERING COLUMN. REPLACED PART BUT ALSO DEFECTIVE. DON'T UNDERSAND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING?*AK

PROBLEM WITH VENTILATION SYSTEM--BURNTOUT WIRES IN THE AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE CAUSED TOTAL FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE VENTILATION SYSTEM

THE ENGINE CONTAINED SLUDGE AND WAS CLOGGED, CONSUMER STATED THAT HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE TOYOTA DEALER IN AN ATTEMPT TO THE REPAIR PROBLEM AND OBTAIN FULL REIMBURSEMENT FROM MANUFACTURER FOR ALL COSTS INCLUDING POSSIBLE AUTO RENTAL EXPENSES WHILE REPAIRS ARE BEING MADE. *YH

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION, UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

THE ENTIRE AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM (HEATING & AC) CUTS OUT ARBITRARILY. IT RESTARTS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IDLE FOR SOME TIME. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL PROBLEMS AS THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WILL NOT DEFOG AND VISION THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD IS IMPAIRED. THIS COMPROMISES MY VISION AND HAS PUT ME IN DANGER SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN CONTACTED DEALER, THEY MENTIONED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND THAT THE REPAIR WILL COST ~$1,000. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD.*AK

REAR SPRINGS/STRUTS ARE SO WEAK THAT IF I HAVE TWO PEOPLE IN THE BACK SEAT, OR SEVERAL SUITCASES IN THE TRUNK, THE REAR SUSPENSION BOTTOMS OUT. THIS CAUSES A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WIGGLE WHEN IT COMES BACK UP. MY NEW TIRES ARE STARTING TO FLAT SPOT AS DID MY LAST SET. I BROUGHT THIS TO COURTESY TOYOTA WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRENTEE. THEY CLAIMED NO PROBLEM AND READJUSTED MY HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE CONTACED CAPITOL TOYOTA IN CHATANOOGA, TN. A COUPLE OF TIMES. THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS BUT COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS SOMETHING WAS WORN OR DAMAGED. I CALLED TOYOTA. THEY SAID THE SAME. BUT TOOK MY NAME AND SAID THAT IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAINED THEY MIGHT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *AK

THERE WAS A LOUDER THEN USUAL THUMP IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. TO VEHICLE TO DEALER REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC NOTED THAT FRONT STRUT WAS BREAKING. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE STRUT, BUT WA SNOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROADS WITH PASSENGERS IN REAR SEAT, THE REAR SUSPENSION REPEATEDLY "BOTTOMS OUT" CAUSING UNPREDICTABLE VEHICULAR MOVEMENTS AND LOUD NOISE. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WITH VEHICLE LOADED NEAR DESIGN LOAD LIMITS.*AK

FRONT SUSPENSION CREAKED AND GROANED. THE UPPER STRUT MOUNTS WERE REPLACED BY DEALER (BOTH SIDES) AT 3000 AND AGAIN AT 32000 MILES.

VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO "TIRE STEER". TWO OF THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES (BRIDGESTONE) WERE REPLACED AT 3000 MILES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE ENTIRE SET OF TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH BF GOODRICH TIRES, BUT THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. ROTATING THE TIRES BECOMES PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THE WRONG SWITCH EXACERBARTES THE PROBLEM. THE RESULTING "PULL" INDIACTES THE NEED FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT WHEN THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM, OR OBSCURES THE NEED AT OTHER TIMES. THE NEED TO FIGHT THE WHEEL CAUSES DRIVER FATIGUE AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL.*AK

AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL FAILS TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE TEMPERATURE. TEMPERATURE SWINGS +/- 5 DEGREES. FREQUENT DRIVER ACTION REQUIRED TO ADJUST/MODERATE TEMPERATURE. SELLING DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALTERNATE TOYOTA DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY SOLD TO ME BY THE SELLING DEALER (APPROXIMATELY $1000 OF REPAIRS REQUIRED).

WEATHERSTRIPPING GASKET ON LEFT FRONT (DRIVER) DOOR FAILED CAUSING EXCESSIVE NOISE ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK

THE PADDED COVERING ON THE DASH BOARD BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE METAL SUPPORT. IT APPEARS THAT THE ADHESIVE HAS FAILED.

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE STRAPS INSTALLED, AND DEALER REFUSED TO INSTALL THEM. THAT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NO, SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 35 MPH CONSUMERS VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANTOHER VEHICLE, FULL FRONTAL CRASH, DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, DEALERSHIP AND USAA INSURANCE COMPANY HAVE NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO MAKE ANY DETERMINATIONS. *NOTE: PASSENGER SUSTAINED FOLLOWING INJURIES: BROKEN TOE/ STRAINED TOE, AND BRUISING FROM RESTRAINT BELTS. *AK *YD

MY FRONT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE IN AN ACCIDENT. IT POPPED OUT AS FLAT AS COULD BE! I HIT MY HEAD ON THE SIDE WINDOW BECAUSE OF THIS. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT A FAST RATE OF SPEED, MY HEAD INJURY COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS. *AK

BRAKE PEDAL DRIFTS TOWARD FLOOR AT RED LIGHT. *AK

THE AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONER AND THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE FAILED. THERE BLOWER MOTOR DOES NOT WORK. CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS A TSB WHICH ESSENTIALLY ADMITS THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY SERVO INSTALLED IN THIS CAR BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR A REPAIR OF A PROBLEM THAT WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THEIR POOR QUALITY CONTROL. THEY HAVE QUOTED THIS REPAIR TO BE AT ABOUT ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO CORRECT THEIR PROBLEM.

THIS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION IS A SERIOUS HARZARD. WHEN THE ELECTRONIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILS, THE DEFROSTER ALSO FAILS. THE LOSS OF DEFROSTER HAS PUT ME IN JEOPARDY MANY TIMES DURING POOR WEATHER. BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE FAILURE WILL OCCUR, AND ONLY OWN ONE CAR, I CAN'T CHOOSE NOT TO DRIVE WHEN THE POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS OCCUR.

WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS, AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE DROPPED OVER AN EMBANKMENT ROLLED OVER ONCE AND CAME TO REST UP RIGHT, POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE(KENTUCKY UNIFORM POLICE TRAFFIC COLLISION REPORT). NLM

WAS TOLD THAT BURNING OIL AND SMOKING WAS DUE TO SLUDGE IN VALVE COVER, INDICATED THAT I HAD NOT HAD OIL CHANGES, AND I HAVE OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES. I KEPT NO RECEIPTS OF PURCHASES OF OIL FILTERS AND OIL. MAY NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

THE COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF THE ENTIRE AIR CIRCULATING SYSTEM INCLUDING FRONT DEFROST/DEFOG, HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING IS DOCUMENTED IN A SERVICE BULLETIN TO TOYOTA DEALERS FROM TOYOTA, YET TOYOTA REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE IF IT IS PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD. EVEN THOUGH IT CREATES A DANGEROUS CONDITION IN NOT BEING ABLE TO DEFOG OR DEFROST THE FRONT WINDSHIELD.*AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A DIRECT FRONTAL COLLISION AT 40MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

THIS CAR WAS HIT IN THE CENTER FRONT BY A CAR TRAVELING 45 OR GREATER, ALL AIRBAGS FAILED!!!!!. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY AIR CONDITIONER WOULD GO DEAD, AND DASHBOARD TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD FLASH ON /OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN INFORMED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK