1999 Toyota Avalon complaints

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO UNJAM THE STEERING.*JG

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES INTERMITTENTLY ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMERS FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER IS FORCED TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO GET THE PROBLEM TO STOP. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. JB *NLM

WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT WAS HIT BY A BUS, AND THEN CONSUMER HIT ACCELERATOR AND VEHICLE RAN INTO A BUILDING. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH, FOLLOWED BY ENGINE CHECK" LIGHT COMING ON. DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS A BAD FUEL INJECTOR AND SAID TOYOTA RECOMMENDED REPLACING ALL SIX INJECTORS TO REPAIR. I ASKED IF THESE WERE DEFECTIVE INJECTORS AND WAS TOLD NO. CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD SAME THING. IF THERE IS NO DEFECT, WHY WOULD I REPLACE ALL SIX INJECTORS? THIS WOULD COST ME NEARLY 5 TIMES AS MUCH. EITHER THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF ALL INJECTORS OR THIS IS A RUSE TO GET UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS TO PAY MORE FOR SERVICE. THE CUSTOMER DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE APPROPRIATE REPAIR. I WAS NOT TOLD AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THAT THIS CAR MAY CONTAIN DEFECTIVE PARTS. IF TOYOTA KNOWS OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THESE INJECTORS THEY SHOULD REPLACE THEM WHEN A FAILURE OCCURS, NOT THE CUSTOMER. *AK

FRONT STRUTS ON SUSPENSION WERE REPLACED AT ABOUT 24000 MILES DUE TO NOISE INDICATING FAILURE OF SAME. NOW DEALER WON'T REPLACE REAR STRUTS MAKING SAME TYPE OF NOISE WHEN CROSSING BUMP AT LOW SPEEDS. FEAR IS THAT SUSPENSION COULD FAIL AT HIGHER SPEEDS LEADING TO SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK

TREAD SEPARATION AND THEN TIRE SIDEWALL FAILURE, CAUSED SIDEWAYS CAR SKID ON SNOW COVERED ROAD, FORTUNATELY THERE WAS A GAP IN TRAFFIC AT THAT TIME IN ONCOMING LANE AND NO ONE FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND.*AK (DOT NUMBER: DBUR AA45 TIRESIZE: P205/65R15)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIRS, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

ENGINE WAS HESTITATING AND SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE. MILEAGE JUST TURNED OVER 21,000, AND DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR WARRANTY. DEALER WAS REFUSING TO REPAIR VEHICE UNLESS CONSUMER COVERED THE COST. DEALER STATED THAT OIL CHANGES WERE DONE ON TIME, BUILDING UP SLUDGE IN ENGINE. *AK

THE GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK THREE TIMES WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING, THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *YH

ENGINE DEVELOPED SLUDGE AT 18,000 MILES AND DEALER SAYS THE ENGINE WILL SEIZE UP SOON. REGULAR OIL CHANGES WERE PERFORMED AND PROVED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER SAYS SLUDGE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY AND I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE ENGINE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN MY ENGINE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA. I AM AFFRAID OF ENGINE SEIZURE WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING WOULD EXPERIENCE VIBRATION ON ENTIRE VEHICLE. WOULD FEEL LIKE THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE. HIGHER THE SPEED STRONGER IS VIBRATION, AND COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED BY DEALER .*AK

BRAKES WOULD PERIODICALLY GO OUT. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX BRAKES ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED TO PERSIST. DEFECT CAN INVOLVE CONSUMER IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.*AK

VIBRATION IN FRONT END, FELT IN STEERING AND GETTING WORSE. TOYOTA MECHANIC SUSPECTS CV JOINT FAILING.FACTORY REP SAYS IT'S A DESIGN FLAW; THEY ALL DO IT. NEW AVALONS ARE REDESIGNED TO CORRECT FLAW. REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITION.*AK

THE FRONT BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE, DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL. NLM

WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE WILL REV UP TO 5500 RPMS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD OR IN REVERSE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. CONSUMER MUST QUICKLY APPLY BRAKES, AND CHANGE GEAR IN ORDER TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM MOVING. TOYOTA CANNOT DUPLICATE DEFECT. THERFORE, CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. IN MEANTIME, CONSUMER IS DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 15-20MPH IN DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS, WHILE TURNING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 45-50MPH HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HEAD ON. FRONT & SIDE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. HOOD AND BUMPER WERE SEVERLY DAMAGED. TOYOTA WAS SENDING AN INSPECTOR TO DETERMINE A REASON FOR NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. *AK

NO SUMMARY

WATER WOULD ENTER TRUNK AREA WHENEVER IT RAIND OR VEHICLE WAS BEING WASHED AFTER TRUNK LID WAS CLOSED. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC COUILD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM OR RESOLVE IT.*AK

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *AK CONSUMER HAS NOT DRIVEN VEHICLE SINCE 3,791 MILES, THE REPAIRS COMPLETED TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT REMEDY BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WENT TO TOYOTA ARBITRATION BOARD FOR ASSISTANCE AND IS NOT RECEIVING HELP REGARDING FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM. ( MELODY TOYOTA 222 E.SAN BRUNO AVE. SAN BRUNO, CA. 94066. BOTH DEALERS SERVICE CENTERS RECEIPT ENCLOSED IN DOCUMENTATION). *YH

WHILE DRIVING ALONG AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. SOMETIMES AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE AIR BAG COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM STILL EXIST WITH THE AIR BAG. *AK

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES HEARD A LOUD POPPING NIOSE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE (FROM A STOP) WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. --FOR INSTANCE AT AN INTERSECTION OCCASIONALLY, AND RECENTLY, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WHEN I APPLY MODERATE GAS, BETWEEN 1/4 AND 1/2 PEDAL, THE ENGINE LOSES POWER AND THE CAR JUST SITS THERE. TO COMPLETE MY TURN, I HAVE TO LET OFF THE GAS AND PROCEED SLOWLY, SOMETIMES NARROWLY BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK

EQUIPPED WITH TRACTION CONTROL, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. DEALER SAID TO TURN OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL, WHICH WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND THEN STEPPING ON GAS TO ACCELERATE THE CAR JERKS NOTICEABLY. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. *AK

MY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON 1 OR 2 TIMES A MONTH, WHILE DRIVING. IT STAYS ON FOR 15-30 SECONDS. MY NEXT PROBLEM IS THAT MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED MY CAR IN 11/99. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND IT WAS A FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR. THIS WAS REPAIRED BUT I DON'T FEEL THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPEN TO A NEW CAR AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE. ALSO AROUND 16,000 MILES THEY HAD TO REPLACE MY ROTORS. THIS ALSO SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPEN AT THIS EARLY AGE. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER WITH A DAMAGED WIRING HARNESS COUPLING THAT IS POSITIONED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT, CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING FOR REPLACEMENT PART FOR EXTENDED TIME. *MJS

PROBLEM 1: THE CAR SHIFTS POORLY WHEN YOU LET OFF THE GAS AND THEN ACCELERATE OR DO A ROLLING STOP. TOYOTA'S FIELD TECHNICAL SPECIALIST, RON WYTOCK SAID THAT THOSE DRIVING SITUATIONS PRODUCED A 2 GEAR DOWNSHIFT WHEN IT SHOULDN'T BUT THAT WAS NORMAL AND NOT REPAIRABLE. PROBLEM 2: THE CAR HAS A VERY NASTY, ACRID ODOR, THAT GIVES US HEADACHES AND MAKES US NAUSEOUS WHEN WE DRIVE IT. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN MORE THAN 4 TIMES IN ATTEMPTS TO GET IT REPAIRED, BUT THE SMELL IS STILL THERE. WE ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE THE SMELL MAKES US ILL: WE ARE CONCERNED THE CAR MAY CATCH FIRE; AND WE ARE CONCERNED CAR COMPONENTS MAY FAIL WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. TOYOTA HAS GUESSED AT SEVERAL CAUSES OF THE SMELL, BUT NOW SAYS THE SMELL IS NORMAL AND NOT A CAUSE OF CONCERN. *AK

VEHICLE WAS REARENDED ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEAT FELL FORWARD, AND SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE. CONSUMER RECEIVED VARIOUS INJURIES. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

CAR HAS DEFECTIVE PLASTIC WIRING HARNESS COUPLING THAT CONTROLS DRIVER SEAT MEMORY CONTROL. COUPLING AS ATTACHES TO WIRING THAT LEADS TO AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. CAR HAS BEEN IN DEALER'S REPAIR CENTER FOR FIVE WEEKS WITH NO INDICATION AS TO WHEN IT CAN BE FIXED. DEALER WILL NOT RELEASE CAR TO OWNERUNTIL CAR IS REPAIRED BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM.

ENGINE SURGING WHEN BREAKING AT INTERSECTIONS. MUST HOLD BREAK PEDAL AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO STOP VEHICLE FROM ENTERING INTO INTERSECTION.

ERRATIC OPERATION OF SPEED CONTROL. IT TURNS ITSELF OFF DURING OPERATION WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL OR TOUCHING OFF SWITCH. DEALER INSPECTED / REPLACED SOME PARTS, BUT NOTHING CAN CORRECT THE PROBLE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

THIS CAR SUDDEN ACCELERATES AND WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE GOES 10MPH. THE BODY TRIM BY THE DOORS IS SEVERLY WORN AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPLACE IT AND SAYS IT CANNOT DUPLICATE THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM.

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CAN NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS AFRAID THAT THE STRUTS WERE WEARING OUT ABNORMALLY BECAUSE HE KEPT HEARING NOISES COMING FROM VEHICLE. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, AND SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO HOLD CONSUMER FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL, RESULTING IN A BROKEN STERNUM. *AK

WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLSION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

VEHICLE INVOLUNTARY ACCELERATED AS SOON AS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. STEPPED ON BRAKES, VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING. DEALER CONTACTED, AND COULD NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN VEHICE WAS INVOLVED IN A RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT FRONT CRASH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND AND HIT ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATE'S WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING WILL GO TO THE LEFT AND THE DEALER REPLACE THE STERRING RACK PINION AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIR'S SEVEN TIME'S AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

MY NEIGHBOR AND I PURCHASED TOYOTA AVALON'S THREE WEEKS APART FROM SPARKS TOYOTA. HE IN DECEMBER '98, AND I IN JANUARY '99. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF OWNING MY CAR I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD A FOUL ODOR IN HIS CAR AS I DID, HE SAID, "YES." WE PURSUED THE CAUSE TOGETHER. CALLED TOYOTA IN TORRANCE, CA, AND A WOMEN ADMITTED THAT THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE A/C. SHE STATED IT COULD GO AWAY BY ITSELF OR TO MINIMIZE THE ODOR, RUN THE A/C ON OUTSIDE AIR. CALLED SPARKS TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY STATED IT COULD BE A CLOGGED OR RESTRICTED CONDENSATION LINE. WE BOTH HAD OUR CARS CHECKED OUT, NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND WITH THE DRAIN LINES. BOTH CARS WERE SPRAYED WITH A BACTERIAL DEODORANT. SERVICE MANAGER RECOMMENDED TO HAVE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE TROY HEWEL LOOK AT ONE OF OUR CARS TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE ODOR. WE COMPLIED. HEWEL AT FIRST DID NOT KNOW OF ANY PROBLEM, BUT DURING OUR CONVERSATION HE PRODUCED MATERIAL FROM HONDA/ARTICLES FROM USA TODAY/AUTOMOTIVE NEWS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKLEY WELLNESS LETTER ABOUT ISSUES WITH A/C EVAPORATORS. BOTH OF US AGREED TO HAVE OUR EVAPORATORS REPLACED, AS SUGGESTED BY THE HEWEL. TO THE BOTH OF US IT SEEMS TO BE AN INDUSTRY PROBLEM. WHY ISN'T THE BUYER INFORMED OF THE ODOR AT PURCHASE? WHY IN THIS CASE, DOES TOYOTA AT FIRST DENY THAT THERE IS AN A/C PROBLEM, BUT WHEN QUESTIONED FURTHER, ADMITS THERE IS? WHAT HEALTH RISKS ARE INVOLVED FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGERS? ISN'T THERE ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN, BY USING FRESH AIR

OBVIOUSLY THE CAR HAD BEEN LEAKING EVERY SINCE WE TOOK DELIVERY. THE HAD TO TAKE THE TRANSMISSION OUT TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR AND THE WILL NOT TAKE IT BACK. I NO LONGER HAVE THE FAITH OR TRUST IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CHECKED THE LEMON LAW . COULD THIS PROBLEM CAUSE A FIRE? WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS? I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA CORP. *AK