2000 Toyota Avalon complaints

TL* THE CONTACT 2000 TOYOTA AVALON XLS. THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE HAS A TENDENCY TO LOCK UP ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN ON A STREET CORNER AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 98,000. UPDATED 03/30/10. *LJ THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. UPDATED 07/01/10.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON XLS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE AND TRYING TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, IT WOULD NOT RESPOND AND FAILED TO ACTIVATE. FOLLOWING THAT FAILURE, ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHEN HE EXITED THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. HE WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF TO AVOID A POTENTIAL CRASH. A FEW DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MPH, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD OVER THE CURB AND INTO A BUILDING. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEN IT WAS RELEASED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HIM. WHEN HE WAS CONTACTED BY A REPRESENTATIVE, HE WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER HIM ANY ASSISTANCE. THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM WAS NOT ADDRESSED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,836. UPDATED 04/30/10

FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I HAD A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON WHICH I PURCHASED NEW AND WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THE CAR HAD A POWER SURGE, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO GO THROUGH A BRICK WALL AT A CAR WASH IN CLINTON, MS. INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE CAR. SINCE MY CAR WAS IDLING AT THE TIME AND NO FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR I BELIEVE IT WAS A COMPUTER GLITCH WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO ACCELERATE. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR WHAT SO EVER. I AM BEING PENALIZED FOR THIS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. I FEEL FORTUNATE MY WIFE AND I WERE NOT KILLED OR INJURED. FORTUNATELY NO ONE AT THE CAR WASH WAS KILLED OR INJURED. PLEASE TAKE ACTION ON THE PROBLEM. IT IS NOT THE ACCELERATOR, IT IS A COMPUTER PROBLEM. YOUR PROMPT ACTION N THIS MATTER WITH TOYOTA WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

IN EARLY JAN 2010 OUR 2000 TOYOTA AVALON LXS SURGED BACKWARDS ACROSS THE STREET INTO OUR NEIGHBOR'S YARD. NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES BUT VERY SCARY INDEED. ONE WEEK LATER THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE RACED AT MAXIMUM RATE WHILE IN NEUTRAL. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *TR

MY 2000 TOYOTA AVALON STEERING WOULD RANDOMLY LOCKUP WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE PIN THAT LOCKS UP THE STEERING WHEEL FOR THEFT PROTECTION WOULD ACTIVATE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHICH IN TURN WOULD LOCK THE STEERING UP MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHEN HE WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN RUNNING CAR INTO THE CURB. A WEEK LATER I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING LOCKED CAUSING ME TO VEER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC AND I AVOIDED A COLLISION. MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAD NO EXPLAINATION FOR THE PROBLEM. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPLACING THE PART WITH LABOR WOULD BE ABOUT $800.00. I HAD A MECHANIC AT A LOCAL GARAGE JUST REMOVE THE LOCKING DEVICE FOR $200.00 AND NOT REPLACE IT. *TR

AFTER ABOUT 5 YEARS, MY 2000 TOYOTA AVALON BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE OCCASIONAL CONTINUED ACCELERATION ("STICKING OF GAS MECHANISM") WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL. BEING A 230 LB MALE, I WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME THIS OCCURRENCE AT SIGNAL LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS BY APPLYING EXTREME FORCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I'VE LIVED WITH IT, BUT KNOW FOR CERTAIN IT IS A DEFECT. THIS HAPPENS 3-4 TIMES A YEAR. THIS IS NOT A "ME TOO" COMPLAINT. I SUSPECT THIS "STICKING" ACCELERATION PROBLEM IS MUCH BIGGER THAN REPORTED AS MANY DRIVERS (LIKE ME) DON'T BOTHER. *JB

DEAR SIR OR MADAM, I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WITH MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. MY CAR IS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON XS, AND THE PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING. I DRIVE ABOUT 25 MILES TO WORK DAILY THROUGH THE FREEWAY AND YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ITSELF WHILE THE CAR WAS ON, FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES I WAS UNABLE TO GO IN ANY OTHER DIRECTION OTHER THAN STRAIGHT BECAUSE IT HAD LOCKED ITSELF. AFTER USING FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT HAD FINALLY DISLODGED, IT WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I HAD STARTED TO DRIFT INTO THE OTHER LANE SO I SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH FOR IT TO BE LOCKED IN A STRAIGHTAWAY INSTEAD OF A TURN. HOWEVER THAT WAS ONLY THE FIRST TIME IT HAD HAPPENED, LATER THAT NIGHT WHEN I WAS DOING ERRANDS IT HAD LOCKED UP ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME OUTSIDE OUR HOUSE. AFTER TRYING TO BUDGE IT FOR A WHOLE HOUR IT FINALLY UNLOCKED AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO OUR CAR SHOP. THE OWNER OF THE SHOP, A FRIEND OF OURS, ENCOURAGED US TO WRITE TO YOU TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO ANYONE ELSE. *TR

ON MAY 22, 2009, I BACKED MY 2000 TOYOTA AVALON INTO A PARKING AREA NEXT TO A SHORT PRIVATE ROAD LOCATED ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN A HIGH CLIFF ABOVE A BEACH. AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, I DECIDED TO MOVE IT ABOUT A FOOT FURTHER OFF THE ROAD. SO I BACKED UP VERY SLOWLY UNTIL THE BUMPER JUST TOUCHED THE CLIFF BEHIND ME. I BRAKED, THE CAR STOPPED, AND THEN I STEPPED VERY LIGHTLY ON THE GAS PEDAL, INTENDING TO BRAKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER MOVING FORWARD A FEW INCHES. TO MY HORROR, THE CAR SHOT FORWARD RAPIDLY, AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT, NO MATTER HOW HARD I PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL. I SOMEHOW MANAGED TO TURN IT TO THE LEFT AND THUS AVOIDED PLUNGING OVER THE CLIFF BELOW ME. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, FISH-TAILING UP A SLIGHT GRADE. THEN IT HIT A PARKED CAR AND TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN ON THE ROAD. I SUFFERED BROKEN VERTEBRAE IN MY BACK AND NECK AND HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED FOR 12 DAYS AND WEAR A HEAD-NECK BRACE FOR TWO MONTHS. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON. LOOKED THIS UP IN THE MANUAL AND IT SAID TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER - WHICH I DID. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEAL SAID THAT THEY RAN A CHECK AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEIR EXPLANATION WAS THAT A LED LIGHT IN THE DASH WAS MALFUNCTIONING. MY HORN WAS NOT WORKING EITHER - SO THEY WIGGLED THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD AND SAID THAT IT WOULD BE FINE. THE HORN LASTED UNTIL I WAS OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY. THIS FALL I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO A LOCAL GARAGE TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED. AND ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD CHECK ON MY HORN, SINCE IT DIDN'T WORK. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS ODD FOR A HORN TO GO OUT - BUT THEY WOULD REPLACE IT IF NEEDED. BEFORE THEY DID ANYTHING TO THE HORN THEY CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT NOT ONLY DID I NOT HAVE A HORN BUT - I DIDN'T HAVE THE DRIVER AIR BAG OR CRUISE CONTROL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT A SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN IS BROKEN. IT IS CALLED THE CABLE HUB ASSEMBLY. PRESENTLY I CAN NOT GET A CLEAN INSPECTION ON MY CAR - BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD ISSUE. USED PARTS ARE NOT SAFE TO USE AND NEW PARTS MUST BE ORDERED FROM TOYOTA - AND ARE COSTLY. THE LABOR FOR INSTALLATION IS COSTLY AS WELL. *CN

WHILE I WAS TURNING A 90 DEGREE RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN COMPLETELY LOCKED UP WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. NOT POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE, BUT COMPLETE LOCK UP. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND STOPPED THE CAR. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF, THEN BACK ON, THE CAR COULD AGAIN BE STEERED. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, AND WE HAD BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2000. CAR NOW HAS 92,000 MILES. THE DEALER REMOVED THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK AT MY INSISTENCE. NO OTHER PART WAS REPAIRED OR REPLACED, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

POWER STEERING BECAME INTERMITTENTLY EFFECTIVE, WITH SECTIONS OF STEERING WHEEL TURNING BEING HARD TO TURN, AND EASY TO TURN. MECHANIC REPLACED THE LOWER STEERING ASSEMBLY U-JOINT, AND STATED THAT WE WERE LUCKY THAT IT DID NOT BREAK. THE OLD UNIT IS OPERABLE ON ONE AXIS, WHEREAS IT IS FROZE UP ON THE OTHER90 DEGREE AXIS. *TR

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM SOUTHBOUND EASTERN AVE. TO WEST BOUND WARM SPRINGS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE TURNED POSITION CAUSING THE CAR TO GO OVER A CURB NEARLY HITTING A UTILITY POLE. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS BENT AND THAT TIRE WAS DESTROYED AND THE FRONT END LIKELY KNOCKED OUT OF ALIGNMENT. IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES A DISASTROUS CRASH COULD EASILY HAVE OCCURRED. I HAVE A PHONE CALL IN TO A TOYOTA DEALER TO FIX THINGS. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHILE I'M DRIVING MY 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. *TR

I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND IT NOW HAS 94,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. RECENTLY I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING WHILE I AM DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND WAS TURNING RIGHT INTO A PARKING LOT. THE WHEEL LOCKED, I STOPPED THE CAR AND TRIED TURNED THE WHEEL RIGHT AND LEFT TO UNLOCK IT AND IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE BACKED UP A FEW FEET AND THEN PULLED FORWARD WHILE TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN IT UNLOCKED. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A FREAK OCCURRENCE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED ABOUT ONE MONTH LATER DURING ANOTHER RIGHT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND THEN AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. ALL THREE TIMES THE CAR HAS BEEN MOVING AND THE ENGINE RUNNING. I ASKED A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP ABOUT REPAIRING THE VEHICLE AND THEY HAVE CALLED SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERS AND NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED COMPLETELY WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE UNEXPECTED FAILURE CAUSED STEERING DIFFICULTY AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE ON THE STREET. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; HOWEVER, BOTH VEHICLES SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGES. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STEER NORMALLY AND WAS DRIVEN TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 124,000.

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY @ APROX 55-60 MPH AND THE TIRE BLEW UP - SEE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. IN THE MORNINGS, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER, THE CONTACT MAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE SHE EXCEEDED HER WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER TO DIAGNOSE/REPAIR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CALL FROM DEALER REPORTED AIR/FUEL SENSOR DEFECTIVE -- GAVE PRICE OF $449 TO REPAIR, DEALER WAS AUTHORIZED TO PROCEED. TWO HOURS LATER, ANOTHER CALL FROM DEALER REPORTED THAT SENSOR COULD NOT BE REMOVED (FROZEN OR "WELDED" IN PLACE), WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE COMPLETE MANIFOLD AT COST OF GREATER THAN $1000. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE TOYOTA'S RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO FAULTY ASSEMBLY. (SEE PREVIOUS REPORT OF INSUFFICIENT ANTI-SEIZE COMPOUND USED.) UNLESS ADEQUATE COMPENSATION IS FORTHCOMING, I WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THIS WAY, AS I AM TOLD IT WILL NOT DO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, BUT ONLY AFFECT GAS MILEAGE. HOWEVER, AS THIS IS PART OF THE VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM, I SUPPOSE IT WILL BE FURTHER DAMAGING AIR QUALITY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL WAS INAUDIBLE WHETHER TURNING THE VEHICLE LEFT OR RIGHT AND IT REMAINED ENGAGED AFTER THE SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, HOWEVER, THE TURN SIGNAL WAS LOUDER AT ONE TIME. THE SPEED AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR FUEL SENSOR FAILED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED, THE MECHANIC DAMAGED THE MANIFOLD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LACKED ANTI-SEIZE COMPOUND. THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED DURING BOTH OCCURRENCES. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH THE 1999 AND 2000 MODELS LACKED SUFFICIENT ANTI-SEIZE COMPOUND TO PREVENT THE DAMAGE. THERE ARE THREE SENSORS THAT MAY FAIL AND THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE MANIFOLD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AFTER EACH FAILURE. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE FAILURE HAS BEEN CORRECTED IN SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR ORIGINALLY PURCHASED 2000 TOYOTA AVALON WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS ROUTINELY BEEN SERVICED BY TOYOTA DEALER. UPON LEAVING A STREET PARKING LOCATION AND PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED FORCING THE VEHICLE TO PROCEED IN THE "FROZEN" DIRECTION INTO THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY ALL ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS AVOIDED AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. SHE HAD JUST COME OFF THE FREEWAY WITH GRANDCHILDREN IN THE CAR AND HAD JUST DROPPED THEM OFF. SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE IN A RELATIVE SAFE POSITION, ANGLED INTO THE LANE OF TRAFFIC AND AWAITED A TOW FROM AAA TO OUR TOYOTA DEALER IN EL CAJON. THERE WAS NO ADVANCE WARNING OF THIS CONDITION. THE DEALER DISMANTLED THE STEERING COLUMN AND FOUND THE LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED AND SLIPPED INTO THE LOCKED POSITION. THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT A COST OF $581. IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC! *TR

2005 TOYOTA AVALON WAS INVOVLED IN A CRASH. IT HIT THE REAR END OF ANOTHER CAR. THE AVALON WAS GOING 55 MPH AND THE CAR IT HIT WAS GOING 35 MPH. BOTH CARS WERE TOTALLED. THE AVALON'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER OF THE AVALON HAD MINOR INJURIES.*AK

DETAILS: FRONT END "BOTTOMS OUT" AND HITS THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE WHEN EXITING AND /OR ENTERING INCLINES TO STRIP MALLS, ETC. AND V DITCHES ON PUBLIC STREETS WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 25 MPH, AND DURING HIGHWAY DIPS. THE TIRE HITS THE ENGINE SHROUD. THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND DAMAGE TO TIRES WHEN GOING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THIS PROB WAS ADDRESSED WILE VEHICLE WAS IN WARRANTY, BUT THE PROBLEM SOON RETURNED. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC ENVOY XUV. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 12/04, AND HAD A WARRANTY FOR 3 YEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN DECEMBER 2006 THE VEHICLE WAS IN A REAR END CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED IN DECEMBER 2006, AND THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE TO DATE BECAUSE OF UNAVAILABLE PARTS. THE CONTACT WANTED THE VEHICLE TO BE EITHER REPAIRED OR REPURCHASED. AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND MANUFACTURER WERE SUPPOSED TO GO TO SETTLEMENT ON FEBRUARY 9, 2007, AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT RESPONDED TO THE CONTACT SINCE HE SIGNED THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND FAXED IT BACK TO THEM ON FEBRUARY 5, 2007. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GMCWAS NOT IN COMPLIANCEWITH THE AGREEMENT BY NOT HAVING THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE BODYSHOP WONT RELEASE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAW PART OF A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THEY WERE WAITING ON THE PARTS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILAGE WERE 22000.*AK

I OWN A TOYOTA AVALON 2000 WITH <87000; 4 WEEKS AGO THE CAR EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE THAT WAS DETERMINED TO BE AS A RESULT OF LOW OIL VOLUME MOST LIKELY DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP. I HAVE REGULARLY MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE, AND HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO AVOID TAKING BLAME, BUT AFTER TWO INDEPENDENT ADJUSTED VIEWED THE CAR, THE DEALERSHIP HAS PUT ME IN A LOANER VEHICLE. I AM AWAITING A RETURN CALL FROM THE REGIONAL MANAGER, BUT THEY ARE TAKING A LONG TIME TO RESPOND; THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR 4 WEEKS. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND FOUND TOYOTA REPORTED OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS AND HAS COVERED COSTS OF REPAIRS. I AM, HOWEVER, HAVING GREAT DIFFICULTY GETTING SOMETHING DONE WITH MY CAR. *JB

WHILE CAR PARKED STEERING LOCKED WOULD NOT RELEASE, LATER THE SAME EVENING STEERING LOCKED WHILE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN, CAUSING NO STEERING ABILITY, ALMOST CRASHED INTO FENCE. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER NEEDS STEERING COLUMN REPLACED, AT MY EXPENSE. I CAN HAVE OLD PART AS SOON AS I RECEIVE CAR BACK FROM DEALER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP FOR 20 SECONDS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE STEERING BY MANEUVERING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE.

AFTER DRIVING TWO HOURS MY WIFE ARRIVED AT HER DESTINATION AND FOUND ONE TIRE NEARLY FLAT. THE TIRE WAS FINE, THE LEAK WAS ACTUALLY THROUGH A PINHOLE LEAK IN THE STEEL RIM OF THE WHEEL. NO ONE WAS HURT BUT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. WE BELIEVE THIS WHEEL HAD A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT FROM DAY ONE, BUT THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE WHEEL BECAUSE HE SAID IT WAS BEYOND THE 3-YEAR 36000 MILE WARRANTY. *JB

THE CONSUMER PAID FOR REPAIRS OF TIMING BELT, ALTERNATOR BELT, POWER STEERING BELT, HUB AND WHEEL BEARING, AND O-RING ON 2000 TOYOTA AVALON XLS. CONSUMER VIN NOT INCLUDED IN REAR HUB ASSEMBLY RECALL. *KB THE CONSUMER HAD THE LEFT REAR AXLE BEARING REPLACED PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE REPAIR FACILITY INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HONOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS OF THE DATES LISTED ON THE RECALL. *NM

IT WAS A CLEAR DAY DRY ROAD, ABOUT 5:30 PM ON AUG. 16, 2005. I WAS WESTBOUND ON STATE RT 9, IN LOUDOUN COUNTY VA TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH. A 2005 HONDA CRV, SUV, CROSSED MY LANE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS SO CLOSE THAT THERE WAS NO TIME TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT, NO TIME TO SLOW DOWN. I PUSHED THE SUV SIDEWAYS ABOUT 30 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. DURING THE ACCIDENT MY TOYOTA AVALON AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, (OPERATE). DURING THE ACCIDENT I COULD SEE THE SIDE AIR BAGS ON THE HONDA OPERATE. AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT I WAS INJURED BY THE SEAT BELT AND MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY TOYOTA WITH RESPECT TO THIS ACCIDENT. *NM

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND VSC AND VSC OFF LIGHT WENT ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INDICATED THAT A VALVE IN THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND THE CANISTER ITSELF NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE COMPONENTS ARE PART OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND THE VSC IS PART OF THE SAME CIRCUIT HENCE BOTH SETS OF WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON. DEALER INDICATED THAT IF YOU TOP OFF THE TANK THE EXTRA GAS SPILLS OVER INTO THE CANISTER AND CAN OVERWHELM THE VALVE CAUSING EXCESSIVE USAGE AND POSSIBLE SHORTING. I INDICATED THAT I HAVE NEVER TOPPED OFF THE TANK IN THIS CAR, DEALER HAD NO OTHER EXPLANATION. PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE TOYOTA $1800 EXTRA CARE GOLD EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND COST TO REPLACE CANISTER WAS $285.00, AND $31.00 FOR VALVE, PLUS $285.00 LABOR. NOTE:78K MILES ON VEHICLE, SAME EXACT PROBLEM ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS: 6/11/03 NEW VALVE, VACUUM SWI INSTALLED, TOTAL CHARGE $152.11 52,587 MILEAGE 10/16/03 DIAGNOSIS & CLEAN SENSOR REINSTALL CODE, TOTAL CHARGE $130.50 56,694 MILEAGE 6/24/04 DIAGNOSIS & REINSTALL CODE, TOTAL CHARGE $43.50 60,252 MILEAGE. *NM

I TOOK MY AVALON IN BECAUSE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE UPON ENGINE START. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE BUILDUP CAUSED BY THE IMPROPER MAINTAINANCE AND THAT THEY WOULD CLEAN OUT THE ENGINE AND THAT SHOULD HELP. BUT THE FACT IS THE CAR NOW PINGS SO LOUD YOU CAN NOT HEAR THE RADIO. NO IT IS NOT THE GAS. THEY BLAMED THE SLUDGE PROBLEM ON MY MAINTENANCE. I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT THE CAR UP TO DATE ON THE OIL CHANGES. THE MILES AT THAT TIME WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000. I HAVE HEARD MANY TOYOTA'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MILES I HAVE NOW ARE 50,000. *NM

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING IN A RIGHT HAND TURN. TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER HOUSING ASSEMBLY AND CHARGED CONSUMER $464.13. I HAVE POSESSION OF FAILED PART WHICH CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES LOOSE LOCKING PIN. VEHICLE IS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON WITH 102029 MILES. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALL 00V154000 CONCERNING REAR SUSPENSION. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WA S NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *AK

2000 AVALON XLS - MY WIFE WAS HIT BROADSIDE BY ANOTHER CAR THAT RAN A RED LIGHT @~50 MPH. THE IMPACT OCCURRED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND KNOCKED THE VEHICLE 25 FEET SIDEWAYS DOWN THE ROAD. THE SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE.*JB

DT: THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THE CONSUMER IS WAITING FOR A REPLY. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER STERNUM, ABDOMEN AND LEFT SIDE FROM THE SEAT BELT. *NM THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A HAIL STORM HIT AND INSTANTLY CHANGED THE ROAD INTO ICE. THE CONSUMER SWERVED FROM THE OUTER LANE ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND INTO THE MEDIAN WHERE THE VEHICLE STRUCK TWO VEHICLES. THE TRACTION CONTROL DID NOT ACTIVATE AND THE STEERING HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. *SC THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS NON-EXISTENT ON ALL 4 WHEELS. *JB

DT: 2000 TOYOTA AVALON HAS POWER SEATS. ON JANUARY 22, 2002 BOTH SEATS RECLINED ALL THE WAY WITHOUT ANYONE OR KEYS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DOORS WERE LOCKED, AND THE CONSUMER WATCHED THIS HAPPEN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID IT COULD NOT HAPPEN. THE SECOND TIME ONLY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT RECLINED WITH NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER JUST STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN HE LOOKED BACK THE SEAT WAS RECLINED.*AK SECOND OCCURANCE WAS MAY 26, 2005. THE MILAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 56,900. THE DEALERSHIP THAT IS ON QUESTIONAIRE IS NO LONGER OPEN. *SB *NM

I STARTED MY 2000 TOYOTA AVALON LX AND FOUND THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE LOCKED. THE KEY EASILY STARTED THE CAR AND I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT EASILY INTO ANY GEAR, AND DRIVE OR GO FORWARD. BUT THE STEERING REMAINED LOCKED. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLNDER HOUSING AND BRACKET ASSY. STEERING. NO EXPLATION WAS GIVEN AS TO WHY THE LOCKING HAPPENED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A THING IN HIS 20 YEARS OF TOWING CARS.

PROBLEMS WITH CONSUMER GETTING LOCKED IN VEHICLE AS WELL AS BRAKE PROBLEMS. *MR THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN, NEITHER WOULD THE KEY TURN THE IGNITION. THE BRAKE PROBLEM REMAINED UNRESOLVED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE CONSUMER TRIED TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE ONLY WAY THE VEHICLE WOLD STOP, WAS TO TURN THE KEY AND THE SHUT THE MOTOR OFF. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE IGNITION PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND THE BRAKE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS RELEASED VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. ONCE VEHICLE STOPS ONLY THEN CAN IT BE RESTARTED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

MY 2000 TOTYOTA AVALON HAS A "LOOSE" AND "TWITCHY" FRONT SUSPENSION THAT PRESENTS ITSELF AS YOU APPROACH NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AS ROAD FEEL AND CONTROL DIMINISHES WITH INCREASED SPEED, THE CARE BECOMES STRESSFUL TO DRIVE. THIS RESULTS IN A "WANDERING" FRONT END CAUSING THE DRIVER TO OVER-CORRECT IN EVEN MODERATE TURNING MANEUVERS. THIS IS MOST PRONOUNCED WHEN SEVERAL PASSANGERS OR LUGGAGE IS IN THE CAR. THIS IS EVEN NOW REPORTED BY CONSUMMER REPORTS.

AMONG THE FOUR TOYOTA VEHICLES OWNED BY THE CONSUMER ONLY THE 2000 AVALON WOULD SURGE FORWARD WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. *PH PUSHING HARD ON THE BRAKES WOULD KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM HITTING OTHER VEHICLES AND THE SURGE WOULD STOP AS QUICKLY AS IT STARTED. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. LATER, THE CONSUMER REALIZED THAT THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD. *AK

VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCKS . THE DRIVER WENT TO OPEN THE DOOR, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S LOCK NOR PASSENGER'S LOCK WOULD OPEN WHILE INSIDE OF VEHICLE. PASSENGER HAD A PANIC ATTACK BECAUSE THE DOORS WOULD NOT RELEASE FOR SAFETY. PASSENGER HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS ON 2000 TOYOTA AVALON XLS.*MR *CB

VEHICLE TIRE EQUIPMENT WAS CONSIDERED CHEAP.*MR THE TIRES FAILED AT A LOW MILEAGE. *TS *JB

2000 TOYOTA AVALON XLS STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS. NAR 07/10/2003.*MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND BECAME STIFF ON FREQUENT OCCASIONS. PLEASE TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IN RESOLVING MATTERS. *CB THE DEALER ROTATED AND BALANCED THE TIRES, AND PERFORMED SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR BRAKES AND 1 ROTOR. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN TO 50% CAPACITY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

I PULLED IN DRIVEWAY WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PROCEEDED TO TRY TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. WHEN I HIT THE BUTTON, MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DASHED FORWARD, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THE GARAGE DOOR, FRAME AND WALL. MY DEALER SAID IT COULDN'T HAPPEN AND WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE VEHICLE.*AK