2001 Toyota Avalon complaints

CONSUMER NOTICED A BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL OF HIS MICHELIN TIRE (NO TIRE INFORMATION). CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL WAS ALMOST CERTAINLY CAUSED BY A TRAUMATIC INJURY TO THE TIRE, HOWEVER, WHEN THE TIRE WAS REMOVED, NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND. AS A RESULT TIRE DEALER OFFERED A 25% DISCOUNT ON THE PURCHASE OF A REPLACEMENT. *TT

THE ENGINE IN THIS CAR, THE TOYOTA V6 1MZ 3.0L HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE DEFECTIVE. *AK

THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE IN REAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND PULLING OFF FROM A STOP. GAS IS SHIFTING AROUND IN GAS TANK. *AK THE NOISE WAS PROMINENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER AGREED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF A NEW TANK. THE ORDER WAS PLACED FOR A NEW TANK BUT WAS CANCELLED BY A REPRESENTATIVE BECAUSE IT WOULD MEAN THAT TOYOTA ADMITS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL TANKS ON THESE VEHICLES. THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE TANK COULDN'T BE REPLACED, BECAME MUCH WORSE. CONSUMER IS NO LONGER IN POSSESION OF THE VEHICLE. *JG

VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM IS OF CONCERN. OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT TO A STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL MOVE DOWN TOWARD THE FLOOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER THE CAR IS STOPPED. THE TWO TIMES I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER, I AM BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE AND THAT ALL OF THEM DO THIS. THIS IS THE SECOND AVALON I HAVE OWNED AND THE FIRST ONE DID NOT HAVE THE SITUATION HAPPEN. OTHER AVALON OWNERS I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN. THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWNWARD AFTER STOPPING DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME. IT LOOKS TO OCCUR AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IN LOCAL TRAFFIC THAT REQUIRES CONSTAND STOPPING AND STARTING. THE PEDAL MOVEMENT OCCURS ABOUT 10 TO 15 SECONDS AFTER STOPPING BUT DOES NOT OCCUR EVERY TIME. THIS BRAKE PEDAL MOVEMENT IS OF CONCERN SICE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 40 YEARS. BRAKE PEDAL MOVEMENT AFTER STOPPING A VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SIGN OF FAILURE WITHIN THE SYSTEM. USUALLY A FAILING MASTER CYLINDER. THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AFTER STOPPING IS NOT A CONFORTABLE FEELING AND ALL THAT I HAVE TALKED TO (BOTH TOYOTA OWNERS AND OTHER MFG'S) NO ONE HAS EXPERIENCE THIS PEDAL MOVEMENT. THIS INCLUDES CARS THAT HAVE SKID CONTROL SYSTEMS. I AM CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT THIS BRAKE PEDAL ISSUE AND WANT CONFIRMATION FROM THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER (NOT THE DEALER) THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. CLOSING NOTE, TALKED TO A FEW LEXUS OWNERS, NONE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS BRAKE PEDAL

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES FEEL SPONGY AND GO HALFWAY TO THE FLOOR, THE DEALER HAS BLED THE BRAKES AND REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, HOWEVER THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST, CONSUMER GIVES 2 ADDRESSES AND 2 PHONE NUMBERS, 394 CASA GRANDE, EDGEWATER, FL 32141, 386-427-2455, FLORIDA IS WHERE THEY SPEND THE WINTER. *SLC

LIGHTS ON VSC STAY ON ALL THE TIME. AUTO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 6 TIMES. KEPT HAVING ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WINDOWS GO UP AND DOWN ALL THE TIME BY THEMSELVES. BATTERY FAILED. DEALER REPLACED STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. TRUNK OPENS BY ITSELF. DEALER FOUND LATCH NOT HOLDING SECURELY ON LATCH LOCK BAR. *AK *TT

NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. NLM

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL (01V-072), BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE PART. *YH

WHEN AT A STOP OR WHILE PARKING ENGINE REVS AND RPMS GO UP TO 7000. CONSUMER HAS TO APPLY BRAKES HARD AND PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO STOP THE REVVING, THIS HAPPENS 2-3 TIMES A MONTH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK *YD

DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE ATTEMPTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO CORRECT PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED. HEADLIGHT FAILURE IS THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT TODATE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING AT THE SAME TIME ALONG THE HIGHWAY, AND WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE PROMPTLY AND WITHOUT INCIDENT.*AK

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A DISTRACTING LIGHT THAT INTERFERES WITH MY NIGHT OPERATION OF THE CAR. AT NIGHT, AWAY FROM LIGHTS, I SEE THE 140 FROM THE SPEEDOMETER AND E FROM THE FUEL GAGE, REFLECTED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE IMAGE IS UPSIDE DOWN AND THE LIGHT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT IS DEAD AHEAD IN THE FIELD OF TRAVEL. IVE ADJUSTED MY SEAT SO IM AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, THE TOP OF MY HEAD IS ABOUT 2 FROM THE CEILING. I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALER THAT ATTEMPTED TO SERVICE THIS, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TOYOTA OFFICES (CASE # 200110160534). THEY REPORT "THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE".*AK

BRAKE PEDAL PROCEEDS ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR WHEN PRESSED AT STANDSTILL. *AK

TIRES TOO NARROW AND SMALL FOR GROSS WEIGHT OF AVALON CAR. (DOT NUMBER: 205 TIRESIZE: 205 60 R)

MULTIPLE FAILURE OF INSTRUMENT PANEL AND INFORMATION PANEL LIGHTING. DEALER UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED -- BUT NO RESPONSE TO DATE.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MHP ON A SIDE STREET AND NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN, CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE WOULD BEGAN TP COAST, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER AND NOTICED THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE, VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT CONNECTION TO FUEL AND IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE GASOLINE LINE HAD DISCONNECTED FROM THE MOTOR, AND THAT THE FLANGE ON THE CONNECTOR APPARENTLY HAD NOT ENGAGED PROPERLY. *YD

DURING NIGHT DRIVING A PORTION OF THE SPEEDOMETER REFLECTS OFF WINDSHIELD, CREATING A DISTRACTION. TOYOTA CLAIMS MY VIN REPRESENTS THE VEHICLES THAT WERE CORRECTED DURING PRODUCTION, BUT THE REFLECTION STILL EXISTS.*AK

ODOMETER IS GIVING A FALSE READING. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED FOR A 15 INCH WHEEL, AND VEHICLE HAS A 16 INCH WHEEL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED SPEEDOMETER WAS OKAY.*AK

THIS IS AS MUCH A QUESTION AS AN ACTUAL REPORT. DRIVER'S SIDEVIEW MIRROR HAS TREMENDOUS BLIND SPOT - CONVERSELY - A SMALL VIEWING AREA. TYPICALLY A CONSCIENTIOUS DRIVER, I HAVE CUT OFF 2 OR MORE DRIVERS THAT JUST WEREN'T VISIBLE TO ME. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE REVIEWED. PERHAPS THIS IS MY OWN PROBLEM, BUT I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH A CAR IN THE PAST. MY BELIEF IS THAT THE SIDEVIEW MIRROR SHOULD BE MORE CONCAVE - OR AT LEAST PROVIDE A LARGER VIEWING AREA.*AK

CHILD WAS SITTING IN BACK SEAT AND REACHED OVER TO UNLATCH SEAT BELT TO GET OUT. SEAT BELT LAYED ACROSS HIS CHEST, AND WHEN TUGGING ON IT TO SNAP IT BACK IN POSITION SEAT BELT RAPPED AROUND CHILD'S NECK. CHILD'S MOTHER PULLED ON SEAT BELT WHICH WOULD NOT RELEASE. CHILD BLACKED OUT, AND SEVERAL MEN COULD NOT GET SEAT BELT TO LOOSEN. SEAT BELT WAS FINALLY CUT TO RELEASE CHILD. CHILD'S NECK WAS BRUISED AND IRRITATED. DEALERSHIP WAS OF NO HELP, AND REFUSED THE RIGHT OF CONSUMER TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND WILL ORDER A NEW SEAT BELT. ALSO, WILL CALL THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

WHEN DRIVING WITH 4 AVERAGE SIZE ADULTS IN THE AVALON (2 FRONT/2 REAR) - THE REAR BOTTOMS OUT (AXLES/SUSPENSION) AND THE FRONT SCRAPS WHEN GOING UP DRIVEWAYS, OVER SPEEDBUMPS, LEAVING DRIVEWAYS, ETC. THE FRONT BUMPER/PAINT, MIDDLE UNDERSIDE, AND/OR THE REAR BUMPER/PAINT SCRAP SEVERELY ALONG THE GROUND AND/OR BUMP IN THE ROAD. EVERYTHING CAN BE FELT WHEN DRIVING AND THERE IS A LOT OF SCRAPING ALONG THE GROUND. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE AXLES/STRUTS/SUSPENSION - THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THE CAR JUST HAS A SOFT RIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES SQUEAKING/RUBBING NOISES - AGAIN THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND JUST LUBRICATED IT. THE FRONT PAINT IS CHIPPING AFTER A FEW MONTHS DESPITE IT BEING CHIP RESISTANT PAINT. THE CHIPS LOOK LIKE THE EDGES ARE READY TO FLAKE. THE FUEL TANK NOZZLE IS JAMBED AGAINST THE LEFT SIDE OF THE GAS DOOR OPENING, THUS REQUIRING A PERSON'S HAND TO SCRAP AGAINST THE CAR TO OPEN THE FUEL TANK. *AK

AT NIGHT THERE IS A GLARE ON WINDSHIELD FROM INSTRUMENT PANEL. HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.*AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT AND REAR END COLLISONS WHILE TRAVELING 30-35MPH. AIRBAG SENSOR WAS SCRAPED, AND EXPOSED; BUT THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING THAT AIRBAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT NO RESPONSE AS OF YET. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHEN FILL ING UP WITH FUEL INDICATOR LIGHTS COME UP ON DASHBOARD. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FUEL. *AK CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER THREE TIMES BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON GAS, THEN THEY DISCOVERED THE FLEXHOSE HAD COME OFF THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. *YH

VEHICLE WAS AT STANDSTILL IN TRAFFIC AND WAS REARENDED. TRUNK WAS PUSHED INTO BACKSEAT. VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT, VEHICLE IN FRONT AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WERE TOTALLED. SEATBELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER. HE HIT HIS HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL, REQUIRED 20 STITCHES. *AK PASSENGERS SEAT BELT WORKED, HOWEVER DRIVERS DID NOT, PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, CONSUMER LIST THAT VEHICLE HAS MOTORBELTS AND REGULAR SEAT BELTS. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS AT STANDSTILL WHEN IT WAS REARENDED WITH GREAT SPEED AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT. TRUNK WAS PUSHED INTO BACK SEAT. VEHICLE IN FRONT AND CONSUMERS VEHICLE WERE TOTALLED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER HIT STEERING WHEEL, AND REQUIRED 20 STITCHES IN HIS FACE.*AK

THE VEHICLE "WANDERS" IE, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE PERCEIVED FEELING IS THAT THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN IN DEEP ROUTES OR OVER TROLLEY TRACKS, MUCH LIKE THE FEELING WHEN DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE SURFACE THAT IS CONSTRUCTED OF METAL GRATING. THIS CREATES AN OVERALL FEELING THAT I HAVE NO REAL CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA REQUIREMENT OF WARNING LABELS POSTED ON THE VISOR HAS RESULTED IN GLUE RESIDUE ON THE VISOR WHICH I CANNOT REMOVE. WHAT CAN USE TO CLEAN OFF THE GUMMY AREA?*AK

I HIT A LARGE STEER AT NIGHT WHILE ACCELLERATING FROM A STOP. IMPACT WAS SEVERE AND RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE CAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT BECAUSE THE INITIAL IMPACT WITH THE STEER WAS HIS LEGS AND LITTLE RESISTANCE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE AIR BAGS. THE SEVERITY OF DAMAGE TO FRONT END, HOOD, AND ROOF MADE ME WONDER IF ANOTHER SENSOR WOULD BE APPROPRIATE HIGHER UP WHICH WOULD TRIGGER THE AIR BAGS. YOUR OPINION AND COMMENTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. HOOD, LI*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT DASHBOARD LIGHT WILL REFLECT ON WINDSHIELD GLASS, AND WILL INTERFERE WITH DRIVER'S VISION IN DARK. *AK THE REFLECTION ON TO WINDSHIELD WAS DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. THE DASBOARD DOES NOT EXTEND FAR ENOUGH TO BLOCK THE REFLECTION FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *YH

STEERING FEEDBACK BECOMES TOO LIGHT AND UNSTABLE AT HIGHT SPEED (65MPH). ON THE SECOND VISIT TO THE DEALER, THE TECHNICIAN WHO TEST DROVE THE CAR ADMITTED THIS CARS STEERING FEELS LOOSER. DEALER ADJUSTED THE ALIGNMENT WITH NO POSITIVE CHANGES TO THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE CAR MAKES A JERKY MOVE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A SLOW ROLLING SPEED (10 MPH).*AK

MULLER TOYOTA TECHNICIAN STATED THAT FUEL LINE FELL OFF FILTER. INCIDENT: CAR STALLED WHILE PROCEEDING ON NYC STREET. PULLED OUT OF TRAFFIC. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART, LARGE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE FLOWED OUT FROM UNDER CAR. GOT THE THREE PEOPLE OUT OF CAR TO SIDEWALK. NYC FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED OUT-THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE SOURCE OF GASOLINE AND ADVISED THAT NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. CAR WAS FLATBEDDED TO MULLER TOYOTA IN CLINTON, NJ. ADDITIONAL GASOLINE SPILL NOTICED ON FLATBED. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT FUEL LINE CONNECTION CAME APART AND TECHNICIAN CLICKED IT BACK TOGETHER. THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE FUEL LINE CONNECTION CAME APART AS A RESULT OF AN IMPACT WITH AN OBJECT, A ROAD BUMP, OR IMPROPER FACTORY ASSEMBLY. NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING IMPACTING A COMPONENT WAS FOUND. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DESIGN DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL LINE THAT COULD HAVE HAD A CATASTROPHIC RESULT WITH FATALITIES IF THE FUEL LINE SEPARATION OCCURED ON A HIGHWAY, AT SOME HIGHER SPEED, OR WITH THE CAR AT A HIGHER TEMPERATURE. IT MAY REQUIRE A REDESIGNED COMPONENT PRECLUDES AN UNSAFE INSTALLATION AND RESISTS SEPARATION DUE TO NORMAL ROAD BUMPS.

WHILE TRAVELING DURNING RAIN WINDSHIELD GIVES OFF POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK