2003 Toyota Avalon complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GARAGE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.....UPDATED 07-10-13 *BF.

I HAVE AN ERRATIC ACCELERATION PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 TOYOTA AVALON CAR THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE WITH TOYOTA. THE CAR DOES NOT GO FORWARD WHEN I DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM STATIONERY POSITION. WHEN THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED FURTHER, IT LURCHES FORWARD WITH A JOLT. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT IS NOTICEABLE MANY TIMES. I GOT MY CAR CHECKED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT I GET THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY CLEANED. I GOT THIS WORK DONE. IT SEEMED TO HAVE IMPROVED FOR A WHILE BUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP ON JAN 3, 2013 AND AGAIN ON APRIL 13, 2013 BUT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM SINCE IT HAPPENS ERRATICALLY AND NOT ALL THE TIME. I INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM DOES HAPPEN AND THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR ALMOST A DAY BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING IN A STOP AND GO TYPE OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER DATED APRIL 4, 2013 TO THE TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN CALIFORNIA BUT THEY TELL ME THAT THE VEHICLE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THIS PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO THE ERRATIC ACCELERATION PROBLEMS REPORTED FOR OTHER TOYOTA CARS IN THE PRESS. I THINK TOYOTA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT AT THE EARLIEST SINCE IT IS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME NOW.. *TR

I WAS DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE ON THE SIDE OF A CONDO AND NEEDED TO PULL UP APPROXIMATELY 2 YARDS. I GENTLY PRESSED THE GAS PEDDLE AND THE CAR SHOT FORWARD, WENT OVER THE CURB, TRAVERSED SEVERAL FEET OF GRASS AND SLAMMED INTO THE CONDO PATIO BRICK WALL. I WAS STUNNED. HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS NOT HURT BUT THE WALL WAS DAMAGED IN THE AMOUNT OF $2500 FOR REPAIRS. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND, AGAIN, THE CAR SHOT BACKWARDS, EXTREMELY FAST. MY BRAKES WORKED SO I JUST MISSED SLAMMING INTO THE CARS BEHIND ME IN THE PARKING LOT. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND SAT THERE. THEN STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT BEHAVED NORMALLY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, NOW I AM FRIGHTENED OF MY CAR AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

ON THIS DATE THE CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A STEERING COLUMN UPPER BRACKET REPLACEMENT. TODAY MARCH 19TH, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR REGULAR MECHANIC FOR FRONT BRAKES AND TO CHECK BECAUSE THE KEY WILL COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND IN DRIVE OR REVERSE RATHER THAN PARK. IT WAS ALSO POINTED OUT TO US BY OUR MECHANIC THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER LOCKS WHICH HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE THEY DID THE RECALL WORK BUT WE JUST REALIZED TODAY. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL US ABOUT THE RECALL AND WE EXPLAINED WE HAD TAKEN IT IN FOR THE BRACKET. SO, IN SHORT, SINCE TOYOTA REPLACED THE BRACKET ON THIS RECALL, THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER LOCKS AND THE KEY WILL COME OUT IN DRIVE WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, WHICH SHOULD NOT OCCUR. *TR

THE STEERING STARTED TO BIND WHEN IT STARTED GETTING COLD. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT FELT LIKE NO POWER STEERING EXISTED INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE MAKING TURNS IT WOULD ALSO BIND, MAKING IT HARD TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL BACK AS I AM COMING OUT OF THE TURN, WHICH WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION. INITIAL REPAIR SHOP SUGGESTED CHANGING THE SERPENTINE BELTS. THAT DID NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. NEXT I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED UPPER STEERING SHAFT. THIS SEEMED TO IMPROVE BUT NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. I JUST WENT BACK, AND NOW THEY REPLACED THE STEERING RACK AND LOWER SHAFT. NOW IT APPEARS CORRECTED. WHILE LOOKING ON THE WEB, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE, SO I FEEL THIS SHOULD QUALIFY AS A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

75 N TRAVELING 65 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD SNAP UNDER CAR. CAR TRIED TO VEER TO LEFT SEVERAL TIMES PULLED BACK THOUGHT IT WAS UNDER CONTROL WHEN SPEED INCREASED CAR DARTED RIGHT HEAD ON INTO RETAINING WALL BOUNCED OFF DID 2 1/2 360 DEGREE SPINS HIT WALL AGAIN BROADSIDE AND FINALLY CAME TO STAND STILL. WHEN SPEED INCREASED AND CAR SHOT TO RIGHT ALL CONTROL WAS LOST. *TR

9/17/2010 ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I ENTERED A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND STOPPED WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED GOING THRU A FENCE AND HITTING A STONE WALL WHEN THE CAR STOPPED. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY REPAIRED THE CAR AFTER A TOYOTA REP. EXAMINED THE CAR. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM [XXX] FROM TOYOTA DATED 10/25/2010 THAT STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY TYPE OF MANUFACTURE DESIGN OR DEFECT. DAYTONA TOYOTA DID AN AOH RECALL ON THE CAR DURING THAT TIME. MY BACK AND NECK WAS STRAINED AND I HAD CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS, HEAT THERAPY AND MASSAGES FOR TWO MONTHS PAID BY MY INSURANCE. 11/05/2012 ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I ENTERED A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND STOPPED WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED OVER THE CURB HITTING A STOP SIGN. THE SIGN RIPPED THE LEFT OUTSIDE MIRROR OFF THE DOOR, SCRAPED AND BENT THE FRONT AND BACK DOORS ON DRIVERS SIDE. THE CAR NOW SITS IN MY GARAGE WRECKED BECAUSE I WILL NOT TURN IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT ON MY INSURANCE BECAUSE MY PREMIUM WENT UP AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT. I WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN BECAUSE THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG AND IT IS A BLESSING THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE SIDEWALK NOR A CAR ON THE STREET WHEN MY CAR ACCELERATED. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG NOR DO THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO CUSTOMERS WHO TRUSTED THEIR VEHICLES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL SENSORS FAILED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHIN 1,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE PART WAS MOST LIKELY DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE SENSOR WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD LOW MILEAGE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 34,955. UPDATED 1/23/13 THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OF THE SENSORS ALSO AFFECT EMISSION (FUEL AIR RATIO). UPDATED 02/12/2013 *JS

AS I WAS BACKING OUT FROM A SPACE IN A PARKING LOT, MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND I HAD A HARD TIME GETTING IT TO STOP WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE WHEELS WERE TURNED IN A SHARP LEFT POSITION. THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS AT A HIGH REV. THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR CRASHED INTO TWO CARS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT AISLE BEFORE COMING TO A HALT. THE WHOLE EVENT LASTED JUST A FEW SECONDS. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT QUICKLY REGAINED CONTROL AS HE MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION ARM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

2003 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED OVER A YEAR AGO, HE WAS DRIVING INTO A GARAGE, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY, AND HE HIT A BRICK WALL. THE CONSUMER REALIZED HE ACCIDENTALLY, HIT THE ACCELERATOR, INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. IN 2003, THE STEERING COLUMN DID NOT TELESCOPE AND TALL DRIVERS, SUCH AS HIM HAD A PROBLEM SELECTING THE DEGREE OF TILT ON THE STEERING COLUMN. BECAUSE HE COULD NOT EXTEND THE STEERING COLUMN, ON THAT OCCASION, HE TILTED THE STEERING WHEEL DOWN, BUT FURTHER THAN HE USUALLY DID. THE RESULT, WAS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BLOCKED HIS RIGHT LEG FROM MOVING TO THE LEFT.

PARKED TOYOTA AVALON WAS STARTED, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION OCCURRED. BRAKES INEFFECTIVE SO HIT PARKED CAR IN FRONT EXTREMELY HARD. TRIED TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL BUT IT SLIPPED INTO REVERSE AND HIT CAR PARKED BEHIND. FINALLY GOT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. VERY, VERY SCARY. NO INJURIES, NO POLICE REPORT, NOTIFIED INSURANCE TO COVER DAMAGES TO CARS. WILL HAVE TOWED TO TOYOTA FOR INSPECTION. IF NOTHING FOUND, I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN. WITNESS SAID CAR "JUMPED UP AND ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLE". *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V354000, STEERING REPAIR PERFORMED IN AUGUST OF 2003 AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE STEERING RECALL REMEDY INCLUDED REPLACING THE STEERING INTERLOCK DEVICE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CLOCK SPRING. WHENEVER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DEALER OFFERED SEVERAL SOLUTIONS, BUT NONE OF THEM HAVE WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOUND NO CODES STORED DURING VEHICLE CHECK. ILLUMINATION OF WARNING LIGHT IS INCONSISTENT, HAS NO APPARENT CONNECTION TO SPEED OR CONDITIONS, BUT HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY. DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE, AND THE APPARENT TREND OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM ON A RANGE OF TOYOTA AVALON MODEL YEARS, INACTION BY NHTSA AND TOYOTA MUST CEASE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A SQUEALING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V539000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE 2003 MODELS, ONLY 2004. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 01/04/12*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 2008. UPDATED 01/09/12

AIR BAG LIGHT ON SINCE I HAVE THIS VEHICLE DEALER CANNOT FIX IT . ALSO NOISE FROM PULLEY LOUD NOISE I SEE A RECALL ON THE 2004 AVALON BUT NOT ON THE 2003 BUT IT'S MAKING THE SAME NOISE AS THE 2004. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE EXHIBITED SLUDGE. THE CONTACT HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE WHO CONFIRMED THE SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THE ENGINE BUT THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

AIR BAG SYSTEM LIGHT IS NOW LUMINATED ON DASBORD WHICH INDICATES INDICATES THE SYSTEM IS DISABLED. THIS STARTED ON 8/1/2011 HAD AUTO REPAIR SHOP DO SCAN DOWN ON VEHICLE AND NO CODES ARE APPEARING TO SHOW PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2003 FROMTOYOTA DEALERSHIP. CURRENT ODM READING 97,500. ANY BODY ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM?WILL BE CALLING TOYOTA MANUFACTURER. *TT

HELLO IM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS. 1. IVE RECEIVED AN RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 2003 TOYOTA AVALON FOR "STEERING PROBLEM UPPER BRACKET". AND HAVE, TRIED TO REMEDY THIS, ONLY TO FIND OUT TOYOTA, OFFERS NO COURTESY VEHICLE?. OR A DEFINITE TIME YOUR VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED?. 2ND THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER DEFECT ON THIS CAR, WHEN GOING OVER "ROUGH" ROADS AND BRAKING, THE CAR FEELS LIKE ITS NOT BRAKING AT ALL. OR LIKE THE BRAKES ARE SLIPPING?. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ON THE 2003 AVALON? THERE HAVE BEEN NO INCIDENTS TO DATE, BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V345000 (STEERING). AFTER THE REMEDY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, AN UNUSUAL NOISE WOULD SOUND WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE DEALER REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE STEERING WHEEL WITH FORCE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT AN EARLIER DETECTION OF THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT FAILURE WAS IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO THE DESIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,515. UPDATED 05/25/11 *BF

2003 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES FRONT END ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED DUE TO THE OUTLANDISH TIRE WEAR, HE HAD TO PURCHASE THREE SETS OF TIRES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD SIX ALIGNMENTS PERFORMED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE DRIFTING TO THE LEFT BY REPAIRING THE STEERING SYSTEM, IN WHICH A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. *JB

2003 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH GAS PEDAL AND IDLE RUNNING TOO HIGH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE HIGH AT TIMES AND THEN TOO LOW, TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY ON. THE PROBLEM WAS INCONSISTENT, BUT RECURRING. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS MOUNTED TOO HIGH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BY LIGHTLY TAPPING ON THE BRAKES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION IF THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED LESS THAN 1,000 MILES AGO BY THE DEALER PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,500. UPDATED 03/07/11*LJ UPDATED 05/02/11

WHILE IN PARKING LOT, PLACED CAR IN REVERSE. THE CAR ACCELERATED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, JUMPING A CURB AND HITTING A 2 FOOT HIGH POLE IN NEXT PARKING LOT. BRAKING HAD NO EFFECT. ATTEMPT TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL FAILED. STEERING ALSO FAILED. CAR TOWED TO COLLISION CENTER SUBSEQUENTLY TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. CAR HIT WITH SUCH FORCE, IT WAS WRAPPED AROUND POLE AND RESTING ON TOP OF POLE. WRIST OF DRIVER HURT - HAD TO SEEK ATTENTION FROM EMTS AND GO TO EMERGENCY ROOM. UNDER ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALIST CARE CURRENTLY. PASSENGER IN BACK SEAT, 20 YR OLD, HAS NECK STRAIN AND HEADACHE CONCERNS.

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING THEN STOPPED. TOOK TO DEALER WHO DISCOVERED A ERROR CODE B0166 STORED IN THE COMPUTER (OPEN CIRCUIT IN LEFT SIDE AIRBAG) BUT WAS NOT FLASHING WHEN EVALUATED. ONE DAY LATER THE LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON. THE DEALER WANTS $1700.00 PLUS LABOR TO FIX AND THAT IT WOULD BE INOPERATIVE IN AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA--[XXX] AT 800-331-4331 WHO ADVISED ME IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND TOYOTA WOULD TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR FIXING A FEDERALLY MANDATED SAFETY FEATURE WHICH HAS NO MAINTENANCE OR WEAR AND TEAR EXPECTATION. IT IS A PART NOT EXPECTED TO FAIL. I AM NOW WAITING ON A SUPERVISOR, [XXX], TO CALL ME BACK BUT [XXX] ASSURES ME HE WILL NOT BE HELPFUL EITHER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2003 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN *TGW THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, ONLY TO BE TOLD THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

I HAD TO REPLACE 6 MONTH OLD TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN ON THE EDGES. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD ALIGNMENT, SO I BOUGHT NEW TIRES, HAD THEM BALANCED AND RE-ALIGNED. 1 MONTH LATER MY CAR IS STILL PULLING TO THE LEFT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE? *TR

2003 AVALON TOYOTA: EVERY MORNING, COMING OUT OF THE GARAGE, STEERING RIGHT PRODUCES STRANGE SOUND AS WELL AS STIFFNESS. REPORTED TO TOYOTA DEALER LAST WEEK AFTER 6 MONTHS OF THIS EXPERIENCE. THEY HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM TOYOTA YET. TOLD US TO WAIT TILL MID AUGUST FOR MORE INFO FROM TOYOTA. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN MOVING TO THE LEFT. HE HAD TO GUIDE THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE, AND THEY ROTATED, BALANCED THE TIRES, AND PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MECHANIC ALSO EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. HE REFERENCED RECALL 10V345000, STEERING AND HIS VEHICLE WAS A PART OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,300.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED. THREE MONTHS AFTER THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT AND THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WERE INJURED. A LOCAL MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE CALIPERS DID NOT HAVE ANY SCREWS TO HOLD THEM IN PLACE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE SCREWS WERE NOT PROPERLY PLACED IN THE CALIPERS. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE BRAKES PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH INTO THE RESIDENCE DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, FOLLOWED BY NO POWER RESPONSE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A NEARBY SHED. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY OR VEHICLE DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 10/20/10 *BF UPDATED 10/21/10

2003 TOYOTA AVALON WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE SOLD THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WANTED TO DETAIL THE EVENTS OF THE ACCIDENT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OVER A CURB, THROUGH THE BUSHES AND INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE SUGGESTED THAT PERHAPS BOTH PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY OR THAT PERHAPS THE FLOOR MAT WAS PRESSED AGAINST THE GAS PEDAL. THE CONSUMER STATED NEITHER HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE WAS THE THIRD INCIDENT OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION THAT HAD SHE HAD EXPERIENCED IN THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FIRST TWO WERE NOT SEVERE ENOUGH TO WARRANT A POLICE REPORT. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL GEAR THEN TO DRIVE AND ALTHOUGH HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER WERE BOTH INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,809.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND CONTINUED ACCELERATING, PUSHING THAT VEHICLE ONTO SOMEONE'S LAWN. THE INCIDENT CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND PROPERTY. A PASSERBY WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED ACCORDINGLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

THERE ARE TWO INCIDENTS WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 TOYOTA AVALON & THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED & I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT TO STOP. I HAVE DETAILED THE INCIDENTS BELOW: 12/3/2009- I, [XXX] , WAS DRIVING MY AVALON ON PORTAGE RD WHEN I HIT ANOTHER CAR IN THE RE & WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC & OVER AN EMBANKMENT & HIT ANOTHER CAR WHICH WAS PUSHED INTO 2 OTHER CARS. I WAS CITED FOR THE INCIDENT. I HAD TRIED TO PUT ON THE BRAKE BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEREFORE & THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD WHICH CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. 2/23/10- ON THIS DATE I WAS LEAVING TO TAKE MY HUSBAND TO THE DOCTORS. I WAS AGAIN DRIVING MY 2004 TOYOTA AVALON, WE HAD BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE & WERE AT END OF THE DRIVEWAY, I WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE SNOW BANK ON RIGHT HAND SIDE SO I HAD TO PULL UP, AT THAT TIME I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE TO PULL UP SOME & THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF & I COULD NOT STOP IT. MY HUSBAND WAS YELLING FOR ME TO HIT THE BRAKE BUT I COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP & WE RAN INTO OUR GARAGE DOOR & THE VEHICLE ENDED UP IN THE HOUSE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FM OWNER OF A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. *KB WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. UPDATED 10/29/10*JB

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) WAS BRAKING TO PARK 2003 TOYOTA AVALON 4 DR SEDAN (VIN [XXX] ). IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND LANDED IN CANAL #E4 IN LANTANA, FLORIDA ON DECEMBER 19, 2009. CAR HAD 63,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. NOTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENED BEFORE. PARK LOT IS LOCATED AT 2810 HYPOLUXO RD. LANTANA FLORIDA. CAR WAS "TOTALED" BY GEICO INSURANCE CO. *TR

WHEN I TRY TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR OF MY 2003 TOYOTA AVALON, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I FEEL RESISTANCE. IF I PRESS TO OVERCOME THE RESISTANCE, IT THEN RACES AND DOES NOT RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST 4 YEARS W/O ANY PATTERN. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT IT. *TR

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON . IN AUG 2008 I WAS DRIVING AND INVOLVED IN A REARENDING ACCIDENT WHERE I HAD MY FOOT ON BRAKE AND FELT AS IF MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE . I HAD BRAKES TOTALLY CHECK AND DAMAGE TO MY CAR REPAIRED BUT AM WONDERING WHETHER MY CAN SUFFERED AN ACCELERATION ISSUE AS OTHER TOYOTA CARS HAVE. THE BRAKES WERE INSPECTED AND FOUND TO BE FINE I HAD OVER 1,000 DAMAGE DONE TO MY CAR AND UNKNOWN AMOUNT TO CAR I HIT . THE WOMAN IN CAR I HIT TOOK AMBULANCE IN TO HOSPITAL WITH NECK PAIN. *TR

PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY OF MY SINGLE FAMILY, CAR, 2003 AVALON, LURCHED FORWARD, JUMPED CURB AT END OF DRIVEWAY, AND HIT NEIGHBOR'S FENCE. I CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS OCCURRED. FROM HABIT, I PULL INTO DRIVEWAY AT A SLOW SPEED, APPLY BRAKES AND PUT CAR INTO PARK. HOWEVER, FOR WHATEVER THE CAUSE OR REASON, CAR DID NOT COME TO A STOP. *TR

2003 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER HAS SEVERAL TOYOTA VEHICLES AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THEY ARE INCLUDED IN RECENT RECALLS. CONSUMER STATES IN THE OLDER TOYOTA SHE OWNED SHE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. *KB THE CONSUMER WENT THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION AND WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND LANDED IN SOMEONE'S BACKYARD. *JB

OUR 2003 TOYOTA AVALON HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL OCCURRENCES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR TOYOTA DEALER AND BOTH TIMES THEY SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE FLOORMAT STICKING UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. THE MAT WAS REMOVED AND IT STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I LET OFF THE GAS TO SLOW DOWN AND IT STARTED TO SPEED UP. I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV UP AND DOWN FROM 1000 RPM TO 2500 RPM. THIS CONTINUED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES UNTIL I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART IT. (THIS IS ALWAYS THE FIX...TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT. IT SEEMS TO RESET THE COMPUTER). THIS PROBLEM STARTED OVER A YEAR AGO AND CONTINUES TO OCCUR ALMOST MONTHLY. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND EVEN IF IT WAS, I DON'T FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM HAS A FIX, YET. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER ONE AND THE RESALE VALUE HAS PLUMMETED. JUST LAST WEEK MY WIFE WAS STOPPED BY A DPS OFFICER FOR SPEEDING FROM A STOP LIGHT. SHE DID NOT EVEN HAVE HER FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. SHE EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WAS NOT TICKETED. *TR

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE ACCELERATOR ON MY CAR GOT STUCK EVEN AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD TO BOTH STOP ON THE BRAKES AND PUMP THE GAS PEDAL TO GET THE CAR FROM CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE. I'VE SINCE REMOVED THE CAR MATS, BUT NOW I'M NOT 100% SURE THAT'S THE PROBLEM. *TR

CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN PUT ON BRAKES AND PUT IN NEUTRAL HAS NOT DONE THAT AGAIN WHEN I WENT TO TOYOTA TO REPORT INCIDENT WAS BRUSHED OF HAVE NEVER FELT SAFE IN THIS CAR SINCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BECOME STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 26,245. UPDATED 04/16/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/05/10

IN 2006 MY WIFE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN OUR 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING GARAGE, AS SHE WAS SLOWLY EASING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE CAR SUDDENLY SPEEDED UP AND CRASHED INTO THE WALL OF THE PARKING GARAGE, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. SHE CLAIMED SHE DID NOT HAVE HER FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, BUT ON THE BRAKE. AFTER HAVING THE CAR REPAIRED BY A COLLISION BUSINESS, THE TOYOTA DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ACCELERATOR. IT HAPPENED A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER, BUT THIS TIME A CONCRETE PARKING STRIP STOPPED HER AFTER SHE MOVED IT ABOUT THREE FEET. HER FRIEND THAT WAS WITH HER WAS REALLY SCARED. *TR

THE GAS PEDAL ON OUR 2003 TOYOTA AVALON BEGAN STICKING WHEN CAR WAS 5 YEARS OLD. IT WAS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND WE WANTED TO BEGIN MOVING. IT BECAME HARD TO DEPRESS UNTIL A GOOD BIT OF PRESSURE, AND THEN THE CAR WOULD LURCH FORWARD OR BACKWARD VERY QUICKLY. WE TRIED LUBRICATING THE PEDAL MECHANISM BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK. THE DEALER SAID THEY FIXED IT AT OUR 100,000 MILE CHECK BUT IT STILL STUCK. THE RECENT PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA GAS PEDALS MAY HAVE BEEN AROUND A LOT LONGER THAN THOUGHT. *TR