2005 Toyota Avalon complaints

MY 2005 TOYOTA AVALON DEVELOPED A NOISE IN THE STEERING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE GREASE HAD LEAKED PASSED THE SEALS ON THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. WITH NO GREASE IN THE SHAFT, IT WILL BREAK AND CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THAT SINCE THE CAR HAS MORE AND 36000 MILES AND IS OVER 3 YEARS OLD, THE PROBLEM IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. GREASE SHOULD NOT LEAK PASS THE SEALS ON THE SHAFT AND SHOULD BE TOYOTA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $562. *TR

RE: 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. LUBRICATION OIL LEAK FROM THE VVTI OIL LINE. TOYOTA IS AWARE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS PART BUT ONLY WILL FIX IT IF THEY SEE IMMEDIATE LEAKING AND THE VEHICLE IS UNDER 60,000 MILES. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING MY CAR IN ON OCTOBER 1, 2010. BUT HAVE BEEN ADVISED IF THEY DO NOT SEE OIL SPURTING FROM THE LINE THERE WILL BE A 95.00 CHARGE FOR INSPECTION AND THEY WILL NOT FIX THE DEFECT. IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS I HAVE ADDED 2 QUARTS OFOIL TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 42,00 MILES ON IT. MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THIS PROBLEM IS WITH THE 2005 MODELS ONLY. THE ANGLE OF THE OIL LINE IS TOO SEVERE CAUSING THE TUBE TO FAIL AND LEAK OIL. *TR

TOYOTA AVALON 2005 MODEL OIL LINE FAILURE CAUSING OIL TO SPILL OUT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ONTO THE TIRES, BRAKES AND ROADWAY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING A STRONG "BURNING OIL" SMELL BEGAN TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY FOUND OIL COATING ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH A HIGHER CONCENTRATION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AFTER PUTTING A COUPLE QUARTS OF OIL THEY STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY A STREAM OF OIL (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PENCIL LEAD) WAS FOUND SPRAYING OUT FROM A RUBBER HOSE LOCATED TOWARD THE REAR OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR, JUST ABOVE A METAL BRACKET. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO REPLACE THE LEAKING HOSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE LOCKING LEVEL LEVER, WHICH CONTROLS THE STEERING WHEEL AND MOVES IT UP AND DOWN, AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AT RANDOM. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO FALL ONTO THE DRIVER'S LAP AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V227000 (STEERING:COLUMN). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE STEERING WAS TIGHTENED, BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERY 150 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE DEFECT AND HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,900. UPDATED 09/01/09 *BF

2005 TOYOTA AVALON PREVIOUSLY HAD MASSIVE OIL LEAK, HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AND REPAIR WAS COVERED BY TOYOTA AND PROVIDED WITH RENTAL (10/08) 6/09, STARTED VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE - HAD VEHICLE TOWED AGAIN AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER TECH THAT IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT NOT SURE IF THEY WILL COVER REPAIRS. 67,000 MILES. *TR

2005 TOYOTA AVALON WITH ALL LEATHER INTERIOR. THERE ARE REPORTS THAT LEATHER FROM CHINA CAN CAUSE RASHES TO THE SKIN DUE TO AN INGREDIENT THEY PUT IN THE LEATHER TO PROTECT IT FROM MOLD. MY WIFE AND I HAVE DEVELOPED ITCHY RASHES. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE LEATHER IN OUR AUTOMOBILE COULD BE INFECTED? HOW CAN THIS BE DETERMINED? *TR

I HAVE A 2005 AVALON XLS WITH ABOUT 25,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO HAVE A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE ON JANUARY 23, 2009. WHEN THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN GOT UNDER IT TO REMOVE THE FILTER AND DRAIN PLUG HE NOTICED OIL SPRAYED ON THE ENGINE AND FRAME AND ASKED ME IF I KNEW THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. I TOLD HIM NO AND THAT I HADN'T NOTICED ANY OIL ON THE GROUND WHERE I PARK THE CAR. HE THEN LOOKED AT THE ENGINE FROM THE TOP AND NOTICED OIL POOLING ON TOP OF A SMALL HOSE THAT CONNECTS TO A METAL LINE. HE TOLD ME I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY TO HAVE THE OIL LEAK FIXED. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALER AND A MECHANIC THERE TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS THE OIL PIPE SUB-ASSEMBLY. THE TOYOTA SERVICE REP. SAID TOYOTA WILL GET AND PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR UNTIL MY CAR WAS FIXED. THAT WAS OVER 9 WEEKS AGO AND I STILL DON'T HAVE MY CAR BACK!!! THE SERVICE REP STATES THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO MANY, MANY AVALONS AND THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE BACK IN 2005 BUT DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO, CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN WHY IT'S TAKING SO LONG TO GET THE PARTS? *TR

WE BOUGHT A TOYOTA AVALON IN 2005 FOR MY SON THINKING THAT WE HAVE HAD A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH OUR FIRST TOYOTA. YESTERDAY, MY WORRIED SON CALLED TO TELL ME THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM HIS CAR. NOT WANTING TO CAUSE MORE DAMAGE TO HIS CAR, HE CALLED A TOWING SERVICE AND THEY TOOK HIS CAR TO THE CLOSEST REPAIR SHOP. THERE HE WAS TOLD THAT HE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AS THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY SEVERAL AVALON OWNERS. WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, HE WAS TOLD THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE CAR IS IN BACK ORDER AND WOULD PROBABLY TAKE 3 WEEKS BEFORE IT ARRIVES. IN THE MEANTIME, HE WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS ANOTHER AVALON WAITING FOR THE SAME PART AND SINCE THAT CAR CAME IN FIRST, HIS CAR MAY NOT BE READY BY THEN. MY SON WAS NOT OFFERED A RENTAL WHICH I WILL TAKE UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP. LOOKS LIKE WHATEVER WAS PLAGUING THE AVALON 2006 OWNERS IS ALSO BEING EXPERIENCED BY 2005 OWNERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING UNIT. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V227000 (STEERING:COLUMN) AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE EXCEEDED ITS WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY FOR FREE UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,853 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,468. UPDATED 03/24/09.*JB

2005 TOYOTA AVALON WITH 70,000 + MILES AND JUST HAD 70,000 MILE SERVICE. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND HEARD ENGINE SOUNDING LOUDER THAN NORMAL. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER WARNING WAS GIVEN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. ANALYSIS REVEALED BROKEN OIL PIPE AND OIL SOAKED TIMING BELT. PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND WILL NOT ARRIVE UNTIL FEB 18 FROM JAPAN. I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT MORE THAN A THOUSAND ON BACKORDER. IN REVIEWING COMPLAINTS ON 2006 AVALON, I NOTED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND APPARENTLY A SERVICE MEMORANDUM HAS BEEN ISSUED. APPEARS TO BE A DEFECTIVE PART. BECAUSE OF SAFETY RISK, SHOULDN'T THIS BE SUBJECT TO RECALL? *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA AVALON (TOURING MODEL) HAS A DEFECTIVE LOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE STEERING COLUMN. ABOUT EVERY HALF AN HOUR IT WILL COME LOSE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL DROP OUT OF MY HANDS AND THE LOCK WILL JAM AGAINST MY LEG, CUTTING ME. I HAVE ALMOST HAD SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. TOYOTA DENIES THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE AND UNWILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD EASILY RESULT IN DEATH. THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE STEERING WHEEL AND EASILY COMES LOSE SIMPLY DUE TO VIBRATION AND THE EFFECT OF GRAVITY ON THE LOCKING DEVICE. THE LAST TIME TOYOTA CLAIMED THEY FIXED IT THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY BENT THE MECHANISM SO THAT IT WOULD NOT COME LOSE AS EASILY. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS NOT A PROPER METHOD OF REPAIRING ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE CAR. *TR

I WAS PARKING MY CAR AT WORK. I PULLED INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND BACKED UP SLIGHTLY TO STRAIGHTEN MY CAR. WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE TO PULL FORWARD AGAIN , THE CAR RACED FORWARD WITH ENGINE REVVING STRONGLY. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR WITH THE BRAKE. THE CAR CRASHED AND PUSHED THROUGH A THICK BRICK WALL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WOULD ONLY STOP AFTER I PUSHED THE ENGINE SHUTOFF BUTTON. THE GEARSHIFT WAS HARD TO MOVE AFTER THE INCIDENT. *TR

DROVE TO WORK (17 MILES) 10/2/2008, AS TYPICAL AT 6:30AM STILL DARK. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 5 MILES KEPT GETTING WHIFS OF BURNING ENGINE OIL BUT KEPT THINKING IT WAS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT ENOUGH SO I DID NOT THINK IT WAS MY VEHICLE. ALSO THE NEWNESS OF THE VEHICLE DECEIVED ME. ARRIVED AT WORK AND DID SOME LOOKING. FOUND THE TRAIL OF OIL IN THE PARKING LOT AND RAISED THE HOOD TO SEE OIL SPEWED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CALLED FOR TOW TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE IS A TSB ON THIS. WHY WAS THERE NOT A RECALL? THIS COULD BE CATASTROPHIC! THE OIL LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AND THE TEMP WAS NORMAL THROUGHOUT....MY ONLY INDICATION OF A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WAS SMELL AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE PERSONS WITHOUT THIS SENSE ARE MORE COMMON THAN I SUSPECTED. *TR

STEERING COLUMN IS DEFECTIVE PER DEALER. I NOTICED A CLUNKING SOUND AND VIBRATION AS I WAS DRIVING. I ASKED DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT. THEY ADVISED ME I NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $1835. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD ONLY GET WORSE IF IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS BETWEEN ME , THE DEALER AND TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA REGARDING WARRANTY AND SAFETY ISSUES, I APPROVED THE REPAIR. THE REPAIR [ REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN] WAS COMPLETED ON AUGUST 28, 2008 AND I HAVE THE REPLACED PARTS. I PAID THE BILL. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THIS WEEK THE FRONT AND BACK FLOORS ARE DRENCHED IN WATER UNDER THE CARPETS. THE TECHNICIAN TO CLEAN THE CAR NOTED THAT THERE WAS BLACK MOLD UNDER THE CARPETS. THE BELIEF IS THAT THE AC IS NOT DRAINING PROPERLY. WHAT AND HOW CAN THIS BE RESOLVED ASAP. *TR

2005 TOYOTA AVALON WITH UNSAFE MICHELIN TIRES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH MICHELIN ENERGY TIRES. HE STATES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70-75 MPH BOTH TIRES DISINTEGRATED. *KB THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SHOP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALLS. *JB

TRANSMISSION DELAY UPON EXHILARATION THAT PUT ME IN A POISON OF ACCIDENT, SINCE THE CAR DOESN'T REACT OR RESPOND ON TIME. *TR

"MAINTENANCE REQUIRED" LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. AFTER MENTIONING A CONCERN I HAD, I WAS CALLED AND TOLD THAT MY STEERING COLUMN SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DID NOT FEEL ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE STEERING FROM WHEN I LAST BROUGHT IT IN BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS UP. NOW, I HAVE A $600 + BILL AT 43,000 MILES. I'VE ALWAYS HAD TOYOTA'S AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING QUITE A FEW PROBLEMS OF LATE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

I WAS TRYING TO GET MY 2005 TOYOTA AVALON'S EMISSION TESTING DONE. I WENT TO TWO TESTING SITES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO READ THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM ON MY CAR. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS A COMMON ISSUE AND THAT YOUR EMISSIONS WILL HAVE TO BE DONE OLD SCHOOL AND THAT TOYOTA CAN NOT KEEP UP WITH EMISSIONS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IN GA THEY HAVE DONE AWAY WITH THE OLD SCHOOL STYLE TESTING AND THERE ARE ONLY A FEW LOCATIONS THAT STILL DO IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY HAD 3 OTHER 2005 AVALONS WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND TOLD THEM THEY HAD TO DOT IT THE OLD SCHOOL WAY. *TR

WEATHER: SUNNY. ENGINE WARM - DRIVEN ABOUT 10 MILES ON THE WAY TO SMALL SHOPPING CENTER. I'M IN NO HURRY, STOPPING TO BROWSE IN A FAVORITE BOUTIQUE. LOOKING FOR A PARKING SPACE, SLOWED VEHICLE TO A CRAWL WHILE SCANNING THE LOT & THEN TURNED SLOWLY ABOUT 45 DEGREES TO DRIFT INTO AN AVAILABLE SPACE WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD OUT OF CONTROL RAMMING THE PARKED VEHICLE FACING THE SPACE I WAS IN. I REMEMBER A LOUD NOISE - WHICH WAS THE ENGINE ACCELERATING: AN UNFAMILIAR SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS JUST ABOUT STOPPED. THEN, THE NOISE OF THE CRASH - ABOUT 6 FT IN FRONT OF THE AVALON AT THE TIME OF THE NOISE & LURCH. THE IMPACT STOPPED THE CAR. I PUT IT IN REVERSE & BACKED AWAY, THEN TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR BY MISTAKE AS IT HAD BEEN ON THE BRAKE WHILE DRIFTING DOWN THE AISLE TOWARD THE OPEN SPACE - THERE HAD BEEN NO ACCELERATION WHILE IN THAT AISLE. TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE SPACE I WOULD HAVE HAD TO APPLY ONLY THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE ; THEREFORE, IF I HAD TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR BY MISTAKE I WOULD HAVE NOT DONE SO WITH ENOUGH PRESSURE TO CAUSE THE WILD ACCELERATION. WITH MY FOOT ABOVE THE BRAKE IN THAT INSTANT WHEN I TOUCHED THE BRAKE TO STOP THE LURCH IT DIDN'T AFFECT THE SPEED OF THE CAR BEFORE IMPACT: THERE WAS NOT ANY HESITATION IN THE ENGINE. NO DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AVALON SUSTAINED SOME BUMPER DAMAGE AND A BENT HOOD - DRIVABLE, BUT I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK I DROVE TO TH

STEERING COLUMN SEPARATING AS IDENTIFIED IN RECALL YET TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS. ID 05V227000. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 5-40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND HE HEARD CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR STEERING: COLUMN (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #05V227000) HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 01/29/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB

WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO SECURE THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT OF MY 2005 TOYOTA AVALON AFTER A SHOPPING STOP, I DISCOVERED THAT THE BOLT HOLDING THE SEAT BELT TO THE CAR POST HAD POPPED OUT AND LEFT THE SEAT BELT DANGLING AND UNUSABLE. I SURMISE THAT IT POPPED OUT WHEN I RELEASED IT AFTER ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REATTACHED IT. I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THEY USED A NEW BOLT OR FOUND THE OLD ONE IN THE CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AUTOMATICALLY TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT BACK INTO AUTO MANUAL MODE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE DROVE UP A HILL WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO APPLY MAXIMUM BRAKE PRESSURE TO MODERATE THE ACCELERATION AND PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE RECENTLY HAD A ROUTINE INSPECTION AT 25,300 MILES. THE DEALER DID NOT FIND ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HIS 95 POUND WIFE SITS IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE AIR BAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE. HE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS SET TO ACTIVATE AT 60 POUNDS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB UPDATED *JB

SINCE PURCHASING IN DEC., 2005, TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN PROCEEDING FROM IDLE AT SLOW SPEEDS AND SOMETIMES BETWEEN GEARS AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. HAVE NEARLY BEEN REAR-ENDED INNUMERABLE TIMES. ORIGINAL SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO DEALER RESULTED IN INFO THAT "NO TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED TO FIX THAT". THIS LAST TIME I COMPLAINED, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NATURAL FEATURE OF DRIVE-BY-WIRE, THAT NO TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED WHICH FIXED IT, AND THAT TOYOTA WAS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS KNOWN PROBLEM.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT LEFT THE IGNITION TURNED ON OVER NIGHT AND FOUND THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DEAD THE NEXT MORNING. THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN AS A RESULT OF THE DEAD BATTERY AND IT CANNOT BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED. AAA WAS CALLED TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE SO THE TRUNK COULD BE OPENED. THE TOYOTA DEALER ADVISED HIM TO GO TO A LOCKSMITH AND HAVE A KEY OPERATED LOCK INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE DEALER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR. HE WENT TO A SECOND DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND HIS CONCERN THROUGH THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, BUT THE CONTACT HAS YET TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,500. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED THE EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE CONSUMER PERTAINING TO THE DEFECT. UPDATED 09/12/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGES AHEAD OR SHIFTS TO ANOTHER GEAR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. HE HAS SPOKEN WITH THE AVALON DIVISION OF TOYOTA AND THEY STATED THAT SOMEONE WILL CONTACT HIM IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 22,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

STEERING CLUNKS HEARD WHILE TURNING VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. AUTO PURCHASED USED, WITH MANUFACTURER WARRENTY AND CERTIFIED BY TOYOTA TO 84 MONTHS OR 100,000. VEHICHLE CURRENTLY HAS 14,000 MILES.

2005 TOYOTA AVALON ACCELERATION SURGE WHEN BRAKING. ALMOST REAR ENDED STOPPED VEHICLE. WENT TO DEALER THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS CAUSED BY THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL # 05V227000 (STEERING:COLUMN). THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ

STEERING COLUMN MAKE NOISE WHEN TURNING TO RIGHT: SERVICE DEPARTMENT FIRST REPLACED RIGHT WHEEL BEARING AXLE. WHEN I SAID I HAVE SEEN COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS, THEY REPLACED STEERING SHAFT AND JOINT. FIXED PROBLEM *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSED FROM THE EXTENDED POSITION WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL OR DRIVING 45 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS FAILURE HAS NEVER BEFORE BEEN SEEN, AND WANTED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FOR SIX MONTHS. THEY CHECKED THE COMPUTER AND FOUND NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT FELT THE LOCKING LEVER DETACHED AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL DESCENDED. ALSO HEARD A CLICKING NOISE WHEN THE LEVER BEGAN TO DESCEND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 30,200, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED IT SURGED AUTOMATICALLY AND THEN LEVEL ED OFF TWO GEARS. THE FAILURE GAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. WHILE DRIVING IN LIGHT RAIN AT 50 MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE VEHICLE'S FRONT WHEELS TO SPIN. TOYOTA STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A PROGRAMMING FAILURE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 242,000 , AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE PARALLEL PARKING THE VEHICLE,THE RIM HIT THE CURB AND THE TIRE HIT THE CURB. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10000. THE TIRES WERE BALANCED 5 TIMES AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. *AK

MY ONBOARD NAVIGATION SYSTEM GOES TO GREAT LENGTHS TO MAKE SURE YOU AGREE TO NOT WATCH THE SCREEN WHILE DRIVING, YET WHEN YOU GET TO CETAIN AREAS THE VOICE GUIDANCE SYSTEM SAYS " VOICE GUIDANCE IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THIS AREA. PLEASE FOLLOW THE ARROWS ON THE SCREEN." THIS IS CONTRADICTORY AND DANGEROUS. EVEN THE LOW COST UNIT I HAVE IN ANOTHER VEHICLE PROVIDES VOICE GUIDANCE RIGHT UP TO THE DESTINATION. TOYOTA SHOULD PROVIDE UPDATED SOFTWARE TO CURE THIS SAFETY ISSUE.

REPORTING A PROBLEM (NOISE IN STEERING) WITH HIS 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. **CC THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT IT WOULD BE A FEW DAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART TO ARRIVE. AFTER TWO WEEKS THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN. THIS TIME THE INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. *NM

TL* - ON 9/24/06 WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60 MPH AND IT UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED TO 75 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET TO DISENGAGE THE ACCELERATION ON THE VEHICLE. ON 10/09/06, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 75 MPH, HAD TO HOLD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND PULL THE VEHICLE OFF TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. AT THAT POINT THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP,) AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GAS PEDAL WAS MOST LIKELY GETTING CAUGHT UNDER THE CARPET. THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING ON 12/23/06 AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 75 MPH, AFTER A QUARTER OF A MILE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY OUTING BOTH FEET ON BRAKE. ALL THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING AND THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING. AT THAT POINT, CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ROSENER TOYOTA. *AK UPDATED 01/29/07. *JB

SULFUR SMELL EXUDING FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM DURING PERIODS OF HARD ACCELERATION. DEALER REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *JB

I OWN A 2005 AVALON THAT HAS A TRANSMISSION/THROTTLE PROBLEM. SLOWING FROM SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH, THEN ACCELERATING MODERATELY, THE ENGINE WILL INCREASE RPM TO 2500-3000 RPM AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL UNTIL THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL DECIDES TO SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR. AT THE SHIFT POINT THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD RAPIDLY. THIS SURGE OCCURS EVEN ON THIS VEHICLE WITH TRACTION CONTROL. THIS "SURGE" HAS RESULTED IN MULTIPLE NEAR END COLLISIONS IN CITY TRAFFIC. THE NEUTRAL SHIFT PROBLEM HAS ALSO BEEN ENCOUNTERED ON OCCASION WHEN ENTERING HIGH SPEED INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. 18 WHEELERS BEARING DOWN ON YOU AT SPEED WHILE YOUR CAR IS TURNING 4000 PLUS RPMS IN NEUTRAL IS FRIGHTENING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THREE SEPARATE DEALERS AND A COMPLAINT WAS REGISTERED WITH TOYOTA MANUFACTURER. TOYOTA RESPONDED, SAYING THE TRANSMISSION WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I, AND OTHERS, BECOME A STATISTIC IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT AS AN INJURY OR DEATH NUMBERS. MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND ON SEVERAL OTHER WEB SITES. I'VE BEEN A TOYOTA OWNER FOR OVER 25 YEARS AND THIS LACK OF RESPONSE BY THE MANUFACTURER ON THIS HIGH END OF THE BRAND ENDS THAT . AND TOYOTA DOES NOT CARE IF THEY LOST A LONG TERM CUSTOMER, SO STATED BY TOYOTA OF AMERICA. *NM

2005 AVALON TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *JB THE TRANSMISSION HAD A HESITATION UP TO THREE SECONDS. UPDATED *JB THE CONSUMER STATED WANTED TO KNOW THE STATUS OF THE COMPLAINT. *TR

NOTICING HESITATION AT LOW SPEED GEAR SHIFTING . RESULTS IN NO ACCELERATION IN SPITE OF PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND AFTER A LAG CAR SUDDENLY RESPONDS. HAD TROUBLE WHILE MERGING FROM THE RAMP ON TO THE HIGHWAY NOW SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NOT DAILY. CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT SPECIALLY WHILE MERGING OR DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED ME TO BUMP INTO A TRUCK RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO MY RIGHT FRONT FENDER. *NM

THERE SEEMS TO BE A HESITATION WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDDLE, IT TAKES A COUPLE SECONDS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSIONS RESPONDS. WHEN IT DOES, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT GEAR TO PUT IT IN. SOMETIMES IT ACCELERATES NORMALLY. BUT OTHER TIMES IT IS UNPREDICTABLE....CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING OR TURNING ONTO MAJOR ROADS.

2005 AVALON INSTRUMENT PANEL CAN NOT BE SEEN AT TIMES IN THE DAYLIGHT. *TS THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR THE GEAR SHIFTER AND HVAC CONTROLS WERE AT TIMES IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. THE ANGLE OF HE DASH, THE COLORS USED FOR LIGHTING AND THE ANGLE OF THE SUNLIGHT RENDERED THE INDICATORS UNREADABLE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONFORMS TO FMVSS STANDARDS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40MPH THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL AREA, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED AND SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING 75MPH THE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, THERE WAS COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE WAS A BRIDGESTONE, TIRE LINE SIZE OF P215/55/R17.

2005 TOYOTA AVALON TOURING MODEL TAKEN IN 5000 MILE SERVICE WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT A NOISE COMING FROM REAR END OR TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA COULD NOT HEAR IT UNTIL I INSISTED MECHANIC TAKE RIDE ME. MECHANIC ACKNOWLEDGED NOISE AND SAID MAYBE COMING FROM COMPUTERIZED ABS BRAKE INITIATING AT 5 MPH. WIFE PARKED AT WORK JUST COUPLE WEEKS AFTER MAINTENANCE. PULLED INTO PARKING AT WORK, STOPPED, PUT IN PARK AND IN SECONDS THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD WITH ENGINE REVVING AT HIGH SPEED; WIFE STOMPED ON PARKING BRAKE BUT BY THAT TIME CAR JUMPED OVER 10 OR 12 FOOT CURB , A FOUR FOOT SIDEWALK AND INTO A WALL JUST STOPPING AS IT HIT THE WALL. TIRE MARKS. CALL TO ELMORE TOYOTA GARDEN GROVE (ALAN/SERVICE) WHO SAID THEY HAD NO BODY SHOP AND DID NOT WANT TO SEE CAR OR NEED TO CHECK AND WORK ON IT BEFORE BODY WORK. SAID IF NO LIGHTS WERE ON THE DASH THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. JUST LIKE THEIR ATTITUDE ABOUT THE RATCHETING NOISE SUPPOSED FROM THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. WIFE INSISTS SHE DID NOT THE GAS PEDAL ACCIDENTALLY . WHEN ENGINE REVELATION AFTER HITTING WALL WENT BACK TO NORMAL, CAR PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK OFF SIDE WALK. STATE FARM TOLD US NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR TO BODY SHOP. HOW DO WE FORCE TOYOTA TO FIND THE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE WITHIN 7 MILES OF THE DEALERSHIP AND DRIVING 55MPH THE WARNING LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WITHIN MINUTES THE ENGINE STALLED. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED BELOW THE RECOMMENDED LEVEL CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE DESIGN FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE ALLOWS THE ENGINE TO STALL BECAUSE OF THE LOW PRESSURE BEFORE AN ENGINE FAILURE. AS A RESULT TO THIS FEATURE THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. A COMPLAINT WAS PREVIOUSLY FILED ODI NUMBER, 10147740.

TRANSMISSION LAGS THEN JUMPS FORWARD, TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT LOW SPEEDS NEVER SEEMS TO FIND A GEAR. STEERING AT SPEEDS BELOW 40 WILL JERK LEFT OR RIGHT DEPENDING ON THE ROAD.(SCARES YOU TO DEATH) BRAKES HAVE GRABBED AND JERKED THE CAR FROM DAY ONE THE DEALERSHIP GROUND THE ROTORS TO FIX THIS BUT IT HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS HAD THE POWER STEERING HOSE REPLACED BECAUSE IT LEAKED AND IT STILL DOES. THE CD PLAYER SKIP WHILE YOUR PARKED, THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES WITH NONE OF THE PROBLEMS TO THE BRAKES, TRANSMISSION, OR STEERING RESOLVED. *NM