2006 Toyota Avalon complaints

MY WIFE WAS PARKED IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT. SHE BACKED OUT OF THE SPOT THE CAR WAS IN AND STARTED TO GO FORWARD. THE CAR BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND WENT IN CIRCLES UNTIL IT FINALLY WENT UP ON A CURB IN THE PARKING LOT. *TR

STEERING WAS BINDING ON MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON UNDER SLOW SPEED RIGHT HAND TURNS. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE WITH MULTIPLE TOYOTA MODELS BUT REFUSED TO COVER ANY OF THE COST OF REPAIRS. *TR

CAR HAS MAJOR OIL LEAKAGE ON MY 300+ MILE DRIVE DOWN TO LA FROM SAN JOSE. THAT MORNING, THE CAR IS DRY AND FINE. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF OIL LOSS. THE OIL LIGHT DID NOT EVEN GO ON. LUCKILY WE TOOK A PIT STOP AT COALINGA, WHERE WE NOTICE BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE WAS EVERY WHERE (AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED). WHEN I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL, THERE WAS NO OIL LEFT AS INDICATED ON THE DIPSTICK. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA, WHICH DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A PENDING TSB ON THIS LINE, SO THEY CHARGED US FOR REPLACING IT. UP UNTIL NOW, I'M AFRAID TO TAKE THE CAR FOR LONG DISTANCE DRIVE. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WAS DONE DUE TO LACK OF OIL. AFTER I GOT HOME, I CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER, BUT THEY REFUSE TO LOOK AT IT, UNLESS I PUT OUT MONEY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. MY COMPLAINT AND CONCERN IS THAT THE PART THAT GOT REPLACED IS THE SAME PART THAT FAILED. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, I'M AFRAID THIS PROBLEM WILL REPEAT AGAIN IN ABOUT ANOTHER 44000 MILES, WHICH THE CAR IS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY. ALSO, THE OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON, SO IT PROVES VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING ON THE LONG TRIP. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE NY I-87 IN MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES WHEN THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WITHIN A MINUTE OR SO, THE "CHECK OIL" LIGHT STARTED BLINKING SLOWLY AT FIRST, THEN AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS IT WAS ON CONTINUOUSLY. BY THIS TIME I HAD PULLED OFF INTO A GAS STATION. AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE STATION THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD CLICKING NOISE. AFTER IT WAS PARKED, I CHECKED THE DIPSTICK AND THERE WAS NO OIL REMAINING IN THE ENGINE. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR, INCLUDING INSIDE OF WHEELS AND BRAKES WAS COMPLETELY COATED WITH OIL AS WELL AS THE BACK OF THE TRUNK. PRESUMABLY FROM THE SPRAY UNDERNEATH WHILE TRAVELING @ 65-70MPH. I THEN PURCHASED 3 QUARTS OF OIL, PUT IT IN THE ENGINE AND IT DRAINED ONTO THE GROUND. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE IS A PIN HOLE IN THE RUBBER SECTION OF THE OIL LINE. THE USE OF A RUBBER HOSE FOR A PRESSURIZED FLAMMABLE LIQUID SYSTEM IN THIS LOCATION IS ABSOLUTELY RECKLESS. AT A MINIMUM, IT SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF ARMORED OR SHIELDED HOSE. I'M AMAZED THE CAR DIDN'T START ON FIRE FROM BEING DOUSED WITH FIVE QUARTS OF OIL LEAKING FROM THE RUPTURED HOSE. THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2006 AVALONS AND HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ISSUED. THE ENGINE REPAIRS CAUSED BY THIS DEFECT WILL COST ME UP TO $5000. TODAY I FOUND AT LEAST A 1000 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM. I WOULD HATE TO SEE A DEATH RESULT IN

LASER GUIDED CRUISE CONTROL IS UNSAFE...ON CURVES IT IDENTIFIES CARS APPROACHING AS IN FRONT AND PUTS ON THE BRAKES AND MOTOR ACTIVATES TO STOP THE CAR. HAD THIS IN A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT DID NOT GET BETTER. HAVE TO DRIVE WITH IT TURNED OFF. BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA HAS NOW QUIT OFFERING THIS UNSAFE OPTION ON THEIR NEWER MODELS. SHOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS EARLIER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. SHE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION WHEN ENTERING A PARKING SPACE. AS A CONSEQUENCE, SHE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. HER KNEE WAS INJURED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,000.

THE CAR A/C STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND I SOON LOST MOST OF MY OIL. I WAS LEFT ON A SUNDAY WITHOUT MUCH OIL AND HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE REPLACED THE OIL LINE AT NO CHARGE AND LUCKILY I HAD AAA TOWING INSURANCE. I WAS OUT ON THE ROAD WITHOUT OIL IN THE CAR!!! *TR

AVALON LIMITED 3.2L V6 * AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION * 72,900 MILES WELL, THIS IS MY 3RD TOYOTA, THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UP UNTIL THURSDAY NIGHT WHEN I STARTED THE CAR I HEARD A CRANKY FAN LIKE NOISE, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS AFTER I DROVE SHOPPING AND CAME BACK AFTER 2-3 MILES AND PARKED THE CAR ON MY DRIVEWAY IN THE DARK. NEXT MORNING WHEN I PULLED MY CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE NOISE CONTINUED AND I SAW A POOL OF ENGINE OIL ALL OVER, I CALLED THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND SURPRISINGLY THEY OFFERED TO REPAIR THE CAR THE SAME DAY (SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS-NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE EVEN FOR JUST OIL CHANGES) AFTER TAKING A LOOK THEY SAID THE OIL LINE NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND COST WOULD BE $450 FOR A HALF DAYS WORK. I CALLED BACK THE EVENING AND WAS TOLD NOW THEY CALLED TOYOTA AS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG BUT HAVE NOT HEARD FROM TOYOTA SO I WONT GET MY CAR UP UNTIL AFTER LABOR DAY WEEKEND- (HAD TO GET A RENTAL FOR A WEEK) NEXT WEEK, THEY TOLD BE THE GEAR SHAFT CRACKED AND GASKETS NEED REPLACEMENT AND A 16 HRS JOB AND WOULD COST APPROX $6000 TO REPAIR "BUT TOYOTA WILL COVER 50%" EVEN THOUGH I AM OUT OF 60,000 MILES WARRANTY. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I WALKED IN TO DEALER TO SEE MY CAR AND THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE BROKEN PART AND TOLD ME TOYOTA HAS SINCE REDESIGNED THIS PART SO IT DOES NOT BREAK AND CAUSE SUDDEN OIL LEAKS- ONCE THE NEW PART IS REPLACED I SHOULD NOT EXPECT MORE SIMILAR PROBLEMS- I AM KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY

EXPERIENCED A LEAK IN THE "VVTI" OIL LINE TO THE REAR CYLINDER BANK IN THIS TRANSVERSE MOUNTED V6 ENGINE AT 78,000 MILES. FORTUNATELY, THIS WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE ENGINE FAILURE OR DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING EQUIPMENT OCCURRED. SEARCHING ONLINE, HAVE FOUND OTHERS WERE NOT SO FORTUNATE. THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IT COULD LEAD TO SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR ENGINE FIRE AS OIL LEAKS ON HOT PARTS. THE REPAIR COST WAS $202 FOR LABOR. TOYOTA PAID FOR PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR AS PART OF A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RESPONSE AFTER A COMPLAINT WAS MADE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REPLACE THIS PART, AS MY RESEARCH ONLINE REVEALS IT TO BE OCCURRING TO MANY PEOPLE WHEN THEIR CARS ARE OVER 70,000 MILES AND THEREFORE OUT OF THE NORMAL WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT AND NOT A NORMAL WEAR ITEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2009, HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A RETURN FUEL LINE IN THE FUEL PUMP AND WAS AT RISK OF CAUSING A FIRE IF THE LINE WERE TO BREAK. HE ALSO OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK ON THE FLOOR AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE PER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE PART NECESSARY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IS ON BACK ORDER. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT A FIRE COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 77000.

I WAS RUNNING MY AIR CONDITIONER WHEN SUDDENLY IT STOPPED WORKING AND I RECEIVED A CHECK AIR CONDITIONER. I ALSO HEARD A CLICKING UNDER THE HOOD. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO TOYOTA AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR IMMEDIATELY NEW THE PROBLEM, THE VVT, AN OIL VALVE, RUPTURED AND THIS IS ONE OF THE COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE AVALON. I DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME, BUT APPARENTLY THIS WILL DUMP MOST OF THE OIL FROM THE VEHICLE. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON TO INDICATE THAT THE OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW OR THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE VVT WAS FIXED AND I DROVE OFF ONLY TO RETURN DUE TO AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. COME TO FIND OUT DUE TO THE VVT VALVE RUPTURE AND THE DUMPING OF OIL, THE CAM WAS DESTROYED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 5600.00. TOYOTA IS THE ONLY PLACE THIS CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED. IF THE SERVICE ADVISOR KNOWS THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE TECH PERSON LOOKS AT YOUR CAR, SOUNDS LIKE A VERY ALL TOO FAMILIAR PROBLEM FOR THERE NOT TO BE A RECALL ON THIS PART. *TR

2006 TOYOTA AVALON COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL WITH NO WARNING LIGHT. DEALER TECHNICIAN ADVISES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE YEAR. THE DEALER AND THE COMPANY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM. NO ADVISORY OF ANY KIND. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY PER DEALER/TOYOTA SPECS. ANY PROBLEM WITH THE OIL AND ENGINE IN A CAR IS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM. SEE WEBSITES FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR EXAMPLE, AT WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM SITE LISTS 43 COMPLAINTS FOR AVALON MODEL THAT I AM REPORTING TO YOU. ADVISED CORPORATE OFFICE AND DEALER. NEITHER SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBILITIES OF THIS KIND OF DANGER. THANK YOU. *TR

FOR SOME TIME - SEVERAL WEEKS - I HAD NOTICED AN ODOR OF BURNING OIL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. I WAS EXITING THE INTERSTATE AND AT THE STOPLIGHT NOTICED A GREAT AMOUNT OF SMOKE POURING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS, FORTUNATELY, WITHIN A MILE OF THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR AND DROVE IT INTO THEIR SERVICE BAY. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR I NOTICED THAT A GREAT AMOUNT OF OIL WAS POURING OUT ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE SERVICE BAY. THE SERVICE MAN CAME OVER AND I BEGAN TO EXPLAIN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE OIL LEAK. THEY IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME WHAT IT WAS - AN RUBBER OIL LINE. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR THREE DAYS AND RETURNED IT "REPAIRED". NOW AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS I AGAIN NOTICE THE SAME SMELL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND INTEND TO TAKE IT AS SOON AS I CAN BACK TO THE DEALER. QUESTION: WHY ISN'T TOYOTA PUTTING OUT A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL OF THE TOYOTA? I SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BEING MADE. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON, AND RECENTLY I REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL QUITE PROFUSELY. I TOOK IT RIGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATING THAT THE VVT (VARIABLE VALVE TIMING) INJECTION HOSE WAS BROKEN. THEY REPLACED MY HOSE AS I HAVE THE PLATINUM CARE PROTECTION PLAN THROUGH TOYOTA. MY CONCERN IS IT SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER WHO OWN 2006 AVALONS. IF THE PART IS FAULTY WHY DON'T THEY RECALL THE CARS AND REPLACE THE FAULTY PARTS. *TR

TRANSMISSION HESITATES EXCESSIVELY WHEN AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTING AT SPEEDS BELOW 10 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY DAY AND EVERY DOWNSHIFT FROM THE FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP. TERRIBLE CONDITION THAT NO ONE AT TOYOTA IS WILLING TO ADMIT OR FIX. WTF? *TR

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE I-85 IN MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE A/C SHUT OFF AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WITHIN A MINUTE OR SO, THE "CHECK OIL" LIGHT STARTED BLINKING SLOWLY AT FIRST, THEN AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS IT WAS ON CONTINUOUSLY. BY THIS TIME I HAD PULLED OFF INTO A GAS STATION. AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE STATION THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD CLICKING NOISE. AFTER IT WAS PARKED, I CHECKED THE DIPSTICK AND THERE WAS NO OIL WHATSOEVER IN THE CAR. AS WELL, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COATED WITH OIL. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR, INCLUDING THE INSIDE OF THE WHEELS AND BRAKES WAS COMPLETELY COATED WITH OIL AS WELL. THE BACK OF THE TRUNK ALSO HAD A LIGHT COAT OF OIL ON IT, PRESUMABLY FROM THE SPRAY UNDERNEATH WHILE TRAVELING @ 65-70MPH. I THEN PURCHASED A QUART OF OIL, PUT IT IN THE ENGINE AND IT DRAINED ONTO THE GROUND. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TOWN & COUNTRY TOYOTA, A CHARLOTTE DEALER, WHO SAID THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS RUPTURE OF THE OIL BYPASS HOSE. AS I HAD NOTICED THE PREVIOUS NIGHT, THIS HOSE IS 1) VERY CLOSE TO THE GROUND AND SUBJECT TO HITS FROM ROAD DEBRIS, ETC. AND 2) VERY CLOSE TO THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE. THE USE OF A RUBBER HOSE FOR A PRESSURIZED FLAMMABLE LIQUID SYSTEM IN THIS LOCATION IS ABSOLUTELY RECKLESS. AT A MINIMUM, IT SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF ARMORED OR SHIELDED HOSE. I'M AMAZED THE CAR DIDN'T START ON FIRE FROM BEING DOUSED WITH FIVE

MY 2006 AVALON EXPERIENCED A SEVERE OIL LEAK WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND STOPPED IT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE WHERE IT DEPOSITED SEVERAL QUARTS OF OIL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO QUICKLY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AS A WELL-KNOWN FAILURE OF THE HOSE-TO-TUBING CONNECTION ON AN EXTERNAL LUBE OIL LINE TO THE VVT MECHANISM. I HAD 51K MILES, SO THE REPAIR WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. I HAVE SINCE PURCHASED A NEW SOLID METAL TUBE AS IS USED ON THE 2009 MODELS TO REPLACE THE ONE THE DEALER INSTALLED WHICH STILL HAD THE RUBBER HOSE PORTION. I HAVE PURCHASED TOYOTAS SINCE THE MID '80'S AND THIS IS MY FIRST SERIOUS DISAPPOINTMENT IN BOTH THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT AND THE CONDUCT OF THE COMPANY FOR NOT RECALLING THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MARCH 18, 2009 I WAS TRAVELING 300 MILES FROM HOME IN HOUSTON TO COVINGTON LA. ABOUT 20 MILES FROM MY DESTINATION I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE, A/C STOPPED WORKING & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE NEXT MORNING I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL & IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY. PUT 4-5 QTS OF OIL IN AND AS SOON AS I TURNED ON THE CAR, ALL THE OIL CAME POURING OUT ONTO THE PARKING LOT. DROVE THE CAR INTO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP & LEFT IT. WAS TOLD THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD NEED A COMPLETE ENGINE REBUILT. LEFT THE CAR IN COVINGTON LA & RETURNED TO HOUSTON. THE CAR WAS DELIVERED BACK TO ME IN HOUSTON IN A FEW WEEKS. ON JUNE 30, 2009 I WAS ON ANOTHER DRIVE ABOUT 90 MILES FROM HOME & A/C STOPPED WORKING. TOOK INTO LOCAL DEALERSHIP - TOLD FREON WAS TOTALLY EMPTY. THEY REFILLED & COULD FIND NO LEAKS. WHILE IN FOR THIS ISSUE, THEY DISCOVERED THAT A VALVE COVER WAS LEAKING & REPLACED IT. *TR

AFTER ARRIVING HOME, I PULLED INTO GARAGE AND NOTICED AN ODOR OF BURNING OIL. UPON EXITING THE CAR, I SAW A TRAIL OF OIL FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR UP MY DRIVEWAY, EXTENDING UP TO THE STREET. LOOKING UNDER THE CAR, I NOTICED OIL DRIPPING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. I FOUND THAT I LOST ALL ENGINE OIL WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR SOUNDS ADVISING ME OF THE PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY THE LOSS OF OIL ONLY OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND GARAGE AREA. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. THEY INSTALLED SEVERAL GASKETS, A TIMING CHAIN COVER, A FIPG OIL PAN, A BELT (V-RIBBED), NON-CHLOR BRAKE C, A REPLACEABLE ELEME, ANOTHER GASKET, A PIPE SUB-ASSY, 0I. SINCE OIL WAS SPRAYED IN ENGINE AREA, THEY HAD TO WASH ENGINE OFF. UPON RESEARCHING THIS OIL LOSS PROBLEM, I FIND MANY OTHER 2006 TOYOTA AVALONS HAVE EXPERIENCED EXACTLY THE SAME THING. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, I AM SURE MY ENGINE WOULD HAVE QUIT ON ME WITH NO WARNING AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A BAD ACCIDENT NOT TO MENTION THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE ITSELF. *TR

2006 ABALONE WITH 63,000 MILES, WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY MY AC LIGHT FLICKERED, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I OPENED THE HOOD THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS COVERED WITH ENGINE OIL. THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE VVT OIL LINE. TOYOTA ISSUED A TECH TIP TV12310 IN SEPTEMBEROF 2008 RECOMMENDING REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL LINE,BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON IT . I HAVE NO IDEA IF MY ENGINE SURVIVED THIS INCIDENT IT IS STILL IN THE SHOP WAITING FOR ESTIMATE . *TR

2006 TOYOTA AVALON LXS DRIVING HOME FROM VACATION NOTICED NOISE WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTED. GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS WE APPROACHED HOME. CHECKED OIL NEXT DAY. ENGINE EMPTY OF OIL. PUT OIL IN AND LEAKED IMMEDIATELY OUT. OIL LINE BROKEN. NO WARNING OF ENGINE TROUBLE, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO WARNING AT ALL. HAD CAR TOLLED TO REPAIR SHOP. ENGINE MAY BE GONER. *TR

OIL LEAK 2006 AVALON XLS 65,857 MILES AFTER DRIVING HOME ABOUT 45 MILES AND PARKED CAR SMELLED THE ODOR OF BURNING OIL. I INSPECTED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SAW OIL ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE ENGINE AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE CAR SAW OIL WAS DRIPPING. TOOK IN TO TOYOTA THE NEXT DAY. BEFORE I COULD TELL THE SERVICE PERSON EVERYTHING HE TOLD ME THAT PROBLEM WAS A HOSE AND THAT IT WOULD BE ABOUT 400.00 TO REPAIR AS MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

OIL GUSHED FROM ENGINE, LEAVING A TRAIL FROM MY HOUSE TO MY NEIGHBOR'S WHERE HE NOTICED THE OIL ON THE HIGHWAY (ENOUGH TO REMAIN THERE FOR TWO WEEKS). THIS WAS A BULLETIN, NOT A RECALL VIA TOYOTA. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING ALL OF THE OIL. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD MY CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 DAYS AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. IF I HAD BEEN SPEEDING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE COULD HAVE LOCKED UP AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND CAUSED OTHER PROBLEMS. I'M UNCERTAIN AS TO WHICH BULLETIN IT WAS, I JUST LOST ALL OF MY OIL IN A MATTER OF SECONDS!!!!! *TR

ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8TH I WAS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS LEAKING OIL SO I WENT TO THE SERVICE STATION AND FILLED IT WITH TWO QUARTS OF OIL. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME TO MARYLAND AND HAD TO STOP FOR GAS IN PENNSYLVANIA SO I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL IN MY CAR AND FOUND THAT IT WAS VERY LOW. AT THIS POINT I REALIZED THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM SO I PUT ANOTHER TWO QUARTS IN MY CAR AND CONTACTED LANCASTER TOYOTA IN LANCASTER PENNSYLVANIA (717-569-7373). I EXPLAINED MY SITUATION TO THEM AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE. MY SERVICE ADVISOR'S NAME AT LANCASTER TOYOTA WAS MS. SHARON ESHELMAN. MS. ESHELMAN INFORMED ME THAT MY OIL COOLING LINE ALSO KNOWN AS THE VVTI LINE HAD RUPTURED AND TOYOTA HAS A NEW REPLACEMENT PART THAT IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. LANCASTER TOYOTA DIDN'T HAVE THE NEW REPLACEMENT PART HOWEVER THEY COULD PUT THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BACK ON MY CAR AT A COST OF $307.09 WHICH WOULD ALLOW ME TO GET HOME. I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM LANCASTER TOYOTA THURSDAY, APRIL 9TH AND DROVE IT TO TOYOTA OF BOWIE TO CHECK MY ENGINE FOR DAMAGE. ON FRIDAY THEY CALLED AND SAID HE DIDN'T SEE ANY DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE AND PICK THE CAR UP. I DROVE IT DIRECTLY TO MY SON'S DOCTOR'S OFFICE IN CROFTON, MD APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AWAY FROM TOYOTA OF BOWIE. PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND HEARD THE ENGINE KNOCKING. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND SAW OIL SPURTING OUT AND DRIPPING EVERYWHERE, THE OIL COOLING LINE (VVTI LINE PART NO. 1

ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8TH NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS LEAKING OIL SO I WENT TO THE SERVICE STATION AND FILLED IT WITH TWO QUARTS OF OIL. I REALIZED THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM SO I PUT ANOTHER TWO QUARTS IN MY CAR AND CONTACTED A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN LANCASTER PENNSYLVANIA BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF TOWN. THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY OIL COOLING LINE ALSO KNOWN AS THE VVTI LINE HAD RUPTURED AND TOYOTA HAS A NEW REPLACEMENT PART THAT IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. LANCASTER TOYOTA DIDN'T HAVE THE NEW REPLACEMENT PART HOWEVER THEY COULD PUT THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BACK ON MY CAR AT A COST OF $307.09 WHICH WOULD ALLOW ME TO GET HOME. AFTER GETTING MY CAR FROM PA I DROVE IT DIRECTLY TO TOYOTA OF BOWIE AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK MY ENGINE FOR DAMAGE. THEY SAID HE DIDN'T SEE ANY DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE. I PICKED MY CAR UP AND DROVE IT APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AWAY FROM TOYOTA OF BOWIE PUT THE CAR IN PARK & SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND HEARD THE ENGINE KNOCKING. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND SAW OIL SPURTING OUT AND DRIPPING EVERYWHERE'..THE OIL COOLING LINE (VVTI LINE PART NO. 1570731012) HAD RUPTURED AGAIN! I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO TOYOTA OF BOWIE AND AS OF TODAY 4/28 IT IS STILL THERE. NO ONE WILL CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT. NOT TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS, OR LANCASTER TOYOTA. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND NOTICES A CLOUD OF SMOKE TRAILING FROM THE REAR OF OUR 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN SHE ARRIVES AT WORK SHE SEES OIL POURING ONTO THE PARKING LOT SURFACE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR DASHBOARD NOTICE SIGNALING OIL PRESSURE LOSS. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY NOTED THAT A RUBBER HOSE THAT PRESUMABLY CIRCULATES ENGINE OIL HAD RUPTURED. THE REPAIR WAS DONE THAT DAY WITH PARTS READILY AVAILABLE FROM THE LOCAL DEALER. WHEN THE REPAIR MAN WAS CONVERSING WITH THE TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER (A FRIEND), THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM THEN LATER CHANGED HIS STORY. RATHER SUSPICIOUS.*TR

I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 3 MILES AT 40 MPH IN MY '06 AVALON WITH 40,000 MILE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. MY CAR BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE HOOD. OIL WAS LEAKING, LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL. NO OIL LIGHT CAME ON. NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS OR NOTIFICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS INDICATED. MY DIPSTICK SHOW THAT I HAVE NO OIL IN THE CAR. I JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE RECENTLY. I AM WAITING FOR MY TOYOTA DEALER TO CALL ME BACK. I HAVE LEFT 2 MESSAGES. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON XL HAS BEEN GIVING PROBLEMS SHORTLY AFTER MY PURCHASE. THE FIRST WAS THE BREAKING OF AN OIL HOSE FOLLOWED BY STALLING ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND FOR OVER A WEEK THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME ANYTHING. *TR

2006 AVALON, 70K MILES. A HOSE CARRYING OIL FROM ONE PART OF THE ENGINE TO ANOTHER RUPTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE RESULT WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL AND POTENTIALLY THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON..LIGHT CAME ON TODAY (VSC) DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS UNTIL DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND ENGINE STILL IDLING...PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, VERY DANGEROUS, NO SHOULDER. I SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND RESTARTED IT...GAVE IT A LITTLE GAS AND THOUGHT I COULD EXIT THE FREEWAY..AS I GAVE IT GAS TRYING TO MERGE BACK INTO THE SLOW LANE WITH 65MPH TRAFFIC..IT NEARLY CAUSED A REAR IN COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE.. MY CAR CUT OUT AND THEN IT WENT UP TO 50MPH (CUTTING OUT THE ENTIRE TIME)..ENOUGH TO GET ME OFF THE FREEWAY. TAKING IT TO THE DEALER IN THE MORNING. WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WITH THE VSC...WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE MORNING AT THE TOYOTA DEALER. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

A FEW MONTHS AGO I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO TOYOTA ON NICHOLASVILLE WITH AN "OIL PROBLEM". IT HAD BEEN SLOWLY LEAKING OIL. NO OIL LIGHTS HAD COME ON. THEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I SAW SMOKE AND SMELLED OIL. THE VVTI OIL LINE WAS LEAKING AND HAD SORT OF "BLOWN UP" ALL OVER MY ENGINE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS VERY UPSET. I WENT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. IT WAS REPAIRED QUICKLY AND I PAID ALMOST $500.00 FOR THE REPAIR! I THEN RESEARCHED ON-LINE AND BECAME AWARE THE VVTI OIL LINE LEAK WAS A PROBLEM FACED MY MANY AVALON OWNERS. AFTERWARDS I REMEMBERED I HAD PURCHASED "TOYOTA EXTRA CARE" AND FREE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I SUPPOSE I SHOULD PROBABLY FILE A CLAIM WITH TOYOTA FOR REIMBURSEMENT; BUT I GUESS THAT IS ANOTHER ISSUE! I NOW REMEMBER TO TELL MY SERVICE TECH BEFORE EACH REPAIR! NOW, A FEW MONTHS LATER, I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS TIME I AM EXTREMELY UPSET. I CALLED TOYOTA ON NICHOLASVILLE AND WAS TOLD TO BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY AND THEY WOULD WORK ME IN THAT AFTERNOON. I DID. I KNEW THE PROBLEM WAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE VVTI LINE, AND REALIZED IT WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED THAT SAME DAY. AFTER WAITING ABOUT TWO HOURS, THE TECH CAME AND SPOKE WITH ME. HE TOLD ME IT WAS, ONCE AGAIN, A PROBLEM WITH THE VVTI OIL LINE. ALTHOUGH TOYOTA DID HAVE A REPAIR PART AVAILABLE, IT WAS A BACK-ORDERED PART. DAVE INDICATED MANY PEOPLE HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THIS PART AND IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE AS LONG AS 4-8 WEEKS TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED. I REALLY THOUGHT HE WAS KIDDING.

CAR STARTED LEAKING LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. NO OIL LIGHT CAME ON. OIL LINE ON ENGINE LEAKING. OIL COVERED OTHER PARTS THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA HAD NO MANUFACTURE REPLACEMENT PARTS IN USA AND STATED THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE MANUFACTURED. MANUFACTURE OF PARTS COULD TAKE 60-90 DAYS. DEALER REPLACED PART WITH SUBSTITUTE OIL LINE RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA IN ORDER TO REPAIR CAR IN A TIMELY MANNER. CAR WAS COVERED IN OIL UNDER CAR AND WAS NOT CLEANED. MOTOR COULD HAVE BEEN RUINED HAD OIL LEAK NOT BEEN DISCOVERED WHEN PARKING THE CAR. NOTICE THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM NATIONALLY AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. PRICE OF NON TOYOTA PART AND REPAIRS WAS $683.00. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN A RECALL, WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THIS PART IS CAUSING. *TR

ON A 300 MILE ROAD TRIP. CHECK ENGINE & OIL LIGHT CAME ON NEAR END OF JOURNEY. DROVE INTO DEALERSHIP NEXT MORNING & WAS TOLD OIL LINE RUPTURED DEPLETING THE ENGINE OF ALL OIL AND NOW NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE ENGINE COULD HAVE SEIZED UP WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY OR CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO OIL IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT & UNDERCARRIAGE. *TR

CAR COMPLETELY RAN OUT OF OIL WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS EVER ILLUMINATING. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED. FOUND OUT VVTI LINE HAD TSB (ALTHOUGH I HAD BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT FOR OIL CHANGE THE MONTH BEFORE) THE PART WAS BEING REDESIGNED BY TOYOTA AND WAS BACKORDERED. SIX WEEKS LATER ( I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY CAR), TOYOTA REPLACED THE PART AND REFUSES TO TEST THE ENGINE FOR DAMAGE CAUSED AS A RESULT OF CAR RUNNING COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ASSIGNED US A CASE NUMBER BUT THEN NO ONE EVER CALLED US BACK, MEANWHILE I DO NOT WANT TO ACCEPT MY CAR AS I FEEL IT IS POTENTIALLY UNSAFE DUE THE OBVIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE THAT HAD TO HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THE ENGINE WAS BANGING AND KNOCKING BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT WAS GOING ON. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ISSUE RECALL AND HAS FAILED AT WARNING CONSUMERS AND THE DEALERS HAVE FAILED AT DOING DUE DILIGENCE IN CHECKING THE TSB ISSUES WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN THEIR SHOPS. IF I HAD KNOWN THIS WAS A POTENTIAL ISSUE, THE ENGINE DAMAGE COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. *TR

2006 AVALON. DRAMATIC LOSS OF OIL. NO OIL INDICATOR LIGHT, NO HIGH TEMP. SOME OIL LEFT IN ENGINE BUT DID NOT REGISTER ON DIPSTICK. OILTUBE REPLACED. *TR

1. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING WHIRRING NOISES WHEN IN MOTION AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED (UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, IT WAS DROPPING OIL. 2. AFTER IT WAS FIRST REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, IT OCCURRED AGAIN. 3. DEALER REPORTED FAILURE OF THE VVT-I PIPE, REPLACING THE PIPE, TIMING CHAIN COVER, GASKETS, CAMSHAFT GEAR ASSEMBLY, CYLINDER HEAD GASKET, CAMSHAFT BEARING, CAMSHAFT GEAR ASSEMBLY, ADDITIONAL GASKETS AND BOLTS. *TR

2006 TOYOTA AVALON TRANSMISSION HESITATES AT 0-35 MPH, ESPECIALLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. IT HAS NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS. I NEED HELP BECAUSE TOYOTA IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

VVT OIL LINE FAILURE-AS I WAS DRIVING, I HEARD A ?WHIRRING? NOISE FOR 1-2 MINUTES. THEN IT STOPPED, AND THE OIL LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND OIL WAS SPRAYED ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THERE WAS NO OIL LEVEL INDICATED ON THE DIPSTICK. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE REMAINING OIL DRAINED OUT UNDER THE CAR. THE TOYOTA DEALER INDICATED THEY HAD 3 OTHER AVALONS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND PARTS WERE BACKORDERED. NO REPAIR DATE WAS PROMISED. FROM ON-LINE MESSAGE BOARDS, THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE 05-06 AVALON. TOYOTA IS APPARENTLY WELL AWARE OF THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, BUT HAS DONE NOTHING TO PROACTIVE REPAIR/REPLACE THE LINE. THERE IS NO WARNING OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENS, AND IT MAY LEAVE THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR IN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

I WENT OUT THIS MORNING TO WARM MY CAR. WHEN I CAME OUT TO TAKE MY SON TO SCHOOL ALL OF MY OIL HAD LEAKED OUT ON THE GROUND. I HAD JUST WENT IN FOR A REGULAR OIL CHG AT THE TOYOTA DEALER. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER NOT KNOWING THAT MY ENGINE COULD HAVE LOCKED UP ON ME. LUCKILY I MADE IT TO THE DEALER SAFELY. AFTER LOOKING AT MY CAR THE TOYOTA REP. CAME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT MY VVTL LINE HAS BUSTED. I WAS LIKE THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR. I ONLY HAD IT FOR 3 YEARS. THE REP SAID THAT THE PART IS UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE SOME WEEKS BEFORE THE PART COMES IN. SHE SAID THAT THEY ALREADY HAD CARS THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING FOR WEEKS. SHE SAID THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. I REALLY THINK THAT ITS CRAZY THAT TOYOTA HAVE HAD THIS MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE VVTL LINE BREAKING AND HAVE NOT MADE THEY CUSTOMERS AWARE OF IT. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH TOYOTA, AND I THINK THAT THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL ON ALL CARS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. AT LEAST SEND SOMETHING OUT TO THERE CUSTOMERS MAKING THEM AWARE OF IT. THE THING IS NOW THE PART THAT THEY ARE SENDING OUT ..WILL THAT HAVE A DEFECT IN IT TOO? IF THEY ARE JUST REPLACING THE SAME OLD PART WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR CAR ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE? IF IT WASN'T FOR MY CO-WORKER TELLING ME ABOUT THIS WEBSITE I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS JUST SO UPSETTING! *TR

ON 2/3/09 WHILE DRIVING TO WORK MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ONCE I ARRIVED AT WORK I COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE REAR AND UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY CAR. I CHECKED THE OIL IN THE ENGINE AND IT WAS EMPTY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VVTI LINE HAD BROKE AND ALL THE OIL IN THE ENGINE WAS GONE. THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER FOR 2 WEEKS. THEY COULD NOT TELL ME THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE UNTIL THEY TAKE IT APART AND INSPECT IT. THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATED BILL OF $1800 FOR PARTS ONLY, NOT INCLUDING LABOR CHARGES. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 2,000 MILES AGO. MY CAR IS TAKEN IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT HELP ME BECAUSE THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN PUT OUT ABOUT THIS PART DID NOT INCLUDE MY CAR, IT WAS FOR THE '05 MODEL NOT THE '06. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE ARRIVED AT HER RESIDENCE AND NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT AN OIL HOSE HAD BURST. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH THE PART WAS AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS COMPONENT NOT BEING REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART BEING ON BACKORDER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,788. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/09/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON A SNOW PACKED INCLINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) ACTIVATED VOLUNTARY. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS PROCEEDING UP AN INCLINE ON SNOW COVER ROAD SURFACES. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WAS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN, HOWEVER, SOME VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A MECHANISM THAT DISENGAGES THE TCS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000. UPDATED 2/23/09 *CN WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE UP A SLIGHT INCLINE IN SNOW, THE DRIVE WHEEL SLIPPED WHICH ENGAGE THE TCS. THE DRIVE WHEEL WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN TRACTION WHICH WOULD HAVE DISENGAGED THE TCS. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP SLIDING BACKWARDS. THERE WAS NO WAY TO MANUALY DISENGAGE THE TCS. IF THE TCS COULD BE DISENGAGED THE VEHICLE COULD BE HANDLED MORE EASILY. UPDATED 02/27/09. *JB

I FOUND A HUGE AMOUNT OF OIL IN THE DRIVEWAY AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES TO TAKE MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. THE OIL STICK READ EMPTY. I IMMEDIATELY ADDED OIL SO I COULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I MADE SEVERAL CALLS BEFORE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HAD RECENTLY HAD MY CAR SERVICED AT ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WHEN DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM THE MAINTENANCE ASSISTANT INSTANTLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE AVALON. I CALLED TWO OTHER DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAD THE SAME RESPONSE. WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND AT THAT TIME TOLD ME THAT THE "PIPE ASSEMBLY" PART IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND THAT THEY WEREN'T EXPECTING THE PART UNTIL FEBRUARY 16, THE DATE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN WAS JANUARY 15TH. TOYOTA IS TAKING LITTLE TO NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS CAUSING UNDO HARDSHIP ON TOYOTA'S OWNERS. AFTER TALKING TO VARIOUS AVALON DEALERS, I FOUND THAT SOME OWNERS HAD TO HAVE THEIR ENGINES REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE PART THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THAT HAVE NOT INFORMED THE PUBLIC OF. APPARENTLY, TOYOTA HAS BEEN QUIETLY FIXING THE PROBLEM WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS FAILED TO LET THE CONSUMERS AWARE OF THIS ONGOING DEFICIENCY. NOW THAT THE PART IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER THE SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM IS BEING ADDRESS DAILY. I AM HOPING OTHER MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN TO FIX THIS PROBLEM NOW THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF THE BACKORDER. I AM JUST GLAD THAT I IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM BEFO

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL DROPPED DOWNWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE UNDER THE WARRANTY COVERAGE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH TILT STEERING AND TELESCOPING STEERING. WHILE DRIVING, THE PRESSURE ARM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH HELD THE TELESCOPING COLUMN IN PLACE BECAME LOOSE DUE TO A VIBRATION. UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB

CAR HAS BEEN FINE UP UNTIL THIS POINT. BUT WHEN STARTING THE CAR ONE MORNING, OIL BEGAN STREAMING ONTO THE GROUND. I FILLED THE CAR WITH OIL, DROVE THE 2 MILES TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND JUST UNDER 2 QUARTS LEAKED OUT AFTER THAT SHORT DRIVE. AFTER THEY REMOVED THE INSPECTION PLATE, THEY FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF CHAFFING BUT A SIMPLY SMALL HOLE THAT HAD DEVELOPED IN THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE VVTI OIL SUPPLY LINE. THEY REPLACED THE OIL SUPPLY LINE AND NOW THE CAR ENGINE HAS A LOT OF CLATTER AT LOW RPMS. I HAVE THE OLD PART AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. CAR HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

SUDDENLY OIL SPURTED OUT FROM UNDER ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO AFTER DETERMINING IT WAS A RUPTURED HI-PRESSURE OIL LINE INFORMED ME IT WAS UNDER A SERVICE BULLETIN. THEY PROVIDED A LOANER AND REPAIRED IT WITHOUT COST AFTER A SECOND DAY IN THE SHOP. *TR

STEERING COLUMN TELESCOPING LEVER DROPS DURING NORMAL DRIVING. FULLY DOWN (ALTHOUGH NOT VISIBLE THROUGH STEERING COLUMN) WITHIN 2-3 HOURS DRIVING. LEAVES STEERING WHEEL WITH FREE PLAY DURING OPERATION. SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

ON 12/7/2008 OIL CAME OUT FROM BOTTOM OF THE CAR. ON MONDAY 12/8 I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER--AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR I WAS TOLD IT WAS A FAILURE OF SOMETHING CALLED A VVTI OIL HOSE--THIS PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER BY TOYOTA AND WONT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER OR MID JANUARY (ACCORDING TO TOYOTA)--THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS AND I WAS ALSO TOLD 1748 CARS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM-----WHY WOULD IT TAKE SO LONG TO OBTAIN THESE PARTS? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING NORMALLY. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY ACCESSING THE NAVIGATION MODULE DUE TO THE ROCKER SWITCH FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

2006 TOYOTA AVALON - DRIVER WAS TRAVELING IN THE MIDDLE LANE WHEN THE LEFT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT AND THE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER COVER. *NJ OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT 10-0553-90. *JB