Page 7 of 7 · complaints 301–349 of 349

2008 Toyota Avalon complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2008 record →

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 3, 201049,450 milesMT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. HE DROVE APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH INTO HIS GARAGE AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY TEST DROVE IT AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49450 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49476. UPDATED 4/13/10 *CN UPDATED 05/20/10.*JB

Steering
Filed Mar 1, 2010PA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT, IT WOULD DRIFT TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHEN IT CONTINUED TO DRIFT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE AND TO TAKE IT SOME WHERE ELSE. THIS OCCURRED SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Mar 1, 20105,000 milesGA

2008 TOYOTA AVALON WAS RECALLED TO REPLACE A GAS PEDAL. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR THE SAID REPAIR. IT TOOK 4 HOURS. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE AND WAS SLOWLY BACKING OUT OF A RESIDENTIAL CARPORT WHEN IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND THE CAR DID ABOUT 3 LOOPS AROUND THE GARAGE AREA OF THE HOME CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAR, BENCHES, TREE, BUSHES, LAMP POST, ETC. THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE RECALLED DEFECT WAS REPAIRED. OWNER OF VEHICLE PUT IN CLAIM TO HER OWN INSURANCE COMPANY, PUT IN A CALL TO THE 800 TOYOTA NUMBER AND HAD CAR TOWED TO WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE CAR. EVERYONE SEEMS CONCERNED, BUT ONLY WANTS TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR RATHER THAN GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. WE THOUGHT TOYOTA HAD THE FIX, BUT APPARENTLY NOT SINCE ACCELERATING AND GOING OUT OF CONTROL ON AN ACCELERATED PACE. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 26, 201025 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. SHE HAD TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 8 TIMES WHERE THEY STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5500. UPDATED 04/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 05/13/10

Steering
Filed Feb 23, 2010500 milesTX

VEHICLE IS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENTS OF WHICH THERE ARE TWO ON OUR VEHICLE. THE GREATER CONCERN IS WITH THE LOCKING LATCH ON THE TELESCOPING STEERING COLUMN. IN APPROXIMATELY SIX SEPARATE INCIDENTS, THE LATCH FOR UNKNOWN REASON SLOWLY DROPS WITHOUT WARNING. THE LATCH CAN NOT BE SEEN FROM THE DRIVER POSITION. AN ALARMING SHOCK OCCURS WHEN YOU BRAKE HARD AND LEAN ON THE WHEEL CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO TELESCOPE DOWNWARD SUDDENLY. LOSS OF CONTROL IS TEMPORARY BUT IS DANGEROUS.THE UP AND DOWN ADJUSTMENT LATCH SIMILAR DROPS WITHOUT WARNING BUT NOT AS OFTEN AS THE TELESCOPE LOCK. THESE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT OUR VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THEY NOTED NO DEFECT. WE HAVE OUR DOUBTS AND CONCERNS IN VIEW OF THE RECENT ACCELERATOR PEDAL RECALLS. OUR AVALON ACCELERATOR HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED, BUT WE REMAIN APPREHENSIVE. THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT SHOULD OPEN AN INVESTIGATION ON THE STEERING COLUMNS. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 20, 201070,084 milesIL

TOYOTA AVALON CRUISE CONTROL SAFETY PROBLEM. AFTER SEVERAL EXPERIENCES WITH UNEXPECTED RAPID ACCELERATION I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN O'FALLON, ILLINOIS. WHAT I DISCOVERED IS THAT THE LASER CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM ADJUSTS ON THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVEL IN 5 MPH INCREMENTS UP OR DOWN. HOWEVER, IF YOU TAP THE LEVER UP MORE THAN ONCE IT WILL INCREASE THE SPEED BY 5, 10, 15, 20 MPH. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF YOU HOLD THE CRUISE LEVEL FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS, THE CRUISE SETTING CONTINUES TO INCREMENT AND IN JUST A FEW SECONDS YOU MAY HAVE UNKNOWINGLY INCREASED THE SETTING FOR THE CRUISE BY 20 OR 25 MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE OLDER MODELS OF MOST CARS, INCLUDING TOYOTAS, JUST INCREMENT YOUR SPEED BY A FEW M.P.H. AS YOU HOLD THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVEL UP TO GET TO THE DESIRED CRUISING SPEED. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE OWNERS MANUAL IS INACCURATE AND DOES NOT DESCRIBE HOW THE RESETTING OF THE CRUISE SPEED ACTUALLY WORKS. IN MY OPINION THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVEL SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO INCREASE YOUR SET CRUISING SPEED BY 20 OR 30 MPH BY LIFTING UP THE CRUISE LEVEL OR A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN RAPID ACCELERATION SEVERAL TIMES IN HIGHWAY DRIVING AND HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. MY GUESS IS THAT A LOT OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TOYOTA PRIUS IN THE PRESS RECENTLY RESULT FROM THE SAME CONDITION WITH THE OWNERS NOT INFORMED AS TO HOW THE CRUISE ADJUSTMENTS WORK AND THE MANUALS ARE PROBABLY INACCURATE OR INCOMPLETE. *TR

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Filed Feb 19, 2010NC

THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT BUT SOME INFORMATION REGARDING THE TOYOTA RECALL. I GOT A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON IN OCTOBER OF 2007. WHEN SELECTING OPTIONS FOR MY CAR, I ASKED FOR FLOORMATS WHICH WERE CLEARLY SHOWN IN THE AVALON'S PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL. WHEN THE AVALON CAME (OCT 2007) IT DID NOT HAVE THE REQUESTED FLOOR MATS. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS AND HE SIMPLY SAID THEY WERE NOT AVAILABLE. I POINTED OUT THAT THEY WERE IN THE AVALON BOOKLET AND HE AGAIN SAID THEY WERE NOT AVAILABLE. I THEN DID WHAT MOST PROBABLY DID, BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO PROTECT THEIR NEW CAR, AND THAT WAS TO PURCHASE FLOORMATS AT AN AUTO SUPPLY. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AUTOMAKER CLEARLY KNEW THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FLOORMATS AT LEAST 2 AND A HALF YEARS AGO AND DID NOT WARN ME OF THIS NOR ANYONE ELSE. THIS RESULTED IN TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES FOR SOME. I THINK THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WITHHOLDING THIS INFORMATION UNTIL AFTER THERE WERE DEATHS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 19, 2010CO

TOYOTA'S HANDLING OF RECALL. I OWN ONE OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES BUT HAVE RECEIVED NO COMMUNICATION FROM EITHER TOYOTA OR THE DEALER ON THE RECALLS. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 17, 20105,278 milesIL

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON THAT I HAD ONLY 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE CAR APPEARED TO BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION UNTIL MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE DELTA SONIC CARWASH TO HAVE IT CLEAN. AS HE WAS COMING OUT OF THE CAR WASH, HE SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE AND THE ACCELERATOR FAILED , STICKING IN FULL THROTTLE,CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TO AVOID COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES COMING OUT OF THE GAS STATION, WHICH IS PART OF THE BUSINESS, AND HITTING PEDESTRIANS AND THE GAS PUMPS, HE STEERED THE CAR HITTING A POLE, GOING OVER EMBANKMENT, THE SIDEWALK AND INTO ONGOING TRAFFIC IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE CAR CAME TO A STOP TWO BUSINESS DOWN FROM WHERE THE ACCIDENT ORIGINATED. DAMAGES WAS DONE TO ALL 4 TIRESWITH BENT RIMS, THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT BUMPER AND GRILLE, THE HOOD, THE LAMP GROUND WITH THE HEAD LIGHT KNOCKED OUT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR WAS HANGING DOWN. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM (MUFFLER, TAILPIPES) WERE DAMAGED. THE REAR FENDER AND BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. THE BATTERY, OIL PAN, REAR ENGINE CRADLE CUSHION PIPES WERE REPLACED. AT THE TIME, WE THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE DID, BUT WE NOW SINCE HAVE FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING IN FULL THROTTLE AND HAVE ASKED FOR A RECALL. THE TOTAL DAMAGE WAS TO A SUM OF $12,226.39. THE INSURANCE AND REPAIR COMPANY HAVE FIXED THE CAR AT OUR EXPENSE AND THE OLD OR REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I HAVE ONLY PHOTOS OF THE CAR IN THE DAMAGED STATE. I DID G

Equipment
Filed Feb 16, 2010PA

MUSTY WET SMELL INSIDE CAR WHEN HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER FAN IS TURNED ON. OFF AND ON SMELL OF OVERHEATED ELECTRICAL WIRES. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 16, 2010MI

CONSUMER HAS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO DECIDE IF SHE SHOULD RETURN OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Feb 16, 201013,200 milesTX

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON XL, PURCHASED 01/24/08. RECENTLY, WHILE TURNING, I HIT A POTHOLE. THE ALARM SYSTEM STARTED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED. I COULD NOT GET THE ALARM OR THE CAR TO STOP, EVEN THOUGH I WAS BRAKING. I FINALLY PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE KEY. THE MOTOR MADE A SOUND AS THOUGH IT WAS DYING AND FINALLY STOPPED. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND CONTINUED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. *TR

Air BagsCrash
Filed Feb 16, 201021,500 milesKY

2008 TOYOTA AVALON. STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, FOOT ON BRAKE. WITHOUT WARNING, CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD. PUSHED HARDER ON BRAKE AND CAR NOSE-DIVED AND COLLIDED WITH PU TRUCK STOPPED AHEAD. AVALON FRONT BUMPER WENT UNDER REAR BUMPER OF PU . AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. FLOOR MAT STILL IN PLACE. $5600 DAMAGE TO AVALON, NONE TO PU. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 15, 20101,795 milesMD

REGARDING TOYOTA AOA RECALL: I EXPERIENCED THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM WITH MY AVALON ON OCT 1, 2008 AND DO NOT FEEL THE LATEST CORRECTIVE ACTION OF A REINFORCEMENT BAR WILL ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO DARCARS 355 TOYOTA ON OCT 2, 2008 AND PROVIDED A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT. TOYOTA DID NOT FOLLOW UP WITH ME. WHEN TOYOTA INITIALLY ANNOUNCED THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM WAS DUE TO FLOORMATS, I AGAIN NOTIFIED MY DEALER SERVICE TEAM THAT MY FLOORMATS WERE ANCHORED AND THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM- TOYOTA AGAIN DID NOT FOLLOW UP WITH ME. I WENT TO THE SILVER SPRING DARCARS SERVICE GROUP FOR THE AOA RECALL AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER REGARDING THE STEEL BAR REINFORCEMENT ACTION AND EXPLAINED WHY I DID NOT FEEL THIS WOULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS NOT LISTENING AND I DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANYONE ELSE DIE DUE TO THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HAVE THE LEAD INVESTIGATOR FOR THE TOYOTA ACCELERATION RECALL CALL ME. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 10, 201050,000 milesAR

2008 TOYOTA AVALON TOURING HAD BOTH HIGH BEAMS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. THE SERVICE WRITER COMMENTED THE BULBS APPEARED TO HAVE EXPLODED WITHIN THE UNIT PER THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN, HOWEVER, NO EXPLANATION. NOW THE LOW BEAM DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT AND THEN COMES BACK ON. I AM CONCERNED THAT BOTH LOW BEAMS WILL GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME, BUT WILL STILL COME BACK ON LATER. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR BACK IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS ONLY AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, BUT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE CAR AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO RESEARCH AND REPLACE AT THEIR COSTS DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS WITH LOSING HEADLIGHTS WITHOUT WARNING DURING NIGHT DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CLEAR THE PROBLEM BY RE-SETTING THE SWITCH ON STEERING COLUMN, BUT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MORE FREQUENT NOW. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SHORT TIME FRAME FOR HAVING LIGHTING ISSUES OF THIS TYPE ON A 2008 VEHICLE. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 10, 201033,300 milesMD

ON 01-20-10, THIS CUSTOMER STATES AFTER USING CRUISE CONTROL AT APPROX 70 MPH AND COMING UP ON SOME OTHER VEHICLES, APPLYING THE BRAKE TO BEGIN SLOWING DOWN. ONCE THE ROAD WAS CLEAR, I REUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL BY PRESSING THE RESUME SWITCH. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE PAST 70 MPH AND CONTINUED TO ABOUT 85 MPH BEFORE I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND CANCELED THE RESUME FUNCTION. I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED IF THE BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED. ON 02-05-10 FITZGERALD TOYOTA CK THE VEHICLE, NO PROBLEM FOUND. MY VEH IS A 08 TOYOTA AVALON. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Feb 10, 201020,000 milesTX

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON IN TRAFFIC NORTH OF HOUSTON AND FLOORED IT TO GET ON AN EXIT RAMP IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AT HIGH REVS AND I HAD TO PUSH HARD ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE WHILE GOING UP A STEEP RAMP. AFTER ABOUT 3 SECONDS THE REVS DROPPED AND EVERYTHING CONTINUED AS NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 17, 2009. THEN, IN DECEMBER OF 2009 I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET WHEN A TRUCK RAN A STOP SIGN AND WAS GOING TO HIT ME. I FLOORED IT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND AGAIN THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. I REMEMBERED HEARING A REPORT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF FLOOR MATS CAUSING THE PEDAL TO STICK SO I HIT THE BRAKES, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND REACHED DOWN AND PULLED ON THE FLOOR MAT. THE OUT OF CONTROL ACCELERATION AGAIN LASTED ABOUT 3 TO 4 SECONDS. I DON'T KNOW IF THE FLOOR MAT WAS CAUSING IT TO STICK OR NOT. I HAD A RUBBER MAT ON TOP OF THE MAT THAT I BOUGHT WITH THE CAR THAT HOOKS INTO THE FLOOR BOARD. I DON'T THINK THAT MAT EVER INTERFERED WITH THE PEDAL. I LOOKED AT IT CLOSELY AND IT DOES NOT SEEM POSSIBLE. BUT I TOOK IT OUT ANYWAY. I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA TUNDRA CREW CAB AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO IT BUT I HAVE NEVER FLOORED THAT TRUCK EITHER. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 20,000 MILES ON IT WHEN IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME AND ABOUT 24,000 THE SECOND TIME. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Feb 9, 2010SC

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE TELESCOPIC STEERING COLUMN WILL RANDOMLY DEPRESS. THE LATCH THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE WILL RANDOMLY LOOSEN UP AND THE STEERING COLUMN WILL GO ALL THE WAY IN. I ASKED MY DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALL ON THIS ITEM. JUST THOUGHT I MIGHT MENTION IT WITH ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS TOYOTA HAS BEEN HAVING. *TR

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Feb 6, 201012,500 milesSC

MY HUSBAND GOT INTO THE CAR THE LATE AFTERNOON OF JAN. 17, 2010. TURNED THE AUTO ON AND I THOUGHT THE ENGINE WAS EXPLODING. I WAS INSIDE THE HOUSE AND RAN OUTDOORS. SOMETHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS MAKING AN EXTREME LOUD RATTLE. IF YOU TOOK AN OLD COW BELL AND SHOOK IT FOR DEAR LIFE, YOU WOULD GET AN IDEAL OF WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT REGARDING THE SOUND. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE VSC LIGHT WAS ON. MY HUSBAND CUT THE ENGINE OFF, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND NOTHING. I WAS GOING TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY WANTED TO TOW THE CAR IN. I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP JUST TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AND IT PURRED LIKE A BABY. NO LIGHTS ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT, TEST DROVE IT AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY SAID WHATEVER IT WAS MUST HAVE RESET ITSELF. NOW MY QUESTION IS WHAT CAUSED IT TO ACT LIKE THAT AND WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING. WAS IT IN THE COMPUTER OR WHAT. WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN? THESE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN ANSWER. *CN

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 5, 2010NC

2008 TOYOTA AVALON - COMPUTER DEFECT - CRUISE CONTROL IS ERRATIC SOMETIMES WORKING OK OTHER TIMES ENGAGED & NOT WORKING - SUDDENLY SPEEDS UP, ERROR CODE E2. AUTO DOES NOT SLOW DOWN PROPERLY. REPORTED TO DEALER W/NO PROBLEM FOUND IN 2009. 12/14/09 CAR DEAD, DASH LIGHTS INDICATE CHECK ENGINE, CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE, BRAKE, BATTERY FAILURE , TOWED TO DEALER. PARTS 10 AMP ETCS FUSE/I7.5 AMP -DOME FUSE/7.5 AMP AND AM2 FUSE. (OP CODE-190011 COMBO A T1/71 T2/99. 1 #00544-24F60-575 TRUESTART BATTERY) LABOR $92. THANK YOU! *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 4, 201030,000 milesMA

LASER CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT APPARENT REASON, MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEMS IT HAS ARE UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN DECELERATION, WHICH HAS NEARLY CAUSED MY RAMMING INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND A CAR BEHIND ME CRASHING INTO ME. THESE, ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS IN THE SYSTEM, OCCUR EVERY TIME IT IS ENGAGED. WHEN FIRST PRESENTED TO THE DEALER IN PHONE CONVERSATION WAS TOLD IT WAS A PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTION TO NEWS REPORTS AND GIVEN AN 800 NUMBER TO A RECORDED MESSAGE TELLING ME IF I HAVE A PROBLEM STOP MY CAR AND REPORT IT TO MY DEALER. I THEN WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS THEN TREATED WITH DISBELIEF. THEIR INITIAL SOLUTION WAS DENIAL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. AFTER DEMANDING A MECHANIC TEST DRIVE THE CAR, THE TECHNICIAN CONCEDED THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY AS I DESCRIBED. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEIR IN SHOP DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE LASER CRUISE. AND WHEN I QUESTIONED THIS WAS INCREDIBLY ASKED IF I DIDN'T BELIEVE TECHNOLOGY WHEN THEIR OWN MECHANIC VERIFIED THAT IN REALITY THE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING DURING THE ROAD TEST.THEN THEY DECIDED TO TAKE ANOTHER TACTIC. THERE IS A 1/2 INCH DING IN THE FRONT BUMPER OF MY CAR THAT IS THE RESULT OF MY CAR ROLLING 5 FEET WHILE IN NEUTRAL AND TAPPING A POLE. THEY DECIDED TO BLAME THE MALFUNCTION ON THIS MINUTE DING EVEN THOUGH I INFORMED THEM THAT THE MALFUNCTION DID NOT CORRELATE WITH THE TIME OF THE BLEMISH TO THE CAR. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT, OVER $3000, TO FIX THIS DING, HOPING IT

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 4, 201014,500 milesOK

THE MASTER CYLINDER WENT OUT ON MY 2008 AVALON WHILE ON A ROAD TRIP THE CAR ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES ON IT. I OWNED A 2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER PREVIOUSLY AND HAD TROUBLE WITH ACCELERATION BUT MINE WAS DECELERATION IT WOULD JUST STOP GOING AND I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER RESTART CAR AND TAKE OFF AGAIN IT DID IT REPEATEDLY I TOOK IT IN AND THEY HAD A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT WHAT IT WAS I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH A HIGHLANDER OR NOT. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 4, 201012,000 milesMD

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON'S ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING HARD TO DEPRESS AND SEEMED STUCK IN SOME PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION. UNTIL THE NATIONAL PRESS ON THIS ISSUE, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT HAD LEAD TO THE DEATH OF PEOPLE AND THAT TOYOTA KNEW THIS PROBLEM EXISTED. WHEN IT WAS MENTIONED TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY MY FLOOR MAT CAUSING THE PROBLEM SO I REMOVED THE MAT; HOWEVER, I STILL EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM A FEW TIMES LATER. I WAS BEGINNING TO THINK IT WAS SOME MALFUNCTION IN MY PARTICULAR CAR AND DID NOT KNOW HOW DANGEROUS IT WAS. AT THIS POINT, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I AM AWAITING A RETURN PHONE CALL FROM MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 4, 201061,000 milesOH

PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY SHUTTING OFF. INITIALLY JUST THE LEFT HEADLIGHT, THEN THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT, AND NOW ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, BOTH HEADLIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY THE BRIGHT LIGHTS STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER, LEAVING ME WITH NO LIGHTS OR BRIGHTS. IT HAPPENS MOST OF TIME WHEN THE LIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE AUTO SWITCH POSITION. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER (BYERS TOYOTA DELAWARE, OH) AND THEY AT FIRST WANTED ME TO PAY TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE REST OF THE ENCLOSURES FOR OVER $2000.00. I HAVE A 100,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THE LIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE THEY NEED TO REPLACE THIS FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash2 injured
Filed Jan 28, 20103,000 milesMA

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN MAIN STREET APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITHOUT WARNING MY CAR VERY SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH SPEED AND CRASHED INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG INFLATED, BLOCKING MY VISION WHILE MY CAR CONTINUED TO RACE FORWARD. I IMMEDIATELY JAMMED ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR SWERVED FORWARD TO THE LEFT, CROSSED MAIN STREET, AND CAME TO A STOP IN FRONT OF A UTILITY POLE. FRONT AXEL BROKE, ON IMPACT WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO STOP. SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG PULLED ME BACK AGAINST THE DRIVERS SEAT RESULTED IN CHEST BRUISING AND PAIN. I WAS KNOCKED OUT FOR A FEW SECONDS AND CAME TO JUST AS AIRBAG WAS BEGINNING TO DEFLATE. THE DASHBOARD SLAMMED INTO MY LEGS BADLY BRUISING BOTH OF THEM. POLICE AND EMT WERE ON THE SCENE, AND I WALKED OUT OF THE CAR ON MY OWN. MY VEHICLE AND THE ONE IT CRASHED INTO WERE BOTH TOTAL LOSSES. AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH MY CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN ROUGHLY 3,000 MILES. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE, TREATED AND RELEASED THAT SAME DAY. VEHICLE SPEED BEFORE IMPACT WAS 20, SPEED ON IMPACT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE AS CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN SO QUICKLY AND CRASHED SO HARD. *TW

Electrical SystemFire1 injured
Filed Jan 27, 201046,000 milesTX

I OWNED A 2008 AVOLAN. IT CAUGHT FIRE DEC. 7 2009 AND BURNED UP. I THOUGHT I NEEDED TO REPORT THIS TO SOMEONE. I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE, AND THE RESULT COULD BE DEATH. I GOT HURT BAD BUT I AM BETTER NOW.*CW

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 22, 2010305 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. SHE STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED EXCESSIVELY WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE DIAGNOSED THE BY DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 305 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,400.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 18, 201041,000 milesWI

2008 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED - HID HEADLAMP INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS OFF. THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP EITHER IS OFF AT THE STARTING OF THE VEHICLE, OR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT OCCURS ESPECIALLY ON COLD MORNINGS. THE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED, AND THE NEW HEADLAMP IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TOYOTA PRIUS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 8, 201039,000 milesGA

PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY SHUTTING OFF. INITIALLY JUST THE LEFT LIGHT, THEN THE RIGHT LIGHT, AND NOW ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, BOTH HEADLIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY, LEAVING ME WITH NO ILLUMINATION TO DRIVE BY. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER (TOYOTA OF NEWNAN, NEWNAN GA) AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 30, 200947,000 milesTX

HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT WHILE IN OPERATION. THIS WILL OCCUR IN EITHER AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL MODE. YOU WILL NEED TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS THEN TURN THEM BACK TO THE ON POSITION TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON SOMETIMES. I FEEL THIS IS A HAZARD FOR ME AND THE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL AS A VIOLATION OF THE LAW, DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Nov 24, 2009MI

CONSUMER HAS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON AND WANTS INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH TOYOTAS. *NJ

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Nov 17, 20098,500 milesNH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE VEHICLE SURGED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND THE SPEED INCREASED BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MPH. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. SHE WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DOWN SHIFT TO THE LOWEST GEAR. AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE CONTACT USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE FLOOR MAT CAUSED BECAME STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CUT THE FLOOR MAT TO FIT IT IN THE VEHICLE AND HOOKED IT TO THE BOLTS. THE CONTACT ALSO PAID A FEE TO DETERMINE IF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM DISPLAYED ANY FAILURE CODES. THE FAILURE DID NOT REOCCUR AFTER THE DEALER CUT THE FLOOR MATS. SHE RECENTLY RECEIVED RECALL 09V388000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOTICE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,500. UPDATED 12/30/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FLOOR WAS NOT CUT TO FIT VEHICLE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ACTIVATED. UPDATED 12/30/09

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 10, 200910,500 milesMS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN SHE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HOWEVER THE PLASTIC FOR THE KNEE BAGS CAUSED DEEP LACERATIONS ON HER LEG. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,500. UPDATED 12/09/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEVERE INJURIES SHE RECEIVED WAS FROM THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING. UPDATED 12/09/09.

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Nov 5, 200942,600 milesCA

I PURCHASED A USED 2008 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED FROM HORNBURG JAGUAR DEALER IN SANTA MONICA ON 10/29/2009. AT HOME AT 8 AM, ON THE CLEAR, COOL DAY OF 11/1/2009 I HAD THE CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY TO INSTALL THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER. WANTING TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE STREET I STARTED THE CAR USING THE REQUIRED PROCEEDURE FOR A PUSHBUTTON IGNITION (LIKE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID FOR 2 1/2 YEARS). THAT IS, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED THE IGNITION BUTTON SIMULTAENEOUSLY. THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE RAPIDLY DOWN MY SHORT SLOPING DRIVEWAY (7 OR 8 FEET). AS I PUSHED HARDER, THE BREAK PEDAL IN EFFECT WENT TO THE FLOOR- NO BREAKING AT ALL. I HIT THE CURB VERY HARD ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NARROW STREET, THE REAR END OF THE CAR BOUNCING INTO THE AIR , AND ENDED UP, PERHAPS 10 FEET BEYOND, HITTING THE FRONT BEDROOM WALL OF MY NEIGHBOR'S HOME WITH CONSIDERABLE FORCE AND RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE WALL. I APPARENTLY DID NOT SUSTAIN PHYSICAL DAMAGE. I AM INCLINED TO BELIEVE THERE WAS AN ACCELERATOR COMPONENT PROBLEM ALSO BECAUSE I WAS MOVING SO FAST. THE CAR IS BEING REPAIRED NOW PHYSICALLY, AS IS THE HOUSE, AND I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA LOCALLY IN TORRANCE AND I UNDERSTAND SOMEONE THERE WILL FOLLOW-UP ON THIS ACCIDENT WITHIN THE NEXT 4 DAYS. I TRIED TO DUPLICATE THE BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEM WITH MY CAMRY HYBRID AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. WHEN PRESSING ON THE START BUTTON AND THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME I ALWAYS HAVE A FIRM BRAKE ON THE CAMRY. WHEN I DUPLICATED THE PROCEEDUR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Nov 4, 200914,500 milesMA

MY COMPLAINT IS WITH MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHEN MY CAR SHOWED NO SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND CAME TO A STOP. I CHECK THE ACCELERATOR AND THERE WAS NO MAT IN THE AREA. THIS WAS BEFORE THE PUBLICITY OF TOYOTA'S PROBLEMS. WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD TO REMOVE THE MAT EVEN THOUGH I SAID IT WASN'T INVOLVED. ON A SECOND OCCASION WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR ONLY TO HAVE THE PEDAL HIT THE SOLE OF MY SHOE ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO LATER. THAT HAPPENED THREE TIMES ON A TRIP FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO CONNECTICUT. IT HAPPENED ONCE ON THE RETURN TRIP. IT WAS AS IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING. I INTEND TO REPORT THE LATEST INCIDENT TO MY DEALERSHIP DURING MY NEXT SERVICE APPOINTMENT. I WOULD REPORT IT SOONER BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE TOYOTA IS LISTENING. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 26, 200915,500 milesNJ

WHILE PULLING INTO A MARKED PARKING SPACE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. IT JUMPED TWO WHEEL STOPPERS, WENT UP A SMALL HILL AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF FEET OF RUNNING INTO A CEMENT BUILDING BEFORE I COULD STOP IT. VERY VERY SCARY SITUATION. I CALLED GERMAIM TOYOTA IN NAPLES, FLORIDA AND HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN THERE. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY ARE GOING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 20, 200940,000 milesKY

HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT WHILE IN OPERATION. THIS WILL OCCUR IN EITHER AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL MODE. YOU WILL NEED TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS THEN TURN THEM BACK TO THE ON POSITION TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT ON A COUNTRY ROAD WHERE WE LIVE. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN RICHMOND, KENTUCKY,40475 STATED THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $343.00 PER HEADLIGHT BULB PLUS LABOR WHICH INCLUDED TAKING OFF THE FRONT BUMPER TO INSTALL THE HEADLIGHTS. TOTAL COST TO REPLACE TWO HEAD LIGHT BULBS, APPROXIMATELY $1,000.00. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Oct 15, 200941,700 milesDC

ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON TOURING, THE HID HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT. BOTH HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WENT OUT SOON AFTER AS I BEGAN TO USE THEM UNTIL I COULD COME IN FOR THE REPAIR, ABOUT 4 DAYS. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THE HID HEAD LIGHT WOULD COST $563 TO REPLACE. THIS COST BREAKS DOWN TO $350 FOR THE PART (ONE HID LIGHT), AND $157 FOR THE LABOR AS THEY CLAIMED TO NEED TO DO COMPLEX THINGS TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE THIS BULB. TO REPLACE THE LOW BEAM LIGHT ALONG WITH TWO HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WOULD AMOUNT TO A TOTAL OF $700. WHAT? HOW DOES A 2008 HAVE A FAILED HID HEAD LIGHT BY 2009? ALSO, HOW DO BOTH HIGH BEAM LIGHTS GO OUT? *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Aug 12, 200927,400 milesSC

RIGHT HID HEADLAMP WENT OFF WITH OUT NOTICE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST FOUR DAYS WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jan 24, 20092,900 milesOH

MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON XL HAD LESS THAN 3,000 MILES WHEN I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON DECEMBER 22, 2008. I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC FOR 5 TO 7 MINUTES. WHEN I RELEASED MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD SEVERAL FEET AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR HAS LUNGED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THIS UPON STARTING IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. ON DECEMBER 22 THE TEMPERATURE IN CINCINNATI WAS 21 DEGREES F. I HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED AND THE DAMAGE REPAIRED. THE MECHANICS SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM DETECTED. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR BUT THEY WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT. *TR

Fuel System, Other
Filed Jan 3, 200915,160 milesSC

JAMMED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR AND IT STUCK. HAD TO KEEP HITTING THE GAS PETAL WITH MY FOOT TO GET IT TO RELEASE. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AS IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL THE PETAL POPPED UP. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Sep 19, 200812,508 milesNC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ALIGNED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS LOWER THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE MOTORIZED HEADLIGHT SELF-LEVELING ADJUSTER FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT MOTOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE OPTICAL EQUIPMENT TO PROPERLY CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12,508.

Vehicle Speed ControlFire
Filed Sep 17, 200811,000 milesNY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MAXIMUM FORCE AND PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, BUT IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO 70 MPH. HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN DECELERATING. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 11,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 6, 2008500 milesVA

WHEN CAR IS IN NEUTRAL AND MOVING FORWARD YOU CAN ACCIDENTALLY MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER TO REVERSE , WITHOUT STOPPING THE CAR FIRST OR APPLYING THE BRAKES . *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 5, 200819 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S RPMS RADICALLY INCREASED AND A LOUD REVVING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE FAILURE IS MORE NOTICEABLE AFTER ACCELERATING FROM AN IDLE POSITION. THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT AND THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THERE WAS NO CORRELATION BETWEEN THE SPEED AND THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 18, 200820 milesAZ

PURCHASED A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED. DISCOVERED THIS CAR'S ENGINE CAN BE SHUT OFF WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK ALLOWING THE CAR TO ROLL FREELY. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD . THIS PROBLEM IS COMPOUNDED NOW WITH THE NEW PUSH BUTTON ON/OFF SWITCH USED TO CONTROL THE MOTOR. I FOUND THIS TO BE THE CASE WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE START/STOP ENGINE SWITCH WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK STOPPING THE ENGINE. THE CAR STARTED TO FREE ROLL IN THE GARAGE. THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY THE POOR STEERING AND BRAKING ACTION RESPONSE WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. I CAN NOT SEE WHY TOYOTA DID NOT INSTALL AN INTERLOCK SWITCH TO ENSURE THE ENGINE COULD NEITHER BE STARTED NOR STOPPED UNLESS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK? AM I MISSING SOMETHING? THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. *TR

Electrical System › SoftwareCrash
Filed Mar 1, 20085,000 milesNY

MY WIFE WAS TURNING OFF SUNRISE HIGHWAY (WESTBOUND) ONTO THE WELLWOOD AVE RAMP. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV VERY HIGH. SHE TRY TO STOP, USING THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. SHE THEN PUT IT INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. WHILE STOPPED ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT HER IN THE REAR. THE MAIN PROBLEM HERE IS WHY DID THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE START TO REV UP. WHEN I GOT TO THE SCENE THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICE THERE. BOTH HE AND I CHECKED THE CAR, I GOT IN, HE OUTSIDE, AND WHEN WE STARTED THE VEHICLE THE TACH SHOW ~950RPM. I LOOK AT THE FLOOR MAT AND IT WAS IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA. A REP FROM TOYOTA CALLED MY HOME AND SPOKE TO MY WIFE. HIS VERY FIRST QUESTION TO HER WAS DO YOU HAVE OTHER MANUFACTURER'S MATS IN THE CAR. SHE ANSWERED NO, THE CAME FROM TOYOTA. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO EXPLAIN HOW NOTHING COULD BE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE WENT TO TOYOTA TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE HE DETERMINE THE CORNER OF THE MAT MUST HAVE BEEN STUCK UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A FAIR INSPECTION SINCE HE SAID THIS SAME THING BEFORE HE EVER SAW THE VEHICLE AND WHEN THE POLICE OFFICE AND I CHECKED THE VEHICLE THE MAT WAS IN PLACE. I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BUT I DO KNOW THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE TOYOTA GAVE IT A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL INSPECTION. ALSO ANOTHER TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE CALL MY HOME AND IMPLIED WE WERE TRYING TO GET OUR DEDUCTIBLE FROM TOYOTA. IT IS REMARKS LIKE THIS THAT MAKE ME QUESTIONS THEIR FINDINGS. I DON'T WAN

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 3, 20084,300 milesKY

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON WHICH HAS THE PUSH BUTTON START IN LIEU OF A KEY. WHEN STOPPING ON ANY INCLINE I DISCOVERED THAT UNLIKE THE TRADITIONAL KEY USED FOR THE IGNITION THAT IT IS POSSIBILE TO STOP THE CAR WITHOUT PUTTING IT INTO PARK. THE KEY SYSTEM FORCES YOU TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK IN ORDER TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION.. THE NEW ONE DOES NOT. I WAS DISTRACTED BY MY WIFE AND A NEW PUPPY WHICH WAS ABOUT TO VOMIT AND WANTED OUT OF THE CAR. WHEN I STOPPED I FAILED TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND WHILE WE OPENED THE DOORS THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL AND COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY.I REALIZE THIS COULD HAPPEN WITH THE OLD KEY SYSTEM . HOWEVER, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN LOT LESS LIKELY IN THE "OLD" KEY SYSTEM AND I BELIEVE THE NEW KEY LESS SYSTEM IS THEREFORE A DESIGN DEFECT AND A SERIUOS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.*CN

Seats › Front Assembly › Head RestraintCrash2 injured
Filed Nov 19, 20072,100 milesSC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTIVE HEAD REST SAFETY SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NEVER A HEAD REST SAFETY SYSTEM INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S DOCUMENTATION, ALL 2008 TOYOTAS SHOULD HAVE THE FEATURE INSTALLED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE ARM, NECK, AND BACK. AS OF NOVEMBER 19, 2007, THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT RETURNED ANY PHONE CALLS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,750.

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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2008 Toyota Avalon → · Every Avalon year → · How the figures are calculated →