2012 Toyota Avalon

Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.

Risk. In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.

Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.

Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles. During a vehicle repair, the seat belt inner buckles may have been replaced with parts that may incorrectly tell the air bag management system that the seat belt is always buckled.

Risk. If the seat belt is falsely interpreted as being buckled, in the event of a crash, the air bags may not deploy appropriately, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the seat belt assembly to verify that it is properly detecting being unbuckled, replacing the inner seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0S.

Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles manufactured February 9, 2010, to October 22, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the sub-woofer speaker located in the trunk may experience an intermittent electrical short which may cause damage to the integrated circuit (IC) in the audio amplifier. In some cases, the damaged IC may allow a constant electrical current flow to the sub-woofer.

Risk. A constant electrical current flow may cause the sub-woofer to overheat, increasing the risk of fire.

Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the audio system amplifier and install a protective cover around the sub-woofer, free of charge. The recall began on July 1,2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

Defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air conditioning condenser unit housing. The accumulated water may then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module.

Risk. A short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.

Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

While entering the highway on ramp, as I accelerated and turned on the left turn signal, the engine stopped. The steering became very hard. I stopped, put the transmission in park and started the engine, with no problems. This is the second time in3 months this has happened when turning to the left, and activating the turn signal. In both cases, the auto headlight dimming warning lite came on. The car is well maintained, and has never been damaged in any way. The weather was clear.

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while it was hot outside, or whenever there was direct sunlight on the dashboard, the dashboard would become very sticky. The contact stated that the glare on the windshield from the reflection of the dashboard made it very difficult to see out the windshield. The contact stated that he contacted the dealer, and manufacturer about the failure, and was informed that previously there was a recall for the failure however, the recall had expired. The contact contacted the NHTSA after researching the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.

There is a rear windshield shade that comes up automatically during a bright or hot day. It has a button to manually bring it up or down also. Just last month the gear inside the shade is broken and it does not come down. If I manually put it down it will come up automatically when driving, causing a loud noise distracting the driver even though, the driver has not pressed the button to pull it up. Now it is stuck in up position causing loud noise when reversing. And the biggest safety issue that I see is the night driving. Since the shade is up and I cannot make it go down, the visibility in the rear view mirror is very poor or nothing. There is no way for the driver to let it stay in the down position and driving on overcast days or night time is a challenge with no visibility of vehicles behind you.

REAR SUNSCREEN REMAINS IN UP POSITION, WHEN LOWERED IN REVERSE, IT MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. HAVING TO DRIVE AT NIGHT PRESENTS A PROBLEM WITH VISIBILITY WHEN THE SUNSCREEN REMAINS IN THE UP POSITION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN AN 18 WHEELER COLLIDED INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELLING AT 65 MPH. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE HOSPITALIZED WITH SPINAL INJURIES AND BRUISES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, AN 18 WHEELER STROKE THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE REAR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH LANES. NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT AND A REPORT WAS ISSUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V569000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS) THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOTALED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

ANOTHER DRIVER RAND A RED LIGHT AND I (T-BONED HIS PASSENGER SIDE) WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. I WAS BREAKING AT THE TIME, BUT STILL IMAGINE I HIT HIM AT BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. THE FRONT END CRUMPLED AS EXPECTED BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FIREFIGHTERS CUT POWER TO PREVENT THE AIRBAGS FROM DEPLOYING UNEXPECTEDLY AFTERWARDS. A CHECK PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT HAD COME ON IN RECENT DAYS THAT I DID NOT GET FIXED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, BUT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE AFFECTED THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG I EXPECT. LIBERTY MUTUAL IS CURRENTLY IN POSSESSION OF THE CAR (THEY DEEMED IT A TOTAL LOSS).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED ON ITS OWN. THE MOTOR WAS EXTREMELY LOUD AND WAS A DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD TURN OFF THE ENGINE, IT WOULD SOMETIMES RESTART ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT CALLED BOWLING GREEN TOYOTA (2398 SCOTTSVILLE RD, BOWLING GREEN, KY 42104, (270) 843-4321) AND WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW REAR SHADE MOTOR WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

MY VEHICLES AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY I WAS HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE HAD AT LEAST 2 REAR END HITS BY THIS 18 WHEELER ESTIMATED AT A SPEED IN EXCESS OF 25 MILES PER HOUR FASTER THAN MINE (I WAS GOING AT 70MPH NORTHBOUND ON US 75, NINE MILES SOUTH OF TULSA OKLAHOMA ON A SUNNY MONDAY AT 3PM). THE STREET WAS DRY. THE TRUCK INITIALLY HIT ME ON MY REAR AND ON MY LEFT REAR QUARTER. I WAS SPUN IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK AND HE HIT ME AGAIN ON THE REAR QUARTER AND THE BUMPER AND SPUN ME IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND THEN PUSHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AT AN ESTIMATED 40+ MPH. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY FOR ANY OF THE THREE COLLISIONS (TWO IN THE REAR AND ONE IN THE FRONT).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AND CARPET. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A MOLD ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREEDOM TOYOTA OF HARRISBURG (6060 ALLENTOWN BLVD, HARRISBURG, PA 17112) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAL IN THE SUN ROOF WAS FAULTY AND CONFIRMED THE ABNORMAL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

REAR DECK SUNSCREEN ACTIVATES AND COMES UP WITHOUT OPERATOR ACTIVATING IT. AND IT WILL NOT GO BACK DOWN WITHOUT MANUAL ASSISTANCE. WITH ASSISTANCE WHEN IT DOES GO DOWN THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THEN IT WILL COME BACK UP. TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF COMPLETE ASSEMBLY. (DEALER QUOTED $1674.86) OR PULL THE FUSE AND DEACTIVATE THE REAR SUNSCREEN. SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT SUNSCREEN UP AT NIGHT OR DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER RESTRICTS REAR VISION AND DRIVER CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS HE HAPPENS TO KNOW WHICH FUSE TO PULL AND WHERE IT IS LOCATED. WHEN ASKED WHY TOYOTA HAS NOT CORRECTED THIS ISSUE, DEALER SPECULATED THAT SINCE THIS IS AN AVALON ONLY PROBLEM THAT THE NUMBERS OF FAILURES ARE LIKELY SMALL. MY RESPONSE WAS, THAT MAY BE TRUE BUT BY RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE AT LEAST THE MID 1990'S UNTIL AT LEAST 2013 AND PROBABLY BEYOND AND TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED OR FIXED THE PROBLEM SO FAR AS I CAN TELL. REGARDS OUR SPECIFIC CAR A 2012 AVALON, IT IS A FEATURE ALMOST NEVER USED AND AS OF THIS DATE THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 18000 MILES ON IT. MILEAGE AND AGE SEEMS NOT TO BE A FACTOR IN THE FAILURES. IT SEEMS MORE LIKELY A POOR DESIGN OF THE FEATURE ITSELF. AS FAR AS WHEN IT HAPPENS AND WHERE, IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME THE CAR IS RUNNING, IN THE DRIVEWAY OR WHILE DRIVING..

THE REAR WINDOW SUN SHADE SCREEN DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. STICKS IN UP POSITION BLOCKING SITE OUT REAR WINDOW. WITH SCREEN DOWN WHILE CRANKING CAR, PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE CAUSES A LOUD NOISE OF GEARS STRIPPING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS ON THE INTERNET COMPLAINING OF THIS PROBLEM ON ALL TOYOTA PRODUCTS THAT HAVE THIS SCREEN. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL. HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE LINKS ONLINE. HTTPS://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/18198/TOYOTA/AVALON/TOYOTA-AVALON-REAR-SUNSCREEN-FAILURE HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/156-AVALON-3RD-GENERATION-2005-2012/336998-2005-AVALON-LIMITED-REAR-SUN-SHADE-PROBLEM-HELP.HTML HTTP://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/TOYOTA/8IYJH-TOYOTA-AVALON-FUSE-REAR-WINDOW-SHADE.HTML HTTP://WWW.REVBASE.COM/BBBMOTOR/TSB/DOWNLOADPDF?ID=187885 HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/156-AVALON-3RD-GENERATION-2005-2012/350934-REAR-WINDOW-SUNSHADE-BUZZING.HTML

AIR BAG ON PASSANGER SIDE OF VEHICLE IS DISABLED AND WILL NOT RESET/ACTIVATE. VEHICLE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. DEALER STATED WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE SYSTEM TROUBLESHOOTING COMPLETED.

THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT HEADREST HAS BECOME A LIABILITY THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT HEADRESTS ARE SET AT SUCH AN ANGLE THAT IF I SIT CORRECTLY IN THE SEAT (BACK/SHOULDERS AGAINST THE SEAT BACK) MY HEAD IS POSITIONED SO THAT MY EYES ARE AIMED AT THE FLOOR AND NOT AT THE ROAD. I'VE ADJUSTED THE HEIGHT OF THE HEADREST TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THIS, BUT NO CORRECTION CAN BE MADE. THE RESULT IS PAIN IN MY NECK AND BACK WHILE DRIVING. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE ANGLE AND ALLEVIATE THE PAIN FELT WHILE DRIVING AND AFTER, I HAVE REMOVED THE HEADREST, TURNED IT BACKWARD, AND REINSTALLED IT. DOING THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN DRIVE FOR ANY DISTANCE AND NOT HAVE PAIN. THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT HEADREST IS A LIABILITY.

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT SPEED LIMIT. LOUD EXPLOSION TYPE SOUND. SUN ROOF HAD SHATTERED. DIDN'T THINK TO TAKE A PICTURE. WAS 1,000 MI FROM HOME, SO COVERED WITH PLASTIC AND CARDBOARD, AND DROVE HOME. PICTURES ARE FROM INSIDE VEHICLE, UNFORTUNATELY NOT SHOWING MUCH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

THE SUBWOOFER RECALL IS BOGUS. WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE IS THAT THEY PUT A PLASTIC COVER AROUND THE SUBWOOFER TO PREVENT WIRES FROM TOUCHING THE CHASSIS; THEY INSTEAD REPLACE THE JBL AMPLIFIER. THE WORK DRASTICALLY ALTERS THE SOUND. I NO LONGER HAVE A PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM; THE NEW AMP CLEARLY DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME WATTAGE AS THE ORIGINAL ONE. LUSTINE TOYOTA AND TOYOTA CORPORATE ARE COPPING OUT AND WON'T FIX IT. THE THING HAS EVEN CUT OUT TWICE. I'M BEYOND PISSED. THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE BEST PART OF THE CAR.

2012 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RADIO SUB-WOOFER RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE ISSUE. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE DEALER STATED THE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE MEANS OR THE INFORMATION AS TO HOW TO CORRECT THE SUB-WOOFER PROBLEM BUT HE WOULD BE CONTACTED WHEN THE REMEDY WAS AVAILABLE. ON MAY 13TH, THERE WAS A LOUD CRACKLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONSUMER TOLD THE SERVICE ADVISOR, HE BELIEVED IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL ON THE SUB-WOOFER. THE DEALER CALLED THE CONSUMER THE NEXT DAY, AND INFORMED HIM THE ISSUE WAS INDEED RELATED TO THE SUB-WOOFER, BECAUSE WHEN THE SUB-WOOFER WAS DISCONNECTED THE RADIO IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO WORK. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE DEAD BATTERY WAS RELATED TO THE SUB-WOOFER. THE DEALER DISAGREED WITH THE CONSUMERS THEORY AND STATED THE ISSUE WAS A BAD BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. THE CONSUMER WENT TO GET A SECOND OPINION AND WAS INFORMED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE WORKING PROPERLY AND THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO EITHER THE PREVIOUS DEALER HAD DISCONNECTED THE SUB-WOOFER IMPROPERLY OR WAITED TOO LONG TO DISCONNECT IT WHILE THEY WERE TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

I ATTEMPTING TO PARK . THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A HANDICAP SIGN AND THEN STRUCK THE BUILDING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DISCONNECTED THE SUB-WOOFER AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY DUE TO THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 5/19/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUB WOOFER EXPERIENCED A FIRE BY A FAULTY WIRE. UPDATED 07/1/2015 *JS