2000 Toyota Avalon Complaint Log

CONSUMERS FINGER WAS BROKEN BY THE WINDOW WHILE BEING ROLLED UP. THE CONSUMER HAD HER FINGER ON THE WINDOW AND THERE WAS NO SAFETY DEVICE ON THE WINDOW. *YH NAR 8/ 28/02. *SCC *CB

DT: 2000 TOYOTA AVALON HAS POWER SEATS. ON JANUARY 22, 2002 BOTH SEATS RECLINED ALL THE WAY WITHOUT ANYONE OR KEYS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DOORS WERE LOCKED, AND THE CONSUMER WATCHED THIS HAPPEN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID IT COULD NOT HAPPEN. THE SECOND TIME ONLY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT RECLINED WITH NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER JUST STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN HE LOOKED BACK THE SEAT WAS RECLINED.*AK SECOND OCCURANCE WAS MAY 26, 2005. THE MILAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 56,900. THE DEALERSHIP THAT IS ON QUESTIONAIRE IS NO LONGER OPEN. *SB *NM

CHANGED ENGINE OIL AS DIRECTED BY TOYOTA DEALER ON MY NEW 2000 TOYOTA AVALON (EVERY 3,000 MILES). WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM EXHAUST IN LATE 2001. TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA SERVICE DEPT. WAS ACCUSED OF NOT KEEPING UP ROUTINE MAINTENANCE (OIL CHANGES) ON THE VEHICLE, AS SLUDGE HAD BUILT UP UNDER VALVE COVER AND IN ENGINE. WAS TOTALLY LIVID AT THIS UNTRUE ACCUSATION. WAS TOLD I NEEDED $4,000 TO REPAIR. I HAD TO TRADE THE VEHICLE IN ON A NEW TOYOTA VEHICLE -- STARTING AT $4,000 IN THE RED. FOR EXAMPLE, NEW VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY $26,000. TO THAT TOYOTA ADDED THE $4,000 TO IT. I NOW OWE $30,000 ON A VEHICLE WORTH MUCH MUCH LESS. I'M ENRAGED AND WANT A $4,000 CREDIT BACK TO MY BALANCE ON MY NEW VEHICLE AFTER LEARNING OF THE OBVIOUS RELEVATION THAT TOYOTA IS TO BLAME FOR A FAULTY ENGINE PROBLEM ON MANY OF ITS VEHICLES. I WORK FOR A LAW FIRM AND WILL STOP AT NOTHING SHORT OF THIS OUTCOME. THANK YOU.

THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT ROCKS FORWARD WITH AT LEASE 1 INCH OF PLAY. WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ORIGINALLY ADVISED US IT WAS A NORMAL CONDITION. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS, AND COMPLAINTS TO TOYOTA, THEY "FOUND" A BULLETIN THAT SAID THE SEAT MOUNT "COULD BECOME" WORN PREMATURELY. WE SEE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED ON ALL AVALONS. AFTERALL, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE MOUNT WENT BAD AND THE SEAT BECAME DETACHED FROM THE CAR WHILE SOMEONE WAS DRIVING?

AFTER PROCEEDING ON A GREEN LIGHT, VEHICLE IN FRONT CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, CONSUMER COMMENCED TO APPLY BRAKES, AND VEHICLE AT FIRST STOPPED, AND THEN LEAPED AND REAR ENDED FRONT VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATED APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD GLASS CAN STREAK TO POINT WHERE IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 35-40 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS ORGINAL EQUIPMENT GENERAL HP 400 TIRE, SIZE P20565R15, MILES UNKNOWN. WHILE PULLING HARD TO LEFT A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT OCCURRED. TIRE DEALER INSPECT TIRE AND GAVE CONSUMER CREDIT TOWARD PURCHASE OF A NEW TIRE. *AK *TT

WHILE MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 5 MPH, ANOTHER CAR TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IMPACTED PASSENGER'S SIDE OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PASSENGER WAS INJURED, SUSTAINING LEG/HIP/BACK, AND CHEST INJURIES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT RESPONDED BACK. *JB

ANYTIME VEHICLE IS STARTED UP MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WHITE SMOKE COMES OUT FROM REAR FOR AS LONG AS 3 MINUTES, AND VEHICLE RUNS HARD. DEALER STATED IT WAS NEGLECT, NOT GETTING ENOUGH OIL CHANGES. VEHICLE NEEDED A TOTAL OF 6 OIL CHANGES, AND CONSUMER HAD ONLY GOTTEN 5 OIL CHANGES. VALVE CAP WAS REMOVED, AND BLACK SLUDGE HAD BUILD UP. DEALER'S REMEDY WAS TO FLUSH THE ENGINE, WHICH MADE IT WORSE. *AK

DRIVER SIDE IMPACTED BY OTHER VEHICLE AT APPROX. 35-45 MPH--SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

BLOW OUR: TIRE WAS INFLATED TO 35PSI TIRE SERIAL NO. DK 6761433716. *AK (DOT NUMBER: ACUR3HU080 TIRESIZE: P205/65R15)

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE VEERED INTO ANOTHER LANE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. UNEXPECTEDLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INCREASE EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH GREAT FORCE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A STUMP TO AVOID ENTERING INTO A RIVER. THE SPEED RATE INCREASED TO 35 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

CAR WAS STRUCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE (MAINLY DRIVER'S DOOR) BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WAS INOPEARTIVE.*TT

BRAKES TAKE TOO LONG TO STOP BEFORE ABS KICKS IN. PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. FRONT END HAS A GRABBING FEELING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. CONSUMER HAS BEEN WITH SERVICE TECHNICIAN, AND IT WAS DOCUMENTED AS OKAY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. NLM

FRONT END "BOTTOMS OUT" AND HITS THE FRONT TIRES WHEN EXITING AND /OR ENTERING INCLINES TO STRIP MALLS, ETC. AND V DITCHES ON PUBLIC STREETS WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 25 MPH. THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND DAMAGE TO TIRES WHEN GOING AT HIGHER SPEEDS.*** DIMS11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***755954. *AK

ONE OF THE AIR BAGS FAILED WHEN COLLISION OCCURED. *YH

I PICKED UP THE CAR FROM THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE FRONT END WAS OKAY AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE .FOUND ENGINE CHECK AND ABS LIGHTS ON IN THE DASH,AND DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE INSPECTION AND I WOULD NEED TO BRING THE CAR BACK FOR THIS PROBLEM.I HAVE WAITED FOR PARTS AND HAVE BEEN BACK TO THEM AT LEAST 7 TIMES WITH THE CONTINUED RELATED PROBLEM. *AK

IMPACT ON RIGHT FRONT, SEVERE ENOUGH TO KNOCK ENGINE OUT OF MOUNT. *AK

THE REFLECTION ONTO THE WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT WHEREBY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS NOT RECESSED SUFFICIENTLY INTO THE CLUSTER TO PREVENT REFLECTION OF THE DASHLIGHTS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. SIMILARLY, REFLECTION OF SUNLIGHT ONTO THE WINDSHIELD IS APPARENT IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM. DEFECT WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA A FEW WEEKS AFTER DELIVERY AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CORRECT ONLY IF A RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE IMPAIRMENT OF VISION IS A SERIOUS DEFECT AND SAFETY HAZARD AT NIGHT.

CAR NOT UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN !!! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

I WAS FOLLOWING MY WIFE OUT OF THE SUBDIVISION TO WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 06:40. I WENT THROUGH 3 STOP SIGNS WITH NO APPARENT PROBLEMS BREAKING. WHEN MY WIFE STOPPED AT THE 4TH SIGN, MY BREAK PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HIT HER REAR END AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THERE SCRATCHES AND DENTS IN BOTH BUMPERS. I CREPT BACK HOME AT 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT ALL THREE STOP SIGNS. THE CAR STOPPED SLOWLY, BUT THE BREAK PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR EACH TIME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. A TOYOTA FACTOR REPRESENTATIVE EXAMINED THE CAR ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2000. I RECIEVED A CALL FROM TOYOTA TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. THIS IS THE BIGGEST BUNCH OF BULL SINCE FIRESTONE SAID THEY MAKE GOOD TIRES. I TALKED TO THE OWNER OF THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND TOLD HIM THAT I HAD LOST COFINDENCE IN THE CAR AND TOYOTA, AND WANTED MY MONEY BACK. HE SAID THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS AN "ALLEGED" BREAK FAILURE THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT. MY ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES (ADMINISTERS THE TEXAS LEMON LAW). I WILL PERSUE THESE AVENUES OF RECOURSE, BUT ALSO WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA'S LAWYERS HAVE CONTROL OF THIS SITUATION, AND THERE IS NO WAY THEY WILL ADMIT THAT THEIR PRODUCE IS FAULTY. DOES THE NHYSA HAVE ANY OTHER REPORTS OF BREAK FAILURES ON NEW TOYOTA AVALON'S? I APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE. THANKS MIKE VORNDAM

AXLE HUB BOLTS BROKE. ALL TORQUED TO MFGR SPECS OF 76 FT. LBS. BOLTS BROKE WHEN BEING RE TORQUED TO SPECS. ON BOTH LEFT FRONT AND REAR AXLES

CONSUMER STATES THAT AT NIGHT, THE LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REFLECTS OFF THE WINDSHIELD MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR DRIVER TO SEE. NLM A REPAIR WAS MADE BUT IT DID NOT ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM, CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE NEW PLASTIC DEFLECTOR ALSO REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD AT NIGHT CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *TT

WHILE STANDING ON TOP OF A HILL AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GO AND MOVE FOOT FROM BRAKES TO ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LOCKS SKID CONTOL MECHANISM. *AK

NO SUMMARY

DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS AN "UNUSUAL" PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. I CALLED TOYOTA & WAS TOLD THE 1998 & 1999 MODELS HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY THOUGHT THAT THE SUPPLIERS PARTS WEREN'T USED IN THE 2000 MODELS. THEY WERE, APPARENTLY, WRONG. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

POWER STEERING PREMATURELY STIFFENS, AND CONSUMER CAN FEEL GRABBING AT THE FRONT END FOR A SHORT TIME. STEERING WHEEL WILL VIBRATE AT SPEEDS 50 AND OVER. DEALER SAYS ABS COULD BE THE CAUSE.*AK

GLARE ON WINDSHIELD FROM GLASS OVER INSTRUMENT PANEL. WORSE AT NIGHT WHEN DASH LIGHTS ARE ON, HAD TO DIM LIGHTS TO SEE SAFELY. CAN ALSO HAVE GLARE DAYTIME WHETHER SUNNY OR NOT. THIS IS IN MY DIRECT LINE OF VISION AND CAN BE A SAFETY HAZZARD. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE HAS BEEN A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AS I HAVE CONSULTED HALEY TOYOTA IN ROANOKE VA AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE ON YOUR WEBSITE.*AK

DASHBOARD LIGHTING REFLECTS IN THE WINDSHEILD WHICH INTERFERS WITH VISION. DEALER HAS TILTED THE SPEEDOMETER & RAISED THE GAUGES FORWARD TO CHANGE THE ANGLE FOR LESS GLARE. TOYOTA DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS BEING A PROBLEM. *AK

STEERING WHEEL INSTALLED 30-45 DEGREES OFF CENTER. AFTER CORRECTING/ALIGNMENT CAR EXHIBITED EXTREME PULL TO LEFT. 3 PLUS FURTHER ATTEMPTS DO NOT CURE PULL TO LEFT. PULLING CONTRIBUTED TO ACCIDENT 5/13/2000. REQUESTED ARBITRATION, UNSATISFIED. CURRENTLY SUING UNDER FEDERAL MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT AND OHIO LEMON LAW. DASH LIGHTS ALSO ANNOYINGLY REFLECT IN WINDSHIELD IN DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT. *AK

DASHBOARD LIGHTS OR SUNLIGHT THAT ILLUMINATES THE LOWER RIGHT PORTION OF SPEEDOMETER (140 MPH SECTION) AND FUEL GAUGE REFLECT OFF OF WINDSHIELD AT A LOCATION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT CAUSING A SEVERE DRIVING HAZARD.

CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF INTERSECTION & WAS HIT ON FORNT DRIVER SIDE. AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE COME OUT. THEY TOOK PICTURES & SENT THEM TO A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE. CONSUMER WAS SENT TO AN AUTO REPAIR GARAGE. THERE, A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INVESTIGATED FURTHER & SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH AIRBAGS. CONSUMER DISAGREED WITH THE CONCLUSION & WAS UNSATISFIED. *AK

INSTRUMENT PANEL (PORTIONS OF SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE) REFLECTS IN WINDSHIELD AT EYE LEVEL. AT NIGHT, THIS GLARE IMPAIRS VIEW OF ROAD, AND NORMAL HEAD MOVEMENTS CREATE THE IMPRESSION OF SOMETHING COMING INTO ROAD IN FRONT OF CAR, CAUSING REFLEXIVE BRAKING OR SWERVING. IN DAYLIGHT, SUNLIGHT STRIKING INSTRUMENT PANEL REFLECTS IN DRIVER'S EYES AS A BLINDING FLASH OR BAND OF LIGHT. I REPORTED THIS TO MANUFACTURER AS PART OF DISPUTE THAT INCLUDED OTHER DEFECTS (RATTLES AND SQUEAKS IN DASH AREA) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD REPOSITION INSTRUMENT PANEL PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN B0014-0. THE REPAIR ATTEMPT FAILED TO CORRECT THE BLINDING GLARE OR THE OTHER DEFECTS. I RECENTLY ACCEPTED AN 2002 AVALON AS A RENTAL CAR AND WAS STUNNED TO FIND THAT THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION PERSISTS IN THE 2002 MODEL.*AK

DEALER STATES THAT EVEN THOUGH THE INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THE VSC SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING THAT THE SYSTEM IS STILL WORKING AS DESIGNED. I HAVE HAD 4 VISITS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM INCLUDING A FACTORY TECHNICIAN. DEALER STATES I HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. *AK

DETAILS: FRONT END "BOTTOMS OUT" AND HITS THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE WHEN EXITING AND /OR ENTERING INCLINES TO STRIP MALLS, ETC. AND V DITCHES ON PUBLIC STREETS WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 25 MPH, AND DURING HIGHWAY DIPS. THE TIRE HITS THE ENGINE SHROUD. THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND DAMAGE TO TIRES WHEN GOING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THIS PROB WAS ADDRESSED WILE VEHICLE WAS IN WARRANTY, BUT THE PROBLEM SOON RETURNED. *JB

DASH BOARD DOES NOT EXTEND FAR ENOUGH TO BLOCK REFLECTION FROM INSTRUMENT PANEL ONTO FRONT WINDSHIELD CREATING A ANNOYING DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED IN FEBRUARY 2000 CONSUMER REPORTS REVIEW OF THE 2000 AVALON. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH CONSUMER GETTING LOCKED IN VEHICLE AS WELL AS BRAKE PROBLEMS. *MR THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN, NEITHER WOULD THE KEY TURN THE IGNITION. THE BRAKE PROBLEM REMAINED UNRESOLVED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE CONSUMER TRIED TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE ONLY WAY THE VEHICLE WOLD STOP, WAS TO TURN THE KEY AND THE SHUT THE MOTOR OFF. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE IGNITION PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND THE BRAKE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. *SC *JB

2000 TOYOTA AVALON XLS STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS. NAR 07/10/2003.*MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND BECAME STIFF ON FREQUENT OCCASIONS. PLEASE TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IN RESOLVING MATTERS. *CB THE DEALER ROTATED AND BALANCED THE TIRES, AND PERFORMED SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB

PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS ON 2000 TOYOTA AVALON XLS.*MR *CB

VEHICLE TAKEN IN SERVICE DEPARTMENTS 3 DIFFERANT TIEMS WITH AIRBAG LIGHT ON, TECH UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AT ANY SERVICE LOCATION. HAVE REQUESTED AREA REP BE NOTIFIED AS SERVICE MANAGER STATED HE CANNOT GUARRANTY THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT;MALFUNCTION CONTINUES.*AK

DASHBOARD DOSENT COME OUT FAR ENOUGH TO KEEP THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FROM REFLECTING ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, PUTTING A BRIGHT LIGHT ON THE WINDSHIELD IN FRONT OF YOU EYES

SPEEDOMETER IS NOT READING SPEED ACCURATELY. VEHICLE IS ACTUALLY GOING 8 MILES FASTER THAN WHAT THE SPEEDMETER IS READING. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER RECEIVED A SPEEDING TICKET. CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 76 MPH, BUT POLICE RADAR INDICATED 84 MPH.*AK

CONSUMER HEARS SQUEAKING NOISE IN BRAKES IN FORWARD AND REVERSE MOTION, DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM WITHIN THE SYSTEM. *SLC

CONTINENTAL GENERAL TIRE P205 65 R15 EXPERIENCED A BREAK IN THE BELT IN THE SIDEWALL. *SLC

AS NOTED ON PAGE 52 OF THE FEBRUARY 2000 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS, THERE IS AN "ANNOYING GREEN REFLECTION FROM THE WINDSHIELD AT NIGHT." THIS IS CAUSED BY THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD NOT EXTENDING FAR ENOUGH TO BLOCK LIGHT FROM THE GAUGES AND THE RADIO FROM STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE SUN IS AT JUST THE RIGHT ANGLE BEHIND THE CAR, SUNLIGHT STRIKES THE BOTTOM OF THE CLEAR PLASTIC COVER FOR THE GAUGES AND IS REFLECTED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES. THE SAME THING HAPPENS AT NIGHT WHEN LIGHT FROM HEADLIGHTS BEHIND THE CAR ARE REFLECTED FROM THE CLEAR PLASTIC GAUGE COVER ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES. I HAVE FOUND THAT PLACING A PIECE OF PAPER ON TOP OF THE DASH, EXTENDING TWO MORE INCHES TOWARDS THE DRIVER BLOCKS MOST OF THE GAUGE LIGHT AND REFLECTIONS FROM THE GAUGE COVER ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FAULT. THE TOPS OF THE DASHES ON ALMOST ALL OTHER CARS EXTENDS FURTHER OUT TO BLOCK LIGHT FROM THE GAUGES STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD. THESE LIGHTS AND ESPECIALLY THE REFLECTIONS THAT I DESCRIBED CAN BE VERY BRIGHT AND VERY DISTRACTING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTS. TOYOTA SHOULD EITHER PROVIDE A NEW TOP TO THEIR DASH OR A DASH TOP EXTENDER (THAT HAS BEEN TESTED AND FOUND TO BE SAFE IN ACCIDENTS). IN ADDITION THEY SHOULD INSTALL A SWITCH FOR TURNING OFF THE LIGHT FROM THE RADIO AT NIGHT (SO OWNER'S WHO FIND THIS LIGHT REFLECTED ON THE WINDSHIELD DISTRACTING CAN TURN IT OFF), AND THEY SHOULD PROVIDE A NON-REFLECTIVE COATING FOR THE TOP OF THE WOOD GRAIN TRIM ON THE CENTRAL VENT, WHERE SUNLIGHT CAN ALSO BE REFLECTED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THIS LIGHT IN PARTICULAR CAN BE EXTREMELY BRIGHT. ALL OF THESE REFLECTION IN WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS ARE VERY ANNOYING AND DISTRACTING AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

IN DAYTIME WHEN SUNLIGHT REFLECTS OFF THE DASHBOARD IT MAKES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS BLINDING. AT NIGHT THE LIGHT FROM THE DASH PANEL REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD. TOYOTA HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK