2005 Toyota Avalon Complaint Log

WEATHER: SUNNY. ENGINE WARM - DRIVEN ABOUT 10 MILES ON THE WAY TO SMALL SHOPPING CENTER. I'M IN NO HURRY, STOPPING TO BROWSE IN A FAVORITE BOUTIQUE. LOOKING FOR A PARKING SPACE, SLOWED VEHICLE TO A CRAWL WHILE SCANNING THE LOT & THEN TURNED SLOWLY ABOUT 45 DEGREES TO DRIFT INTO AN AVAILABLE SPACE WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD OUT OF CONTROL RAMMING THE PARKED VEHICLE FACING THE SPACE I WAS IN. I REMEMBER A LOUD NOISE - WHICH WAS THE ENGINE ACCELERATING: AN UNFAMILIAR SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS JUST ABOUT STOPPED. THEN, THE NOISE OF THE CRASH - ABOUT 6 FT IN FRONT OF THE AVALON AT THE TIME OF THE NOISE & LURCH. THE IMPACT STOPPED THE CAR. I PUT IT IN REVERSE & BACKED AWAY, THEN TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR BY MISTAKE AS IT HAD BEEN ON THE BRAKE WHILE DRIFTING DOWN THE AISLE TOWARD THE OPEN SPACE - THERE HAD BEEN NO ACCELERATION WHILE IN THAT AISLE. TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE SPACE I WOULD HAVE HAD TO APPLY ONLY THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE ; THEREFORE, IF I HAD TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR BY MISTAKE I WOULD HAVE NOT DONE SO WITH ENOUGH PRESSURE TO CAUSE THE WILD ACCELERATION. WITH MY FOOT ABOVE THE BRAKE IN THAT INSTANT WHEN I TOUCHED THE BRAKE TO STOP THE LURCH IT DIDN'T AFFECT THE SPEED OF THE CAR BEFORE IMPACT: THERE WAS NOT ANY HESITATION IN THE ENGINE. NO DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AVALON SUSTAINED SOME BUMPER DAMAGE AND A BENT HOOD - DRIVABLE, BUT I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK I DROVE TO THE EMPTY LOT BEHIND THE STORES AND TRIED TO REPEAT THE EVENT, UNSUCCESSFULLY. I DISCOVERED THAT IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE THAT QUICKLY, I WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR - AN IMPOSSIBILITY AT THE 0 MILES PER HOUR I WAS DRIFTING INTO POSITION IN THE PARKING SPACE. THE CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNINTENTIONAL THROUGH NO ACTION ON MY PART. THE TOYOTA DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. *TR

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVEN TIMES WHERE THE OIL TUBE, HOSE, FILTER HOUSING, STUDS AND DRAIN PLUG CASKET WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,214 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,289. UPDATED 01/12/11*LJ THE DEALER REPLACED, THE DRAIN PLUGS, GASKETS, CRANK SEAL, VALVE COVERS AND OIL PAN. THE MOONROOF DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY NOT CHARGING. UPDATED 04/15/11 THE CONSUMER STATED THE UPPER AND LOWER OIL PANS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/19/11/ *JB

PARKING '05 AVALON WHEN IT ACCELERATED & REAR-ENDED A SUV EVEN THOUGH I WAS BRAKING RESULTING IN ALMOST $3000 IN DAMAGE. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE. HOPING TO HAVE GAS PEDAL REPAIRED AT TOYOTA DEALER WHEN AVAILABLE. WAS NOT AWARE OF MFG DEFECT THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE UNTIL RECENTLY. INSURANCE PREMIUMS WERE INCREASED DUE TO 'AT FAULT' CLAUSE. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

INADEQUATE FORWARD ILLUMINATION OF ROADWAY AT NIGHT WITH LOW BEAMS ON AUTO-LEVELING/ADJUSTING HEADLIGHTS ADJUST TO A SETTING TOO LOW TO PROJECT ADEQUATE LIGHT TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT TO OCCUR ON POORLY LIT AND MARKED ROAD (EACH OF THESE ELEMENTS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT). ACCIDENT CAUSED APPROX $3500 DAMAGE TO TIRES, RIMS, STEERING ASSEMBLE AND UNDERCARRIAGE. *TR

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

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

I HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENCES OF MY CAR SURGING IN MY TOYOTA AVALON. I WOULD PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP BUT WOULD SURGE FORWARD. AT FIRST THIS DIDN'T SCARE ME AND I GOT A LITTLE USED TO IT ACTUALLY SO THAT I THOUGHT I COULD HANDLE IT. BUT IT KEPT GETTING WORSE. I DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN IOWA CITY AND CEDAR RAPIDS A LOT. I WOULD ALWAYS USE CRUISE CONTROL. I WOULD SAY IT HAPPENED TO ME 10-15 TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN CEDAR RAPIDS AND IOWA CITY. I REMEMBER COMING VERY CLOSE TO REAR ENDING SOMEONE WHEN I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO EXIT BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T SLOW DOWN. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2005 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE'S HORN *TGW THE DEALER TRIED TO MAKE REPAIRS BY LUBRICATING THE CONTACT POINTS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE LONGEST TIME THE HORN WOULD WORK, WAS ABOUT 12 MONTHS AND THEN THE PROBLEM RETURNED. RECENTLY, WHEN THE CONSUMER RELEASED THE WHEEL LOCK AND PULLED THE STEERING TOWARD HIM AND RETURNED IT TO THE DOWN POSITION TWO TIMES, THE HORN BEGAN TO WORK . THE CONSUMER THEN BEGAN TO QUESTION THE ELECTRICAL WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THE HORN WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE PAD WAS REMOVED AND THE CONTACT POINTS WERE REPLACED. THE REMEDY LASTED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AND THE HORN FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER LUBRICATED THE POINTS AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SOPS LOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY YET, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND WHEN DOING SO, THE HORN BECAME OPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING SPEEDS OF 5MPH OR LESS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THERE WAS A DELAYED ACCELERATION FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN ACCELERATION FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.

I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA REGARDING THE HESITATION AND ERRATIC SHIFTING OF OUR 2005 AVALON. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE WAY THE COMPUTER CONTROLS THE NEW 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEIR ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION CONTROL. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM,I HAVE READ WHERE MANY OTHER AVALON OWNERS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS. ON SUN.,03/12/06,I HAD JUST EXITED ROUTE 80 EASTBOUND (EXIT 27) IN N.J. AND PROCEEDED TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC ON ROUTE 206 AND HAD TO IMMEDIATELY MAKE A LEFT TURN. AS I PRESSED ON ACCELERATOR,THE VEHICLE SIMPLY DID NOT RESPOND (HESITATION) AND, WHEN IT DID ENGAGE AFTER A SECOND OR TWO,LUNGED FORWARD. THIS STARTLED ALL IN THE CAR (MYSELF AND 2 PASSENGERS) AND WAS A VERY UNSAFE OCCURRENCE AS TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND MOVING FAST. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 7500 MILES ON IT AND WILL BE A YEAR OLD IN JUNE,2006. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE WITH MY DEALERSHIP ON TUES.,03/21. THEY ARE TO GO OVER THE CAR AND CHECK TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY TECH. SERVICE BULLETINS. I HAVE BEEN CHECKING ON EXISTENCE OF TSB SINCE SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE. I AM NOT OPTIMISTIC. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT! THANK YOU. *NM

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

2005 AVALON MAKES A WHISTLING NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE WINDOW, AND THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. GEARS FELT AS THOUGH THEY WERE SLIPPING. *TS ***NAR*** THE INJECTORS MADE A LOUD TAPPING NOISE. THE FRONT END MADE A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN MAKING A SLOW LEFT TURN. THE DEALER INSTALLED WINDOW SEALS TO ALLEVIATE THE WIND NOISE. THE CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLING NOISE ON THE DASH AS IF THE DASH BOARD WAS COMING APART. *NM

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP ON THE INCIDENTS REPORTED UNDER 10142940. WHEN STARTING TO SLOWLY PROCEED FORWARD BEHIND HEAVY TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. I PLACED TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND ENGINE REV'S TO ~7000 RPM BEFORE I COULD SHUT IT OFF. TRIED RESTARTING THE ENGINE ABOUT 6 TIMES WITH IT IMMEDIATELY GOING TO ~7000 RPM. ON ABOUT THE 7TH TRY THE ENGINE STARTED NORMALLY AND RAN NORMALLY UNTIL I REACHED HOME (ABOUT 4 MILES). CALLED DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND THEY DID NOT PARTICULARLY WANT TO SEE VEHICLE AS I COULD NOT REPORT ANY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. I INSISTED ON AN APPOINTMENT AND WAS PUT OFF UNTIL NEXT WEEK. THEY CLAIMED THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA AVALONS AND CAMRY'S EXCEPT FOR MY VEHICLE. CALLED THE DEALER/ZONE CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND PLACED COMPLAINT BUT THEY ALSO DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO EXCEPT CALL TOYOTA ENGINEERING. *NM SEE ALSO VOQ 10142940. *DSY

THREE DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL SHORTS IN A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED WITH LESS THAT 5000 MILES. THE SHORTS WERE IN THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT, AND THE FUSE BOX. THE FIRST AND THIRD SHORT PREVENTED THE CAR FROM STARTING. THE SECOND SHORT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. IT IS A MIRACLE THAT THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. THE SWITCH, ENGINE CONTROL UNIT, AND FUSE BOX HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED 4 TIMES DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. *NM

VEHICLE IS 2005 TOYOTA AVALON FEATURE IS ENGINE SENSOR THAT CAUSES ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN ENGINE WHEN OPERATING TEMPERATURE IS EXCEEDED OR OIL PRESSURE DROPS BELOW TOYOTA DETERMINED LEVEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO TOYOTA FOR 5,000 OIL CHANGE THAT MORNING. SERVICE WAS NOT PROPERLY DONE BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. IN OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE OIL AND ENGINE LIGHTS TURNED ON. WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY TRYING TO GET BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN WITH NO WARNING TO THE DRIVER OR VEHICLES BEHIND THE AVALON. A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WAS BARELY AVERTED. THE AVALON ABANDONED DRIVER ON HIGHWAY AND IMPEDED TRAFFIC. VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY POLICE WHILE OTHER OFFICERS CONTROLLED TRAFFIC. OIL FILTER WAS REPLACED AND THE OIL WAS CHANGED. THIS IN NO WAY LIMITS THE FACT THAT DUE TO DESIGN, THE ENGINE CAN SHUT DOWN WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING TO THE DRIVER OR THE VEHICLES FOLLOWING. WHILE IT IS NICE THAT THE ENGINE CAN SAVE ITSELF, IT SHOULD NOT BE AT THE COST OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER OR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT DUE SUDDEN DECELERATION WITHOUT WARNING TO OTHER DRIVERS. THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OR A CRASH DUE ONLY TO QUICK REACTIONS OF THE DRIVER IN THE VEHICLE BEHIND THE AVALON. *JB

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

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

I HAVE RUST POURING OUT OF MY 4 DOORS ON MY 2005 TOYOTA AVALON AND IT CONTINUES TO BLEED INTO MY PAINT JOB. I HAVE BEEN REQUESTING A FIX FOR YEARS AND THEY JUST KEEP WIPING THE RUST AWAY AND DO NOT FIX THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. I AM NOT ABSOLUTELY SURE BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THEY PUT THE WRONG NUTS AND BOLTS INSIDE THE AUTOMOBILE! STAINLESS STEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED AND THEY DIDN'T? ALSO THEY THINK BECAUSE SAFETY IS NOT THE ISSUE, AND IS STILL FINE YOUR ORGANIZATION WON'T ASSIST ME? I PRAY THEY'RE WRONG. I ONLY WANT WHAT I PAID FOR WHICH ISN'T WHAT I RECEIVED AND IS THAT NOT FRAUD? HAVE A GREAT DAY AND GOD BLESS AMERICA! THANK YOU! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS S 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE OF ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND CONTINUED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NOTE: I HAD TO CLASSIFY THIS VEHICLE AS A CAMRY BECAUSE A SELECTION FOR A 2005 AVALON WAS NOT AVAILABLE - RECENTLY WE HAD OUR FIRST MAJOR SNOW STORM. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHIN MINUTES MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO FREEZE UP AND SHARPLY LIMITED MY VISIBILITY. I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT MANUFACTURE A WINTER (BOOTED) WIPER BLADE FOR THIS VEHICLE. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET (TRICO, ANCO, ETC. WEBSITES) BUT COULD FIND NO AFTERMARKET WINTER BLADES FOR THIS MODEL AVALON. TOYOTA HAD REDESIGNED THE WIPER ARM AND BLADES TO ACCEPT ONLY THE EXPENSIVE ($56 A SET) TOYOTA MANUFACTURED WIPER BLADES. I SENT AN EMAIL TO TOYOTA AND THEY RESPONDED BY TELLING ME TO CHECK WITH MY DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. NATURALLY THE DEALER COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE TOYOTA DOES NOT MANUFACTURE ANY EQUIPMENT SOLUTIONS FOR THEM TO APPLY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA'S RESPONSE AS I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I'M FORTUNATE THAT I DIDN'T DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A DITCH. THE NEXT TIME I HAVE TO DRIVE IN A SNOW STORM YOU CAN BE CERTAIN THAT I WON'T BE DRIVING THE AVALON. *JB

RE: 2005 TOYOTA AVALON// 11/22/05 WE WERE ENTERING THE FREEWAY AND OUR VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE// BOTH FEET ON BRAKE// ACCELERATED TO APPROX 85 MPH// PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL///THE CAR REVVED TO 8000 RPM'S// HEARD A POP AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. WE DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER AND HAVE ALL OF THIS DOCUMENTED. *TR

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WITHIN AN APPROXIMATE SIX MONTH PERIOD THAT THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF WHILE IN OPERATION. DURING BOTH OCCASIONS THE ENGINE SURGED, HESITATED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THE FIRST REPAIR FOR THIS PROBLEM, MECHANICS STATED WAS A FUSE IN THE FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM THAT BLEW. THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY ADVISED AT THIS TIME THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE FUSE TO BLOW. EACH FAILURE OCCURRED DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, CLEAR DRY DAY, FREEWAY DRIVING. *NM

CONSUMER BRAKES DID NOT WORK ON TOYOTA AVALON 2005. *TS (11/17/05) THE VEHICLE ALSO WOULD EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE JUMPED 6 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A HALT. *SC

WE PURCHASED A 2005 AVALON LIMITED. FROM NEARLY THE FIRST DAY WE NOTICED A HESITATION DRIVING. THE SYMPTOM IS THAT THE CAR WILL HESITATE AS IT THINKS ABOUT WHAT GEAR TO GO INTO. THIS IS NOTICEABLE GOING UP A HILL, AND IS AT ITS WORST IN A SLOW TURN WHEN THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT STALL. QUITE SIMPLY THIS IS DANGEROUS AND FROM EVERYTHING WE HAVE LEERED A RESULT OF DRIVE BY WIRE. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. WE SPENT CLOSE TO $35,000 FOR THIS CAR AND IT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON AVALON (AS WELL AS OTHER TOYOTA MODELS).*JB

UNEXPECTEDLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. WENT TO NEUTRAL AND ENGINE SLOWED DOWN. PUT IN DRIVE AND IT TRIED TO RUN AWAY AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALER AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND NO CODES IN COMPUTER LOG. TWICE PREVIOUSLY HAD SIMILAR UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY. BRAKED LIGHTLY TO CHANGE LANES AND CAR UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATED. SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL WITH HEAVY BRAKING AND ENGINE RESPONSE CAME BACK UNDER CONTROL. CAR ONLY HAS 3200 MILES ON IT AT THIS DATE. 9/26/05 INCIDENT WAS AT 1975 MILES ON VEHICLE, PRIOR INCIDENTS WERE PROBABLY A MONTH TO 6 WEEKS EARLIER. *JB SEE ALSO VOQ 10149436. *DSY

I HAVE A 2005 AVALON AND THERE IS A HESITATION BETWEEN THE PUSHING OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACTUAL BRAKING OF THE CAR, THE SAME IS TRUE FOR THE GAS PEDAL. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WENT ON A TEST DRIVE WITH ME AND TOLD ME THAT THESE ACTIONS WERE FOUND IN OTHER TOYOTA PRODUCTS AND THERE WAS NOT YET A FIX ON THEM. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR BACK THREE TIMES AND ON THE FINAL REPAIR TRIP THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WROTE THAT THE CAR WAS TO MANUFACTURER SPECS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE AS OF YET. *JB

DT: THE THROTTLE STUCK TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO FORWARD QUICKLY. WITH A LOT OF EFFORT THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT IT OFF. THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2005. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS THEY TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY DID NOTHING TO ALTER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, BUT THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000 . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. UPDATED 11/09/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. UPDATED 11/09/09

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL PLACEMENT LOCK UNLOCKED SUDDENLY CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE UP AND DOWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 400.

WE HAD HAVE OUR 2005 AVALON LIMITED FOR 2 MONTHS NOW. WHILE THIS CAR IS AN ABSOLUTE GEM, WE HAVE EXPERIENCE THE ACCELERATION HESITATION AS DID OTHER OWNERS. WE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER, AND LUCKILY, HE WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, HE SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ISSUE LIES IN THE COMPUTER ELECTRONICS. HE COULD CHANGE OUT THE "BRAINS" OF THE CAR, BUT IT WOULD NOT ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. HE ADVISED US TO CALL TOYOTA'S 800-NUMBER TO FILE A REPORT IN HOPES OF RAISING TOYOTA'S AWARENESS. *NM