2006 Toyota Avalon Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE INCREASED TO 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER THE CURB TWICE, ACCELERATED AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED BEFORE THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE CONTACT REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT OFFER IT SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED OVER A YEAR AGO. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,857. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,500.

DRIVING CAR ON HIGHWAY ENGINE STARTING KNOCKING. OIL LIGHT WAS NOT ON. NEXT DAY CAR RAN 1/4 MILE AND ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. CHECKED OIL AND THERE WAS NONE IN THE ENGINE. THIS WAS ONE WEEK AFTER HAVING AN OIL CHANGE AND 70,000 MILE FULL SERVICE. TOWED TO DEALER. WAS TOLD THE OIL PIPE HAD CORRODED AND BROKEN OFF. HOW THIS HAPPENS IN A 2 YEAR OLD CAR I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND. EITHER A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. *TR

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

CAR HAS 32000 MILES AND HAS BEEN KEPT IN A GARAGE SINCE NEW. DASHBOARD IS SO SHINY, WE CAN NO LONGER DRIVE IT. TOYOTA HAS DELAYED GETTING THE REPLACEMENT DASHBOARD FOR MOST OF 2015, AND NOW SAYS IT COULD BE ANOTHER YEAR TO YEAR AND A HALF. WE CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE THE SUN SHINES OFF OF THE DASHBOARD, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. THE REFLECTION IN THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD IS SO INTENSE, THAT WE HAVE ELECTED NOT TO DRIVE IT (IT WAS OUR PRIMARY CAR), SO WE WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A NEW HONDA. I'M A DISABLED VETERAN, AND THIS REALLY HURT OUR BUDGET - BUT WE HAD TO HAVE A DEPENDABLE CAR. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE ELEVATED TO A SAFETY RECALL TO FORCE TOYOTA TO STEP UP AND PRIORITIZE REPLACEMENT DASHBOARDS.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER WARNED THE CONTACT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH HIS VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ADDED OIL AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS BEING A VVTI OIL LINE RUPTURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 48,500.

MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON IS EQUIPPED WITH A LASER CRUISE CONTROL. ON 06/14/08, I WAS USING THE CONTROL WHEN IT FAILED. I WAS FORCED TO SUDDENLY APPLY THE BRAKES TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE TRAVELING IN FRONT OF ME ON INTERSTATE 495. I HAVE TESTED THE UNIT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE INITIAL FAILURE AND FOUND IT TO BE INTERMITTENT AND UNRELIABLE. I HAVE FOUND IT IS UNSAFE TO USE THE SYSTEM. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2006 TOYOTA AVALON AND CAME UPON A FOUR WAY STOP . THERE WERE TWO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF HER THAT WERE STOPPED AT THE FOUR WAY STOP STREET. SHE EXPERIENCE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE CAR WAS UNCONTROLLABLE AND CRASHED INTO THE BACK END OF A VAN IN FRONT OF HER THAT WAS STANDING STILL. IT CAUSED $9,000 DAMAGE TO HER CAR AND SHE WAS TAKEN TO MA HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES TO HER LEG AND KNEE. THE INJURY TO HER LEG CAUSED HER TO HAVE A OPERATION ON IT AND DAILY MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR OVER TWO MONTHS. NOW SHE HAS A KNEE PROBLEM THAT WILL REQUIRE A REPLACEMENT OPERATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE. WE TRIED TO TRADE IN OUR AVALON INTO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR A NEW AVALON AND THE DEALER SAID HE WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE THE TRADE VALUE $8,000 DUE TO THE CAR BEING WRECKED. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR ALL OF THE RECALLS FIXES BUT THE WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE THE FEAR OF ANOTHER SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR

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

MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON(TOURING) HAS A LOUD KNOCKING/CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. DEALER SAID THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 AVALONS AND CAN BE FIXED BY REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN AT A COST OF $700-800. CAR HAD 42K MILES JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND OFFERED NO TOYOTA HELP UNTIL I TOLD HIM I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH TOYOTA REPAIR WAS MADE. 15K-20K LATER ,SAME PROBLEM. SECOND STEERING COLUMN REPLACED.15K-20K LATER..SAME PROBLEM..DEALER LUB THE LINKAGE,15K-20K LATER SAME PROBLEM,DEALER LUB THE LINKAGE AGAIN. AT 98000,SAME PROBLEM,MY TOYOTA WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AT 96K AND THE DEALER WANTED $800 TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN,HIS COST AMOUNT.AREA TOYOTA REPR.SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE ,MORE OF A NUISANCE FACTOR. SHOULD BE A TOYOTA RECALL TO FIND THE FIX. JUST REPLIED TO A TOYOTA SURVEY. HAVE NOT REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN..WAITING FOR AN UPDATE ON THE SURVEY. LIKELY WILL NOT BE CONTACTED. *TR

MY VEHICLE 2006 TOYOTA AVALON , SINCE I HAD BOUGHT IT HAS ALWAYS ACCELERATED SO I WOULD JUST SLOW IT DOWN (TAPPING ON THE BRAKES). I ASSUMED THIS WAS NORMAL SINCE I DID BRING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TELLING THEM. MAY 3, 2008 I WAS IN A BAD CAR ACCIDENT ON 75 NORTH. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WHEN I WENT TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR IT WENT INTO THE GUARD RAIL AND AFTER THAT WHEN I WOKE UP MY CAR SPLATTERED ALL OVER THE FREEWAY. I WAS FINED BY THE POLICE UNABLE TO CONTROL MY CAR. WENT TO COURT TO FIGHT IT AND I HAD TO PAY $140.00 PLUS THEY WANTED ME TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE ON THE FREEWAY $3,000.00. I HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE CAR AND MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *TR

ON MAY 2008 I WAS IN A ONE CAR ACCIDENT ON THE MAJOR FREEWAY, DETERMINED BY THE POLICE AND SITED A TICKET FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. ALL I REMEMBER IS MY CAR ACCELERATED AND I WENT TO SLOW DOWN AND LOST CONTROL. MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND IN PIECES ON THE FREEWAY. THIS VEHICLE HAD ALWAYS ACCELERATED SINCE I HAD PURCHASED IT AND DETERMINE THAT IT WAS THE TYPE OF CAR AND WAS NORMAL. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE UNTIL WHEN I WENT TO TAKE ANOTHER VEHICLE TO GET REPAIRED I ASKED THEM IF THEY HAD A RECALL WITH ALL OF THE MEDIA EXPOSURE. AT THAT TIME THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY DID HAVE A RECALL AND I ASKED AND WAS TOLD. *TR

OVER TWO YRS NUMEROUS TIMES AVALON TOYOTA ACCELERATED, BROUGHT IN TO BE CHECKED X2 TO BE TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG, HAPPENED TO OTHERS IN HOUSE ALSO. HAD RECALL FIX DONE, DID IT AGAIN. JUMPS FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATION. TOO AFRAID TO WAIT , TRADED IT IN, LOST ALOT OF $ BUT FEEL SAFER. OTHER DEALERS TO SEND TO AUCTION. *TR

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A DEAD STOP, THE ENGINE IDLES AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS POSSIBLY DUE TO THE EMISSION CONTROL. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALER, THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN TRAVELING UPHILL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,000. UPDATED 03-25-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AT LOW SPEEDS THE ENGINE REVS AND AFTER INFORMING THE DEALER HE WAS INFORMING NHTSA THE DEALER FOUND A FIX FOR THE DEFECT. THE CONSUMER STATED STILL SHIFTS UNEVENLY. UPDATED 03/25/08 *TR

2006 TOYOTA AVALON GAS PEDAL DOES NOT PROVIDE POWER UNTIL DEPRESSED OVER 50 PERCENT TRAVEL THEN IT SUDDENLY PROVIDES POWER REPRESENTATIVE OF HALF THROTTLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF WHEN IT DOES DELIVER POWER UNDER THIS CONDITION. ON RARE OCCASIONS WHEN MOVING FROM STOPPED POSITION THE CAR ACCELERATOR IS OVERLY SENSITIVE AND ACTS LIKE I JUST STOMPED ONTHE GAS PEDAL AND NOT THE SLOW MOVEMENT I GAVE TE GAS PEDAL TO MAKE A SLOW MOVEMENT OF THE CAR. I HAVE GOTTEN USED TO THE WAY IT DRIVES AND IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR THE PAST 10 MONTHS. TODAY THE GAS PEDAL HAS VERY LITTLE RESPONSE TO THROTTLE RESPONSE. I CANNOT DRIVE IT THIS WAY AND HAVING CAR TOWED TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. SOME DAYS AFTER DRIVING OVER 30 MINUTES THE CAR ACTS NORMALLY WITH EXCEPTION OF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *CN

I STARTED TO NOTICE A CLUNK WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT WHICH I THOUGH T WAS UNUSUAL. IT CONCERNED ME THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE A WORN LINKAGE OR BALL JOINT AND THE CAR HAD ONLY 21,000 MILE ON IT. WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN A BAD LOT OF A STEERING LINKAGE PART PUT ON CERTAIN AVALONS THAT THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY. THEREFORE, NO RECALL WHICH DISTURBED ME. I THOUGH TOYOTA WAS KNOWN FOR OUTSTANDING QUALITY! THE CAR NOW HAS 26,300 MILES AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER ISSUES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE TIRE WOULD SPIN AND THE BRAKES WOULD AUTOMATICALLY APPLY. THE CONTACT COULD NOT FEEL THE VEHICLE SPIN, BUT THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED TO INDICATE THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS APPLIED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUNCTION WAS NORMAL AND THE TRACTION CONTROL COULD NOT BE DEACTIVATED. THE DESIGN FLAW OCCURRED ONLY IN THE SNOW. THE VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 20,000. UPDATED 03/13/08. *LJ

STEERING COLUMN IN 2006 AVALON EXHIBITS PULSING RATCHET TYPE VIBRATION AND NOISE. MOST SEVERE WHEN TURNED AT LOWER SPEEDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES IT WOULD ACCELERATE AND LUNGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57000.

STEERING WHEEL CLUNKS DURING ACCELERATION, BRAKING, AND ROTATING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALER FOR WHICH THEY INDICATED THAT THE "STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT" HAD FAILED AND SO THEY REPLACED IT. WHILE PICKING UP THE CAR, I HAD ASKED TO EXAMINE THE OLD SHAFT AND NOTED CORROSION AND WEAR ON ONE OF THE SPLINES. THE CAR ONLY HAD 16,500 MILES ON IT. IF THE SPLINES WERE COMPLETELY WORN, THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE COMPROMISED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT TOYOTA HAD A FIX TO THIS ALREADY, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. UPON ENTERING THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF HOT GASOLINE AND BURNING WIRES. THE VEHICLE IS A SMART START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. WHILE BEING PARKED FOR TWO HOURS, THE VEHICLE HEATED THE ENTIRE GARAGE AND WAS HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS 120-150 DEGREES. HE BELIEVED THAT IF HE HAD NOT ENTERED THE GARAGE AT THAT TIME, A FIRE MAY HAVE OCCURRED. HE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,300.

WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM THE ON RAMP AND WITH PLENTY OF TIME UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS MY TOYOTA AVALON, UPON ACCELERATION THE ENGINE ACTUALLY CUT OUT I MEAN WITH A SERIOUS HESITATION THAT I COULD NOT RESPOND TO IN TIME. THE AUTO QUICKLY APPROACHING MY REAR VEERED INTO THE NEXT LANE CAUSING THE THIRD CAR TO RUN OFF ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THIS IS INDEED A HIGHLY SAFETY PROBLEM. I ESCAPED WITHOUT A SCRATCH TO MYSELF OR CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE BUT NOT TO THIS EXTENT. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THOMPSONS TOYOTA IN PLACERVILLE CA 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND EACH TIME THEY TELL ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ACCELERATION. I HAVE ABOUT 10,000 MILES ON THE CAR NOW BUT THE PROBLEM SURFACED LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT IT. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS I NEED THE CAR AND I MUST DRIVE THIS SAFETY AFFECTED PRODUCT. THE CAR IS OK AFTER YOU GET TO 60 MPH. ON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP POSITION A 4 CYL. COROLLA AND HONDA CAN PERFORM BETTER, IN FACT I HAVE A TACOMA TOYOTA 4 CYL 1999 WITH 100,000 MILE THAT ALSO ACCELERATES BETTER THAN MY AVALON. *JB

STEERING VIBRATIONS AND CLICKS WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

THE PROBLEM SEEMS RELATED TO THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROBLEM NEVER OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD OR FROM A STOPPED POSITION. PROBLEM IS NOT CONSISTENT ON AVERAGE OCCURRING ONCE A DAY DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM: IN PARKING LOT OR AFTER LOT OF LOW SPEED DRIVING FORM TRAFFIC PROBLEM OCCURS?.. ACCELERATE THE RPMS RACE ON THE TACH AND THE SPEEDOMETER IS OUT OF SINK THERE IS A DELAYED RESPONSE A SHUDDER, SHIFT TIMING FEELS OFF KILTER, ERRATIC HUNTING, THEN A HARSH FORWARD THIS MAY BE A ONE TIME EVENT OR SEVERAL IN SUCCESSION AND THEN RETURNS TO NORMAL SHIFTING PATTERN 2- CRUISING 30 MPH PROBLEM OCCURRED GAVE IT SOME GAS... TACH SHOT TO 4K DELAYED FORWARD ENGAGING THEN THE CAR DROVE ITSELF FOR 1/4 MILE WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. *TR

I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY AROUND A ROTARY, AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR TO DRIFT A BIT TO ALLOW A PRECEDING CAR TO ENTER. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL GENTLY, THERE WAS A SUDDEN VIOLENT KICK WHICH FRIGHTENED BOTH ME AND MY WIFE. (I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHIFTED IN LOW, BUT IT WAS AS IF WE HAD BEEN HIT IN THE REAR WITH A LARGE SLAPPING HAND!) I HAD TO REACT QUICKLY TO AVOID BEING DRIVEN INTO THE CAR AHEAD BY THIS SUDDEN SMALL BURST OF SPEED. AN ACCIDENT COULD EASILY HAVE OTHERWISE TAKEN PLACE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN ERRATIC AT TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, BUT THIS WAS THE WORST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED. I HAVE HAD THE LATEST COMPUTER UPGRADE ON THIS PROBLEM INSTALLED, AND IT WAS WITHIN 1 DAY AFTER THAT THIS TOOK PLACE. I HAD READ ALL OF THE NHTSA SAFETY REPORTS ON THIS CAR, AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SIMILAR. IN MY MIND THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM WHICH NEEDS ADDRESSING. (A SIMILAR BUT MUCH LESS VIOLENT SERIES OF INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WHEN IN CRUISE CONTROL GOING SOMEWHAT UPHILL, WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTS AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP NOTICEABLY AND IN SOME CASES SO MUCH SO THAT I HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT OF CRUISE FOR A BIT) SUCH UNPREDICTABILITY MAKES BOTH MY WIFE AND I FEEL UNSAFE IN THIS CAR AT THOSE TIMES. *JB

TWICE SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS CAR, THE TORSION ROD HOLDERS WHICH HOLD THE TRUNK LID OPEN HAVE FAILED, CAUSING THE LID TO CRASH DOWN ABRUPTLY. THE FIRST TIME OCCURRED AT ABOUT THE DATE SHOWN ABOVE. THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON APRIL 4, 2011(46,000 MILES) SHORTLY AFTER MY WIFE LIFTED THE LID TO REMOVE SOME GROCERIES. SHE NARROWLY ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY WHEN IT SLAMMED DOWN. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THERE MUST BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN WHICH HAS CAUSED THIS TO OCCUR TWICE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE FORCED TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM WHICH I'M SURE IS NOT JUST LIMITED TO MY VEHICLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DECREASING SPEED TO 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD 2 TO 3 FEET. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE AND THE RPM'S RAPIDLY INCREASED. THE VEHICLE SOUNDED AS IF A JET WERE TAKING OFF WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST DID NOT INDICATE ANY FAILURE CODES. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE SINCE IT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH WHEN IT LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN BY ENGAGING THE BRAKES OR NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE DRIVING MAT WASN'T THE CAUSE OF THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING. ON THREE OCCASIONS HE SPOKE WITH LEXUS, TOYOTA AND THE DEALER. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE FROM AUGUST 11TH TO AUGUST 13TH AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT READ AN ARTICLE RE: LEXUS 350 ES EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6950 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7295.

DRIVING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY, USING THE IR LASER CRUISE CONTROL, AND FOLLOWING A PICKUP TRUCK AT A SPEED BELOW THE "SET" SPEED OF THE CRUISE SYSTEM. AS WE APPROACHED A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THE TRUCK SLOWED AND MY CRUISE APPLIED THE BRAKES ON MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON AS IT SHOULD. I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE AND TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP BEHIND THE PICKUP. AT THAT POINT, EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE TOTALLY NORMAL. BUT AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE BRAKE PETAL SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY BRAKES. (TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE). I MANAGED TO FIND A HOLE THRU THE TRAFFIC, BY ENTERING THE ONCOMING LANE, AND RAN THRU THE INTERSECTION (AGAINST THE RED LIGHT), AND MANAGED TO AVOID VEHICLES AT THE LIGHT BY TURNING LEFT 90 DEGREES. FORTUNATELY, OTHER DRIVERS AT THE INTERSECTION APPARENTLY SAW ME COMING AND HELD THEIR POSITIONS. THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED ROLLING ABOUT 100 YARDS BEYOND THE INTERSECTION. I SHIFTED INTO "PARK" AND TRIED TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AGAIN, THE PEDAL RESPONDED AS NORMAL. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH INDICATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISENGAGED, AND THERE WAS NO OTHER WARNING LIGHT NOTICED. I HAD THE VEHICLE TRANSPORTED TO SCOTTSBORO, AL BY FLATBED TRUCK. IT HAS BEEN AT THE TOYOTA DEALERS FOR THE PAST SIX DAYS. THEY CHECKED THE COMPUTER FOR CODES, AND TELL ME THAT NO CODES WERE STORED. THEY ALSO SAID THEY CALLED TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH A FAILURE OF THIS NATURE, AND TOYOTA APPARENTLY TOLD THEM THEY DID NOT. INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE DID TURN UP A PROBLEM WITH THE IR LASER SENSOR, WHICH WAS MISALIGNED, BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT WOULD NOT CAUSE A BRAKE FAILURE. INABILITY TO STOP A VEHICLE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. HAD THE TRAFFIC PULLED INTO THE INTERSECTION AS THEY SHOULD HAVE, I WOULD HAVE HAD NO PLACE TO GO, AND AN SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE LIGHTS AND GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,632 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,861. UPDATED 4/1/11 *CN UPDATED 1/13/2012 *LN *TR

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR

(1) HEAVY BRAKING TO AVOID A COLLISION LEADS UP TO THE ONGOING FAILURES (2) FAILURE IS THE FRICTION LOCK FOR THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL SLOWLY RELEASES DURING NORMAL STOP AND GO DRIVING AND AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, A HEAVY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES WILL CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO COLLAPSE INWARD RESULTING IN NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AUTOMOBILE. (3) THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS IMPROPERLY LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL TELESCOPE LOCK. THE SECOND TIME THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER AGAIN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND AFTER THE OWNER OF THE CAR SHOWED THEM WHAT CAUSES THE LOCK TO COME UNDONE THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR STATING THAT THE PROBLEM IS "YOU ARE DRIVING WITH THE STEERING FULLY TELESCOPED AND EVEN A BRAND NEW AVALON WOULD DO THE SAME THING". THE DEALER SAID "THIS MUST NOT BE THE CAR FOR YOU SINCE YOU MUST DRIVE WITH THE STEERING FULLY EXTENDED". WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 24,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM FIRST BEGAN APPEARING AT ABOUT 19,000 MILES. *JB

TRANSMISSION HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A BRAKING SITUATION. TRANSMISSION DELAY IMPAIRING ABILITY TO MERGE OR SAFELY CHANGE LANES. REPEATED OCCURRENCES SINCE MAY 2006. CAR IS ONCE AGAIN IN SHOP FOR INSPECTION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK COLUMN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLOOR MAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8,373.

TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY FAILS TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED HALF-TO-FULL TO GAIN SPEED QUICKLY FOR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, ETC. AT TIMES, DOWNSHIFT SIMPLY DOES NOT OCCUR, OTHER TIMES THERE IS A ONE-TO-TWO SECOND HESITATION BEFORE THE DOWNSHIFT/ACCELERATION OCCURS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 20-30 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. TWO OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED ACCORDINGLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE FRONT BODY DAMAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,382 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000. UPDATED 07/19/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/21/10*JB

WHENEVER I ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE ,SUCH AS ENTERING A HIGHWAY FROM AN ON RAMP THE TRANSMISSION WILL HESITATE FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE SPEEDING UP. I UNDERSTAND OTHER OWNERS HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED AND TOYOTA MADE CORRECTIONS COULD NOT FIND IT IN YOUR DATABASE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BURNED. THE CAUSE COULD HAVE POSSIBLY STEMMED FROM A PIECE OF METAL ATTACHED TO A PURSE RESTING ON THE SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE FROM BETWEEN HER CHILD'S LEGS WHERE THE PURSE WAS LOCATED. SHE LOOKED AT THE BACK SEAT, AND DISCOVERED THREE BURNED HOLES ON THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT. THE LOCAL DEALER TOOK PICTURES OF THE FAILURE AND SENT THEM TO THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 45,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,445.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE INSPECTED ON MAY 15, 2007. UPDATED 05/23/07. *JB UPDATED 06/08/07 *TR UPDATED 02/01/08 *LJ

WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE, WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED AND GREEN LIGHT ON,WHEN THE START BUTTON IS PRESSED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WILL BUZZ BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER. ON OTHER OCCASIONS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WILL BUZZ AND THE ENGINE WILL FIRE AND THEN DIE. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES. THE DEALER CHECKED FOR CODES AND THERE ARE NONE. CALLS TO THE ZONE AND DISTRICT OFFICES HAVE OFFERED NO SOLUTION. THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. WE DO NOT USE THE CAR FOR TRIPS IN FEAR IT WILL HAPPEN AND WE WILL BE UNABLE TO START THE CAR AND BE STRANDED A DISTANCE FROM A DEALER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON AN INCLINE SHE ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE UNTIL SHE TURNED IT OFF IN ORDER TO STOP IT FROM ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FLOOR MAT BECAME STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 47000.

MY WIFE LEFT WORK AND EXPERIENCED BRAKING PROBLEMS, HAD TO PUMP BRAKES TO STOP. A FEW HUNDRED FEET LATER SHE CAME TO AN INTERSECTION AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, WHICH DID NOT WORK. SHE ROLLED INTO THE INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TO AVOID BEING T - BONED SHE ACCELERATED AND RAN OFF AN AJACENT ROADWAY STRIKING TREES. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED, AND SHE AND MY TWO SONS HAD TO BE EXTRICATED FROM THE VEHICLE, SUFFERING ONLY MINOR INJURIES. HER ACTIONS TO PROTECT HERSELF AND MY CHILDREN RESULTED IN THE COLLISION, AVOIDING A RIVER WITH HIGH RAPID RUNNING WATER. *AK

I' HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP, APRIL 2006 WITH THE TRANSMISSION/LINKAGE SLIPPING/NOT ENGAGING AT SLOW SPEEDS. IT WAS PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE WHEN MAKING TURNS, BUT ALSO OCCURS WHEN SLOWING DOWN, AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO SPEED UP. ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL; THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS EVEN A PROBLEM!*AK

2006 TOYOTA AVALON. AT LOW SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY AFTER SLOWING, THE TRANSMISSION ACTS AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL, AND SEVERELY HESITATES, WHEN AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO ACCELERATE. DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL. THERE ARE YEARS OF COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE WEB. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SOME HAVE NOT BEEN REAR-ENDED OR STRUCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC FROM A HIGHWAY ENTRANCE RAMP. TOYOTA SHOULD BE FORCED TO REDO THE PROGRAMMING OF THE RESPONSIBLE COMPUTER CHIP OR REPLACE THE CHIP WITH ONE THAT HAS A FASTER CLOCK SPEED. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE HELD LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL INCIDENTS. THE DATE BELOW IS FOR THE LATEST OF NEAR DAILY, USUALLY MINOR FAILURES LIKE SLOWING TO TURN A CORNER.

2006 TOYOTA AVALON - DURING FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, VEHICLE ENGINE REVVED STRONGLY WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE WHILE GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. THE CAR SOUNDED LIKE IT WANED TO GO 60 MPH OR MORE AND LEACHED, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BY PRESSING HARDER ON THE BRAKE.THIS HAPPENED ON 2 OR 3 OCCASIONS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I WAS JUST NOT USE TO THE VEHICLE AND HIT THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL TOGETHER, BUT I HAD SERIOUS DOUBTS. I NOW REALIZE I WAS EXPERIENCING THE CURRENT PROBLEM. IT ONLY HAPPENED DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF DRIVING AND HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ME SINCE. I DOUBT THIS WAS DUE TO A STUCK PEDAL, BUT SOME ELECTRONIC ISSUE IS AT FAULT (PERHAPS THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM). *TR

I OWNED A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING ON MOUNTAIN ROAD, AS I ROUNDED A CURVE, MY CAR SEEMED TO SURGE. A DOG CROSSED IN FRONT OF ME AS I CAME INTO THE CURVE. I SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND COULD NOT GET CAR TO STOP I SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT THE BANK ON EVERY CORNER OF CAR AS WELL AS HEAD ON. CAR FINALLY CAME TO REST ABOUT 150 YARDS FROM WHERE I BEGAN BRAKING. I WAS SHAKEN UP BUT NOT HURT. I AM NOW CONVINCED MY GAS PEDAL STUCK OR SOMETHING ELECTRONICALLY HAPPENED. MY HUSBAND ASKED ME WHAT HAPPENED AND I TOLD HIM I HONESTLY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED. MY VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND MY INSURANCE PAID; HOWEVER, I PURCHASED A 2007 AVALON AND I AM EXTREMELY NERVOUS LIVING HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DRIVING THIS CAR. I DON'T HAVE VIN OR MILEAGE HANDY BUT CAN GET INFO FROM MY INSURANCE AGENT IF NECESSARY. *TR

TOYOTA AVALON 2006 HAS A PROTRUDING PIECE CYLINDER IN THE MID-SECTION OF THE TRUNK THAT HAS A CUTOUT WITH AN EXTREMELY SHARP EDGE. IT CUT MY FINGER WHEN PUTTING GROCERIES IN MY TRUNK AND MY DAUGHTER'S FRIEND WHEN REMOVING LUGGAGE. THIS COULD BE VERY SERIOUS FOR DIABETICS AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT CUTS FOR BOTH OF US. *JB

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

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AT SLOW SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP. IF I AM SLOWING ALMOST TO A STOP AND THEN STARTING UP AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE, THE ENGINE REVS UP, AND THEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD AS THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY ENGAGES. WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED WHEN ANOTHER CAR IS FOLLOWING CLOSE AND THINKS THAT I AM GOING TO MOVE FORWARD BUT CAN'T BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE. I HAVE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD AFTER THE TRANS SLIPS. WE HAVE HAD THIS LURCHING AND SLIPPING INCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES. *JB

ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON XLS, I PRESSED DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE GAS PEDAL CONTINUED TO DEPRESS ON ITS OWN AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF IT. I STOOD ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT TOOK ABOUT 5 SECONDS FOR THE PEDAL TO DISENGAGE AFTER ACCELERATING VERY RAPIDLY. THE THIRD TIME, I HAD TO SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. I AM AFRAID TO PRESS HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL AT THIS POINT AS IT IS A VERY FRIGHTENING SITUATION. A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER WOULD GET INJURED. I WILL NOT LET ANYBODY ELSE DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE OF THIS. THE DEALER HAD NO EXPLANATION WHICH I FIND VERY DISTURBING. HELP!! *JB

(1) TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 11:30 PM, JANUARY 16, 2007. I AM DRIVING SOUTHBOUND IN OUTSIDE LANE ON DIVIDED INTERSTATE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 400' BEHIND VEHICLE AHEAD, HEADLIGHTS ON DIM. WEATHER IS CLEAR, ROADS ARE CLEAR, HOWEVER, AREA HAD RECENT ICE AND SLEET BUT MOST HAS BEEN SNOW PLOWED TO THE ROAD SHOULDERS. TRAFFIC IS LIGHT, WITH VEHICLES AHEAD AND TO THE REAR. SPEED IS APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND I AM WATCHING THE ROAD CLOSELY. PASSENGER IN VEHICLE IS WITNESS. (2) I AM IMMEDIATELY UPON A CHUNK OF ICE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BASKETBALL THAT APPEARED TO HAVE FALLEN FROM THE VEHICLE AHEAD. THERE WAS NO SWERVE BY THE VEHICLE AHEAD TO INDICATE AN ATTEMPT TO DODGE AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD. THE ICE IS SLIDING ON THE ROAD MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE TRAFFIC. I HIT THE ICE WITH MY VEHICLE JUST UNDER THE BUMPER AND INSIDE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. THE OBJECT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED BY MY VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS IN TIME FOR ME TO BRAKE OR MANEUVER AROUND IT. THE IMPACT BROKE MY FRONT BUMPER COWLING, UNDER ENGINE SHIELD AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL MUD GUARD. (3) THE VEHICLE IS MOBILE AND NO PARTS LEFT THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT. A FULL INSPECTION HAS NOT YET BEEN CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE OTHER DAMAGES. NO ESTIMATE OF COST HAS BEEN SECURED ALTHOUGH MY ESTIMATION IS THEY WILL APPROACH $2500. HAVING HAD THIS EXPERIENCE, I QUESTION THE INTEGRITY OF THE HEADLIGHTS ABILITY TO ILLUMINATE AN OBJECT AHEAD OF THE VEHICLE WHILE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON DIM. THIS IS A NEW 2006 MODEL FULL SIZE CAR HID HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS APPEAR TO DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF LIGHTING THE ROADWAY AT A DISTANCE THAT APPEARS TO BE ABOUT 150'. THIS ILLUMINATED DISTANCE IS A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE (LONGER) FROM A SECOND VEHICLE THAT I HAVE ALTHOUGH THE SECOND VEHICLE IS A PICKUP ABOUT 8 YEARS OLDER WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF HEADLIGHT. *JB