NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Toyota Avalon. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN HE HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE COMING IN THE ENGINE AREA. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN HESITATING AND WITHIN SECONDS, RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN THE RPMS. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED WITH A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. UPDATED 06/04/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE HAD A HIGH IDLE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE INTO GEAR AT 10-15 MPH AND THEN CATCH WOULD CATCH UP AND DISENGAGE AND THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN. UPDATED 10/14/10
STEERING COLUMN TELESCOPING LEVER DROPS DURING NORMAL DRIVING. FULLY DOWN (ALTHOUGH NOT VISIBLE THROUGH STEERING COLUMN) WITHIN 2-3 HOURS DRIVING. LEAVES STEERING WHEEL WITH FREE PLAY DURING OPERATION. SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH OVER ROUGH SURFACES, BUMPS OR POTHOLES AND TRYING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. HE STATED THAT IT FELT AS IF THE BRAKES WERE RUBBING METAL-TO-METAL; HOWEVER, THE BRAKES RESPONDED NORMALLY AFTER HE DROVE OVER THE ROUGH OR BUMPY SURFACE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 6 TIMES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
I HAVE A SET OF 215/55-17 LIFELINER SLE TIRES BY COOPER TIRES. THEY WERE INSTALLED ON MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON AT 19000 MILES. I HAVE 33000 ON THEM NOW. THEY WERE BALANCED AND ROTATED AT 10000 MILES. I HAVE MADE 3 COMPLAINTS TO DEALER ABOUT TIRES. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY ROUGH RIDING LIKE THEY HAVE KNOTS IN THEM SINCE THE DAY THEY WERE INSTALLED. I HAVE HAD ALIGNMENT CHECKED BY TOYOTA AND IT IS FINE. THE DEALER GIVES EXCUSES EVERY TIME. I THINK THESE TIRES MAY HAVE DEFECTS. THEY ARE GETTING WORSE EVERYDAY. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING AT 10 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLUGGISH WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, AND LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 01/19/07. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL GOES OUT ON HILLS AND LEAVES THE VEHICLE STRANDED. THE CONTACT STATED IT SHUTS THE VEHICLE DOWN AND THEY HAVE TO BACK DOWN AND AVOID HILLS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATES THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE STOPPED WHEN GOING UP A HILL. THE ENGINE WILL RUN FINE WHEN PLACED IN NEUTRAL OR REVERSE, BUT THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHEN IN DRIVE. THE DEALER STATED THIS IS A FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE IS NO REPAIR FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,900. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO NAVIGATE SLIPPERY ROADS. WHEN THE SYSTEM DETECTED SLIPPAGE, HE LOST ACCELERATION AND WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE. UPDATED EVOQ 06/16/11
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON . SHE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT A WARNING. SHE HAD TO INCREASED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES TO BE ABLE TO DECREASE IN SPEED. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY TOLD HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER 4 ADDITIONAL TIMES AND THEY STILL CANT FIND THE PROBLEM. THERE HAD BEEN NO REPAIRS DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39600.
REQUEST TO REMOVE THE KNEE LEVEL AIR BAG FROM THE 2006 TOYOTA AVALON**CC THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS IN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE KNEE BOLSTER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. SHE SUSTAINED FRACTURES TO BOTH FEET, SEVERE CONTUSIONS ON BOTH FEET AND A THIRD DEGREE CHEMICAL BURN ON HER LEFT LEG. *NM
I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON WITH ~15,000 MILES ON IT. INTERMITTENTLY, THE CAR WILL HESITATE ON ACCELERATION. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES, AT TIMES, TO AVOID A SIDE-SWIPE COLLISION. THE DELAY IN INPUT TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO ACTUAL ACCELERATION IS 2-4 SECONDS AT TIMES. THIS IS A PROBLEM KNOWN TO TOYOTA. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DESCRIBES IT AS A "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE SYSTEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS "CHARACTERISTIC" AND I'M CERTAIN WILL RESULT IN ACCIDENTS. THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES ON THE "FORUM" ON EDMUNDS.COM WHERE OWNERS HAVE EXPRESSED THE SAME PROBLEM/CONCERN. *NM
WE HAVE FOUND THE AUTO LEVELING HEADLIGHTS (HID) TO BE AIMED MUCH TOO LOW. WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE USING LOW BEAMS AT 55 MPH AND THE HIGH BEAMS ARE NOT NEARLY AS GOOD AS CONVENTIONAL HEADLIGHTS. *NM
I BOUGHT A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON IN SEPT. '06. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AT SLOW SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS. 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. I ALSO HAVE TO WAIT FOR A VERY LARGE GAP IN TRAFFIC IF I'M CROSSING A LANE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AS I NEVER KNOW IF THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP LEAVING ME IN THE ON-COMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. WE HAVE HAD THIS LURCHING AND SLIPPING INCIDENT APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE TIME. ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN REACHING SPEEDS THAT WOULD BE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD A VERY LOUD BANGING NOISE AND LURCHING OCCURRED. UNFORTUNATELY, ON TWO VISITS TO THE DEALER I WAS NOT ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE ACCELERATING AND TURNING A CORNER THE VEHICLE HESITATED, AND THEN LURCHED FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 10/17/2006 - *NM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON XLS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHETHER SHE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE OR IT WAS IN PARK, THE SEATS WOULD MOVE, THE DOORS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK AND RADIO WOULD SUDDENLY TURN ON; SHE BELIEVED THESE ISSUES TO BE CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES IN REGARDS TO THE PROBLEMS BUT NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL REPAIR AND THE ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATE 58,800.
2006 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED HEADLIGHTS HAVE VERY POOR ILLUMINATION BEYOND 2 CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THERE IS A VERY DISTINCTIVE LINE WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS PROJECT AHEAD OF THE CAR AND FROM THERE IT'S VERY DARK AHEAD. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, AT 60 MPH TRYING TO DODGE A DEAR IN THE ROAD THAT WASN'T VISIBLE DUE TO SUCH A POOR HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION. IT'S A DRIVING SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS ADJUSTED/ALIGNED & THEY SAID THEY WERE PROPERLY ADJUSTED AT THE FACTORY & NO PROBLEMS NOTED! *JB
WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS FOR A QUICK ACCELERATION, THERE IS ALMOST A GAGGING SULFUR SMELL INSIDE THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS WHEN ENTERING THE FREEWAY VIA AN ON-RAMP OR JUST PASSING ANOTHER CAR. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A SERVICE DEALER AND RELEASED WITHOUT IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE AT THE END OF THE TRIP WHERE THE DEALERSHIP'S MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE AT THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL. THE LINE WAS TORN AND HANGING FROM THE BRACKET MOUNTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY DUE TO POSSIBLE ROAD DEBRIS. UPDATED 10/4/2006 -*NM
THE TRANSMISSION ACTS ERRATICALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. IF I AM ROLLING THROUGH A STOP SIGN OR JUST IN TRAFFICS AT 5-10 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WILL "HUNT" FOR A GEAR. SOMETIMES IT IS A HESITATION AND SOMETIMES IT JERKS INTO GEAR, DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH TROTTLE YOU APPLY. IF I AM STOP TURN RIGHT ON RED, HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE A TURN BEFORE AN APPROACHING CAR ARRIVES, IF THE TRANSMISSION IS HUNTING FOR A GEAR, I HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT MIGHT BE ONLY FOR 1 OR 2 SECONDS, BUT IT IS DANGEROUS. REPEATED SERVICE TRIPS, SERVICE MANANGERS AND EVEN DISTRICT MANAGER HAS FAILED TO GET ANYONES' ATTENTION. CHECK OUT THIS WEB SITE, HERE ARE 44 PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS:HTTP://FOURWHEELDRIFT.WORDPRESS.COM/2007/01/16/TOYOTA-AVALON-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS-EXPOSE-TOYOTAS-PROBLEM-REPORTING-PROBLEMS/ *TR
THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT, BUT A FOLLOW UP TO COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TOYOTA AUTOMOBILE THAT THEIR THROTTLE STICKS OPEN CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION. MARCH 2006 I BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA AVALON XLS FROM DAVID BRUCE, BOURBONNAIS, IL. ABOUT SIX MONTHS FOLLOWING THIS PURCHASE, I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A RED LIGHT ACCELERATING RATHER QUICKLY. WHEN I LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE WITH THE LEFT FOOT, I PUT MY RIGHT FOOT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PETAL IN AN EFFORT TO RAISE IT. IT WAS NOT STUCK IN A DOWNWARD POSITION AND I WAS ABLE TO RAISE IT UP AND DOWN WITH MY FOOT WITH THE CAR STILL ACCELERATING. AT THIS POINT I STOMPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PETAL MANY HARD TIMES WITH MY RIGHT FOOT. FINALLY THE PROBLEM RESOLVED ITSELF AND THE ACCELERATION STOPPED. I TRIED TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES AFTERWARDS WITHOUT SUCCESS. I LOOKED AT THE ACCELERATOR PETAL, FLOOR MAT, AND THE AREA AROUND IT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THE MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. I TALKED TO DAVID BRUCE ABOUT IT AND FIGURED IT WAS A FREAK OCCURRENCE. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT AGAIN UNTIL THE NEWS MEDIA AND TOYOTA BEGAN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEM. WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED, I DID NOT THINK OF USING THE START/OFF BUTTON TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, BUT AM AWARE OF IT NOW. THE REASON FOR THE LETTER IS THAT TOYOTA IS LOOKING AT THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT AS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM AND I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT THE AREA WHERE THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING. IN MY CASE I AM 95 PERCENT CERTAIN IT WAS NOT A FLOOR MAT THAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATION AS I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY FOOT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITHOUT THE DECREASE ITS ACCELERATION. BUT, IN ALL FAIRNESS TO TOYOTA, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN UNKNOWN REASON WHY MY FLOOR MAT INTERACTED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PETAL THAT I DID NOT SEE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. THE DRIVER STATED THAT ENTERING HER DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 35 MPH. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO HER MOTOR HOME. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
WE HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN THAT VEHICLE IS IN CRUISE, AND ACCELERATES FOR A HILL, THE FORCE IS SO STRONG THAT IT'S LIKE THE ACCELERATOR WAS PUNCHED FOR PASSING. THAT BEHAVIOR HAS EXISTED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. SINCE WE LIVE IN THE HILLY PART OF ARKANSAS, WE NEVER USE OUR CRUISE CONTROL ON LOCAL ROADS. WE HAVE NOTED MANY RECENT REPORTS OF STICKING ACCELERATOR PEDALS, AND HAVE WONDERED IF THE RESULTANT CRASHES WERE ACTUALLY CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTIONING CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE REPORTED PEDAL STICKING ISSUE. IF THAT IS TRUE, THEN TOYOTA'S CURRENT PLANS TO ADD SHIMS WILL NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A DEER AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE, AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN, WHEN SHE HEARD A THUMP IN THE GAS TANK. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE THUMP WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO TESTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
LASER GUIDED CRUISE CONTROL IS UNSAFE...ON CURVES IT IDENTIFIES CARS APPROACHING AS IN FRONT AND PUTS ON THE BRAKES AND MOTOR ACTIVATES TO STOP THE CAR. HAD THIS IN A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT DID NOT GET BETTER. HAVE TO DRIVE WITH IT TURNED OFF. BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA HAS NOW QUIT OFFERING THIS UNSAFE OPTION ON THEIR NEWER MODELS. SHOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS EARLIER. *TR
2006 AVALON ENGINE SURGED. SENT E-MAIL TO TOYOTA AT THAT TIME. AS I RECALL TOYOTA RESPONSE BY E-MAIL WAS "WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY SIMILAR INCIDENTS" I STILL HAVE A COPY OF THE E-MAIL I SENT. *TR
2006 TOYOTA AVALON HEADLIGHTS ARE TO DIM AFTER DARK AND DOES NOT PROJECT FAR ENOUGH TO SEE IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. *KB *JB
PURCHASED 2006 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED WITH NAVIGATION SYSTEM. OVER TIME, NAVIGATION SYSTEM DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. SPOKE WITH NUMEROUS PEOPLE AT TOYOTA, AND THEY ALL AGREED: 1) NAVIGATION SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED 2) THERE IS NO KNOWN SOLUTION 3) TOYOTA IS NOT LOOKING FOR A FIX TO PROBLEM 4) TOYOTA APOLOGIZES FOR SELLING A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND OFFERS NO SOLUTION OR ALTERNATIVE 5) TOYOTA CONTINUED TO SELL NAVIGATION SYSTEMS THAT DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY. *TR
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON MY VEHICLE BUT WAS ABLE TO LOCK UP THE WHEELS IN GRAVEL TO KILL THE ENGINE. NO ACCIDENT RESULTED. I WANT TO INFORM THE INVESTIGATION GROUP THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT FLOOR MAT, ACCELERATOR PEDAL OR ANY OTHER EXCUSE THAT TOYOTA AND THE EX NHTSA EMPLOYEES THAT HIRED TO COVERUP THE REPORTS. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS. TOYOTA HAS A MULTITUDE OF ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS. *TR
I OWN A 2006 AVALON LTD. UPON ENTERING THE ON-RAMP TO ROUTE 23 IN WAYNE, NJ, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR. AFTER CONFIRMING THERE WAS ROOM TO MERGE, I APPLIED THE GAS AND ATTEMPTED TO MERGE. I NOTICED AND HEARD THE TACHOMETER SURGE BUT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE. I LOST MY OPPORTUNITY TO MERGE AND HAD TO QUICKLY APPLY THE BRAKES. BY THEN, THE RAMP LANE HAD ENDED AND I HAD TO TURN ONTO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID HITTING AN ONCOMING CAR. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO TO THE DEALER WHO EXAMINED THE CAR AND STATED THAT THIS WAS/IS "NORMAL OPERATION WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER CARS OF THIS TYPE". I OPENED A COMPLAINT FILE WITH TOYOTA ((#20060719XXX...LAST 3 NUMBERS LEFT OUT INTENTIONALLY). THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT ERRATIC BEHAVIOR (TRANSMISSION HESITATION) UNDER THESE SAME CONDITIONS (BRAKING FOLLOWED BY ACCELERATION). THIS SITUATION SIGNIFICANTLY HINDERS MY ABILITY TO SAFELY OPERATE MY VEHICLE WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. *JB
OUR 2006 TOYOTA AVALON (LIMITED) WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL SET TO HIGHWAY SPEED, ABOUT 60 TO 70 MPH. FOR A REDUCED SPEED ZONE, THE CAR WAS SLOWED BY 10 MPH USING CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER THE REDUCED SPEED ZONE, CRUISE CONTROL SETPOINT WAS INCREASED 10 MPH TO RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS HIGHWAY SPEED, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY TO MORE THAN 80 MPH. THEN, THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED WHICH TOOK CAR OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. THE CAR SLOWED, AND CRUISE CONTROL WAS RESET TO HIGHWAY SPEED. THE PROBLEM DID NOT RECUR ON THAT TRIP IN 2006, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CASES OF UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION SINCE THE ABOVE INCIDENT. *TR
PURCHASED A CERTIFIED, USED 2006 TOYOTA AVALON TOURING MODEL ON JULY 15, 2006. WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP, I NOTICED A SERIOUS HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION, ESPECIALLY AT SPEEDS BELOW 10 MPH. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KOONS TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON JULY 8, 2006 AND HAD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SHOP FOREMAN, DRIVE THE VEHICLE. HE CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS INDEED HESITATING AND THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM FOR 2004-2006 TOYOTA SIENNAS, AVALONS AND CAMRYS THAT SHARE THE SAME 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. CHRIS TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER THAT SELECTS THE APPROPRIATE GEAR BASED ON VARIOUS CRITERIA ANALYZED BY THE SYSTEM IS TOO SLOW IN PROCESSING THIS INFORMATION, WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE HESITATION AND RPM SURGE BEFORE A GEAR IS ENGAGED. I LODGED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA TODAY (CASE NUMBER 200608090063), AND WAS TOLD THAT THE "CORPORATE LINE" IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS BEHAVING AS WAS INTENDED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS ISSUE CAN BE FIXED BY A REPROGRAMMING OF THE COMPUTER OR REPLACING THE CHIP WITH A "FASTER" VERSION. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A TERRIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *NM
LASER CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM: WHEN THE SYSTEM DETECTS A VEHICLE/OBJECT WITHIN THE PROGRAMMED FOLLOWING DISTANCE IT SLOWS THE VEHICLE AS DESIGNED. WHEN THE VEHICLE/OBJECT THEN LEAVES THE DETECTION ZONE THE VEHICLE WILL, IF IT HAS SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY, SUDDENLY DOWN SHIFT AND ACCELERATE VERY QUICKLY. THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IF YOU HAVE CHANGED LANES TO OVERTAKE THE VEHICLE THAT CAUSED YOU TO SLOW. I CANNOT THINK THAT THE MANUFACTURER INTENDED THE SYSTEM TO WORK IN THIS MANNER , BUT IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON ACROSS ALL OF THESE VEHICLES AND NOT A FAILURE. *AK
THE ENGINE SURGED IN MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON BEGINNING JUST AFTER PURCHASE (WHEN I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING THE FIRST FEW TIMES). THIS HAS CONTINUED SPORADICALLY --THE LAST TIME WAS IN EARLY DECEMBER, 2009--ABOUT TEN TIMES. I HAVE REACTED COUNTER-INTUITIVELY, TAPPING THE GAS PEDAL LIGHTLY, AND THE ENGINE SETTLES DOWN. BECAUSE I HAVE PUT 89,000 MILES ON THE CAR DRIVING FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO LA EACH WEEK, I HAVE PRACTICED PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AS A FIRST RESPONSE IF MY LIGHTLY TAPPING THE PEDAL DOES NOT WORK. THE SURGE HAS FELT AS IF THERE IS A GREMLIN IN THE WORKS OF THE CAR PUSHING THE ENGINE. I DOUBT IF THIS IS CONNECTED, BUT MY EMERGENCY BRAKE SETS ITSELF PERIODICALLY--AND I NOW KNOW IF THE CAR IS RUNNING A BIT ODDLY THAT I NEED TO CHECK TO SEE IF THE BRAKE HAS SET ITSELF AGAIN. (ABOUT 30-40 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR) BUT THE DEALERS HAVE REACTED QUIZZICALLY. ONE OF MY SONS HAS BEEN ADAMANT THAT I GET RID OF THE CAR, BUT I AM CONVINCED THAT IF IT BEGAN TO GO OUT OF CONTROL, BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN TURNING OFF THE CAR IF NEED BE SHOULD THINGS SHOULD REMAIN CONTROLLED. I AM NOT NEAR THE CAR OR THE VIN INFORMATION BUT WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THIS AT A LATER DATE. *TR
I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TO HAVE OUR NEW (PICKED-UP 26 JAN 06) TOYOTA AVALON LOOKED OVER AS IT HAD 3,500 MILES. WE LIVE IN THE OZARKS AND OF COURSE IT IS VERY HILLY. I NORMALLY USE THE "MANUAL" MODE ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AS TO DESCEND THE HILLS LEADING INTO AND OUT OF OUR SUB-DIVISION. HOWEVER, ON 23 JUN I JUST LEFT IT IN THE REGULAR AUTOMATIC MODE AND USED THE BRAKES. WHEN I SAW THERE WAS NO ON-COMING TRAFFIC, I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GO---THE RPM'S JUMPED TO OVER 3,000 AND THEN THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS NO ON-COMING TRAFFIC--I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED. I ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK THIS OCCURRENCE OUT--THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT I'VE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS--ALWAYS WHEN LEFT IN THE AUTOMATIC MODE AND AFTER YOU'VE SLOWED DOWN AND THEN PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO GO. I'VE READ ON THE WWW.EDMUNDS.COM WEBSITE ABOUT OTHERS WHO'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG AND BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THE AUTO TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *JB
ON A FLAT SURFACE IN CRUISE CONTROL TRAVELING AT 40+MPH, BRAKES APPLIED, THEN RESUME IS ACTIVATED, AND VEHICLE SURGES AHEAD UNEXPECTEDLY. ON A HILL AT 50 MPH, WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES EXCESSIVELY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS CONDITION HAS EXISTED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. AFTER COMPLYING NUMEROUS TIMES, THE AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALER COULD "DETECT NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL". THEY DID NOT OFFER TO DO A TEST DRIVE. I HAVE PUT UP WITH THIS CONDITION FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOW MUCH WORSE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL DROPPED DOWNWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE UNDER THE WARRANTY COVERAGE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH TILT STEERING AND TELESCOPING STEERING. WHILE DRIVING, THE PRESSURE ARM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH HELD THE TELESCOPING COLUMN IN PLACE BECAME LOOSE DUE TO A VIBRATION. UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB
CAR DID NOT START FOR SEVERAL TRIES. ON ABOUT THE 5TH TRY, THE MOMENT I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE THROTTLE STUCK AND THE CAR HURTLED OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT VEERED TO THE LEFT (AS YOU FACE THE GARAGE) IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLEARING THE GARAGE, CUT UNDER THE BRANCHES OF A BIG SPRUCE TREE ON THE CORNER OF MY NEIGHBOR'S LOT, CROSSED HIS DRIVEWAY, ACROSS A SMALL DRAINAGE DITCH AND SLAMMED INTO THE TRUNK OF A HUGE SPRUCE TREE. CAR STOPPED THEN, WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO REAR, AND ENGINE DIED. CAR WAS DRIVABLE AND I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER, WHO CHOSE TO NOT EXAMINE ANYTHING. DURING THE EVENT, I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES KEPT IT FROM LOCKING THE WHEELS AND I TRIED TO KILL THE ENGINE BY HITTING THE START BUTTON (THERE IS NO KEY ON THIS MODEL CAR). THAT DID NOT WORK AND I HIT THE TREE BEFORE I COULD THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE TO DO. I WAS NOT HURT. *JB
2006 AVALON ACCELERATES FROM 40 MILES PER HOUR TO 100 MILES PER HOUR WHEN IN THE CRUISE CONTROL -- I FEEL MY LIFE IS IN DANGER AND I DO NOT USE MY CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE OF THIS, BUT I AM AFRAID THAT IT MAY COME IN ACCIDENTALLY -- PLEASE HELP ME! *TR
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY TIME HE COMPLETED A TURN IN THE 2006 TOYOTA AVALON ( WITH FAILURE MILEAGE: 5 MILES AT SLOW RATE OF SPEED UNDER 20 MPH, WITH THE FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THEN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING ,THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,109.*AK
TRANSMISSION HESITATES EXCESSIVELY WHEN AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTING AT SPEEDS BELOW 10 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY DAY AND EVERY DOWNSHIFT FROM THE FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP. TERRIBLE CONDITION THAT NO ONE AT TOYOTA IS WILLING TO ADMIT OR FIX. WTF? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED CRACKS AND BECAME STICKY TO THE TOUCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT APPEARED TO BE MELTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000. ..UPDATED 08/11/14 *BF
BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AUG 2005. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. TOOK FEW SECONDS TO RESPOND TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL, FEW TIMES I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM BEHIND BECAUSE OF THAT DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC. *NM
AT TIMES THE ENGINE SPEED DOES NOT INCREASE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. SUCH AS WHEN I STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND AT TIMES WHEN I TRY TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I CANNOT INCREASE SPEED OR WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS IT SHOULD. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN MAKING TURNS AND CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO RESPOND. SHE PULL THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT AN HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION COIL WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED, THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27000.
HID HEADLIGHTS ON THE TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED ARE UNSAFE AT NIGHT ESPECIALLY ON HILLS IN UNLIT COUNTRY AREAS WHEN THE ARC OF LIGHT EXTENDS LESS THAN 2 CAR LENGTHS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE DVD THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR VIEWING. *NM
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY IN MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED, I REACHED DOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD TO ACTIVATE A SHADE SCREEN FOR THE BACK WINDOW IN ORDER TO DEFRAY GLARE FROM HEADLIGHTS AND I PRESSED THE TRUNK BUTTON BY MISTAKE. (WHICH IS LOCATED VERY NEAR BY) THE TRUNK OPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSED ME TO DIVERT MY ATTENTION FROM THE ROAD MOMENTARILY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS FEATURE, ALLOWING THE TRUNK TO BE OPENED BY ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A SWITCH IN THE GLOVE BOX THAT WILL LOCK OUT THE TRUNK BUTTON. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS, WE HAVE A SMART KEY SYSTEM AND THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE TRUNK FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR WHEN THAT BY-PASS SWITCH IS USED. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE TRANSMISSION MOMENTARILY HESITATES BEFORE PROPERLY SELECTING THE CORRECT GEAR TO ENGAGE. THIS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE NEEDED REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT HAVE AFTERMARKET SOFTWARE AVAILABLE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING, HIS VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. . HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. HE KEPT PRESSING THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED GEARS INTO NEUTRAL UNTIL EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE MAY HAVE BEEN THE FLOOR MATS. HE DID NOT HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS AFTER THAT FAILURE OCCURRED IN MARCH 2006. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN 2009 ABOUT THE FLOOR MAT RECALL 09V388000 AND WAS TOLD TO GO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FLOOR MATS REMOVED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,900. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000. UPDATED 2/26/10 *CN UPDATED 09/07/10*JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE DRIVING 55MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR. THE DEFECTIVE SEALS ALLOWED BRAKE FLUID TO DRAIN FROM THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND INTO THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RESERVOIR, BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT NIGHT WITH DIM HEADLIGHTS, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THROUGH COUNTRY ROADS AND MOUNTAINS, BUT DUE TO THE AUTOMATIC EXTERIOR LEVEL LIGHTING THERE WAS POOR VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY THE DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REALIGNED THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS.
I AM USING THIS METHOD TO ALERT THE INDUSTRY TO A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH ALL AUTOMOBILES WITH DRIVING LIGHTS. IN LOW VISIBILITY CONDITIONS- DUSK, FOG, RAIN, SNOW, ETC., THE DRIVING LIGHTS INCREASE THE VEHICLE'S VISIBILITY TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HOWEVER, THE REAR LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN ONLY THE DRIVING LIGHTS ARE TURNED. THIS LACK OF TAIL LIGHTS MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE FOLLOWING A VEHICLE WITH DRIVING LIGHTS ONLY ILLUMINATED. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH MANY DRIVERS WHO FEEL VERY SAFE IN LOW VISIBILITY CONDITIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TURNED ON THEIR DRIVING LIGHTS- UNAWARE THAT THEIR REAR LIGHTS ARE NOT ILLUMINATED, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE AUTOMOBILE FROM THE REAR.. I FEEL THAT THE REAR LIGHTS SHOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE DRIVING LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON, INCREASING THE AUTOMOBILE'S VISIBILITY TO BOTH ONCOMING AND FOLLOWING TRAFFIC. *TR