2009 Toyota Avalon Complaint Log

THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHEN OPERATING THE CAR WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON RESIDENTIAL, HIGHWAYS AND INTERSTATE ROADS. CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT FOR FEAR THAT THEY WILL GO OUT WHEN I AM DRIVING. DEALER WANTED $2,900 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ADDRESS AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. THE LIMITED TSB WHICH THEY ISSUED WOULD NOT HAVE HELPED ME. WAS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LAMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,920.

THE STEERING COLUMN TELESCOPING MECHANISM DROPS, MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL TELESCOPE ALL THE WAY DOWN WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS THAT WE HAVE HAD THE 2009 AVALON. OUR 2005 DID THE SAME EXACT THING. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT WE NEED TO PAY OVER $1100 TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED AND HAVE THE CAR ALIGNED AGAIN. THIS IS NOT A FREAK THING WITH JUST THIS CAR, AS OUR OTHER ONE WAS THE SAME WAY. *TR

AFTER SITTING IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT GENERAL AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND LIGHT FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATES "OFF". REFERENCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V014000: THIS COVERS PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR ADJUSTMENT WHICH IS PROBABLE CAUSE IN THIS COMPLAINT. UPON CALLING SOUTHEAST TOYOTA ([XXX]) FEBRUARY 20TH, THEY INDICATED VIN WAS NOT COVERED? REQUEST ACTION TO ENFORCE RECALL FOR MY VIN AS IT IS MOST LIKELY CULPRIT FOR LIGHTS; AND MY PASSENGERS ARE AT RISK FOR INJURY DUE TO LACK OF PROPER AIR BAG OPERATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE LOCK FOR THE TELESCOPING ON THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE STEERING TO MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 53,000.

HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS SHATTERED BECAUSE OF FAULTY DESIGN WHICH UTILIZES THEM AS DRL, BUILD UP ON FILAMENT CAUSES HIGH HEAT TO SHATTER BULBS PREMATURELY. I CALLED AND SPOKE TO TOYOTA BUT THEY DECLINED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT SAYING THEY ONLY COVER FOR 5 YEARS OR 72,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE VERY DISINGENUOUS SINCE HOW ARE MILES RELATED TO THIS SAFETY CONCERN. I CAN UNDERSTAND A TIME CUT OFF BUT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE MILEAGE CUTOFF. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND IT IS THEIR DESIGN THAT CAUSES IT SO WHY AREN'T THEY STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT? *TR

HIGH BEAM BULBS FAILED. THESE ARE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AS WELL. THESE MAY HAVE FAILED MUCH EARLIER AND NOT BEEN NOTICED.

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY 09 TOYOTA AVALON, THE LEVER THAT LOCKS THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL IN PLACE BEGAN FALLING DOWN. THREE MECHANICS ALL SAY IT'S A MANUFACTURER DEFECT COVERED BY A BULLETIN AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED, ONLY REPLACED FOR OVER $1000. LAST WEEK A MULTICAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED 100 FT AHEAD OF ME AND WHEN I BRAKED TO AVOID BECOMING PART OF THE DEBACLE, THE STEERING WHEEL DESCENDED INTO ITS LOWEST POSITION, ALMOST FORCING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR. SEVERAL TIMES, I'VE BLOODIED MY KNEE EXITING THE CAR. TOYOTA NA SAYS THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS IS A PRETTY OBVIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT IN A SIMILAR SITUATION AN OPERATOR WILL LESS EXPERIENCE MIGHT BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

TODAY 16 JUNE 2014 I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT, NO HEADLIGHTS FUNCTIONING. I PURCHASED A 2009 AVALON NEW. HAD SEVERE HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS FROM THE BEGINNING. HEADLIGHTS WERE TOO DIM FOR DRIVE AT NIGHT SAFELY (COME TO FIND OUT I WAS DRIVING ON THE FOG LIGHTS ONLY, THE DIM HEADLIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN TURN OFF SO JUST THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ON), AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT ADJUST THEM STATING THAT IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW TO ADJUST THEM MORE THAN THE MANUFACTURER'S SETTINGS, AND THEN THE HEADLIGHT STARTED TURNING OFF COMPLETELY WHEN DRIVING (WHICH WAS MORE THAN TERRIFYING), BUT THE INDICATOR LIGHT INSIDE THE CAR SAID THEY WERE ON. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES, ALWAYS GOT THE SAME ANSWER: "YOUR CAR IS FINE," "THAT'S JUST THE WAY THEY OPERATE". I AM 71 YEARS OLD AND I GUESS THEY THINK I'M STUPID (NOT). FINALLY AFTER MANY TRIPS AND THE HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF COMPLETELY, THEY TELL ME THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE, BUT I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM FIXED. $2600.00 FOR 2 HEADLIGHTS. MY DEALER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE A LONG TIME AGO, BUT MY DEALER NEVER INFORMED ME AND PUT ME OFF AND WOULD TELL ME THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL THE OFFER TO FIX THEM HAD EXPIRED. I'M NOT GOING TO JUST LET THIS GO WITHOUT A FIGHT. TOYOTA KNEW THESE 2009 AVALONS HAD DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS AND DID NOT RECALL THEM. I WILL SPREAD THE WORD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR CARS AND IF PEOPLE ARE SMART THEY WILL GO ELSEWHERE TO BUY THEIR CARS. I AM JOINING WITH CLASS ACTION SUIT TO MAKE TOYOTA FIX ALL THESE DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS. *TR

MARCH 2011 NOTICE HIGH BEAM LIGHT OUT ON MY 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WENT TO REPLACE IT & FOUND NO BULB JUST ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. AFTER REVIEW OF BULB AREA I NOTICED THE BULB HAD DISAPPEARED WITHIN ITS CONFINEMENT AREA. BULB MUST HAVE MELT AWAY. *TR

2009 TOYOTA AVALON XLS [XXX] IN SERVICE 10/31/2008; MILEAGE AT FAILURE UNKNOWN, BUT LESS THAN 42,000. BOTH HIGH BEAM BULBS EXPLODED ON THE VEHICLE. BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM. TOYOTA ISSUED A TSB 0044-10 ON THIS FAILURE 1/27/2010, YET THEY REFUSE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE ISSUE. THE BULBS FAILED DESPITE A CUMULATIVE USE OF LESS THAN 2 HOURS ON THE HIGH BEAMS IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE (I LIVE IN A METROPOLITAN AREA). IF THE BULBS ARE REPLACED, THEY WILL FAIL AGAIN DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE HOUSING. IS THIS PURELY A SAFETY ISSUE, LIKELY NOT BECAUSE THE DRIVER STILL HAS LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. HOWEVER IT FURTHER ILLUSTRATES TOYOTA'S RELUCTANCE TO ADDRESS A KNOWN FAILURE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C . 552(B)(6) *LN

TL* THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY RENTED A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AS HE COASTED OFF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AS IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE RENTAL FACILITY OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

WE HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON, WHICH WE PURCHASED IN MID-NOVEMBER OF 2009. WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH TWO RECALLS ALREADY. EVERYTIME WE USE THE BREAKS AND RELEASE THEM IT MAKES A "THUD" NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT OCCURRED. MY WIFE AND I ARE NOT HAPPY WITH TOYOTA OR NHTSA WHO SHOULD OF RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC THE MANY ISSUES TOYOTA WAS HAVING WITH THEIR AUTOMOBILES IN 2009. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS PROBLEM AUTO IF NHTSA HAD NOTIFIED THE MEDIA OF THE ISSUE IN OCT. OR THE 1ST OF NOV. I DID SEE AN NBC NEWS INTERVIEW WITH MATT LAURER AND THE PRESIDENT OF NORTH AMERICAN TOYOTA WHO STATED THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN LATE OCT. OF 2009. I GUESS THE BRAKES WILL BE THE NEXT ISSUE. IF YOU CAN LET ME KNOW WHY MY NEW TOYOTA (ONLY 5200 MILES) MAKES A THUD NOISE WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKES I WOULD APPRECIATE IT, SINCE MY TOYOTA DEALER DOESN'T KNOW! *TR

THE STEERING COLUMN TELESCOPIC LOCK WON'T STAY LOCKED. YOU CAN BE DRIVING ALONG AND THE STEERING COLUMN WILL COLLAPSE AND BECOME VERY LOOSE. I HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE TURNING A CORNER AND IT CAUSED ME TO LOOSE TEMPORARY CONTROL. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER BEFORE IT WENT OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THEY ADVISED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AT 36,800 MILES I CONVINCED THEM THERE WAS A PROBLEM. AT THAT TIME THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART AT 1/2 PRICE. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IT SHOULD BE REPLACED NO CHARGE. *TR

I BELIEVE THE TOYOTA ACCELERATION ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. I BELIEVE THE CRUISE CONTROL IS BEING INVOKED BY A SOFTWARE BUG AND ALSO THE ACCELERATE FUNCTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SOMEHOW GETS ACTIVATED. I WAS DRIVING A TOYOTA AVALON USING THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL. I DECIDED TO BUMP UP MY SPEED TO I TAPPED "ACCEL" A FEW TIMES. BEFORE I KNEW IT THE CAR WAS AT 85 MPH ON THE CRUISE CONTROL DISPLAY. I DO NOT THINK I WAS ACTUALLY TRAVELING 85 MPH, THOUGH. I HIT THE BRAKE AND IT CANCELLED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. *TR

I'M THE OWNER OF A 2009 AVALON. TOYOTA'S WEB PAGE HAS A CUSTOMER SERVICE PHONE NUMBER, 1-800-331-4331, FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR RECALL FOR STICKY PEDAL AND FLOOR MAT ENTRAPMENT. I'VE CALLED TWICE. EACH TIME I WAITED FOR 1.5 HOURS, THEN DISCONNECTED SINCE THEY NEVER ANSWER BUT KEEP YOU ON HOLD. THIS DEMONSTRATES THAT ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. TOYOTA IS NOT SERIOUS ABOUT THIS RECALL. NHTSA NEED TO INSIST THAT TOYOTA RESPOND TO PHONE CALLS REGARDING THEIR RECALLED CARS. *TR

WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE CAR SURGED. *TR

WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP, JUST AS THE CAR FINALLY COMES TO A STOP, THE ENGINE REVS KICK UP BY A FEW HUNDRED RPM. THIS IS NOT ON EVERY OCCASION, BUT MANY OF THEM ( 50% OR MORE). GIVEN THE RECENT CONCERNS RAISED REGARDING TOYOTA THROTTLE CONTROL AND BRAKE SOFTWARE, I AM BECOMING CONCERNED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD DEACTIVATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,000. UPDATED 7/20/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED FUNCTIONING, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. UPDATED 07/23/10*JB

ACCELLERATION OF VEHICLE. *TR

BRAKE FAILURE ISSUE WITH 2009 TOYOTA AVALON DRIVING SLOWLY (10-15 MPH) DOWNHILL ON VERY SMOOTHLY PAVED RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY STREET; APPLIED SLOW, STEADY PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL ON APPROACHING STOP SIGN INTERSECTION. FELT AND HEARD A RATCHETING, SORT OF GEAR-GNASHING NOISE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, BUT CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD INTO INTERSECTION. LIFTED FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND HIT PEDAL AGAIN, MORE FIRMLY. ONLY THEN DID VEHICLE STOP, ALREADY INTO THE THANKFULLY EMPTY INTERSECTION. BROUGHT PROBLEM TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER'S ATTENTION ON FEBRUARY 12TH (AT WHICH TIME, THEY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THE ACCELERATOR RECALL STATUS OF MY VEHICLE.) WHILE SAID DEALER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RECALL FIX, THEY DID NOT TAKE ANY REMEDIAL ACTION ON THE REPORTED BRAKE FAILURE, ALTHOUGH THEY DID SUGGEST THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE A DYSFUNCTIONAL ENGAGING OF THE ABS. THEY SAID THAT THEIR DIAGNOSTICS DID NOT EVINCE A CONFIRMING PROBLEM CODE(S), NOR DID A SHORT TEST RUN REPLICATE THE GLITCH. THIS IS A VIRTUALLY BRAND NEW 2009 TOYOTA AVALON WITH ONLY 790 MILES ACCUMULATED ON IT TO DATE (THE FIRST 100 OF WHICH WERE ACCRUED ON THE ORIGINAL DEALER'S SALES LOT). IT IS WORRISOME THAT SUCH A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ABS DYSFUNCTION SHOULD BE SHOWING UP SO SOON! *TR

BRAKE FAILURE ISSUE WITH 2009 TOYOTA AVALON DRIVING VERY SLOWLY (110-15 MPH) DOWNHILL ON SMOOTHLY PAVED RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY ROAD; APPLIED SLOW, STEADY PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL ON APPROACHING STOP SIGN INTERSECTION. FELT AND HEARD A RATCHETING NOISE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, BUT CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD INTO INTERSECTION. LIFTED FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND HIT PEDAL AGAIN, MORE FIRMLY. ONLY THEN DID VEHICLE STOP, ALREADY INTO THE THANKFULLY EMPTY INTERSECTION. BROUGHT PROBLEM TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER'S ATTENTION ON FEBRUARY 12TH (AT WHICH TIME, THEY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THE ACCELERATOR RECALL STATUS OF MY VEHICLE.) WHILE SAID DEALER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RECALL FIX, THEY DID NOT TAKE ANY REMEDIAL ACTION ON THE REPORTED BRAKE FAILURE, ALTHOUGH THEY DID SUGGEST THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE A DYSFUNCTIONAL ENGAGING OF THE ABS. THEY SAID THAT THEIR DIAGNOSTICS DID NOT EVINCE A CONFIRMING PROBLEM CODE(S), NOR DID A SHORT TEST RUN REPLICATE THE GLITCH. THIS IS A VIRTUALLY BRAND NEW 2009 TOYOTA AVALON WITH ONLY 790 MILES ACCUMULATED ON IT TO DATE (THE FIRST 100 OF WHICH WERE ACCRUED ON THE ORIGINAL DEALER'S SALES LOT). IT IS WORRISOME THAT SUCH A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ABS DYSFUNCTION SHOULD BE SHOWING UP SO SOON! *TR

TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE I BEGAN THE PROCEDURES TO CORRECTLY PASS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I STARTED TO PASS MY TOYOTA AVALON ACCELERATED BEFORE I COULD CHANGE LANES. I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME REGAINING CONTROL TO PREVENT HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND TO KEEP FROM HITTING A CONCRETE WALL DIVIDING THE NORTH/SOUTH LANES. I WAS BEARING HARD ON THE BRAKE AND I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. I THOUGHT OTHERS ON THE INTERSTATE WOULD BE CALLING POLICE ABOUT MY IRRATIONAL DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS ANNOUNCED. I TRADED THE CAR ON FEBRUARY 4, 2010 BECAUSE I DID NOT FEEL CONFIDENT DRIVING THE CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THE TECHNICIAN MODIFIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,200.

2009 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES ACCELERATOR HESITATION CAUSING A CRASH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHILE STOPPED, SHE NOTED THERE WERE THREE CARS DRIVING WESTWARD AND SHE LET THEM PASS. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS TRAVELING THAT DIRECTION AT THE TIME. SHE WAITED FOR TWO CARS TO PASS DRIVING IN THE EASTWARD BOUND LANES AND NOTED ANOTHER CAR TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. THAT CAR WAS IN THE LANE NEAREST THE MEDIAN AND SHE DETERMINED THAT SHE HAD SUFFICIENT TIME TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT THAT TIME BEFORE THE CAR WOULD BE NEAR HER. WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, SHE RELEASED IT TO PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GO FORWARD, THE VEHICLE EASED INTO THE INTERSECTION, BUT DID NOT RESPOND TO HER FOOT PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ONCOMING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER. THE CONSUMER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. SHE BELIEVED THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS ACCELERATOR HESITATION. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT REGARDING THE FLOOR MAT ISSUE AND THEY WERE DEEMED TO BE SECURELY HOOKED. THE RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE ACCELERATOR PROBLEM WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE ACCIDENT, NOTING THAT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INVOLVED A HARD TO PRESS ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. DURING BRAKE APPLICATION THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. AS A CONSEQUENCE SHE REAR-ENDED THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18000. UPDATED 1/28/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS DRIVING SLOWLY AND WHEN SHE LOOKED TO HER LEFT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED TO TURN AND THEY FAILED TO SIGNAL. WHEN SHE TRIED TO STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED 02/03/10.*JB

MY 2009 TOYOTA AVALON HAS TWO RECALLS. FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE & STICKY ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER 4 MONTHS AGO FROM TOYOTA BUT HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A FOLLOW-UP LETTER FOR REPAIR. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES BY MAIL BUT THEY NEVER RESPONDED. TOYOTA IS INSTALLING BRAKE OVERRIDE SOFTWARE ON NEW AVALONS, HOWEVER IS NOT AVAILABLE AT MY DEALERSHIP FOR MY CAR. MY COMPLAINT IS TOYOTA IS INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE ON NEW CARS BUT IS NOT MAKING IT AVAILABLE FOR MY CAR. THAT IS A SERIOUS MISHANDLING OF SAFETY. TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO TAKE CARE OF CARS ON THE ROAD BEFORE NEW PRODUCTION AVALONS. *TR

MY 2009 TOYOTA AVALON HAS TWO RECALLS. FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE & STICKY ACCELERATOR PEDAL. TOYOTA SAID I CAN HAVE A REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSTALLED IN APRIL 2010. IT'S NOW 2.5 MONTHS LATER AND I'M STILL WAITING. TOYOTA HAS BEEN INSTALLING THE REDESIGNED PEDAL ON NEW CARS COMING OFF THE MANUFACTURING LINE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHILE NOT INSTALLING THEM ON CURRENT CUSTOMER CARS. THEY KEEP HOLDING ME OFF. THEY PREFER TO SAW MY CURRENT PEDAL. I WATCHED THE DEALER DO THIS ON A CUSTOMER'S CAR. A HAND HELD HACK SAW IS USED TO SAW THE PEDAL FOLLOWED BY A HAND HELD METAL GRINDER TO SMOOTH THE CUT. I PAID $35,000 FOR A NEW CAR, NOT ONE HACKED. I AM FILLING THIS COMPLAINT FOR YOUR RECORDS. TOYOTA STILL IS NOT PROPERLY FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THIS RECALL FROM NOV. 2009. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE MADE A TURN ON AN UPHILL SURFACE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEVERELY PULL TO THE LEFT (OR DIRECTION OPPOSITE THE TURN) WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES. ON TWO VISITS, A DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND ON THE LAST VISIT, A DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. WHEN THE CASE WAS ESCALATED TO A REPRESENTATIVE, HE WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE BEHAVED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000. UPDATED 5/10/10 *CN UPDATED 05/14/10.*JB

THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2009 AVALON LIMITED AUTOMOBILE COLLAPSES WHILE DRIVING WITH NO APPARENT REASON. MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ADJUSTABLE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL WHICH ONE CAN ADJUST FOR COMFORT & THEN LOCK INTO ITS SET POSITION. A LEVER BELOW THE STEERING COLUMN ON THE LEFT SIDE IS MADE TO LOCK SUCH POSITION. IN MANY CASES THE LOCKING LEVER DIS-ENGAGES SUDDENLY CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO COLLAPSE WHILE ONE IS DRIVING. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY DEALER BUT TO THIS DATE, THEY HAVE NOT DUPLICATED THE SAME ISSUE. MY OCCURRENCES HAVE BEEN SPORADIC; HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE A MAJOR CONCERN OF ANY DRIVER WHEN THEY LOOSES CONTROL OF A MAJOR STEERING ABILITY OF ANY VEHICLE. *TR

WE PICKED UP OUR NEW 2009 AVALON LIMITED ON 7/31/09. ON 9/7/09, AFTER RETURNING FROM A DRIVE, THE CAR ACCELERATED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AS IT WAS OPENING. WE HAD STOPPED ABOUT 6 FEET FROM THE DOOR TO OPEN IT. AS WE RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR SHOT FORWARD INTO THE DOOR. DAMAGE TO THE CAR AMOUNTED TO $1500, AND ANOTHER $1000 FOR THE GARAGE DOOR. I DID NOT FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM. TOYOTA LATER RECALLED THE VEHICLE TO PUT A SPACER ON THE GAS PEDAL AND TO "RE-FLASH" THE COMPUTER. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL CONTROL SYSTEM AND NOT A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE SPACER WAS THE SOLUTION. I'VE ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A PROBLEM WITH THE FLOOR MATS; BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TO FIX IT. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT AN OVERRIDE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL (TO CUT OUT THE GAS PEDAL) WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF THAT RECALL. THAT MIGHT HELP, BUT I'M STILL WAITING. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ONLY ONCE. ONCE WAS ENOUGH! *TR

AFTER PASSING A CAR AND SPEEDING UP FROM 90KM PER HOUR TO 120 KM I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THE CAR CONTINUED ON IT'S OWN, 120,130, 140 AND TOPPING OUT AT 155KM WHERE AT THIS TIME I HAD ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND COULD ONLY SLOW THE CAR TO 120, WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE ( LITERALLY "STANDING" ON THE BRAKES) THE CAR SLOWED FROM 120 TO ABOUT 30 WHEREUPON MU WIFE SHUT THE CAR OFF. THE TIRES WERE POURING SMOKE OUT OF THEM AND IT TOOK US ABOUT A MILE TO STOP THE CAR. IT IS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON BRAND NEW. HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS REPORTED? *TR

GOING VERY SLOWLY AND HEADING INTO A CURB IN A PARKING LOT, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, AND INSTEAD THE CAR ACCELERATED AND STOPPED ONLY WHEN IT HIT A LIMB OF A LARGE BUSH. IT LEFT A DENT IN MY FRONT BUMPER. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONLY ONE TIME. *TR

BOUGHT AVALON FEB. 2009. WITHIN 1 MONTH CAR BEGAN CREEPING FORWARD AFTER APPLYING BRAKES. THE INCIDENT INVOLVING DAMAGE OCCURRED ON MAY 9, 2009. I STOPPED IN LINE AT THE BANK DRIVE THROUGH. I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STOPPED. I REACHED FOR SOMETHING IN MY PURSE, THE CAR BEGAN MOVING FORWARD. MY REACTION WAS TO PUMP THE BRAKES. NOTHING STOPPED THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD. IT REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. DAMAGE WAS INCURRED TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. $600 WAS PAID OUT BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I TOOK MY CAR INTO TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I HAD PURCHASED CAR. THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THAT NO OTHER PERSON IN THE US HAD COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE OTHER TOYOTA DEALER IN TULSA. I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THERE. THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS AND THE NATIONWIDE COMPUTER REPORTED NO SUCH PRIOR INCIDENTS. I LEFT MY CAR WITH A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A WEEK. HE DROVE IT MANY TIMES BUT DID NOT EXPERIENCE WHAT I HAD DESCRIBED. FROM THE INFORMATION I GAVE HIM, HE SAID HE WOULD BET THE PROBLEM WOULD BE THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE BRAKES. THIS MECHANIC HAS NO CONNECTION TO THE TOYOTA COMPANY. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I LEAVE PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR AHEAD. I STAY READY TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK . THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND AND MY BROTHER WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. NO CRASHED WERE SUSTAINED BY THEM. *TR

MY 2009 TOYOTA AVALON WITH 15000 AIR CONDITIONER QUIT WORKING. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA IN RALEIGH NC THE FIRST THING OUT OF THEIR MOUNT IS A ROCK MAY HAVE HIT THE CONDENSOR AND DAMAGED IT AND THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SURE ENOUGH, WHEN THEY CALLED BACK THEY STATED THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY. I LOOKED AT THE CONDENSOR BEFORE I LEFT THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE. I BELIEVE THIS DEALERSHIP TO BE RUNNING A SCAM FOR DEFECTIVE CONDENSERS. *TR

I WAS BACKING UP INTO A DRIVEWAY AND THE CAR STARTED GOING REAL FAST AND WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE, IT WOULDN'T STOP AND THEN MY SHOE GOT CAUGHT. I RAN INTO A BLD., I TRIED TO MISS IT SO I HIT THE CORNER OF THE BLD. IT WAS A VERY HARD HIT. IT KNOCKED ME SILLY FOR A WHILE. THE CAR I WAS DRIVING WAS A RENTAL CAR WHICH WAS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN # FOR THIS WAS A RENTAL. *TR

PURCHASED 2009 AVALON IN FEB. 2009. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. AFTER BRAKING, THE CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARD UNDER ITS OWN POWER. IT WAS NOT JUST ROLLING FORWARD, THERE WAS POWER. LUCKILY NO CAR WAS CLOSE. I PROCEEDED ON HOPING THIS WAS A ONE TIME INCIDENT. A FEW WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME, I HAD BRAKED TO YIELD TO A CAR IN A PARKING LOT. THE BRAKES STOPPED THE CAR INITIALLY, THEN CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARD AGAIN. I HAD TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE SAME SITUATION HAPPENED TO MY BROTHER WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY. IT HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND AT A LIGHT. BY NOW I AM FEELING APPREHENSIVE WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR. A FEW WEEKS WENT BY WITHOUT INCIDENT. THEN ONE DAY I WAS IN THE DRIVE THROUGH LANE AT THE BANK. I WAS THE THIRD CAR BACK. I BRAKES, THE CAR STOPPED. I REACHED FOR MY PURSE WHEN I FELT THE CAR BEGIN TO MOVE FORWARD. THIS IS WITH POWER. IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION HAS KICKED IN. I STARTED PUMPING THE BRAKES TO NO AVAIL. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. INSURANCE PAID MY DEDUCTIBLE WAS $500. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY SAY THEY CANNOT THE CAR TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE MECHANIC IN THE CAR. SO NO PROBLEM EXIST. WE WERE TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. A FEW DAY LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. NO CRASH THIS TIME. IN ALL THERE HAVE BEEN 8 INCIDENTS. THE DEALER WILL NOT HELP. WE HAD A MECHANIC KEEP THE CAR AND DRIVE IT FOR A WEEK. HE COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO DO THIS. HE GUESSES THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. TOYOTA JUST SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. MY HUSBAND CALLED TOYOTA. THEY SUGGESTED WE TAKE IT TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT. SAME AS BEFORE. IF DOES NOT HAPPEN TO THEM, THEN NOTHING IS WRONG. I HAVE DISCONTINUED DRIVING CAR. I PAID $36,000 FOR THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER APPLIED LIGHT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO EXERT MAXIMUM PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT A CASE MANGER WOULD RETURN HIS CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,300.

The steering latch to adjust steering wheel unlocks while I’m driving causing my steering wheel to drop literally while I’m driving.

2009 TOYOTA AVALON RECALL*CW THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHY NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING TO HELP THE PEOPLE WHO OWN DEFECTIVE TOYOTA'S?