Toyota Avalon Complaints (2003)

293 consumer complaints on file.

#10516018June 10, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A GARAGE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.....UPDATED 07-10-13 *BF.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508923April 20, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE AN ERRATIC ACCELERATION PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 TOYOTA AVALON CAR THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE WITH TOYOTA. THE CAR DOES NOT GO FORWARD WHEN I DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM STATIONERY POSITION. WHEN THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED FURTHER, IT LURCHES FORWARD WITH A JOLT. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT IS NOTICEABLE MANY TIMES. I GOT MY CAR CHECKED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT I GET THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY CLEANED. I GOT THIS WORK DONE. IT SEEMED TO HAVE IMPROVED FOR A WHILE BUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP ON JAN 3, 2013 AND AGAIN ON APRIL 13, 2013 BUT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM SINCE IT HAPPENS ERRATICALLY AND NOT ALL THE TIME. I INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM DOES HAPPEN AND THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR ALMOST A DAY BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE IT. THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING IN A STOP AND GO TYPE OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER DATED APRIL 4, 2013 TO THE TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN CALIFORNIA BUT THEY TELL ME THAT THE VEHICLE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THIS PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO THE ERRATIC ACCELERATION PROBLEMS REPORTED FOR OTHER TOYOTA CARS IN THE PRESS. I THINK TOYOTA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT AT THE EARLIEST SINCE IT IS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME NOW.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505783April 10, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE ON THE SIDE OF A CONDO AND NEEDED TO PULL UP APPROXIMATELY 2 YARDS. I GENTLY PRESSED THE GAS PEDDLE AND THE CAR SHOT FORWARD, WENT OVER THE CURB, TRAVERSED SEVERAL FEET OF GRASS AND SLAMMED INTO THE CONDO PATIO BRICK WALL. I WAS STUNNED. HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS NOT HURT BUT THE WALL WAS DAMAGED IN THE AMOUNT OF $2500 FOR REPAIRS. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND, AGAIN, THE CAR SHOT BACKWARDS, EXTREMELY FAST. MY BRAKES WORKED SO I JUST MISSED SLAMMING INTO THE CARS BEHIND ME IN THE PARKING LOT. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND SAT THERE. THEN STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT BEHAVED NORMALLY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, NOW I AM FRIGHTENED OF MY CAR AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503692March 19, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON THIS DATE THE CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A STEERING COLUMN UPPER BRACKET REPLACEMENT. TODAY MARCH 19TH, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR REGULAR MECHANIC FOR FRONT BRAKES AND TO CHECK BECAUSE THE KEY WILL COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND IN DRIVE OR REVERSE RATHER THAN PARK. IT WAS ALSO POINTED OUT TO US BY OUR MECHANIC THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER LOCKS WHICH HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE THEY DID THE RECALL WORK BUT WE JUST REALIZED TODAY. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL US ABOUT THE RECALL AND WE EXPLAINED WE HAD TAKEN IT IN FOR THE BRACKET. SO, IN SHORT, SINCE TOYOTA REPLACED THE BRACKET ON THIS RECALL, THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER LOCKS AND THE KEY WILL COME OUT IN DRIVE WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, WHICH SHOULD NOT OCCUR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494822January 26, 2013
STEERING
THE STEERING STARTED TO BIND WHEN IT STARTED GETTING COLD. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT FELT LIKE NO POWER STEERING EXISTED INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE MAKING TURNS IT WOULD ALSO BIND, MAKING IT HARD TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL BACK AS I AM COMING OUT OF THE TURN, WHICH WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION. INITIAL REPAIR SHOP SUGGESTED CHANGING THE SERPENTINE BELTS. THAT DID NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. NEXT I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED UPPER STEERING SHAFT. THIS SEEMED TO IMPROVE BUT NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. I JUST WENT BACK, AND NOW THEY REPLACED THE STEERING RACK AND LOWER SHAFT. NOW IT APPEARS CORRECTED. WHILE LOOKING ON THE WEB, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE, SO I FEEL THIS SHOULD QUALIFY AS A SAFETY RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10491519January 5, 2013
STEERING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
75 N TRAVELING 65 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD SNAP UNDER CAR. CAR TRIED TO VEER TO LEFT SEVERAL TIMES PULLED BACK THOUGHT IT WAS UNDER CONTROL WHEN SPEED INCREASED CAR DARTED RIGHT HEAD ON INTO RETAINING WALL BOUNCED OFF DID 2 1/2 360 DEGREE SPINS HIT WALL AGAIN BROADSIDE AND FINALLY CAME TO STAND STILL. WHEN SPEED INCREASED AND CAR SHOT TO RIGHT ALL CONTROL WAS LOST. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10490915January 3, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
9/17/2010 ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I ENTERED A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND STOPPED WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED GOING THRU A FENCE AND HITTING A STONE WALL WHEN THE CAR STOPPED. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY REPAIRED THE CAR AFTER A TOYOTA REP. EXAMINED THE CAR. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM [XXX] FROM TOYOTA DATED 10/25/2010 THAT STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY TYPE OF MANUFACTURE DESIGN OR DEFECT. DAYTONA TOYOTA DID AN AOH RECALL ON THE CAR DURING THAT TIME. MY BACK AND NECK WAS STRAINED AND I HAD CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS, HEAT THERAPY AND MASSAGES FOR TWO MONTHS PAID BY MY INSURANCE. 11/05/2012 ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I ENTERED A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND STOPPED WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED OVER THE CURB HITTING A STOP SIGN. THE SIGN RIPPED THE LEFT OUTSIDE MIRROR OFF THE DOOR, SCRAPED AND BENT THE FRONT AND BACK DOORS ON DRIVERS SIDE. THE CAR NOW SITS IN MY GARAGE WRECKED BECAUSE I WILL NOT TURN IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT ON MY INSURANCE BECAUSE MY PREMIUM WENT UP AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT. I WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN BECAUSE THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG AND IT IS A BLESSING THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE SIDEWALK NOR A CAR ON THE STREET WHEN MY CAR ACCELERATED. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG NOR DO THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO CUSTOMERS WHO TRUSTED THEIR VEHICLES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10489133December 18, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10488707December 13, 2012
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL SENSORS FAILED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHIN 1,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE PART WAS MOST LIKELY DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE SENSOR WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD LOW MILEAGE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 34,955. UPDATED 1/23/13 THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OF THE SENSORS ALSO AFFECT EMISSION (FUEL AIR RATIO). UPDATED 02/12/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10488626December 12, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AS I WAS BACKING OUT FROM A SPACE IN A PARKING LOT, MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND I HAD A HARD TIME GETTING IT TO STOP WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE WHEELS WERE TURNED IN A SHARP LEFT POSITION. THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS AT A HIGH REV. THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR CRASHED INTO TWO CARS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT AISLE BEFORE COMING TO A HALT. THE WHOLE EVENT LASTED JUST A FEW SECONDS. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484955November 16, 2012
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT QUICKLY REGAINED CONTROL AS HE MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION ARM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476427September 20, 2012
STEERING:COLUMN
2003 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED OVER A YEAR AGO, HE WAS DRIVING INTO A GARAGE, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY, AND HE HIT A BRICK WALL. THE CONSUMER REALIZED HE ACCIDENTALLY, HIT THE ACCELERATOR, INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. IN 2003, THE STEERING COLUMN DID NOT TELESCOPE AND TALL DRIVERS, SUCH AS HIM HAD A PROBLEM SELECTING THE DEGREE OF TILT ON THE STEERING COLUMN. BECAUSE HE COULD NOT EXTEND THE STEERING COLUMN, ON THAT OCCASION, HE TILTED THE STEERING WHEEL DOWN, BUT FURTHER THAN HE USUALLY DID. THE RESULT, WAS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BLOCKED HIS RIGHT LEG FROM MOVING TO THE LEFT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464205July 4, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PARKED TOYOTA AVALON WAS STARTED, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION OCCURRED. BRAKES INEFFECTIVE SO HIT PARKED CAR IN FRONT EXTREMELY HARD. TRIED TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL BUT IT SLIPPED INTO REVERSE AND HIT CAR PARKED BEHIND. FINALLY GOT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF ENGINE. VERY, VERY SCARY. NO INJURIES, NO POLICE REPORT, NOTIFIED INSURANCE TO COVER DAMAGES TO CARS. WILL HAVE TOWED TO TOYOTA FOR INSPECTION. IF NOTHING FOUND, I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN. WITNESS SAID CAR "JUMPED UP AND ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLE". *JS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463261June 27, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V354000, STEERING REPAIR PERFORMED IN AUGUST OF 2003 AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE STEERING RECALL REMEDY INCLUDED REPLACING THE STEERING INTERLOCK DEVICE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CLOCK SPRING. WHENEVER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DEALER OFFERED SEVERAL SOLUTIONS, BUT NONE OF THEM HAVE WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453616March 30, 2012
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOUND NO CODES STORED DURING VEHICLE CHECK. ILLUMINATION OF WARNING LIGHT IS INCONSISTENT, HAS NO APPARENT CONNECTION TO SPEED OR CONDITIONS, BUT HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY. DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE, AND THE APPARENT TREND OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM ON A RANGE OF TOYOTA AVALON MODEL YEARS, INACTION BY NHTSA AND TOYOTA MUST CEASE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437875November 30, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A SQUEALING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V539000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE 2003 MODELS, ONLY 2004. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 01/04/12*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 2008. UPDATED 01/09/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437676November 29, 2011
AIR BAGS, SUSPENSION
AIR BAG LIGHT ON SINCE I HAVE THIS VEHICLE DEALER CANNOT FIX IT . ALSO NOISE FROM PULLEY LOUD NOISE I SEE A RECALL ON THE 2004 AVALON BUT NOT ON THE 2003 BUT IT'S MAKING THE SAME NOISE AS THE 2004. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421613August 26, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE EXHIBITED SLUDGE. THE CONTACT HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE WHO CONFIRMED THE SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THE ENGINE BUT THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417846August 7, 2011
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG SYSTEM LIGHT IS NOW LUMINATED ON DASBORD WHICH INDICATES INDICATES THE SYSTEM IS DISABLED. THIS STARTED ON 8/1/2011 HAD AUTO REPAIR SHOP DO SCAN DOWN ON VEHICLE AND NO CODES ARE APPEARING TO SHOW PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2003 FROMTOYOTA DEALERSHIP. CURRENT ODM READING 97,500. ANY BODY ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM?WILL BE CALLING TOYOTA MANUFACTURER. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416796August 2, 2011
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
HELLO IM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS. 1. IVE RECEIVED AN RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 2003 TOYOTA AVALON FOR "STEERING PROBLEM UPPER BRACKET". AND HAVE, TRIED TO REMEDY THIS, ONLY TO FIND OUT TOYOTA, OFFERS NO COURTESY VEHICLE?. OR A DEFINITE TIME YOUR VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED?. 2ND THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER DEFECT ON THIS CAR, WHEN GOING OVER "ROUGH" ROADS AND BRAKING, THE CAR FEELS LIKE ITS NOT BRAKING AT ALL. OR LIKE THE BRAKES ARE SLIPPING?. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ON THE 2003 AVALON? THERE HAVE BEEN NO INCIDENTS TO DATE, BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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