Toyota Avalon Complaints (1998)

178 consumer complaints on file.

#10293704November 27, 2009
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
RAPID ACCELERATION WHEN PUT IN REVERSE.WENT OUT OF GARAGE AT UNCONTROLLABLE SPEED. OVER RODE BRAKES. I WAS TRYING TO AVOID HITTING CARS AND HOUSES. STOPPED ACROSS STREET IN NEIGHBOR,S YARD. I HEARD A LOUD WHEN IT STOPPED. I APPARENTLY TURNED THE IGNITION OFF,BECAUSE IT DID,T HIT ANYTHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291777November 10, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, WHILE IN REVERSE OR MOVING FORWARD A LOUD METAL NOISE IS PRESENT IN THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER STATED THAT BRAKE FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE AND THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE BAFFLE WAS LOOSE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FUEL TANK HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,950 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,920.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286218October 4, 2009
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
RETAINING HOOK ON DRIVER SIDE FLOORMAT HAS BROKEN OFF CAUSING FLOORMAT TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS BRAKE AND GAS PETALS. FOOT GETS CAUGHT ON MAT AND BLOCKS PETALS. HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR AS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE AREA UNDER RUG TO SECURE HOOK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248532November 11, 2008
SEATS
FRONT SEAT POWER MOTOR/SWITCH FAILURE - WENT TO ADJUST SEAT AND IT WENT FORWARD AND WOULD NOT STOP AND I HAD AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME EXITING VEHICLE. I AM A WOMAN AND WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE SMALLER THAN ME DRIVE MY VEHICLE. ALSO UNABLE TO GO TO WORK. SEAT MOTOR SHOULD NOT FAIL - THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH SAFETY HAZARD. HAVE TO TAKE TO TORRANCE TOYOTA WHERE PURCHASED VEHICLE FOR REPAIR. LOST DAY'S WORK AT THE COURT OF APPEAL ON SPRING STREET IN LOS ANGELES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240693September 2, 2008
TIRES
I'VE NOTICED MY TIRES THIS MORNING ARE STARTING TO TEAR I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 5 TO 7000 MILES ON THEM I HARDLY USE THE CAR,HOWEVER I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE,I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM UNTIL NOW I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS TAKEN CARE OF, NANKANG SPORT NS-1 215-45-17. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230027June 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
UPON TRYING TO START MY CAR, MY KEY WOULDN'T TURN. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE A WARN OUT KEY, SO I TRIED MY SECOND MASTER KEY AND WHEN IT WOULDN'T TURN EITHER I TRIED MY SUB KEY WHICH FAILED JUST AS WELL. I KEPT TRYING WITH MY TWO MASTER KEYS, TAKING THEM OUT AND PUTTING THEM BACK IN REPEATEDLY. UNTIL FINALLY AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES MY IGNITION TURNED OVER. MY CAR STARTED AT TIMES EASY AND KIND OF EASY FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS FOLLOWING THAT. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED TO ACT UP AGAIN SOMETIMES NOT TURNING OVER AT ALL AND LEAVING ME STRANDED OR MISSING WORK. THIS NOW OCCURS EVERY SINGLE TIME I TRY TO START MY CAR. GOD FORBID SOME ONE FOLLOWS ME TO MY CAR I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET AWAY. I'VE CONTACTED NUMEROUS REPAIR COMPANIES, MECHANICS, SAVAGE YARDS, AND PARTS STORES WHO HAVE ALL POINTED ME IN THE DIRECTION OF THE DEALER OF THE MAKE/MODEL BECAUSE OF THE DEFERMENT/IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALER I'VE LEARNED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, IT WILL COST ME A PRETTY PENNY. NEW PARTS WILL HAVE TO BE ORDERED AND OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218879February 22, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
I OWN A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON, WHICH IS EXPERIENCING CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA 98E035000. SPECIFICALLY, HVAC FAN WORKS SPORADICALLY. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS REFUSE TO CHECK WIRING HARNESS FOR RECALL ELIGIBILITY, AS CALLED FOR IN NHTSA: 98E035000. DEALERSHIPS WILL ONLY RUN VIN THOUGH DATABASE, INSTEAD OF CHECKING MANUFACTURE DATE OF WIRING HARNESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200637August 23, 2007
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
1998 TOYOTA AVALON - WITHOUT WARNING, THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER & FANS QUIT WORKING. THIS IS INTERMITTENT. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO GO OUT. THIS CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF WE ARE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, OR ANYWHERE FOR THAT MATTER, DURING A COLD SPELL AND THE DEFROSTER SUDDENLY GOES OFF. SEARCHING THE INTERNET THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.....AND WHAT IS TROUBLING IS THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF IT AND HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BUT EVEN THAT YOU HAVE TO PULL TEETH TO GET A COPY. IN FACT TO GET THEM TO TELL ME THERE WAS AN ISSUE I HAD TO TELL THEM THE TSA NUMBER I HAD FOUND. THEY ORIGINALLY TOLD ME THEY HAD NO INFORMATION. THEY ARE NOT MAKING THIS KNOWN TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181365February 1, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TOYOTA AVALON 1998 STALLING WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOYOTA AVALON 1998 STALLING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. JANUARY 29, 2007 NEARLY INVOLVED IN A BROAD-SIDE ACCIDENT WHEN CAR STALLED BEGINNING TO ENTER ROADWAY, ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAD TO SWERVE AROUND NARROWING AVOIDING A COLLISION. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH AVALONS AND CAMRYS THAT IS WELL-DOCUMENTED BY OTHER OWNERS ON THE INTERNET. DEALERSHIP REPLACED AIR FUEL SENSOR ON JANUARY 19, 2007, CAR STALLED AGAIN THE VERY NEXT DAY ON HIGHWAY. THE CAR IS NOW BACK IN THE SHOP AS OF JANUARY 31, 2007, WITH DEALER UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INCIDENTS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS THAT SEEM TO BE ESCALATING. UNSAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE AS IT WILL CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR WITHOUT WARNING. CAR HAS LESS THAN 40,00 MILES ON IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180800January 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1998 TOYOTA AVALON AT 45 MPH, THE OIL LIGHT TURNED ON, AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179144January 19, 2007
SEATS
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS NOT DRIVING HIS VEHICLE WHEN HE FOUND A BEARING NUT LAYING IN THE BACK SEAT OF HIS VEHICLE WHICH CAME FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. DUE TO THE MISSING BEARING, THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS NOT POSITIONED PROPERLY ON THE TRACK AND HE COULD HEAR METAL GRINDING UNDER THE SEAT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151265February 26, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE FRONT SUSPENSION RATTLES REALLY LOUD WHEN GOING OVER SMALL WASHBOARD TYPE BUMPS OR ANY DISTURBANCES IN THE ROAD. THIS IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY STRUT MOUNT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133740August 22, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS:HAND CONTROL/VALVE
ON A 98 TOYOTA AVALON XLS: THE A/C AND HEATING SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY OCCASIONALLY. THE FRONT AND REAR DEFOGGERS FAIL ALSO. WHEN THE SHUT DOWN OCCURS, THE AIR VENTS EMIT VERY HOT AIR, EVEN THOUGH THE THERMOSTAT IS SET FOR A/C. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT STARTED RAINING AND THE DEFOGGERS FAILED TO OPERATE. IT APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL WIRING DEFECT FOR WHICH I HAVE APPEALED TO TOYOTA TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY,BUT WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126206June 22, 2005
EQUIPMENT
THE AC CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTLY; SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING A WHILE. IN ADDITION TO CAUSING DISCOMFORT, THIS ALSO IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SINCE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WILL NOT DEFOG. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM (AC00599) BUT THERE IS NO RECALL. THE REPAIR COST ME OVER $1,000. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINT FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM AND I FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR MY EXPENSES. THE DEALER TOLD ME TOYOTA WOULD NOT, HOWEVER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119607May 3, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
SEVERE RUSTING ON REAR BRAKE ROTORS ON A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON EFFECTIVELY REDUCING THE BRAKING POWER OF THE CAR. JOHN SUMMERS A DISTRICT PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER REPRESENTATIVE OF TOYOTA STATED THAT BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS IS REDUCED, HOWEVER, HE STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL. HE ENCOURGED ME TO FILE THIS REPORT WITH YOUR OFFICE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116651April 9, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
THE ENTIRE HVAC SYSTEM OF THE CAR SHUTS DOWN. BLOWER, HEATER, DEFROSTER, A/C ARE ALL INOPERATIVE. CANNOT BE ACTIVATED MANUALLY. WINDSHIED QUICKLY FOGS. HOURS OR DAYS LATER, OPERATION RETURNS TO NORMAL. PROBLEM RECURS WITHOUT PATTERN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106438January 16, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM. NO AIR CONDITIONING, HEATER OR FAN OPERATION. COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF SYSTEM. WILL SOMETIMES WORK AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THIS BECOMES VERY SERIOUS BECAUSE FRONT WINDSHIELD WILL NOT DEFOG. TOYOTA RELEASED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON DEC. 3, 1999. BULLETIN AC005-99 THEY KNEW THAT THE SYSTEM HAD A FLAW SO THEY REDESIGNED AND UPDATED THE (ECU) A/C AMPLIFIER. ITS THE BRAIN FOR THE COMPLETE HEATING AND A/C SYSTEM. I PLEAD MY CASE WITH THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY CALLED TOYOTA AND TOYOTA REFUSED MY REQUEST TO HAVE THE PARTS AND LABOR COVERED BECAUSE OF A BAD DESIGN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105762January 4, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
THUNKING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT FROM AREA OF FRONT WHEEL ON PASSENGERS SIDE DETERMINED BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE A STRUT MOUNT, WHICH APPARENTLY IS A PROBLEM KNOWN BY TOYOTA. CAR HAS ONLY 55,000 MILES ON IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101773December 17, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
THE HYDRAULIC UNIT THAT HOLDS UP THE HOOD MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SMASH HIS HAND DUE TO HYDRAULIC UNIT'S FAILURE TO HOLD UP THE HOOD. *AK *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10092435October 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN WAS DEFECTIVE. IT WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. OWNER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THEY REPAIRED IT ONCE IN JUNE 2003, NOW THE HORN IS DEFECTIVE AGAIN. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE HORN WASNEVER REPAIRED, IT DOESNOT RESPOND AT NORMAL SPEED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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