Toyota Avalon Complaints (2006)

360 consumer complaints on file.

#10169664October 1, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167926September 12, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168062September 12, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167875September 11, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167069August 30, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166918August 17, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2006 TOYOTA AVALON SURGED FORWARD AFTER RESETTING CRUISE CONTROL. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE TACHOMETER WENT INTO THE RED BEFORE SHE COULD REACT AND HIT THE BRAKE. AFTER THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO HIT THE BRAKE EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165536August 15, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165573August 15, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165012August 9, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165025August 9, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON ON 24 DEC 2005. ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS WHEN I COME TO A STOP, NO MATTER WHAT THE SPEED IS THE RPM WILL REV UP TO ABOUT 2000 RPM. I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME STOPPING THE CAR. IT IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION & DANGEROUS POSITION I AM IN. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOW. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164797August 3, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
2006 TOYOTA AVALON HEADLIGHTS ARE TO DIM AFTER DARK AND DOES NOT PROJECT FAR ENOUGH TO SEE IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. *KB *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161115June 30, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158289May 25, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156708May 3, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
RE: TOYOTA 2006 AVALON I RECENTLY BOUGHT A TOYOTA AVALON. IT NOW HAS 3800 MILES ON IT. IN THE SECOND WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE, I WAS DRIVING ON A RAMP TO ENTER A LIMITED ACCESS HIGH WAY. SPEED WAS ABOUT 50 MPH AS I BLENDED IN WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE LANE I WAS IN STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THE LANE TO MY LEFT HAD AN OPEN SPACE. I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GAIN SPEED AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARD THE LEFT LANE. THE CAR, INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING, APPEARED TO GO INTO NEUTRAL, THE TACHOMETER REACHED ALMOST 7000 RPM, THEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO THE PASSING GEAR AND LEAPED FORWARD. I ALMOST HIT THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT SINCE MY CAR HAD SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE I WAS ABLE TO STEER AROUND AND GET INTO THE LEFT LANE. I HAVE GONE INTO THIS DETAILED EXPLANATION TO DEMONSTRATE THE DANGER, AND POTENTIAL TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT 50MPH THAT THE ??BUILT IN?? HESITATION OF THE 2006 TOYOTA AVALON COULD HAVE CAUSED. AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE, I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, GOT THE EXPLANATION THAT THE HESITATION WAS NORMAL FOR 2006 TOYOTA AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. I TOLD THE DEALER I DID NOT WANT THE CAR AND WANTED MY MONEY BACK. OF COURSE THAT WAS REFUSED. SO I??M STILL DRIVING A CAR I THINK IS DANGEROUS. I THINKTOYOTA SHOULD MAKE A RETRO FIT TO CORRECT THE HESITATION PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154111March 27, 2006
POWER TRAIN, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
LTR FM (FL) RE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IN HER 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER OVER FIVE TIMES WITHIN IN A SIX WEEK PERIOD. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN SURGE FORWARD WHEN GENTLY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE REAR SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR DIDN'T COME ON AT THE PROPER WEIGHT AS DESCRIBED BY THE SALESMAN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153090March 18, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152451March 11, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151150February 24, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150993February 23, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149958February 10, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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