Toyota Avalon Complaints (2009)

91 consumer complaints on file.

#10682265February 9, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HIGH BEAMS ON OUR 2009 TOYOTA AVALON SUDDENLY CEASED TO FUNCTION LAST WEEKEND. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE HOUSINGS REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT THEREOF BUT THAT THIS REPLACEMENT IS ONLY COVERED FOR 5 YEARS OR 72,000 MILES UNDER THE "ENHANCED" WARRANTY. WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW 5 1/2 YEARS AGO. THE COST FOR FIXING THIS DEFECT WAS QUOTED AT $2,626 AND NEITHER THE DEALER NOR TOYOTA CORP. WERE WILLING TO ABSORB ANY OF THIS COST TO MAKE IT EVEN REASONABLY AFFORDABLE. NON-WORKING HIGH BEAMS COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THIS MALFUNCTION IS NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT RATHER IS A KNOWN DEFECT. IT SHOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER A LIMITED WARRANTY BUT SHOULD BE A REQUIRED RECALL SO THAT PEOPLE UNABLE TO AFFORD THE EXORBITANT REPAIR COST ARE NOT PUT IN JEOPARDY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680681February 2, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
JANUARY 14TH 2015 WHILE DRIVING DURING THE NIGHT, ALL OF THE HEADLIGHTS EXCEPT FOR LOW BEAMS QUIT WORKING. THIS CAUSED A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHILE DRIVING IN THE COUNTRY ON UNLIT ROADS BECAUSE OF REQUIRING TO DRIVE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT. THESE HEADLIGHTS HAD BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE ONE OF THEM BURNED OUT ON DEC 7, 2011 WHEN THE CAR HAD 38,640 MILES ON IT. WE WERE TOLD THE ORIGINAL BULBS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE NEW BULBS WOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE. AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND WE EVENTUALLY WERE REIMBURSED. WHEN THESE BULBS BURNED OUT WE WERE TOLD BY TWO DEALERS (SEBRING, FL AND CLEVELAND, TN) THAT THE REAL PROBLEM WAS THE MODULES AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED REPLACED AT A COST OF WELL OVER $2,000. TOTAL TIME FOR REPLACEMENTS LASTED 3 YEARS 1 MONTH AND ~62,000 MILES. 3 SETS OF HEADLIGHTS REQUIRED IN SLIGHTLY OVER 5 1/2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. TOYOTA USA HAS REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671966January 12, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
NO HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS JUST LOW BEAM. HARD TO SEE. WE GOT THIS USED CAR 1 1/2 YRS AGO WITHOUT HIGHBEAMS. TOYOTA WANTS TO CHG ME 500$ TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR AND EXTRA 2000$. I FOUND A LETTER TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER THAT THESE HEADLAMPS MAY HAVE A SHORT LIFE AND THEY WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW ASSEMBLY AND NEW BULB. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GOT ONLY AGGRAVATION. NO SATISFACTION ON HELPING ME TO REPLACE THIS EXPENSIVE BULB PROBLEM WHICH OCCURRED. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE RECTIFIED THIS BEFORE SELLING IT TO US. IT IS THEIR PROBLEM TO REPLACE THIS ASSEMBLY AND NEW BULBS NOT MINE. THEY SOLD US A MALFUNCTIONING HEADLAMP UNIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670380January 6, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TURNED ON ENGINE AND TURNED ON HIGH BEAMS. BULBS SHATTERED. TOOK TO THE BOBBY RAHAL DEALER. TOLD THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OF FIVE YEARS HAD LAPSED. WAS UNDER THE 72000 MILEAGE LIMIT, HOWEVER.. HAD TO PAY $166 TO JUST REPLACE THE BULBS. TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HOUSING WOULD COST $900. THIS IS A FACTORY DESIGN DEFECT AND THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A REDESIGNED HOUSING. IF THE DESIGN WAS FAULTY FROM THE ONSET, WHY AREN'T ALL HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES BEING REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER? THE INTERNET CONTAINS HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTED FATALITIES SO I GUESS THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR IS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY....
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10651491October 30, 2014
STEERING
STEERING PLACEMENT LOCK CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AND STEERING COLUMN DROPPED TO LOWEST LEVEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 OTHER TIMES IN CITY TRAFFIC. TRYING TO TIGHTEN THE STEERING PLACEMENT FRICTION LOCK ONLY SEEMS TO HOLD TEMPORARILY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628458August 26, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDSHIELD SHADE FAILED TO RETRACT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10614689July 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY HIGH BEAM AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE BOTH NOT WORKING. THE TOYOTA DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND STATED I NEED TO REPLACE THE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES ALONG WITH A NEW TYPE BULB. I SEE WHERE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY TOYOTA CARS AND TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER MY CAR DUE TO IT BEING OVER THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD OF 5 YEARS BY JUST OVER A MONTH. I ALSO HAVE A TOYOTA PLATINUM EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT WAS TOLD IT DOES NOT COVER MY PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY TOYOTA AS THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM BUT RESTRICT THE TIME FOR REPAIRS FOR WHICH THEY EXTENDED TO 5 YEARS BUT NOT FOR US WHO ARE JUST OVER BY LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OR EVEN LONGER. I BELIEVE AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM THAT MY VEHICLE MAY HAVE MORE LIGHTING PROBLEMS WHICH ARE NOT PRESENT AT THIS TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR IT AT THEIR EXPENSE AS THIS IS NOT A CHEAP REPAIR OF MORE THAN $1000 PER LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598659June 16, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10594842May 29, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOBBLED AND VIBRATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,616.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578441April 9, 2014
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL COLUMN COLLAPSES UNEXPECTEDLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. CULPRIT IS THE ADJUSTMENT FRICTION LEVER BECOMES DISENGAGED AND ALLOWS THE STEERING COLUMN TO COLLAPSE. THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY NO MATTER HOW MUCH ONE ENSURES IT IS TIGHTENED. DEALER AGREED TO FIX UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT TOOK ALMOST 6 MONTHS TO GET PART. IT APPEARED THAT TOYOTA KEPT CANCELING THE PART ORDER ALTHOUGH I WAS TOLD PLENTY OF PARTS WERE IN INVENTORY IN KANSAS CITY. (SERVICE PERSON SAID MAYBE TOYOTA WAS HOLDING PARTS DUE TO A RECALL BUT COULD NOT FIND THAT TO BE THE CASE.) EVENTUALLY, AFTER THE PART WAS ORDERED THE THIRD TIME, AND PRESUMABLY PRODDED BY THE DEALERSHIP, THE PART WAS DELIVERED AND SUBSEQUENTLY INSTALLED. I AM CONCERNED THE PROBLEM WILL REAPPEAR OVER TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577801April 6, 2014
STEERING:COLUMN
LEVER DROPPED HOLDING THE COLLAPSING STEERING COLUMN IN PLACE. HAS BEEN DOING SO FAIRLY REGULARLY SINCE. I CONSIDER THIS A DESIGN DEFECT. THE TOYOTA DEALER STATES THAT ONLY A NEW STEERING COLUMN WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF MORE THAN $1100.00. I NOTE THAT THERE ARE OTHER IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS, AND SINCE THIS IS CONSIDERED A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF AFFECTED AUTOS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554635December 3, 2013
STEERING
TELESCOPIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILS WHILE DRIVING AND STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSES. TOOK TO TOYOTA OF TEMECULA VALLEY AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO KNOWN PROBLEM AND NO TSB. I LOOKED ON LINE THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS. THIS FAILURE OF THIS DEALERSHIP PUTS MY FAMILY'S SAFETY AT RISK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550517November 1, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A BUILDING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ACROSS A 3-FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK AND INTO ONE OF THE STOREFRONTS OF A BUILDING--RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE (CURRENTLY IN THE BODY SHOP) AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE STOREFRONT. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS ON THE SIDEWALK AT THE TIME. THIS IS THE FIRST SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FOR US...BUT APPARENTLY NOT THE FIRST FOR THE 2009 AVALON. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550127October 30, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) LAMP BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,842.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547223October 8, 2013
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513099May 22, 2013
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10512565May 17, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, STEERING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502060March 8, 2013
AIR BAGS, SEATS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471718August 21, 2012
STEERING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454412April 7, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota Avalon