Toyota Avalon Complaints (2009)

91 consumer complaints on file.

#10311548February 17, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311550February 17, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311380February 17, 2010
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310391February 14, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308116February 9, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10297342December 29, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285972October 1, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280698August 17, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276479July 13, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263997April 2, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256495January 27, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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