2004 Toyota Avalon Complaint Log

AIR BAG LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF FOR 1 1/2 YEARS. TOYOTA FOUND NO PROBLEM. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. TOYOTA SAID WIRES LEADING FROM COMPUTER TO UNDER SEAT CAME APART AND WERE SENDING OUT SPARKS. I PAID TO HAVE THIS FIXED. SEVERAL TOYOTA OWNERS W/ DIFFERENT MODELS HAD TO SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BAG LIGHT. *TR

2004 TOYOTA AVALON XLS- WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY ONE DAY LAST WEEK, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. TOOK THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO THE TOYOTA DEALER THE SAME DAY. WAS TOLD THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE NEXT DAY THE SAME PROBLEM, TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALER AND ASKED FOR SOMEONE TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR WITH ME. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT STRONG FORCE. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 6 DAYS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE; HOWEVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP THE ENGINE WAS STILL SURGING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77000.

1. I WAS AT NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE PERFORMING A CEREMONY. AFTER THE CEREMONY I ENTERED THE VEHICLE WITH WIFE TO GO TO THE BASE SHOPPING AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE WITH A CONCRETE TIRE STOP, AND WALL IN FRONT. ENTERED THE VEHICLE TO BACK OUT. IT CAME OUT QUICKER THAN NORMAL OFF AXIS AND THE REAR BUMPER IMPACTED THE CONCRETE PROTECTOR TO A POLE WITH VERY LITTLE DAMAGE. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND FELT NO OUT OF THE ORDINARY INDICATIONS. 2. I PUT IT INTO DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PULL FORWARD THEN BACK OUT. THE CAR ACCELERATED AT FULL POWER SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO KICK OUT THE CONCRETE TIRE STOP BEHIND THE VEHICLE, AND TOTAL THE FRONT END OF THE 2003 TOYOTA AVALON X LS TO THE TUNE OF 17684 DOLLARS.. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 2008 AND HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS, AND NOT BEING A RECALLED AVALON NO WARNING. I WENT THROUGH THE NHTSA DATABASE FOR AVALON FROM 2000--2010 AND FOUND I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OTHERS REPORTED. 3. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WHEN I CALLED CORPORATE LATER IN THE MONTH THEY DID NOT EVEN HAVE THE VEHICLE IN MY NAME. I ASKED FOR AN INSPECTOR AND THEY SENT ONE HIS NAME EMAIL ETC IS ON FILE. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AGAIN THEY SAID I WOULD GET A LETTER FROM THEIR CLAIMS DEPARTMENT. ABOUT THE FINDINGS.IN 2-4 WEEKS. THEY DID NOT OFFER TO PICK UP THE RENTAL OR TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE.. NOTE: I PUT IN SPEED CONTROL AND AIR BAGS FOR I HAD TO PUT IN SOMETHING TO MAKE THE MENU WORK. IT ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE EXACT CAUSE IS TO BE DETERMINED, I COULD NOT CONTROL THE SPEED SO THAT FIT CLOSEST. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY FOR IT HIT ON AN ANGLE, A FLAW IN THE DESIGN. IF YOU ACCELERATE AT FULL POWER INTO A BRICK WALL THEY SHOULD DEPLOY. PARKING SPACE SPEED UNKNOWN PUT IN 30 MPH TO MAKE THE FORM WORK. FORM NEEDS UPDATING THIS SHOULD BE OPTIONAL. *TR

OUR AVALON HAS ABOUT 46,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN DOING THE FOLLOWING FOR THE LAST 10,000; PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT/FAULT INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THIS MAY GO FOR DAYS OR WEEKS WITHOUT HAPPENING, AND THEN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. INDICATOR MAY COME FULLY ON OR ONLY DIMLY ON, FOR SECONDS OR FOR MINUTES. IT APPEARS THAT GOING OVER A BUMPY ROAD WILL TRIGGER THE LIGHT GOING ON OR OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE WATERTOWN MA TOYOTA DEALER FOR ANALYSIS IN OCTOBER 2010 AND TO THE WOBURN MA TOYOTA DEALER ON JANUARY 16 2012. THE INDICATOR DID NOT COME ON WHILE AT EITHER DEALER WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THAT WE NEED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THEM WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE NEITHER DEALER IS CLOSE TO OUR HOME AND THE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF SO INTERMITTENTLY. THE JANUARY 2012 VISIT TO THE WOBURN MA TOYOTA DEALER INCLUDED RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT SAID IT COULD POSSIBLY BE THAT THE AIRBAG WIRING HAD GOTTEN WET AT ONE POINT AND THIS WAS THE RESULT. THE DEALER ADVISED US TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN IT RAINS. (IT IS NOT.) BOTH DEALERS SAID IF THE INDICATOR IS ON THEN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, WHICH IS VERY CONCERNING TO US. A LOCAL MECHANIC ALSO REMOVED THE FRONT SEAT FROM THE CAR TO CHECK THE AIRBAG WIRING BENEATH THE SEAT; THEY DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. ON FEBRUARY 7, 2012, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WITH IT STILL ON. THE MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY PUT ON THE SCANNING TOOL AND NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES SHOWED EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHT WAS ON. HE TAPPED ON THE AIRBAG PANEL ABOVE THE PASSENGER GLOVE COMPARTMENT AND THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES STARTING APPEARING ON HIS SCANNER. BASED ON THE SCAN RESULTS, HE SAID THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS FAULTY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

BACKING OUT OF THE CARPORT IN MY 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. VEHICLE ACCELERATED VIOLENTLY, BACKING UP APPROX. 50 AND STOPPING WHEN IT HIT THE FRONT DECK OF OUR HOUSE. *TR

MY 2004 TOYOTA AVALON SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR GARAGE. IT SPED BACKWARDS ONLY STOPPING WHEN IT SLAMMED INTO OUR FRONT DECK. OVER $5000 DAMAGE, BUT NO INJURIES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT A LOW SPEED THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,000. UPDATED 3/30/2010 AFTER BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE CONSUMER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND IT ACCELERATED. UPDATED 06/04/10

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PRIOR TO THE FAILURE FOR A AIR BAG MANUFACTURER RECALL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 04/14/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG WAS DISCONNECTED. *JS

MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON HAD THE HIGH BEAM LIGHT FAIL AFTER APPROX. 30000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE HIGH BEAM DID NOT WORK. I WAS INSULTED WHEN THEY ASKED, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY DON'T WORK"? I TOLD THEM, "THEY DON'T TURN ON". I WAS TOLD THEY BOTH BURNED OUT AND I SAID THERE WAS NO WAY THEY WOULD BOTH BURN OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THEIR INSULTS CONTINUED WITH, "THEIR THE SAME AGE SO THEY CERTAINLY COULD BURN OUT AT THE SAME TIME." I EXPLAINED WHEN I WENT TO TURN THEM ON ONE NIGHT, ALL LIGHTS IN THE CAR WENT OUT AND I HEARD A POP SOUND. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE REGULAR LIGHTS BACK ON BUT THE HIGH BEAMS HAVE NEVER COME ON SINCE. AFTER THEY CHECKED THE CAR I WAS INFORMED, "THEY DIDN'T JUST BURN OUT, THEY BLEW UP". EVEN WITH THEIR STATEMENT THE DEALER WOULD NOT ADMIT TO ANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME $250 PER LIGHT. WITH THEIR ATTITUDE, I DIDN'T GET THEM CHANGED. I MADE ANOTHER MISTAKE WITH THIS DEALER WHEN I GOT THE OILED CHANGED SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. TOYOTA NOW PROVIDES A BOGUS SAFETY REPORT. MY REPORT STATED ALL THE LIGHTS WORKED. IT ALSO STATED MY REAR WINDOW WIPER WAS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AND DIDN'T NEED TO BE REPLACE. IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN AN AVALON, IT DOESN'T HAVE A REAR WINDOW WIPER. I GUESS THE VIRTUAL ONE WORKS JUST FINE. *TR

SRS AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE LIGHT GOES OFF, THE ONE TIME IT WAS ON THE TECHNICIAN PLACED THE COMPUTER ON IT AND NO ERROR CODE WAS SHOWING EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON AND OFF. ANOTHER TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE MAIN SENSOR MODULE $700+ BUT THE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AGAIN AFTER THE WEATHER CHANGED AND STARTED GETTING COLD. DEALER SAYS I HAVE TO BRING IT BACK FOR MORE DIAGNOSIS, ALSO MORE MONEY. CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE OFFICES AND THEY WILL NOT EVEN TALK TO ME ABOUT REFUNDING THE UNNECESSARY REPAIR COST AS CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THIS BEHAVIOR BEING DOCUMENTED IN THE INTERNET POSTINGS, WHY HASN'T THE NHTSA DIRECTED TOYOTA TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. IF THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY AND MULTIPLE BLOGS HAVE STATED THAT TOYOTA AIRBAGS HAVE FAILED TO DEPLOY IN MULTIPLE INSTANCES. I THINK A MAJOR RECALL IS IN ORDER FOR TOYOTA AVALON AIRBAGS FOR THE 2001-2004 MODEL YEARS. *TR

PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON INTERMITTENTLY SINCE ABOUT 2005. JUST READ COMPLAINT ABOUT AIRBAG LIGHT IN THIS POSITION FAILING TO DEPLOY IN 2004 AVALON(SAME AS MINE) IN AN ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES. HAVE TAKEN MINE IN TO DEALER BUT LIGHT ALWAYS GOES OFF BEFORE THEY LOOK AT IT. I'M VERY SCARED NOW THAT I SEE THAT JUST THIS YEAR A 2004 WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT WITH PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG LIGHT STAYING ON AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH VEHICLE TOTALED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

2004 TOYOTA AVALON WITH A RECALL FOR THE STEERING COLUMN UPPER BRACKET. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED THE STEERING PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE RECALL. *JB

ACCELERATOR STUCK TWO DIFFERENT TIMES ON MY 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. *TR

I HAD AN AUTO ACCIDENT AND RAN INTO A TREE. CAR TOTALED HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR WAS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON XLS, 4 DOOR MODEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SRS AND ECU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,664. UPDATED 05/26/16*LJ *TR

AS A SCHOOL BUS APPROACHED, I MOVED OVER SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT TO GIVE IT MORE ROOM. UNEXPECTEDLY, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I HIT A TREE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT DID NOT OCCUR TO ME AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THAT THE 2004 AVALON XLS HAD SPED UP. THAT HAD OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE WHILE DRIVING. I SUFFERED A SLIGHT CHIP IN MY LEFT ANKLE BONE. *TR

MY 2004 AVALON XLS HAS ISSUES WITH BOTH FRONT INNER DOOR HANDLES CHROME PEELING AND LEAVING RAZOR SHARP EDGES AND LEAVING LACERATIONS TO HANDS WHEN PULLING TO OPEN DOORS AT TIMES. THE REAR INNER DOOR PULL HANDLES ARE BEGINNING TO BUBBLE AND WILL BEGIN TO PEEL AS WELL. I PAID A VISIT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL OR ASSISTANCE FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM IN MY EYES AND DO NOT THINK I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. PLEASE HELP ME IN MY NEXT STEP. *TR

WHILE BACKING SLOWLY, THE RIGHT FOOT WAS MOVED FROM ACCELERATOR TO FOOT BRAKE PEDAL. AS PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE FOOT BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE, CONTINUED TURNING, SMASHED ALONG SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND TURNED A HALF CIRCLE. DRIVER'S LEFT FOOT PRESSED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CAUSING CAR TO STOP. TOTAL ELAPSED TIME NO MORE THAN TWO SECONDS. *TR

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES CONTINUOUSLY FROM TIME TO TIME, THEN OPERATES NORMALLY AFTER INSTRUMENT PANEL START UP CHECK. MANY SIMILAR COMMENTS MAY BE FOUND ON INTERNET BY SEARCHING 2004 (AND OTHER MODEL YEARS) TOYOTA AVALON. DEALERS NOR TOYOTA MANUFACTURING APPEAR NOT TO HAVE AN ABSOLUTE/ACCURATE RESOLUTION. SOME TECHNICIANS FEEL THE PROBLEM (AMONG OTHERS) MAY BE RELATED TO A STEERING RECALL REPAIR AS A CABLE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED IN THE REPAIR PROCESS OR STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE OR AS AN INADVERTENT CABLE WEAR UNDER NORMAL STEERING CONDITIONS. OWNERS ARE BEARING THE COST OF REPAIR AND LOSS OF VEHICLE RESALE VALUE. UNKNOWN IS THE POTENTIAL LACK OF PASSENGER SAFETY IF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE. ACCIDENT RECORDS INDICATE THAT IN SOME ACCIDENT CASES AIR BAGS HAVE NOT DEPLOYED AND PASSENGER INJURY/DEATH HAS OCCURRED. *TR

STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE VEHICLE HAS SCHRADER (NA) TIRE VALVES, MODEL TR-414. WHEN THE CONTACT PULLED INTO THE GAS STATION, HE WAS INFORMED THAT HE HAD A FLAT TIRE. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WERE FLAT. THE VALVE STEMS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND ONE OF THE TIRES AND VALVE STEMS WERE REPLACED. THE PART NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,672 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,800. UPDATED 09/23/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VALVE STEM HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE, DUE TO THE TIRES LOOSING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF AIR. UPDATED 09/24/08. *JB

THREE TIMES DURING THE PAST YEAR, MY 2004 TOYOTA AVALON XLS, ACELERATED WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD. BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUE TO WORK WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHY HAS THIS HAPPENED? IS IT A DEFECT??? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING TWICE AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT ON EACH OCCASION. THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

AT APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES STEERING FELT STIFF. WHEN TURNING, STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RETURN TO POSITION PROPERLY. STEERING WHEEL FEEDBACK DID NOT PROVIDE A SMOOTH MOTION WHEN MAKING TURNS. STEERING EFFORT WAS INTERMITTENT. THIS CONDITION WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE SINCE STEERING SHOULD BE A SMOOTH PRECISE MANEUVER, ANY UNEXPECTED STEERING RESPONSE IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. BECAUSE THE CAR HAD LOW MILEAGE BUT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, TOYOTA, CORP. PAID FOR PARTS AND I PAID FOR LABOR. TOYOTA DEALER FOUND STEERING SHAFT JOINT BINDING AND REPLACED PART. PROBLEM RETURNED AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES. THIS TIME DEALER REPLACED STEERING MAIN SHAFT ASSY. TILT R&R. AND SHAFT SUB-ASSEMBLY. *TR

MY 2004 TOYOTA AVALON XLS HAD A PROBLEM. I WAS TRYING TO GO TO MY OFFICE IN THE MORNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY TIGHT & HARD TO TURN. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR ROAD POTHOLES INVOLVED IN THIS CASE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, THE TOYOTA MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS BOUND UP/TWISTED. IT IS VERY SHOCKING TO ME THAT SUCH A REPUTABLE TOYOTA CAR HAD THIS LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM. IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TURN MY VEHICLE AND WOULD HAVE WENT OFF THE ROAD. *TR

SINCE AT LEAST 2008 THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON AT RANDOM TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR INTO A DEALER IN 2008. THEY FAILED TO FIX IT. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN. THEY FAILED TO FIX IT. IN 20014 THERE WAS A RECALL. IT FAILED TO FIX IT. 2016 THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL. IT FAILED TO FIX THE ISSUE. TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE ISSUE OR IS INCOMPETENT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 14 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. THERE WERE NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,289. UPDATED 01/03/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART HAD NO GREASE FITTING. UPDATED 12/12/07.

ON JULY 14, 2007 MY PARENTS WERE INVOLVED IN A SINGLE-CAR CRASH IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA OF NEW BLOOMFIELD, MO. MY 84-YEAR-OLD FATHER WAS DRIVING A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON, SUDDENLY LEFT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, FLIPPED THE VEHICLE, AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN, BACK ON THE PAVEMENT. MY 79-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WAS KILLED INSTANTLY FROM HEAD TRAUMA, AND MY FATHER PASSED AWAY FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE ACCIDENT 7 WEEKS LATER. THE AUTHORITIES COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, AND MY FATHER COULD NOT REMEMBER ANY DETAILS, AS HE HAD EXTRAORDINARY INTERNAL TRAUMA AND WAS IN ICU FOR MOST OF HIS REMAINING 7 WEEKS. I HAVE PETITIONED THE AUTO INSURER, ALLSTATE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO MY E-MAILS, AND ALTHOUGH IT IS LIKELY THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DESTROYED, BASED ON ALL THE MEDIA ABOUT SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF TOYOTA VEHICLES, THIS COULD CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO, IF NOT THE CAUSE OF, THIS HORRIFIC ACCIDENT. WE HAVE BEEN VEXED BY THE WHOLE INCIDENT, AND IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME TO REQUEST HAVING THE AVALON INSPECTED (HIGHLY RATED VEHICLE AND ALL...), UNTIL ALL THE RECENT MEDIA OF OTHER DEATHS INVOLVING TOYOTA VEHICLES. UPDATED 03/10/10 *BF *TR UPDATED IVOQ 08/03/10 UPDATED 9/21/2011*CW

2004 TOYOTA AVLON/XL SEDAN WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER,TOYOTA-SCION OF STAFFORD,VA FOR 30,000 MILE CHECK AND ENGINE LIGHT 06/20/07 , ON 07/06/07 ENGINE LIGHT BACK $95.00, AND ON 07/2507 ENGINE LIGHT ONCE AGAIN AND THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM A SPLIT LINE ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK $325.00. APPARENTLY BAD MATERIAL WHICH FROM FACTORY NOT EXPECTED FROM AN AVLON BARELY 3 YEARS OLD. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON WITH A CURRENT ODOMETER READING OF 36,080 MILES, WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT T 25 MPH UNDER NORMAL DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING , BUT THE STEERING WAS VERY STIFF AND HARD TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING CAME AND WENT. THE FLUID HAD BEEN CHECKED, AND WAS AT THE CORRECT LEVELS. *AK

MY MOTHER'S 2004 TOYOTA AVALON, MILES 7,800 MILES NEEDED 2 FUEL TO AIR OXY/SENSORS WITHIN THE LAST 30 DAYS. COST IS APPROX. $200.00 EACH,TOYOTA STATES THEY WILL NOT COVER THE PARTS. *TR

ON 9/28/2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:20 PM, MY WIFE & I WERE TRAVELING SOUTH ON THE BULLHEAD PARKWAY, BULLHEAD CITY, AZ, WHEN WE WERE STRUCK FRONT LEFT FENDER, PUSHING OUR VEHICLE INTO A STOPPED VEHICLE, TOTALING OUR VEHICLE, A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE OWNER OF THE BODY SHOP TOLD US THAT HE WAS SURPRISED THAT NEITHER THE SIDE OR FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH BOTH SENSORS WERE CRUSHED. I ADVISED TOYOTA, NY CITY OF THIS SO THAT THEY COULD INVESTIGATE AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY DID OR NOT. *NM

SLOW LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID ON 2004 TOYOTA AVALON XLS. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER. REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER I FEEL THAT THIS WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND ONE THAT SHOULD BE REPORTED AS THERE MAY BE OTHER VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. *JB

NOV., 2003, GOING 25 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I HIT A POT HOLE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE ALREADY AS THERE WAS A RED LIGHT AHEAD AND HAD TO USE EXTREME FORCE TO STOP THE CAR. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND IT STOPPED RACING. JULY 11, 2006 I WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MPH AND HEARD A NOISE AS IF THE CAR WAS RACING. IT WAS REGISTERING 5500 RPMS. I SLOWED TO 65-70 AND IT WENT DOWN TO 5000 RPMS. I GOT OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND WHEN I CAME TO A STOP IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. FOR THE NEXT HOUR I TRAVELED AT 75 WITH THE CAR REGISTERING APPROX 2000 RPMS. JULY 31, TRAVELING APPROX. 25 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I TRIED TO SLOW TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AS IT TURNED RIGHT. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND I WOULD HAVE HIT IT IF IT HADN'T TURNED. AGAIN I HAD TO USE SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE TO BRING IT TO A STOP. AS IT CAME TO A STOP I NOTICED THAT IT WAS AT 3000 RPMS. WHEN IT WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED IT RETURNED TO A NORMAL 500 OR SO. AUGUST 2, 2006 AS I WAS ABOUT TO ASCEND A HILL, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT MY APPLYING MORE GAS, BUT RETURNED TO NORMAL WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS. I DIDN'T NOTICE THE RPM READING. TODAY I TRADED THE CAR IN, RATHER THAN RISK INJURY TO MYSELF OR OTHERS BY CONTINUING TO DRIVE IT. THE TOYOTA DEALER WAS PREVIOUSLY UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE INCIDENTS OR FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS GOING TO TRY TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *NM

2004 TOYOTA AVALON, SRS LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, TOYOTA CAN NOT GET A FIX BECAUSE THEY STATE THAT THE LIGHT HAS TO BE ON WHEN I BRING IT IN. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT ONLY ONCE AND THEN IT WENT OFF BEFORE THEY COULD GET A DIAGNOSTIC READING. THE LIGHT WILL COME ON STEADY THEN FLICKER RANDOMLY. I WAS TOLD BY A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT IF A ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE LIGHT IS ON THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE COMPUTER IS NOT HOLDING THE ERROR CODE WHICH WOULD ASSIST IN FINDING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS OF THE LIGHT ON WHILE DRIVING AND THIS WAS AT 43952 MILES. TO DATE THE CAR IS JUST ABOVE 90K MILES AND THE SRS LIGHT IS STILL RANDOMLY COMING ON. I HAVE TRIED MANY A TIMES TO GET TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHILE THE LIGHT IS ON BUT IT EITHER GOES OUT WHILE IN TRANSIT OR GOES OUT PRIOR TO DEALERSHIP HOOKING UP DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM TO SAFETY OF MY FAMILY SINCE THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE SRS LIGHT IS ON. TOYOTA SHOULD LOOK FURTHER INTO THESE TYPES OF ISSUES SINCE IT IS IN MY ESTIMATION A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE PHOTOS IF NEEDED. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A CRACK IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAUSED THE TIRE TO LOOSE AIR PRESSURE, RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER THREE LANES AND STRUCK A ROAD SIGN, WENT BACK OVER THE THREE LANES AND DOWN INTO A WATERY DITCH AND UP THE OTHER SIDE AND CAME TO A STOP. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE CONTACT HAS NO OTHER RECOLLECTION OF THE INCIDENT AND CAN OFFER NO MORE FACTS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN ALERTED HOWEVER THE WHEEL HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WAS NO DESIGN DEFECT. UPDATED 06/12/06. *JB

THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AT RANDOM TIMES. IT STAYS ON FROM A FEW SECONDS TO 15 MINUTES. LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING A DISTANCE OF 60 MILES AND MY WIFE COUNTED 19 TIMES THAT THE LIGHT CAME ON. REPEATED CONTACT WITH THE LOCAL DEALER AND TOYOTA HAVE REVEALED THAT IF THE LIGHT IS ON AT IMPACT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. TOYOTA NEVER SEES THE LIGHT ON AND WILL DO NOTHING TO TRY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY IT WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE. I HAVE A 7 YEAR 70K WARRANTY. I HAVE PROVIDED SERIAL PICTURES OF THE LIGHT BEING ON. TOYOTA WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS AS"WE MUST SEE IT", LIKE I AM A LIAR. *TR

MY 2004 TOYOTA EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON A SLIGHT UPGRADE WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO GO INTO A RAPID UNCONTROLLABLE SPIN. THIS RESULTED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A PICK UP TRUCK. MY WIFE SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER HEAD WHEN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FLEW OFF THE WINDOW AND STRUCK HER IN THE HEAD. THIS RESULTED IN MEMORY LOSS AND SHE NOW SUFFERS FROM RECURRING HEADACHES. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, TWO OTHER VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED. HOWEVER, NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. REPAIRS TO THE REAR END TOTALED $7014.00 PLUS SALES TAX

2004 AVALON XLS - ABS DASH LIGHT HAS BEEN STAYING ON CONTINUOUSLY FOR OVER TWO YEARS ONCE ENGINE IS STARTED. I TOOK IT TO DEALER ONCE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND DEALER SAID IT WAS BECAUSE A BOOK WAS UNDER THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE LIGHT WAS NOT CONTINUOUSLY STAYING ON WHEN THE DEALER TOLD ME THIS. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH LOST POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. AFTER INSPECTION THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 1/23/2006 - AT NOT TIME PRIOR TO OR AFTER FAILURE DID THE VEHICLE EXHIBIT ANY EXTERNAL FLUID LOSS. *NM

HAVING TRAVELED UP A STEEP ROAD, I PROCEEDED TO TURN INTO AN ACQUAINTANCE'S DRIVEWAY. I BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKE AS I CAME TO PARK BEHIND HER VEHICLE. SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING, MY 2004 TOYOTA AVALON SURGED AHEAD AND CRASHED INTO HER PARKED VEHICLE CAUSING MY FRONT BUMPER TO GO UNDER THE BACK OF HER 2004 SEBRING CONVERTIBLE LIFTING IT UP OFF THE GROUND. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I CALLED MY TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED I NOT DRIVE IT (I WAS TO GO OUT OF TOWN FOR THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND). SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AS I WANTED THEM TO CHECK THIS ACCERLATION PROBLEM. I HAD $2537.16 DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY AVALON, THAT INCLUDED DAMAGE TO MY FRONT BUMPER, GRILLE, HEADLAMP, PANEL HOOD, RADIATOR AND FRONT FENDERS. THE SEBRING HAD APPROXIMATELY $650 DAMAGE. IT TOOK 10 DAYS TO REPAIR. THE DEALER SAID THAT HE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. IT WAS HOOKED UP TO A COMPUTER TO SEE IF ANY SYSTEMS HAD FAILED. HE ALSO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I FEEL CERTAIN THAT THIS ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A POWER SURGE OF SOME KIND. MY AVALON HAS ONLY 9500 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT IT IN JULY OF 2004 AND IN SEPTEMBER 2004, I EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR POWER SURGE. TRAVELING UP A HILLY ROAD NO MORE THAN 30 MPH, AS I REACHED THE TOP OF THE HILL AS THE ROAD STRAIGHTEN OUT, THE CAR TOOK OFF. IT LASTED ONLY A FEW SECONDS, BUT SCARED ME. HOWEVER, I DID NOT REPORT IT. THE THOUGHT OF ANOTHER POWER SURGE HAS ME VERY HESITANT ABOUT FEELING SAFE IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ACCIDENT FREE FOR 47 YEARS. I AM IN VERY GOOD PHYSICAL HEALTH.

TOYOTA AVALON XLS 2004 PROBLEM SEEING THE TRUNK WHEN BACKING UP FOR VISUAL IDEA OF HOW CLOSE TO WHAT BEHIND ME. *BF SIX DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AND ALL THE DASH LIGHTS STAYED LIT. THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER RESET THE CODE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *NM THE RPM REACHED 7000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS MARKS THE FOURTH TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED 10099310. HEAVY SMOKE CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CRASH. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION TO STOP THE ENGINE FROM RACING. *TC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 35 MILES PER HOUR THE CONSUMER HIT A CURB WHICH CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO GO FLAT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE STRUT ARM, KNUCKLE STEERING, BUSHINGS AND BEARINGS ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB

WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND SHUT OFF/RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

THE VEHICLE HAD AN EXTRA ADDED SAFETY DEVICE USED TO STABILIZE THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THIS VEHICLE WILL EVER LOSE TRACTION AND SKID. THE OWNER HAS PUT 381 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE TRACK OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND THAT SPECIAL TRACTION DEVICE WAS NOT WORKING. THE SECOND LIGHT V.S.C. LIGHT VEHICLE STABILIZING CONTROL LIGHT APPEARED AND THE THIRD LIGHT WHICH WAS THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON. *JB

2004 TOYOTA AVALON XLS. SRS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE, DEALER CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT FUNCTION IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN LIGHT IS ON. *TR