2013 Toyota Avalon Visibility & Wipers Problems

1) System Failure: Back window shade. It is available for inspection at any time. 2) Safety of me and others put at risk: When the shade is down I can not see out the back window posing a significant risk to those behind me particularly pedestrians 3) Has problem been reproduced: Yes 4) Has the component been inspected: No the motor operating the shade has not been inspected 5) Warnings prior to system failure: None Description: The window shade is meant to automatically retract out of sight when the transmission is placed in reverse. It does not retract at all. It stays fully extended covering the entire back window. This problem drastically impairs my ability to see out the back window at all. While being a problem at all times driving the vehicle it is particularly problematic when backing up at night; you simply can not see anyone behind you backing out of a parking space in a mall for example.

The rear window spontaneously shattered into little fragments of glass and fell into the backseat section of the vehicle. This happened once while parked at work in a gated lot and security camera with motion sensors caught the incident happening on video. Temperature was in the high 80 F, and happened in August of 2022. After 5 months later the rear window shattered again while parked on driveway. Safety of anyone in the back seat is at risk due to sharp glass. Unable to convince the dealer this is a factory defect. Manufacturer said they can do a visual inspection but in realty results will be pointless since the car have not been in any accident. No warning appeared before rear window shattered.

THE REAR SUN SHADE WHICH EXTENDS AND RETRACTS TO COVER THE BACK WINDOW OF MY AVALON HAS A FAULT WHICH CAUSES IT TO GET STUCK IN THE EXTENDED POSITION, COVERING THE REAR WINDOW. THIS DRASTICALLY REDUCES THE VISIBILITY OUT THE REAR WINDOW AND THERE IS NO OBVIOUS OR SIMPLE FIX FOR THE ISSUE. I HAVE FOUND ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM. BEFORE THE SHADE GOT STUCK, IT WOULD RANDOMLY EXTEND OR RETRACT DURING HOT DAYS, WHICH SEEMS TO BE DUE TO A FAULTY RELAY. THIS IS CLEARLY A POOR DESIGN WHICH PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND ANYONE BEHIND THE VEHICLE WHILE BACKING UP.

Rear window shade stuck in 'UP' position, cannot see out the rearview mirror, especially at night. Makes for very dangerous driving.

THE REAR SUNSHADE IS STUCK IN THE 'UP' (EXTENDED) POSITION, GREATLY HINDERING VIEW TO THE REAR, BOTH WITH REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND WHEN DRIVER TURNS HEAD TO THE REAR. THIS DEVICE IS DESIGNED TO AUTOMATICALLY RETRACT FROM 'UP' POSITION EVERY TIME THE CAR IS SHIFTED TO "REVERSE" GEAR, SO AS TO NOT HINDER REAR VIEWS. IT WORKED FINE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT LAST MONTH IT BECAME STUCK IN THE EXTENDED POSITION, AND CANNOT BE RETRACTED. THIS IS A PROBLEM AT ALL TIMES; BUT IS ESPECIALLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION AT NIGHT, WHEN DARKNESS HINDERS VIEWS. FROM ONLINE SEARCHING, IT APPEARS THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS VERY FREQUENTLY, AND MOST COMMENTERS SAY IT'S NOT WORTH FIXING, BECAUSE REPLACEMENT UNITS DEVELOP THE SAME PROBLEM. REMOVING THE UNIT IS MY PREFERRED APPROACH. BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT SEVERAL HOURS OF LABOR ARE REQUIRED, AS THE REAR SEAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED. THIS IS NOT THE RESULT OF A MOVING CRASH; IT HAPPENED SPONTANEOUSLY, AND IS NOW AN ISSUE 100% OF THE TIME. *TR

THE REAR WINDOW SHADE AUTOMATICALLY RAISED ITSELF AND IS STUCK IN THE EXTENDED POSITION. IT MAKES A LOUD SOUND FOR ~20 SECONDS WHENEVER THE CAR IS PUT INTO REVERSE OR WHENEVER YOU ATTEMPT TO RETRACT THE SHADE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO OBSERVE TRAFFIC THROUGH THE REARVIEW MIRROR, PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR MIRROR HAD SHATTERED. THE MIRROR WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY FOREIGN OBJECTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN O'NEIL JOHNSON TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 2900 MS-39, MERIDIAN, MS 39301, (888) 781-0044) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MIRROR AND WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW PRIVACY SCREEN WAS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION; THEREFORE, BLOCKING HIS VISIBILITY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

THE REAR RETRACTABLE SUNSHADE WENT UP AND LOCKED IN PLACE AND WILL NOT RETRACT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. AT NIGHT IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE ANY VEHICLES BEHIND YOU. BACKING UP BECOMES A PROBLEM AS WELL FOR IT BECOMES HARD TO SEE PEDESTRIANS AS THEY PASS BEHIND YOU IN PARKING LOTS. VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT AND I HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING.

The sun shade in the rear back malfunctions. When it malfunctions you are unable to visibility see when backing up due to the sun shade being in the way which put other people at risk for safety when backing up. Also when this piece malfunctions it makes a gridding nose which can cause a wreck if the person is unaware of the noise in the car while backing up. This function has been looked at by a Toyota Dealer ship which would result of owner paying over $1000.00 to get it fixed or even disabled. There are no warnings regarding the malfunction besides a loud noise while backing up when not functioning properly.

MY REAR WINDOW SHADE HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. IT IS IN THE UP POSITION AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE BEHIND ME UNLESS FULL SUN IS PRESENT. THIS IS A CONSTANT SITUATION.

HEADLINER AT TOP OF REAR GLASS IS DROOPING WHERE THE HEADLINER MEETS, AND HAS DEVELOPED A CREASE AT A POINT IN THE CENTER, RESTRICTING VISIBILITY OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. IT IS A DEFECT AND THE DEALER (NORTHTOWN TOYOTA - AMHERST, NY) WILL NOT REPLACE/REPAIR AS CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. CONTACTED TOYOTA TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, AND THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED.

Rear window sunscreen (dark black) stuck in the up position. Poor visibility during night driving with the curtain stuck in the upright position. This has always had this problem and Toyota has not solution.

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR THE REQUIRED 10,000 MILE WARRANTY MAINTENANCE. AT THIS TIME, I SHOWED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WATER MARKS HAD APPEARED IN ALL FOUR UPPER CORNERS OF THE INSIDE CLOTH LINERS BESIDE THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELDS. I WAS TOLD THE SUNROOF HAD TUBES THAT OCCASIONALLY CLOGGED AND THEY WOULD CLEAR THE TUBES AND CLEAN THE INSIDE CLOTH. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS OUR AREA EXPERIENCED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RAIN. WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 15,000 MILE WARRANTY MAINTENANCE, I SHOWED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WATER MARKS APPEARED TO HAVE WORSENED IN THE SAME AREAS. THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT THERE WERE NO CLOGS IN THE SUNROOF TUBING AND THEY HAD ATTEMPTED TO RECREATE THE WATER LEAKAGE BY RUNNING WATER OVER THE CAR FOR ONE HOUR. THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE WATER MARKS KEPT REAPPEARING AND DID NOT KNOW IF ANYONE CALLED TOYOTA. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE BECAUSE THERE WERE NO "RECALLS" PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE. I PERFORMED A GOOGLE SEARCH AND DISCOVERED A BLOG WHERE MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND ONE PERSON EVEN HAD TO HAVE THE HEADLINERS AND CLOTH REPLACED DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO BUT I COULD REPORT THIS TO THE NHTSA IF I FELT THE NEED TO SEEK REPAIRS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A CONSTANT GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD, AFFECTING THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE APPROACHING VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO ALTER THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN OPTED TO CLEAN THE DASHBOARD AND WINDSHIELD AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 767. UPDATED 11/20/13*CN

THERE IS A GLARE IN THE REAR WINDOW THAT TENDS TO ALWAYS HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON VISIBILITY. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY 40 YEARS OF DRIVING AND OWNING OVER 20 VEHICLES. IT SEEMS THE ANGLE OF THE WINDOW COMBINED WITH THE LIGHT GRAY REAR DECK MATERIAL CREATES THE DISTRACTING REFLECTION/GLARE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE PORT INSTALLED TINTING THAT CAUSED THE REFLECTION, BUT NOW I AM BEGINNING TO THINK IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. ALSO, I SEE YOU NEED MY NAME AND PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THIS FORM AND YOU ARE PROMISING TO KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVATE. NOW HOW CAN ANYONE TRUST ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY THESE DAYS TO PROTECT INFORMATION WHEN ONE OF THE MAIN FUNCTIONS OF OUR GOVERNMENT SEEMS TO BE SPYING ON ALL THE CITIZENS AND ACTING LIKE THE USSR CIRCA 1960? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW BECAUSE IT WAS DISTORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,700.

THIS TOYOTA WAS PURCHASED WITH A SUNROOF TOP. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS WE NOTICED THE HEADLINER WAS COMING LOOSE FROM THE ROOF. WE NOTICED THAT WHEN YOU OPENED THE SUNROOF THE AIR ENTERING THE CAR MADE THE ROOF OR HEADLINER SHAKE AND MOVE AS IF TO MUCH AIR WAS GETTING UNDER IT CAUSING THE HEADLINER TO SEPARATE FROM THE ROOF. WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY TOLD US THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE HEADLINERS AND THAT NO PARTS WERE BEING REPLACED AT THIS TIME. I LOOK AT THIS AS A MAJOR FLAW AND THE ROOF COMING LOOSE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THE TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT. WE'VE HAD THE CAR TWO WEEKS SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE SAID O BY THE WAY THE ROOF MAY SEPARATE FROM THE TOP OF THE CAR. NO CALLS ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY TOLD US TO TAKE OUR CAR THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT RIGHT NOW. PLEASE TELL EVERYONE THE ROOF IN THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS AN TOYOTA IS NOT FIXING IT. IT'S UNFAIR TO THE CONSUMER THAT THINGS LIKE THIS CAN HAPPEN AND PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT AND ARE STILL ALLOWED TO SELL THESE CAR IF YOU WANT TO BUY ONE TODAY. *TR

I DROVE TO BALTIMORE, MD FROM CHERRY HILL, NJ ON 06/16/2013 AT SPEEDS VARYING FROM 45MPH - 75MPH. THE MOMENT I GOT ON TO NJ TURNPIKE, THE WIND AND ROAD NOISE WERE LOUD INSIDE THE CABIN. THE ENTIRE TIME IT SEEMED THE WINDOWS OF THE CAR WERE OPEN EVEN THOUGH THE A/C WAS ON SLOW, WINDOWS AND SUNROOF WERE CLOSED. (I HAVE TWO OLDER CARS I.E. HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2002 AND HONDA ACCORD 2005 WHICH HAVE LESS CABIN NOISE WHEN WINDOWS ARE CLOSED). CONSIDERING, THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR, HIGH END AND IS SUPPOSED TO BE VERY QUITE, I FIND IT A BIG SAFETY RISK AS THE NOISE IS DISTRACTING, BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO SEE IF THE WINDOWS WERE OPEN, DOORS WERE PROPERLY CLOSED AND SUN ROOF WASN'T OPEN / TILTED, ALL THE WHILE DISTRACTING ME FROM THE ROAD. A LOT OF THE NOISE SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM AROUND THE DOORS AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, AT ONE POINT DURING MY JOURNEY THERE WAS A LOUD WHOOSHING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT WIND SHIELD AS IF THERE WAS NO SEAL / INSULATION BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE BODY OF THE CAR. *TR

COMPLAINT: SUN GLARE REFLECTION COMING FROM DASHBOARD, SAFETY ISSUE, SIMILAR TO NETS. ON 04/01/13, JAMES FEWEL TOYOTA NATIONAL HQ, DOCUMENTED MY DASH GLARE ISSUE UNDER FILE #[XXX]: ON 3-16-2013, WE PURCHASED A 2013 AVALON FROM COGGIN TOYOTA JACKSONVILLE. IT HAS FL LEGAL WINDOW TINTING. THE DASH'S CHROME TRIM CAUSES A GLARE ISSUE ON A SUNNY DAY, CAUSING BRIGHT GLARE DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF DASHBOARD TRIM THAT IS SILVER/CHROME. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH GLARE COMING FROM THE DASH AREA. WHAT IS TOYOTA'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE? ON 05/21/13, [XXX], SERVICE DIRECTOR, TOYOTA AVENUES, RESPONDED: [XXX], I FORWARDED YOUR PICTURES TO OUR TECH DEPT AS WELL AS SUBMITTED A PRODUCT QUALITY CASE. RESPONSE BACK FROM MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE CHANGED AT THIS TIME TO KEEP THE GLARE COMING OFF OF THE CHROME TRIM PANELS. THE REF FOR THE DEALER PRODUCT REPORT IS CASE # [XXX] IF YOU WISH TO CALL THE CUST SPT CENTER TO UPDATE YOUR CASE. THANK YOU, [XXX], TOYOTA AVENUES [XXX]. ON 05/22/2013 [XXX] AT TOYOTA HQ RESPONDED: [XXX], WE ARE SORRY FOR THE CONCERNS THIS CONDITION HAS CAUSED AND HAVE FORWARDED YOUR EMAIL TO A CASE MANAGER HERE IN OUR DEPT. THE CASE MANAGER WILL CONTACT YOU VIA PHONE BEFORE THE END OF BUSINESS, MAY 23, 2013. WE HAVE DOCUMENTED YOUR EMAIL AT OUR NATIONAL HQ UNDER FILE #[XXX]. ON 05/23/2013 RECEIVED A CALL FROM TOYOTA CASE MANAGER [XXX], SO I SENT HIM PICTURES SHOWING THE GLARE ISSUE. THERE WAS NEVER ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM TOYOTA HQ ON IT. BOTTOM LINE: TOYOTA NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A FIX TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE, REPLACING ALL THIS GLOSSY CHROME WITH SOMETHING NON-REFLECTIVE. PUTTING CHROME IN THE DASH AREA WAS A POOR DESIGN. MY WIFE OFTEN FEELS SICK, DUE TO THE WAY THIS GLARE HURTS HER EYES. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR