1995 Toyota Avalon Owner Complaints

MY DAD'S OLD TOYOTA AVALON USED TO UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BETWEEN THE END OF 2005 AND 2007. I WOULD SAY THAT BY THE END OF 2007 IT WOULD HAPPEN EVERY TIME I DROVE ON THE INTERSTATE!! WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED I WOULD HIT THE BRAKES AND USUALLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE CAR WOULD DECELERATE (OBVIOUSLY CROSSING MY FINGERS AND PRAYING AT THIS MOMENT) HOWEVER THIS GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY I NEVER HIT ANYONE OR CRASHED. I BECAME SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND IT EVENTUALLY FELL APART ANYWAY... *TR

NHTSA ID

10563918

Incident

Nov 1, 2005

1)WAS RECENTLY ABLE TO SHUT OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY WHILE STILL IN DRIVE. DID THIS INADVERTENTLY WHEN I FORGOT TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. FORTUNATELY VEHICLE DID NOT ROLL AWAY AS I WAS IN THE GARAGE AT HOME. 2) FAILURE ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN I TRY SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE IN DRIVE. THE KEY SIMPLY COMES OUT. KEY SHOULD NOT COME OUT IN DRIVE. 3) AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. HAD IT DIAGNOSED. AFTER AN HOUR AND A HALF, THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT NEEDS A NEW SHIFT SOLENOID ECU, WHICH THEY MUST ORDER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358371

Incident

Sep 11, 2010

Mileage

127,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN DRIVING HE NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE BOLTS TIGHTENED ON THE STEERING SHAFT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107000.

NHTSA ID

10297423

Incident

Sep 5, 2007

Mileage

133,000 mi

1995 TOYOTA AVALON ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *KB A PASSERBY INFORMED THE CONSUMER A ROD MAY HAVE WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN OIL LEAK, WHICH THEN DRIPPED ON THE MUFFLER. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0043-91. *JB

NHTSA ID

10218366

Incident

Jan 13, 2008

Mileage

13,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING IN STOP AND GO FREEWAY TRAFFIC, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES (BOTH I AND MY WIFE THOUGHT THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP) BUT RATHER THAN STOPPING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED AND WE SLID INTO A STOPPED CAR. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO OPEN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10105670

Incident

Dec 29, 2004

OIL SLUDGE IN ENGINE VALVE COVERS RESULTED IN OIL BEING PULLED INTO THE AIR INTAKE THROUGH THE PCV VALVE. THE BAFFLE SYSTEM ON BOTH COVERS WERE REMOVED TO REVEAL NEAR TOTAL BLOCKAGE OF BAKED SLUDGE. THE CAMSHAFT VALLEYS IN THE CYLINDER HEADS WERE COATED WITH UP TO 1/2 OF SLUDGE. THE THROTTLE BODY, AIR CHAMBER, AIR CHAMBER CONTROL VALVE, AND INTAKE PLENUM WERE COATED WITH OILY SLUDGE AS WELL. AIR INTAKE AND CAMSHAFT CHAMBERS REQUIRED MANY HOUR OF CLEANING.

NHTSA ID

10069186

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

99,500 mi

PARKED MY AVALON IN MY APARTMENT PARKING LOT FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR. WHEN I RETURNED THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD HAD MELTED COMPLETELY AROUND THE FUSE BOX AND STEERING WHEEL. ALL OF THE DASH AND SURROUNDING AREA WAS BURNED OR MELTED. ALSO I MIGHT MENTION THAT I AM AWARE OF NO CHANGES OF THE FUSES BY MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE, AND THE CAR HASN'T HAD ANY MAJOR REPAIRS (OUTSIDE OF FLUID CHANGES, TIRE ALIGNMENTS) SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023699

Incident

Jun 23, 2003

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE IN TWO RESULTING IN PUNCTURED TIRE AND THE COST OF REPLACING BOTH SIDES WITH NEW STRUTS & SPRINGS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016657

Incident

Apr 21, 2003

Mileage

103,000 mi

MY CAR JUST RECENTLY STARTED TO EMIT WHITE SMOKE WHEN WE WOULD START IT, AND THEN IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD OIL SLUDGE/GEL AND THAT I HAD BLOWN A ROD. THEY THEN TOLD ME ABOUT TOYOTA PAYING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT I THEN FOUND OUT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED THAT IT STARTED WITH THE 1997 MODEL. I THEN REQUESTED THAT THEY(TOYOTA) REVIEW THIS FURTHER AND THEY ASKED THAT I SUBMIT MY OIL CHANGE LOG AND DEALER DIAGNOSIS. AFTER THEY REVIEWED IT FURTHER THEY SAID IT WAS A LACK OF MAINTENANCE ON MY PART AND THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THAT THEY WOULD DO. I HAVE REALLY TAKEN CARE OF MY CAR AND AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CAR HAS BEEN GREAT UP TIL NOW. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING FURTHER THAT I SHOULD DO.

NHTSA ID

10011037

Incident

Mar 10, 2003

Mileage

97,244 mi

WHILE VEHICLE SAT IN DRIVE WAY, OIL SLUGGED IN THE ENGINE CAUSING THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. PH

NHTSA ID

10006602

Incident

Nov 21, 2002

CONSUMER STATED GLUE RAN DOWN ALL 4 DOORS. GLUE WAS COMING FROM DOOR PANELS INSIDE OF CAR. CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF GLUE FUMES. TS *TT

NHTSA ID

8023845

Incident

Nov 1, 2001

Mileage

39,184 mi

SIX BOLTS ON THE DRIVETRAIN WHERE IT ENTERS THE ENGINE CAME LOOSE. ALL FELL OUT EXCEPT ABOUT TWO. MECHANIC WHO CHECKED IT SAID IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF IT FELL OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TOYOTA REPLACED IT FOR FREE, ONLY AFTER INTENSE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHO SHOULD PAY FOR REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID

765484

RIGHT SIDE STEERING RACK SEAL WAS LEAKING, DEALER REPLACED STEERING RACK. *SLC

NHTSA ID

567056

Incident

May 1, 2001

FROM 60,000 MILES TO THE PRESENT TEN STUDS BROKE OFF ON VARIOUS WHEELS. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013502

Incident

Jun 15, 2000

WHILE DRIVING FOOT SLIPPED FROM BRAKES PEDAL TO GAS PEDAL ONLY TOUCHING GAS PEDAL LIGHTLY, AND VEHICLE SPED UNCONTROLLABLY IN REVERSE. VEHICLE STILL WAS ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING. *AK

NHTSA ID

8005830

FLUID LEAKS AT A FAST RATE COMPROMISING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO TURN; MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES IN THE MODELS BUILT BETWEEN 1995-1998; PLEASE CONTACT ME AT X64026. *AK

NHTSA ID

757980

ABS WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A HIGH PITCH SQUEAL COMING FROM THE REAR SEAT AREA WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT ABS SENSOR FOR LEFT-REAR WHEEL FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

898156

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

749109

Incident

Jul 4, 2001

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER DOOR LOCKS - ALLOWING DOORS TO BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE RESULTS IN INABILITY TO EXIT CAR THRU DOOR(S) AFFECTED; PROB REPORTED TO TOYOTA DEALER; THEY UNABLE TO RE-CREATE NOR REPAIR ; HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE; THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM ; HOW CAN I GET TOYOTA'S ATTENTION ?*AK

NHTSA ID

745588

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE CLUNKING NOISES WHENEVER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. ALSO, HAVE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTOR. WHILE AT DEALERSHIP HAD INFORMED MECHANIC OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. WAS INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS SUPPOSE TO WORK LIKE THAT. THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING LOUDER & WORSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

881731

A CODE HAS BEN 'LOCKED' INTO COMPUTER THAT MAKES ABS SYSTEM INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS CHECKED, AND SAID THEY NEED NEW SENSORS. BUT, TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT SHOP AND IT VERIFIED THAT THE SENSORS WERE FINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

877164

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

THE RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING FLUID. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK DEALER REFUSED TO SHARE ANY COST OF REPAIR. *YH

NHTSA ID

871070

REAR POWER WINDOWS SPORADICALLY FAIL. CAR HAS 48,000 MILES. TECHNICIAN SAYS "REGULATOR CABLES" ARE DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID

725441

WHILE DRIVING EAST ON MAIN STREET TRAVELING AT 40MPH REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ID

861246

Incident

Apr 26, 2000

THE FAULTY COMPUTER CHIP CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOT TO ILLUMINATE AND WARN THE CONSUMER OF ENGINE PROBLEM RESULTING IN A PREMATURELY BLOWN ENGINE. NLM

NHTSA ID

551229