Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Apr 9, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 125 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4
What this page shows
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Toyota Avalon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming brake
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Apr 9, 2014
1 injury reported
I WAS ON MY WAY TO COLLEGE AT 7:45 A.M HEADING HIGHWAY 72 WEST. MY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATED FROM 75MPH TO 100 MPH. I PUSHED, PRESSED, AND PUMPED MY BRAKES THAT WOULDN'T WORK. I PRESSED DOWN MY EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH DID NOT WORK EITHER. I TRAVELED ABOUT TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE CAR JUST SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP SMOKING FROM MY TIRES AND UNDER THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR SCREAMING THANKING GOD FOR MY LIFE HE SPARED. I WAS TRAUMATIZED AT THIS POINT. I DID COME TO MYSELF AND DIALED 911 FOR THE FIRE TRUCKS BECAUSE MY CAR WAS SMOKING SO BAD.NEXT DAY TOYOTA COMPANY SAID IT WAS MY COIL PACK AND CHARGED ME TO FIX IT BUT I AM NOW TERRIFIED OF THIS CAR AND REFUSE TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE. I HAVE SINCE HAD SEVERE NIGHTMARES EVERY NIGHT SINCE THIS ACCIDENT THAT COULD'VE BEEN DEADLY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10578759
Incident
Apr 2, 2014
Mileage
295,000 mi
BrakesEngineInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Dec 20, 2000
RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED/ LEAKING OIL, AND FRONT STRUT SUPPORT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. VEHICLE WAS RATTLING CONSTANTLY FROM TIME OF PURCHASE. ALSO, HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS SOUND. ONLY AFTER BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED A SECOND TIME KNOCKING SOUND STOPPED. IN ADDITION, DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED WHEN MAKING TURNS. CONSUMER FELT UNSAFE IN VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
876830
Incident
Dec 6, 2000
Brakes
Filed Mar 30, 2000
BRAKES FEEL SOFT AND MUSHY, FRONT BRAKES APROX 9.5MM REMAIN AND REARS APROX 9MM REMAIN.TEST DROVE AND ADJUST PARK BRAKE. ADJUST BRAKE PEDAL HEIGHT PEDAL TO LOW, CHECKED AND RESET PEDAL TO SPECS, PER CUST REP AIR MANUAL. 6 INCHES FROM THE FLOOR
NHTSA ID
9000593
Brakes
Filed Mar 28, 2000
BRAKES HAVE A BANG NOISE.*ET
NHTSA ID
783665
Brakes
Filed Mar 3, 1999
THE ABS CONTROLLER FAILED. THIS PART CONTROLLS THE ABS BRAKING ACTION. ACCORDING TO OTHER REPAIR SOURCES IT IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR THIS PART TO FAIL. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT SINCE IT CONTROLS THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTUER OF THE COMPONENT IS BOSCHE AND THERE HAVE BEEN SAFETY BULLETINS THROUGH NHTSA ABOUT THESE PARTS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WHO WERE BOTH CONTACTED WON'T EVEN DISCUSS ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS UNIT. THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT SHORTLY AFTER WE PURCHASED IT . THE BRAKES APPEARED TO FAIL CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION.
NHTSA ID
703969
Incident
Feb 18, 1999
Brakes
Filed Feb 1, 1999
THE BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS ON AFTER BRAKE RELEASED. YH
NHTSA ID
609937
Brakes
Filed Feb 1, 1999
REAR CYLINDER HEAD FAILURE CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK ON TO SPARK PLUGS. YH
NHTSA ID
608677
Incident
Aug 21, 1997
Brakes
Filed Feb 1, 1999
SPEED SENSOR FAILED.
NHTSA ID
607767
Incident
Dec 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Feb 1, 1999
HAND BRAKE RELEASE FAILED CAUSING THE LIGHT ON DASH BOARD TO SHOW BRAKE WAS ON WHEN NOT. YH
NHTSA ID
607377
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Feb 1, 1999
Crash reported3 injuries reported
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING ACCIDENT. NLM
NHTSA ID
605890
Incident
Sep 3, 1997
BrakesTires & wheels
Filed Apr 9, 1998
VEHICLE HYDROPLANES ON THE SLIGHTEST WET PAVEMENT. ALSO PULLS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT DUE TO WRONG TIRES ON VEHICLE. TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPLACE THE BRIDGESTONE TIRES WITH AN ALTERNATE MAKE DESIGNED FOR THIS VEHICLE. ALSO ABS BRAKES ENGAGED MANY TIMES DUE TO THE SLIDING.
NHTSA ID
534132
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 25, 1997
TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO LOSE INTERNAL PRESSURE, THEREBY LOOSENING GEAR CONNECTION. THE RESULT OF THE LOST PRESSURE CAUSEDLLO THE VEHICLE TO LOSE SPEED SUDDENLY, EVEN AS THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO "REV". THE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY FAILED.
NHTSA ID
521594
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own