1997 Toyota Avalon Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,970 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

CONTINUOUS LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID. STEERING FELT TIGHT. RACK AND PINION AND POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 99,000 MILES. NOTICED A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE MADE LOUD NOISES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATERAL ARM SNAPPED OFF THE SUBFRAME DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. UPDATED 11/03/16*LJ *TR

NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF CAR, UPON INSPECTION, REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER WAS RUSTED OUT. NO OTHER SIGNIFICANT RUST UNDER CAR. CROSSMEMBER FAILED PREMATURELY. *TR

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

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

AUTO LOCKING SYSTEM LOCKS DOORS WHILE DOORS ARE OPEN OR CLOSED AND YOU ARE GETTING OUT OF CAR OR PUTTING GROCERS IN IF UR KEYS ARE IN CAR IT STILL LOCKS I HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT MANY TIMES IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN UR DAUGHTER BORROWS YOUR CAR AND GETS HER9 MONTH OLD BABY LOCKED IN AT 95 DEGREES AT 11AM IN FLORIDA IN THE SUN IN A PARKING LOT.THE LOCKSMITH COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR CAUSE EVERY TIME HE POP THE LOCK THE SYSTEM WOULD RELOCK IT SELF IMMEDIATELY .THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM .SOME TIMES IT LOCKS ITSELF IN SECONDS OR MINS.IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. *TR

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

WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE TIRE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED MY TIRES COMPLAINING OF A SHAKING STEERING WHEEL (THINKING ONE OF MY TIRES HAD LOST A BALANCE WEIGHT), THAT'S WHEN I DISCOVERED 3 OF THE 4 TIRES I HAD PURCHASED A YEAR AGO SEPTEMBER (AND WHICH HAD ONLY 14,000 MILES OF WEAR) HAD ALL EXPERIENCED THE STEEL BELT SEPARATING INSIDE THE TIRE. UPDATED 09/02/15*LJ UPDATED 10/31/2017*CN

FAILURE OF A TIRE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE TREAD PORTION OF THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE CASING OF THE TIRE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE DAMAGE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE OF INJURY TO THE PASSENGERS.*AK

COMPLAINT AGAINST TOYOTA OF GREENVILLE/TOYOTA CORP. *BF THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL HAD BEE INITIATED. A SPECIAL PROGRAM WAS INITIATED FOR THE ENGINE PROBLEM BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE CONSUMER WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, SHE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH TWO OTHER VEHICLES. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAD A HISTORY OF EGR VALVE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT THE SERVICE DEALERSHIP AS WELL. THE PROBLEM HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE THROTTLE BODY INJECTOR. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 4K RPM'S. *SC THE POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK AND EGR VALVE WERE REPLACED. UPDATED EVOQ 08/27/10 UPDATED EVOQ 11/17/10

DEALER SERVICED TRANSMISSION WITH A FLUSH AND FLUID REPLACEMENT AT 120,406 MILES. ALSO, TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED AND COOLANT FLUSH DONE. EIGHT WEEKS LATER, TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. WAS ON 250 MILE TRIP, FELT BUMPING WHICH THOUGHT MAY BE ROUGH ROAD CONDITION, THEN WHEN CLOSE TO DESTINATION, CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER STOPPING AT STOP LIGHT. DIAGNOSIS WAS COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEALER WOULD NOT CONCEDE ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTRIBUTING TO FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION ALTHOUGH DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY OTHER TOYOTA AVALON TRANSMISSION FAILURES. CONVINCED ACTION BY DEALER SERVICE RESULTED IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

CAR WAS BOUGHT USED IN 2006 WITH 115,000 MILES. THE KEY CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR IS IN ANY GEAR( RATHER THAN ONLY WHEN IT IS IN PARK) . THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR COULD BEGIN ROLLING ONCE YOU LEAVE THE CAR. THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED ONCE WITHOUT ANY CONSEQUENCES, BUT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IN THE FUTURE. *NM

AUTO LOCKING SYSTEM LOCKS DOORS WHILE DOORS ARE OPEN OR CLOSED AND YOU ARE GETTING OUT OF CAR OR PUTTING GROCERS IN IF UR KEYS ARE IN CAR IT STILL LOCKS I HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT MANY TIMES IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN UR DAUGHTER BORROWS YOUR CAR AND GETS HER9 MONTH OLD BABY LOCKED IN AT 95 DEGREES AT 11AM IN FLORIDA IN THE SUN IN A PARKING LOT.THE LOCKSMITH COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR CAUSE EVERY TIME HE POP THE LOCK THE SYSTEM WOULD RELOCK IT SELF IMMEDIATELY .THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM .SOME TIMES IT LOCKS ITSELF IN SECONDS OR MINS.IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. *TR

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

MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, GOING APPROX. 10 MPH, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE (ONLY) BUMPED INTO A RAILROAD TRACK AND THE SENSORS TOLD THE CAR IT HAD A FRONT END COLLISION AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS EXPLOSION BUSTED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, PASSENGER SIDE GLASS, KNOCKED THE FRONT GRILL OFF, ETC.. AS THE DRIVER MY FACE WAS CUT AND MY LEFT EYE LENS WAS BLOWN OUT FROM THE EXPLOSION AND FLYING SHRAPNEL AND SO I NOW HAVE A TRANSPLANTED LEFT EYE LENS WITH A SERIAL NUMBER AND POOR EYESIGHT. *TR

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, CONSUMERS WIFES HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, HITTING HER IN THE CHEST AT A GREAT IMPACT, CONSUMER WAS ALSO WEARING HER SEAT BELT, TOYOTA STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS WORKED AS DESIGNED. *SLC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. SUDDENLY, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

AFTER NOTICING OIL SPOTS ON PAVEMENT HAD MECHANIC CHECK VEHICLE. FOUND RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED/ DRIVER'S SEAT BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO TENSIONER TIGHTENING UP WITH TOO MUCH FORCE/ TIRES WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO BAD SUSPENSION/VEHICLE HAD ROUGH RIDE, AND STRUTS WERE LEAKING. *AK

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON I-5 SOUTH OF OLYMPIA WA AT 3:30PM AT 70 MPH IN A DRIVING RAINSTORM. WE WERE IN THE LEFT LANE OF A VERY CROWDED 4 LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. SUDDENLY THE WINDHSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED. I TRIED THE WIPER SWITCH WITH NO RESULTS. MY WIFE AND I COULD SEE NOTHING OUT OF THE FRONT AND TRIED TO SLOW DOWN AND WORK OUR WAY TO THE RIGHT SIDE BY LOOKING OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW AND REAR MIRROR. SEVERAL CARS JUST MISSED HITTING US. WHEN WE GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I TRIED TO MOVE THE WIPERS BUT THEY ONLY PULSATED. I FINALLY CONTACTED A TOW TRUCK AND WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL OLYMPIA TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE WIPER TRANSMISSION AND THEY HAD REPLACED QUITE A FEW. THE COST WAS $325.00. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT I WAS DRIVING MY WIFE'S CAR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND FEEL THAT WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE BEEN IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ONLY USED WHEN IT RAINS AND THAT IS A BAD TIME FOR THEM TO STOP. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING OR TIME TO PREPARE. I ASKED FOR THE OLD PART. IT IS ENTIRELY STEEL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A PLASTIC/FIBERGLASS BUSHING WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE WIPER MOTOR. THE PLASTIC/FIBERGLASS BUSHING FAILED. AGAIN, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN A RAIN STORM WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE AUTO WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA DIRECT, THE CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS WIPER TRANSMISSION BROKEN AND THE SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE WIPER TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS EXPLAINED TO ACTUALLY BE A LINKAGE ASSEMBLY. THE REPAIR COST (INCLUDING TWO NEW WIPER INSERTS) WAS $295.05. THIS WAS $182.65 FOR PARTS (LINKAGE $171.77, WIPER INSERTS @ $5.44 EACH), LABOR-MECHANICAL - $88.04, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS - $4.40, SHOP SUPPLIES - $4.40, AND SALES TAX OF $15.56. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE AND NOT COVERED BY THE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE PURCHASED AT TIME AUTO WAS PURCHASED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ELECTRICAL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. WIPERS SHOULD NOT BE FAILING LIKE THIS ON A NEW OR RECENT MODEL AUTO. THESE WIPERS GAVE NO WARNING OF THE PROBLEM. THE STOPPAGE WAS SUDDEN AND ABRUPT AT A TIME WHEN THEY WERE MOST NEEDED.*AK

DT: THE OTHER DAY THE CONSUMER PARKED CAR WHILE RUSHING AND TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD AND HIT THE NEIGHBOR'S FENCE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE KEY. IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE HAD SOME TYPE OF SAFETY FEATURE TO KEEP THE KEY FROM COMING OUT OF THE IGNITION. THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2005. HAD NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

1997 TOYOTA AVALON HAS AN IGNITION SYSTEM FLAW THAT CAUSE THE CAR TO ROLL AFTER BEEN STOPPED AND KEY REMOVED. SUBSEQUENTLY IT MAY NOT START AGAIN THE NEXT TIME WHEN KEY INSERTED. *LA

CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION. YH

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.

AUTO LOCKING SYSTEM LOCKS DOORS WHILE DOORS ARE OPEN OR CLOSED AND YOU ARE GETTING OUT OF CAR OR PUTTING GROCERS IN IF UR KEYS ARE IN CAR IT STILL LOCKS I HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT MANY TIMES IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN UR DAUGHTER BORROWS YOUR CAR AND GETS HER9 MONTH OLD BABY LOCKED IN AT 95 DEGREES AT 11AM IN FLORIDA IN THE SUN IN A PARKING LOT.THE LOCKSMITH COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR CAUSE EVERY TIME HE POP THE LOCK THE SYSTEM WOULD RELOCK IT SELF IMMEDIATELY .THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM .SOME TIMES IT LOCKS ITSELF IN SECONDS OR MINS.IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. *TR

THE VEHICLE'S ALUMINUM RIMS CAUSED THE TIRE TO LEAK AIR AND EXPLODE. *JB

ON THE AVALON THE TURN SINGLES ARE ON THE SAME CIRCUIT AND GO THROUGA A RESISTOR IN THE EMERGENCY BLINKER SWITCH. THIS RESISTOR FAILED AND LEFT THE CAR WITHOUT TURN SINGLES OR EMERGENCY BLINKER LIGHTS. THIS CIRCUIT SHOULD BE REDESIGNED SO BOTH SYSTEMS ARE NOT INOP AT THE SAME TIME. *AK

THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS BURNED OUT 5 TIMES, CAUSING THE TAIL LIGHTS TO BE INOPERATIVE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE TUBING FROM THE FILLER NECK TO THE FUEL TANK IS SUBJECT TO RUST. THE RUST RESULTS IN HOLES IN THE TUBE. FUEL SPILLS OUT DURING REFUELING AND ACCELERATION. *JS

FUEL DAMPENER AND FUEL PUMP FAILED TWICE CAUSING FUEL LEAK AND FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE MADE LOUD NOISES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATERAL ARM SNAPPED OFF THE SUBFRAME DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. UPDATED 11/03/16*LJ *TR

NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF CAR, UPON INSPECTION, REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER WAS RUSTED OUT. NO OTHER SIGNIFICANT RUST UNDER CAR. CROSSMEMBER FAILED PREMATURELY. *TR