1997 Toyota Avalon Suspension Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10894082

Incident

Aug 4, 2016

Mileage

139,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10482650

Incident

Oct 13, 2012

Mileage

240,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS THEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10453006

Incident

Feb 20, 2012

Mileage

130,000 mi

I HAVE BEEN HAVING THE PROBLEM OF SUSPENSION NOISE AND WHEN HITTING BUMPS CAUSING A LOUD THUMP IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR RIDING ON TRACKS EACH TIME YOU HIT A BUMP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10204557

Incident

Apr 1, 2003

1997 TOYOTA AVALON THE POWER STEERING RACK LEAKS AT 51000 MILES AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO TOYOTA. ALSO NEED TO BE REPAIRED AT 99000 MILES THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING ALSO FAILED NEAR 50000 MILES AND IS FAILING AGAIN AT 99500 MILES. THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAKES EXCESSIVE NOISE AND LEAKS. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 51000 MILES AS WELL. WEAKNESS IN THE STEERING MAKES THIS A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS BUT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED TO ALL TOYOTA DEALERS TO CHECK FOR THESE PROBLEMS AND RECOMMEND REPAIRS. THE COST AVERAGES $1000. WHILE ASKING TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR HELP I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT THE CEO IN JAPAN IF NOT SATISFIED WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10178370

Incident

Apr 2, 2005

Mileage

51,000 mi

BOUGHT USED 97 TOYOTA AVALON AT 96,000 MILES COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. FROM DAY ONE, NOTICED CRANKLING AND RATTLING NOISE AT THE FRONT AND BACK. AS THE TIME WENT BY, IT GOT WORSE. FINALLY JUST HAD MY REAR STRUTS REPLACED BUT THE FRONT IS STILL BAD. EVERYTIME GOING SLOW 20/35 MPH I COULD HEAR THINGS ARE SHAKING, RATTLING. NOW THE DELAER JUST TOLD ME THAT RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING TOO. DID A SEARCH ON MY OWN ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT THESE HAPPEN TO BE KNOWN ISSUES WITH AVALON. HAVE HAD EVRYTHING DONE BY A LOCAL DEALER HERE IN HOUSTON BUT MUCH TO MY CHAGRIN DEALERSHIP GUYS NEVER MENTIONED OR ACKNWLEDGED THESE KNOWN ISSUES. DO WANNA GET RID OF IT BUT IT WOULD BE UNFAIR WITH THE PURCHASER. SO NOW KEEPING IT AND GOING TO REPLACE THE FRONT STRUTS WITH MOUNTS AS WELL, HOPING THAT CRANKLING AND RATTLING WOULD GO AWAY COMPLETELY. SPENDING MORE BUCK . FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE WHO BOUGHT AVALONS AT VERY LOW MILEAGE. LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST ONE CAN EASILY FIND THESE COMPLAINTS FROM DIFFERENT WEBSITES FROM LOT OF PEOPLE , I THINK ITS ABOUT TIME SOMEBODY STEPS UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THANKS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10141303

Incident

Oct 31, 2005

THE CAR HAS A SERIOUS FLAW IN THE HANDLING, RIDE AND SUSPENSION!THIS CAR HAS THE SUSPENSION THAT ROCKS LIKE A BOAT; AND EVEN THE SMALLEST BUMP RATTLES THE ENTIRE FRAME AND REMINDS ME OF A THUNDER-LIKE NOISE . *AK I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED SERVICING AT THE DEALER, AND HAVE A HISTORY OF COMPLAINING ABOUT IT --NEARLY EVERY TIME I TOOK IT IN, I WOULD ASK TO INSPECT IT - SEEMS LIKE THEY NEVER DID A THOROUGH REQUIRED ANALYSIS, UNTIL RECENTLY THE SERVICE DIRECTOR WAS NICE ENOUGHT TO TAKE IT FOR A DRIVE AND CONFIRMED THAT IT NEEDS ALL NEW STRUTS AND ARMS FOR $2000. PROBLEM IS IT WAS ALWAYS BAD AND COULD HAVE CAUSED OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR TO BREAK PREMATURELY AND BE REPLACED AS WELL IN CAR I'VE BEEN IN CARS WITH WORKING SUSPENSIONS BEFORE AND THIS ONE IS ***NOT*** THIS WASN'T THE SAME CAR I TEST DROVE OR TOYOTA HAS EARNED IT'S REPUTATION ON. PLEASE LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION

NHTSA ID

10066499

Incident

Apr 19, 2004

HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST COMPLAIN BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? THERE MUST BE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T COMPLAIN, BUT HAVE THESE SAME PROBLEMS! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

766324

Incident

Nov 2, 2001

SO MANY SUSPENSION/STRUTS PROBLEMS WITH 1997 AVALON. SO MANY COMPLAINS ON THE WEB SITE. TALK TO THE SERVICE ADVISER AT BUENA PARK TOYOTA AND HE TOLD ME THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE IN BACK ORDER BECAUSE OF SO MANY FAILURES. PLEASE CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION ABOUT THIS FALURE SINCE SO MANY VEHICLES INVOLVE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID

758816

I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES BEFORE THEY ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THE STRUTS, AND ANOTHER TWO VISITS TO REPAIR THEM. THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THE STEERING, DESPITE ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE. *AK

NHTSA ID

745202

Incident

May 7, 2001

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF WHEELS BOUNCING, COULD NOT TELL IF IT WAS THE FRONT END OR BACK END OR BOTH, WHEN VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING, BUT ON 10-23-00 THE PROBLEM INCREASED AND A RATTLING SOUND WAS EVIDENT, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT FRONT STRUTS WERE LEAKING AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND NOW VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

560466

Incident

May 19, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

881391

Incident

Nov 15, 2000

DEALER REPORTS THAT THE PART FAILS SO OFTEN THAT THE PARTS ARE BACK-ORDERED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

740756

Incident

Nov 20, 2000

WHILE DRIVING FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD MAKE CLICKING NOISES. HAD NOT HIT ANY BUMPS OR HOLES WHEN IT DID THIS. FRONT TIRES FELT REAL LOOSE LIKE BOLTS AND NUTS WERE COMING OFF. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND BEEN INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH SUSPENSION. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

880186

Incident

Jul 30, 1997

SUSPENSION OF MY CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT IS MOANING, GROANING, SQUEAZING, ETC. WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL, WHEN I DRIVE OVER A BUMP AND WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES. VERY SCARY SOUND, SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG.

NHTSA ID

740094

THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT STRUTS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE 1995 AND THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST IN YEAR 2001. *AK

NHTSA ID

739308

Incident

Nov 20, 2000

EXCESSIVE WEAR ON TIRES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 004550 TIRESIZE: P205/65R15)

NHTSA ID

739107

Incident

Dec 1, 2000

FAILURE OF FRONT STRUTS ASSEMBLY AS EVIDENCED BY BOUNCING OF FRONT WHEELS AND RATTTLING. INSPECTION BY TOYOTA SERVICE DEALER FOUND STRUTS TO BE LEAKING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY ON BASIS OF TIME (3 YEARS) EVEN IF NOT BY MILEAGE, THEY WERE NOT AT FAULT. FOLLOWING MY PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT A FRIEND HAD ASIMILAR PROBLEM ON THEIR RENTED 1998 MODEL OF THE SAME CAR AND TURNED THE CAR IN AT THE END OF THE RENTAL INSTEAD OF PURCHASING IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

738846

Incident

May 19, 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

DEALER MECHANIC TOLD ME IN STRICT CONFIDENCE THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON. COST TO REPLACE TWO FRONT STRUTS IS $743.00. ACCORDING TO MECHANIC, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD RESULT IN TIRE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

738016

NOISE FROM FRONT END WHEN ROAD NOT SMOOTH OR SPEED BUMPS. FINALLY TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND WERE TOLD STRUT MOUNTS WORN, BUSHINGS BAD AT TOWERS. FEEL FOR STRUTS TO FAIL WITH THIS LOW A MILEAGE IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE HAVE 5 YR/60,000 PLATINUM EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY CLAIM IT IS "USUAL WEAR & TEAR". IS IT USUAL TO WEAR OUT IN 49,000 MILES. 85% PROBABLY LONG DIST. HIGHWAY MILES?

NHTSA ID

737915

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

MCPHERSON STRUTS ARE LEAKING AND NO LONGER GIVES ANY SUSPENSION. WHEN A BUMP IS HIT FRONT SUSPENSION RATTLES AND SHAKES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

857301

THE FRONT SUSPENSION BAR WAS BROKEN CAUSING THE VEHICLE VEERES TO THE LEFT WHILE ON HIGHWAY AND GOES OUT OF CONTROL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. YH

NHTSA ID

550263

Incident

May 10, 1999

STRUTS.

NHTSA ID

609191

PROBLEM MANIFESTS ITSELF BY RATTLES THAT APPARENTLY ARE ON RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

709754

Incident

Apr 1, 1999