1999 Toyota Avalon Driver assistance Problems

DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL ABOUT THE 17TH OF DECEMBER 2013, I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE THE CAR TO A STOP. INSTEAD THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD SUDDENLY OUT OF CONTROL AND MOUNTED THE SIDEWALK. IT TRAVELED ABOUT 20 FEET BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE IT TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS NO OBJECT OR PERSON IN THE PATH OF THE CAR AND NOBODY WAS INJURED. THIS IS THE THIRD SUCH INCIDENT. THE FIRST WAS ON JUNE 3, 2006; THE SECOND WAS ON 3 FEBRUARY 2010. ALL INVOLVED THE CAR EITHER BEING STOPPED OR COMING TO A STOP. I DOCUMENTED BOTH, WRITING TO TOYOTA FULL ACCOUNTS OF EACH INCIDENT. I HAVE COPIES OF THESE LETTERS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUNE 3, 2006 LONG BEFORE THE WIDELY PUBLICIZED DEATH OF 4 PEOPLE IN AN ACCELERATING TOYOTA VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573687

Incident

Dec 17, 2013

Mileage

121,000 mi

1999 TOYOTA AVALON. UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS AT A CAR WASH WHICH WAS NEARING THE END OF THE WAS ON THE CONVEYOR BELT WITH THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL GEAR AS REQUIRED. AT THE END OF THE WASH CYCLE, THE GREEN LIGHT CAME ON WHICH WAS HER SIGNAL TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND EASE OFF THE BELT ONTO THE LOT. AT THE GREEN LIGHT, THE CONSUMER PUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO CHANGE THE GEAR FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. ONCE IN DRIVE GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND INSTANTLY ACCELERATED AT A TREMENDOUSLY HIGH SPEED. THE CONSUMER STOMPED ON THE BRAKES CONTINUOUSLY WITH NO RESULT. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE EAST SIDEWALK AND THREE EMPTY SOUTHBOUND LANES. IT THEN COLLIDED INTO THE THREE NORTHBOUND-LANE CARS; CROSSED THE WEST SIDEWALK AND CRASHED THROUGH A SIX FOOT COMMERCIAL CHAIN LINK FENCE; HIT A PARKED PICK UP TRUCK AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE WALL WAS THE FINAL OBJECT THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHICH HAD MAINTAINED EXCESSIVE SPEED. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10319808

Incident

Aug 3, 2005

MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON PERIODICALLY SURGES WHEN I USE CRUISE CONTROL ON AN UPHILL INCLINE. TO STOP THE SURGE IN SPEED, I TAKE THE CAR OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10319213

Incident

Mar 23, 2001

Mileage

20,000 mi

MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON XLS, HAS HAD SEVERAL ACCELERATION EVENTS, THIS HAS OCCURRED WILL AT A STOP, WITH FOOT BRAKE ENGAGED, IN DRIVE GEAR, THE CAR SURGES FORWARD FOR 1 TO 2 SECONDS. THE BRAKE IS ABLE TO KEEP CAR FROM MOVING MORE THAN A FOOT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10313280

Incident

Jun 15, 2002

SUSPECT SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IS DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10312444

Incident

Nov 17, 1999

Mileage

10,000 mi

AT ABOUT 5:00 P.M. MARCH 18, 2007, AS I WENT TO PICK UP MY 96 YEAR OLD MOTHER AT THE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, I STOPPED MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON UNDERNEATH THE DRIVE-THROUGH CANOPY TO WAIT FOR HER. AS I WAITED THERE, I NOTICED THAT A CAR HAD PULLED UP BEHIND ME AND WAS PREPARING TO DISCHARGE AN ELDERLY PASSENGER SO I PROCEEDED AROUND THE CIRCULAR DRIVE TO GET OUT OF THEIR WAY. AS I SLOWLY CIRCLED AROUND THE DRIVE BACK TOWARD THE ENTRANCE I NOTED THE OTHER CAR HAD CLEARED OUT. AS I COASTED TOWARD THE ENTRANCE I NOTED A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALK WALKING TOWARD THE ENTRANCE IN FRONT OF ME. AS I CONTINUED SLOWLY BACK TOWARD THE ENTRANCE, I FELT MY VEHICLE ACCELERATE VIOLENTLY TOWARD THE GROUP OF PEDESTRIANS. ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET, I GRADUALLY BROUGHT MY VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND CONTINUED TO A SAFE STOP WHERE I SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. IT WAS A TERRIFYING FEELING TO FEEL THE SURGE OF POWER THAT I WAS BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL AND TO REALIZE THAT WITH THE PEOPLE WALKING IN FRONT OF ME I COULD HAVE INJURED OR KILLED SOMEONE. THE PEOPLE WERE ONLY ABOUT 30 FEET IN FRONT OF ME. I CALLED MY HUSBAND TO COME PICK UP MY MOTHER AND ME AS I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO MY TOYOTA DEALER WHO SCHEDULED AN INSPECTION. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AFTER CLASSIFYING THE INCIDENT AS 'UNINTENDED ACCELERATION', PROCEEDED TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY, CLEAN THE FUEL INJECTORS, AND DE-CARBON THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS. THE THROTTLE BODY HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SERVICED AT 45,900 MILES, (AN INTERVAL OF 43,240 MILES). A SERVICE INTERVAL OF 50,000 MILES IS RECOMMENDED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS POTENTIAL FOR GREAT HARM TO PEDESTRIANS, THIS WAS THE ONLY INCIDENT OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION THAT WE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS CAR DURING THE FOUR YEARS THAT I OWNED IT. ON FEB 13, 2008, I SOLD THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311124

Incident

Mar 18, 2007

Mileage

89,140 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO CHANGE LANES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. IT BEGAN SWAYING FROM ONE LANE TO THE NEXT. SHE TRIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE. SHE HIT THE CENTER DIVIDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE HAD NO CONTROL AND COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. WHEN INSPECTED, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN 2007. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 27,000. UPDATED 03/10/10 *BF UPDATED 06/14/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10304717

Incident

Jan 21, 2007

Mileage

27,000 mi

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED WITH THE CONTROL SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION; HOWEVER THE CRUISE CONTROL LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED RAPIDLY INCREASED TO OVER 70 MPH, ALTHOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONSUMER DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL BY SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY REPLACED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. UPDATED 02/13/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147997

Incident

Jan 13, 2006

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10062981

Mileage

12,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE TRYING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10029686

Incident

Jul 14, 2003

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES INTERMITTENTLY ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMERS FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER IS FORCED TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO GET THE PROBLEM TO STOP. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. JB *NLM

NHTSA ID

8009054

Incident

Apr 20, 2002

Mileage

42,859 mi

WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT WAS HIT BY A BUS, AND THEN CONSUMER HIT ACCELERATOR AND VEHICLE RAN INTO A BUILDING. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID

8007094

Incident

Mar 24, 2002

THE GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK THREE TIMES WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING, THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *YH

NHTSA ID

562643

Incident

Aug 10, 2001

WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE WILL REV UP TO 5500 RPMS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD OR IN REVERSE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. CONSUMER MUST QUICKLY APPLY BRAKES, AND CHANGE GEAR IN ORDER TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM MOVING. TOYOTA CANNOT DUPLICATE DEFECT. THERFORE, CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. IN MEANTIME, CONSUMER IS DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

879680

Incident

Dec 29, 2000

THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE (FROM A STOP) WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. --FOR INSTANCE AT AN INTERSECTION OCCASIONALLY, AND RECENTLY, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WHEN I APPLY MODERATE GAS, BETWEEN 1/4 AND 1/2 PEDAL, THE ENGINE LOSES POWER AND THE CAR JUST SITS THERE. TO COMPLETE MY TURN, I HAVE TO LET OFF THE GAS AND PROCEED SLOWLY, SOMETIMES NARROWLY BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ID

721302

EQUIPPED WITH TRACTION CONTROL, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. DEALER SAID TO TURN OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL, WHICH WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

859960

ENGINE SURGING WHEN BREAKING AT INTERSECTIONS. MUST HOLD BREAK PEDAL AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO STOP VEHICLE FROM ENTERING INTO INTERSECTION.

NHTSA ID

714246

ERRATIC OPERATION OF SPEED CONTROL. IT TURNS ITSELF OFF DURING OPERATION WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL OR TOUCHING OFF SWITCH. DEALER INSPECTED / REPLACED SOME PARTS, BUT NOTHING CAN CORRECT THE PROBLE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

851134

Incident

Dec 5, 1998

THIS CAR SUDDEN ACCELERATES AND WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE GOES 10MPH. THE BODY TRIM BY THE DOORS IS SEVERLY WORN AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPLACE IT AND SAYS IT CANNOT DUPLICATE THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

711752

Incident

May 1, 1999

VEHICLE INVOLUNTARY ACCELERATED AS SOON AS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. STEPPED ON BRAKES, VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING. DEALER CONTACTED, AND COULD NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

836639

Incident

Mar 27, 1999