1999 Toyota Avalon Problems

WAS DRIVING SOUND ON GREGORY RD AND ANOTHER CAR WAS TRAVELING NORTH SHE CAME INTO MY LANE AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND HIT ME HEAD ON MY AIRBAG NEW DEPLOYED AND MY SEATBELT DID NOT HOLD I HAVE A BRUISE ACROSS MY CHEST FROM STEERING WHEEL AND BUMPS ON MY HEAD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE MIDDLE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED FOUR FRACTURED RIBS, A FRACTURED PELVIS, AND A FRACTURED COXAE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONTUSION UNDER HIS RIGHT SIDE RIB. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,600. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB UPDATED 12/31/07

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

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE REAR BEARING WAS LOOSE. THE BEARING BECAME LOOSE DUE TO THE WORN BUSHINGS. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V154000, REGARDING THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

BY CHECKING THE BRAKES IN THE CAR THE MECHANIC FOUNDED THAT THE BEARING ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL IS BROKEN. THE CAR IS 1999 TOYOTA AVALON. *NM

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

DT: 1999 TOYOTA AVALON. HAD THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER SYSTEM TANK REPLACED ON OCTOBER 18,2005. THE TANK WAS LEAKING GAS, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT RECALL. HAD NOT CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP, AND I HAD NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED BEFORE. *AK

IT HAS HAPPENED ON LEVEL SURFACES AS WELL AS INCLINES. WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE, THEY FIRST MAKE A GRINDING SOUND. THEN, IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THEY MAKE A SOUND LIKE A METAL SPRING UNCOILING (LIKE A CLICKING, OTHERWISE). AFTER THAT, YOU ARE FREE SAILING AS YOU HAVE NO BRAKES! THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE EITHER TRYING TO BRAKE OR EVEN AFTER BRAKING SUCCESSFULLY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY LET LOOSE WHILE AT A STOP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. I HAVE THANKFULLY BEEN ABLE TO AVOID ANY SERIOUS INJURY OR ACCIDENTS, HOWEVER HAVE HAD A MINOR ISSUE WITH HITTING A FENCE DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE. WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKE SYSTEM CHECKED FOR ANY REPAIRS NEEDED ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. ALSO NOTE THAT THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION LITE OFTEN COMES ON DASH EVEN ON DRY SURFACES. THIS BRAKING PROBLEM IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE SIENNA, BUT IN OTHER MODEL TOYOTAS AS WELL. CURRENTLY, IT IS ONLY THE PRIUS BRAKING SYSTEM THAT IS GETTING PUBLIC ATTENTION, HOWEVER. *TR

BRAKES WOULD PERIODICALLY GO OUT. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX BRAKES ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED TO PERSIST. DEFECT CAN INVOLVE CONSUMER IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.*AK

SIMILAR COMPLAINT TO CASE NUMBER 10192892 FILED 6/11/2007. I PURCHASED 4 TOYO SPECTRUM TIRES FOR 1999 AVALON THAT CONTINUALLY LOST AIR. THEY ERE ALL SLOW LEAKS, BUT REQUIRED FILLING UP ONCE PER MONTH. I CHECKED THEM FOR NAILS, BUT THERE WASV NOTHING EVIDENT.*AK

I PURCHASED 4 TOYO TIRES FOR MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON LAST SUMMER. ALL OF THE TIRES CONTINUE TO LOSE AIR REQUIRING I FILL THEM UP 2 OR 3 TIMES A MONTH! *TR

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A REPAIR FACILITY FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE THE MECHANIC NOTICED AN ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANEL. UPON EXAMINATION THE MECHANIC FOUND THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW SWITCH ON THE DRIVERS MASTER WINDOW CONTROL PANEL HAD MELTED AND A HOLE FUSED THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE SWITCH CONTROL UNIT. THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE PART HOWEVER UPON REPLACEMENT OF THE PART THE REPLACEMENT PANEL BEGAN TO MELT. *TR

TL*THE DRIVER OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE ALARM SYSTEM WOULD INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON INVOLUNTARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98E035000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT: I HAD SHOULDER SURGERY AND HAD TO PUT THE SHOULDER STRAP ACROSS MY BACK SO THAT IT WOULDN'T CROSS MY BAD SHOULDER. SO, WE GET TO OUR DESTINATION AND I START TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND FORGET I STILL HAVE THE SEATBELT ON. MY WIFE GETS BACK IN AND RELEASES IT, AND I GO TO GET OUT AND THE DAMNED THING WON'T PULL OUT/LOOSE. SINCE THE IDIOT THING THINKS IT'S PROTECTING ME, I PUSH A LITTLE OF IT BACK INTO THE SLOT ASSUMING IT WILL THEN RELEASE. NOOOOO! IT JUST GETS TIGHTER. WE START THE CAR TO SEE IF THAT RELEASES IT. NOOOOO! EVERY TIME I MOVE IT JUST GETS TIGHTER. A FREAKING BOA CONSTRICTOR COULD TAKE LESSONS FROM THIS THING. AFTER IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THE SEATBELT HAS WON, AND I'M BOUND UP LIKE A THANKSGIVING TURKEY, WE GET THE SCISSORS AND CUT IT LOOSE. THE TOYOTA ENGINEERS REALLY BLEW THIS DESIGN. SEVERAL FOLKS HAVE SAID THEY'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS IN CAR SEATS. ACTUALLY, THIS PROBLEM COULD BE KIND OF DANGEROUS IF YOU'RE IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

REAR OCCUPANTS ARE NOT ABLE TO RESTRAIN THEMSELVES BECAUSE SEAT BELTS ARE HIDDEN BETWEEN THE SEATS.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK MANUFACTURER MODIFIED THE DESIGN ON LATER MODELS BUT NO RETROFIT ON EXISTING VEHICLE. *TT

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

VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH, FOLLOWED BY ENGINE CHECK" LIGHT COMING ON. DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS A BAD FUEL INJECTOR AND SAID TOYOTA RECOMMENDED REPLACING ALL SIX INJECTORS TO REPAIR. I ASKED IF THESE WERE DEFECTIVE INJECTORS AND WAS TOLD NO. CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD SAME THING. IF THERE IS NO DEFECT, WHY WOULD I REPLACE ALL SIX INJECTORS? THIS WOULD COST ME NEARLY 5 TIMES AS MUCH. EITHER THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF ALL INJECTORS OR THIS IS A RUSE TO GET UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS TO PAY MORE FOR SERVICE. THE CUSTOMER DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE APPROPRIATE REPAIR. I WAS NOT TOLD AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THAT THIS CAR MAY CONTAIN DEFECTIVE PARTS. IF TOYOTA KNOWS OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THESE INJECTORS THEY SHOULD REPLACE THEM WHEN A FAILURE OCCURS, NOT THE CUSTOMER. *AK

DRIVER'S EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, AND COMMENTS WERE THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME ON TOYOTAS (FROM MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON DIFFERENT DATES. BEING ABLE TO OPEN DOOR QUICKLY CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS IS OCCURRING AS FREQUENTLY AS TOYOTA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES LED TO BELIEVE, WHY HASN'T TOYOTA DOES SOMETHING TO CORRECT? THE GRASPING PORTION OF HANDLE IS ALL PLASTIC. PROBLEM COULD MOST LIKELY BE SOLVED EASILY WITH A LITTLE REINFORCEMENT WITH A DURABLE MATERIAL. *TR

WATER WOULD ENTER TRUNK AREA WHENEVER IT RAIND OR VEHICLE WAS BEING WASHED AFTER TRUNK LID WAS CLOSED. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC COUILD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM OR RESOLVE IT.*AK

ON OR ABOUT THE DATE BELOW, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE I-405 N FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES WHEN MY SUNROOF GLASS PANEL FLEW OFF OF MY CAR. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME, BUT I HAD NOTICED INCREASING WIND NOISE OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS OR SO. AFTER CONDUCTING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT OTHER SUNROOFS (E.G., THE WEBASTO MODELS 600/700 AND 900) THAT ALSO USED GLASS PANELS MANUFACTURED BY VERMEULEN HOLLANDIA ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I PURCHASED MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON USED IN 2004 WITH ABOUT 16K MILES ON IT. I AM UNSURE WHETHER WEBASTO IS THE MANUFACTURER, BUT AM LISTING THEM IN THE FOLLOWING PAGE SO THAT I AM ABLE TO FILL OUT ALL THE REQUIRED INFORMATION TO FILE THIS REPORT ELECTRONICALLY. THE GLASS PANEL INDICATES THAT VERMEULEN HOLLANDIA BV IS THE MANUFACTURER, AND THE SN IS 361607. *TR

I ENTERED THE FREEWAY AND SUDDENLY MY CAR ACCELERATED AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER IT. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. ALL I COULD DO WAS STEER. I STAYED IN THE RIGHT LANE AND STEERED UP THE EXIT RAMP. I PUSHED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, STAYED ON THE BRAKE, AND IT COASTED TO A STOP AT THE TOP OF THE RAMP, JUST BEFORE IT ENTERED THE INTERSECTION. I PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE, AND IT TOOK OFF AGAIN. I PUSHED IT BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND STEERED INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. I PUT IT IN DRIVE AGAIN AND IT WAS FINE. I DROVE AROUND THE PARKING LOT. FINALLY, I DECIDED IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE HOME, BUT NOT ON THE FREEWAY. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, HE DETERMINED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. BY CHANCE, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE TIP OF THE MAT HAD APPARENTLY BEEN RESTING AGAINST THE BOTTOM TIP OF THE ACCELERATOR. HE CUT OFF THE TIP OF THE MAT. I REMEMBERED THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED ABOUT TWO YEARS PRIOR, ON A BUSY STREET, AS I DROVE OUT OF A CAR WASH. I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME. ANOTHER MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT WAS PROBABLY THE MAT THAT FIRST TIME, TOO. BOTH INCIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THE SECOND ONE, WERE EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING. ALL I COULD WAS THANK GOD THAT THERE WAS NO COLLISION. *TR

WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND THEN STEPPING ON GAS TO ACCELERATE THE CAR JERKS NOTICEABLY. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. *AK

PROBLEM 1: THE CAR SHIFTS POORLY WHEN YOU LET OFF THE GAS AND THEN ACCELERATE OR DO A ROLLING STOP. TOYOTA'S FIELD TECHNICAL SPECIALIST, RON WYTOCK SAID THAT THOSE DRIVING SITUATIONS PRODUCED A 2 GEAR DOWNSHIFT WHEN IT SHOULDN'T BUT THAT WAS NORMAL AND NOT REPAIRABLE. PROBLEM 2: THE CAR HAS A VERY NASTY, ACRID ODOR, THAT GIVES US HEADACHES AND MAKES US NAUSEOUS WHEN WE DRIVE IT. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN MORE THAN 4 TIMES IN ATTEMPTS TO GET IT REPAIRED, BUT THE SMELL IS STILL THERE. WE ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE THE SMELL MAKES US ILL: WE ARE CONCERNED THE CAR MAY CATCH FIRE; AND WE ARE CONCERNED CAR COMPONENTS MAY FAIL WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. TOYOTA HAS GUESSED AT SEVERAL CAUSES OF THE SMELL, BUT NOW SAYS THE SMELL IS NORMAL AND NOT A CAUSE OF CONCERN. *AK

THE CAR STEERING IS HARD TO TURN UNTIL IT WARMS UP. I TOOK THE STEERING TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR FLUSHING 12/3/2015 BUT THIS HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE STEERING CONTINUES TO BE STIFF/HARD WHEN TURNING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. IT IS THE ONLY CAR MY FAMILY USES AND THIS IS INCREASING MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO UNJAM THE STEERING.*JG

ON OR ABOUT THE DATE BELOW, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE I-405 N FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES WHEN MY SUNROOF GLASS PANEL FLEW OFF OF MY CAR. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME, BUT I HAD NOTICED INCREASING WIND NOISE OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS OR SO. AFTER CONDUCTING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT OTHER SUNROOFS (E.G., THE WEBASTO MODELS 600/700 AND 900) THAT ALSO USED GLASS PANELS MANUFACTURED BY VERMEULEN HOLLANDIA ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I PURCHASED MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON USED IN 2004 WITH ABOUT 16K MILES ON IT. I AM UNSURE WHETHER WEBASTO IS THE MANUFACTURER, BUT AM LISTING THEM IN THE FOLLOWING PAGE SO THAT I AM ABLE TO FILL OUT ALL THE REQUIRED INFORMATION TO FILE THIS REPORT ELECTRONICALLY. THE GLASS PANEL INDICATES THAT VERMEULEN HOLLANDIA BV IS THE MANUFACTURER, AND THE SN IS 361607. *TR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIRS, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *SLC

THE DRIVER HEATER SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED THE CONSUMER. *JB THE FIRST SEAT GRID WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WORK. THE REPLACEMENT BURNED THE CONSUMER WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING AND NEVER CAME ON AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FAILED PART AGAIN. *PH *JB

MY NEIGHBOR AND I PURCHASED TOYOTA AVALON'S THREE WEEKS APART FROM SPARKS TOYOTA. HE IN DECEMBER '98, AND I IN JANUARY '99. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF OWNING MY CAR I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD A FOUL ODOR IN HIS CAR AS I DID, HE SAID, "YES." WE PURSUED THE CAUSE TOGETHER. CALLED TOYOTA IN TORRANCE, CA, AND A WOMEN ADMITTED THAT THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE A/C. SHE STATED IT COULD GO AWAY BY ITSELF OR TO MINIMIZE THE ODOR, RUN THE A/C ON OUTSIDE AIR. CALLED SPARKS TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY STATED IT COULD BE A CLOGGED OR RESTRICTED CONDENSATION LINE. WE BOTH HAD OUR CARS CHECKED OUT, NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND WITH THE DRAIN LINES. BOTH CARS WERE SPRAYED WITH A BACTERIAL DEODORANT. SERVICE MANAGER RECOMMENDED TO HAVE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE TROY HEWEL LOOK AT ONE OF OUR CARS TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE ODOR. WE COMPLIED. HEWEL AT FIRST DID NOT KNOW OF ANY PROBLEM, BUT DURING OUR CONVERSATION HE PRODUCED MATERIAL FROM HONDA/ARTICLES FROM USA TODAY/AUTOMOTIVE NEWS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKLEY WELLNESS LETTER ABOUT ISSUES WITH A/C EVAPORATORS. BOTH OF US AGREED TO HAVE OUR EVAPORATORS REPLACED, AS SUGGESTED BY THE HEWEL. TO THE BOTH OF US IT SEEMS TO BE AN INDUSTRY PROBLEM. WHY ISN'T THE BUYER INFORMED OF THE ODOR AT PURCHASE? WHY IN THIS CASE, DOES TOYOTA AT FIRST DENY THAT THERE IS AN A/C PROBLEM, BUT WHEN QUESTIONED FURTHER, ADMITS THERE IS? WHAT HEALTH RISKS ARE INVOLVED FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGERS? ISN'T THERE ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN, BY USING FRESH AIR (INSTEAD OF RECIRCULATION) TO COOL THE CAR, MORE FUEL HAS TO BE BURNT, RAISING THE POLLUTENT LEVELS ADMITTED TO THE ATMOSPHERE? WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM NHTSA ON THESE ISSUES, THANK YOU! *AK

VEHICLE WAS REARENDED ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEAT FELL FORWARD, AND SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE. CONSUMER RECEIVED VARIOUS INJURIES. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

CAR HAS DEFECTIVE PLASTIC WIRING HARNESS COUPLING THAT CONTROLS DRIVER SEAT MEMORY CONTROL. COUPLING AS ATTACHES TO WIRING THAT LEADS TO AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. CAR HAS BEEN IN DEALER'S REPAIR CENTER FOR FIVE WEEKS WITH NO INDICATION AS TO WHEN IT CAN BE FIXED. DEALER WILL NOT RELEASE CAR TO OWNERUNTIL CAR IS REPAIRED BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM.

VIBRATION IN FRONT END, FELT IN STEERING AND GETTING WORSE. TOYOTA MECHANIC SUSPECTS CV JOINT FAILING.FACTORY REP SAYS IT'S A DESIGN FLAW; THEY ALL DO IT. NEW AVALONS ARE REDESIGNED TO CORRECT FLAW. REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITION.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIRS, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *SLC