2001 Toyota Avalon Visibility Problems

2001 TOYOTA AVALON EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, AND WINDOWS. *MR THERE WAS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH NOISE THAT SEEMED TO ORIGINATE FROM THE FRONT END. THE NOISE WAS INTERMITTENT AND NOTICEABLE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED, WHEN MAKING TURNS OR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE CALIPER SLIDE WAS STICKING ONTO THE LEFT FRONT SIDE. THE BRAKE ROTORS SHOWED SIGNS OF GLAZE, THERE WAS A WOBBLY FEELING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEATED SEAT WAS INTERMITTENT, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT, THE DRIVERS WINDOWS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN, THE STRIPPING ON THE BUMPER WAS COMING OFF, THE STEERING WOULD SHAKE AT TIMES, THE FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATED, THE RADIO BUTTONS WERE FADING, THE CASSETTE WAS INOPERATIVE, THERE WAS BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VENT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING, THE WIPER BLADE(S) WERE NOISY, THE WINDSHIELD HAD "MILLION" OF DOTS ALL OVER IT, AND THE FRONT PANEL WAS LIT FOR THE BACK LIGHTS AND THERE WAS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF AIR/HEAT THAT WOULD BLOW ON THE DRIVERS FEET. THE ROTORS WERE MACHINED AND THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE FRONT STRUTS WERE CRACKED AND CAUSED THE FRONT END NOISE. THE RADIO,STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND THE FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED. *SC

NHTSA ID

10122602

Incident

Sep 7, 2001

Mileage

16,276 mi

BOTH VISORS (L&R) HAVE BROKEN. WHEN THE VISOR IS LATCHED OUT OF THE WAY THERE IS UNDUE STRESS ON THE HINGE AND ANCHOR CAUSING THE HINGE ASSEMBLY TO BREAK APART . THIS STRESS ALSO CAUSES THE ANCHOR THAT TO HOLDS THE VISOR AT REST TO RIP OUT. THIS IS CLEARLY IS A DESGIN FLAW AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY TOYOTA. I WAS TOLD OUT OF WARRANTY AT 39,000 MILES, SORRY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10091397

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

36,000 mi

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A DISTRACTING LIGHT THAT INTERFERES WITH MY NIGHT OPERATION OF THE CAR. AT NIGHT, AWAY FROM LIGHTS, I SEE THE 140 FROM THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE E FROM THE FUEL GAGE, REFLECTED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE IMAGE IS UPSIDE DOWN AND THE LIGHT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT IS DEAD AHEAD IN THE FIELD OF TRAVEL. I HAVE ADJUSTED MY SEAT SO I AM AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, THE TOP OF MY HEAD IS ABOUT 1" FROM THE CEILING. I'VE CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALER. THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT SEE THE REFLECTION, BUT IF IT IS THERE, THEY REPORT "THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE". *JB

NHTSA ID

10063828

Incident

Mar 24, 2004

THE SENSOR THAT CAUSES THE REAR WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER TO TURN OFF MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE BACK GLASS TO OVERHEAT AND SHATTER. I HAVE A MR2 WHICH WAS NOT LISTED IN THE VARIOUS MODELS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058558

Incident

Feb 19, 2004

Mileage

42,000 mi

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A DISTRACTING LIGHT THAT INTERFERES WITH MY NIGHT OPERATION OF THE CAR. AT NIGHT, AWAY FROM LIGHTS, I SEE THE 140 FROM THE SPEEDOMETER AND E FROM THE FUEL GAGE, REFLECTED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE IMAGE IS UPSIDE DOWN AND THE LIGHT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT IS DEAD AHEAD IN THE FIELD OF TRAVEL. IVE ADJUSTED MY SEAT SO IM AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, THE TOP OF MY HEAD IS ABOUT 2 FROM THE CEILING. I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALER THAT ATTEMPTED TO SERVICE THIS, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TOYOTA OFFICES (CASE # 200110160534). THEY REPORT "THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE".*AK

NHTSA ID

757318

Incident

Jan 25, 2002

DURING NIGHT DRIVING A PORTION OF THE SPEEDOMETER REFLECTS OFF WINDSHIELD, CREATING A DISTRACTION. TOYOTA CLAIMS MY VIN REPRESENTS THE VEHICLES THAT WERE CORRECTED DURING PRODUCTION, BUT THE REFLECTION STILL EXISTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

753624

THIS IS AS MUCH A QUESTION AS AN ACTUAL REPORT. DRIVER'S SIDEVIEW MIRROR HAS TREMENDOUS BLIND SPOT - CONVERSELY - A SMALL VIEWING AREA. TYPICALLY A CONSCIENTIOUS DRIVER, I HAVE CUT OFF 2 OR MORE DRIVERS THAT JUST WEREN'T VISIBLE TO ME. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE REVIEWED. PERHAPS THIS IS MY OWN PROBLEM, BUT I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH A CAR IN THE PAST. MY BELIEF IS THAT THE SIDEVIEW MIRROR SHOULD BE MORE CONCAVE - OR AT LEAST PROVIDE A LARGER VIEWING AREA.*AK

NHTSA ID

752161

Incident

May 14, 2001

AT NIGHT THERE IS A GLARE ON WINDSHIELD FROM INSTRUMENT PANEL. HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.*AK

NHTSA ID

892770

Incident

Jul 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT DASHBOARD LIGHT WILL REFLECT ON WINDSHIELD GLASS, AND WILL INTERFERE WITH DRIVER'S VISION IN DARK. *AK THE REFLECTION ON TO WINDSHIELD WAS DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. THE DASBOARD DOES NOT EXTEND FAR ENOUGH TO BLOCK THE REFLECTION FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *YH

NHTSA ID

878526

Incident

Jan 18, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING DURNING RAIN WINDSHIELD GIVES OFF POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

NHTSA ID

874807

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

736233