2003 Toyota Avalon Steering Problems

Purchased car used 11/2020 Jan 14 2021 had 2 open recalls steering casting defect and wire harness filter to deflect noise from ecm . I lost control of communication of operations. 12/2022 steering lock bar The past 2 years uncovered everything on my own. Learned somebody died in 2003 Avalon in Texas about steering locking up. Plan to talk to class action lawyers over airbag and steering. And arrange my own lawyer with settlement lawyers to make this repair and all tsb to be performed. I will never buy a car unless I can find all tsb problems associated with that car. I hope recalls can be opened especially when you guys in government state safety ,compliance and emissions do not expire. Recall

NHTSA ID

11500232

Incident

Dec 7, 2022

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? 1- AUG 2020- MEGA MOTERS- PURCHASSED AUTO- CARFAX AND AUTO GURO- RECOMMENDED THIS VEHISCAL AND SALES PITCH INCLUDED THESE COMPANIES- HE SAID HE DOES GOOD BUSINESS- HE SAID HE WILL FIX ALL ISSUES IF THE ISSUE WAS WITH-IN 30 DAYS- CAR DROVE FINE- HE PUT AN INSPECTION STICKER- IT DID NOT SMOKE THEN BECAUSE HE HAD A HELPER WHO STARTED THE CAR AND PLACED INSPECTION STICKER READIN 10;2021? BUT IT WAS AUGUST 2020? THE HELPER DROVE IT TO THE FRONT OF THE DEALERSHIP- AFTER I PAID 7000.00 AND THUS DID NOT SEE START UP SMOKE AT THE DEALERSHIP 2. AT START UP - TOOK MY TWO SISTERS FOR A TEST DRIVE- GREY SMOKE- SAME DAY- AS PURCHASSED - SHOCK ISSUES-SUSPENTION AND DEALER- MY SISTER WAS DRIVING AS i CALLED TO TELL HIM i LOVED THE CAR AND IT SEEMED TO RUN FINE- EXCEPT FOR THE SMOKE ANDRED OIL LIGHT AND THE SHOCKS- SUSPENTION- UNCOMFORTABLE SCRAPING SOUND- I WILL FIX- AS HE SAID HE FORGOT TO PUT THE NEW OIL CAP ON OIL AND SENSOR- HE SAID HE WOULD PLACE THE TIRE SHOCKS TO FIX SUSPENTION. 2- I LIVE FAIRLY CLOSE- AND ONLY DRIVE SHORT DISTANCE- LIGHT OF OIL CAME ON- BUT GAGES READ NORMAL- MILES WERE AT 9800, DROVE FINE- JUST WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOUD SCRAP SOUND ON ANY DIPS ON ROAD AND THE SMOKE- AT START UP - AND DEALER AT MEGA MORTOR- SAID- TO BRING IT IN HE FORGOT TO PUT A SENSOR AND THE SHOCKS HE HAS THEM AT THE SHOP AND THE NEW OIL CAP- 2 RETURNED THE FOLLOWING MORNING- NO ONE WAS AT THE SHOP- I CALLED HIM HE SAID HE WOULD BE THERE AT 10 AM- - THE CAR SMOKED AT START INCREASED- - HE WAS NOT THERE AT 1030AM- CALLED HIM HE SAID HE COULD NOT FIX IT AS HE WAS BUSY- HE ASKED ME TO COME IN THE NEXT DAY- i CALLED NO ANSWER- CALLED AGAIN- AND HE SAID HE NEEDED ME TO BRING IT SATURDAY MORNING- AND HE WILL FIX- HE WAS RUDE AND SAID HE WAS BUSY- IT WAS SEPTEMBER- AND THE CAR IS HAZARD- IT STOPPED ON MY WAY INTO HIS SHOP AND GOT IT HOME- I GOT COVID 10-2020 TO 4/2020- LONGHAUL-

NHTSA ID

11418364

Incident

Aug 15, 2020

CAR'S STEERING STOPS TURNING WHILE DRIVING IN THE INITIAL 5 MINUTES OF DRIVE, IT OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN WEATHER IS HUMID ( RAINING). THE EPISODE OCCURS WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE STEERING AND RECOVERS AFTER I FORCIBLY TURN THE STIFF STEERING.

NHTSA ID

11194433

Incident

Mar 27, 2019

Mileage

4 mi

THE RECALL NOTICES WAS RECEIVED IN APRIL, 2015. BUT THE PART NEEDED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE RECALL NOTICES SAID "TOYOTA IS PREPARING SUFFICIENT PARTS TO SUPPORT INSTALLATION OF SUB-WIRE HARNESS....WE WILL SEND ANOTHER NOTIFICATION WHEN PREPARATION ARE COMPLETE". MY CONCERN IS THAT ME AND MY FAMILY ARE CURRENTLY DRIVING AROUND IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. THE RECALL NOTICE WENT ON TO SAY "THE FRONT AIRBAG AND/OR SEATBELT PRETENSIONERS COULD INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY" MY QUESTION IS WHEN IS THIS PROBLEMS GOING TO BE FIXED. I HAVE NOT TAKING THIS CAR ON A MAJOR TRIP SINCE THIS RECALL BECAUSE I FEEL MY FAMILY IS AT RISK. I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE TO THIS INQUIRY. THIS RECALL CORRECTION NEED TO BE COMPLETED. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10822990

Incident

Apr 3, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THERE WAS A TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10822267

Incident

Oct 12, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

LETTER FROM SENATOR TED CRUZ RE: CONSTITUENT AND TOYOTA REFUSING TO PAY FOR A RECALL REPAIR DONE ON HIS 2003 TOYOTA AVALON (MAILED TO AUSTIN, TX OFFICE ATTN: SUSANNA SOVRAN). *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN TWICE, AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND SWITCH HOUSING ASSEMBLY, AT A COST OF $430.00. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING COLUMN UPPER BRACKET. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER, IN REGARDS TO THE RECALL, AND ASK IF THE RECALL WAS FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND THE DEALER STATED NO. WHEN THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO SEE THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED, HE NOTICED IT WAS THE SAME PART, THAT WAS REPLACED IN HIS VEHICLE TWO MONTHS PRIOR. THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT, IN WHICH THE LETTER STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA, FOR REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THE SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN GOODWILL.

NHTSA ID

10554483

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

ON THIS DATE THE CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A STEERING COLUMN UPPER BRACKET REPLACEMENT. TODAY MARCH 19TH, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR REGULAR MECHANIC FOR FRONT BRAKES AND TO CHECK BECAUSE THE KEY WILL COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND IN DRIVE OR REVERSE RATHER THAN PARK. IT WAS ALSO POINTED OUT TO US BY OUR MECHANIC THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER LOCKS WHICH HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE THEY DID THE RECALL WORK BUT WE JUST REALIZED TODAY. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL US ABOUT THE RECALL AND WE EXPLAINED WE HAD TAKEN IT IN FOR THE BRACKET. SO, IN SHORT, SINCE TOYOTA REPLACED THE BRACKET ON THIS RECALL, THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER LOCKS AND THE KEY WILL COME OUT IN DRIVE WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, WHICH SHOULD NOT OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503692

Incident

Sep 24, 2010

THE STEERING STARTED TO BIND WHEN IT STARTED GETTING COLD. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT FELT LIKE NO POWER STEERING EXISTED INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE MAKING TURNS IT WOULD ALSO BIND, MAKING IT HARD TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL BACK AS I AM COMING OUT OF THE TURN, WHICH WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION. INITIAL REPAIR SHOP SUGGESTED CHANGING THE SERPENTINE BELTS. THAT DID NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. NEXT I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED UPPER STEERING SHAFT. THIS SEEMED TO IMPROVE BUT NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. I JUST WENT BACK, AND NOW THEY REPLACED THE STEERING RACK AND LOWER SHAFT. NOW IT APPEARS CORRECTED. WHILE LOOKING ON THE WEB, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE, SO I FEEL THIS SHOULD QUALIFY AS A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10494822

Incident

Dec 11, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

75 N TRAVELING 65 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD SNAP UNDER CAR. CAR TRIED TO VEER TO LEFT SEVERAL TIMES PULLED BACK THOUGHT IT WAS UNDER CONTROL WHEN SPEED INCREASED CAR DARTED RIGHT HEAD ON INTO RETAINING WALL BOUNCED OFF DID 2 1/2 360 DEGREE SPINS HIT WALL AGAIN BROADSIDE AND FINALLY CAME TO STAND STILL. WHEN SPEED INCREASED AND CAR SHOT TO RIGHT ALL CONTROL WAS LOST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10491519

Incident

Dec 20, 2012

Mileage

130,000 mi

2003 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED OVER A YEAR AGO, HE WAS DRIVING INTO A GARAGE, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY, AND HE HIT A BRICK WALL. THE CONSUMER REALIZED HE ACCIDENTALLY, HIT THE ACCELERATOR, INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. IN 2003, THE STEERING COLUMN DID NOT TELESCOPE AND TALL DRIVERS, SUCH AS HIM HAD A PROBLEM SELECTING THE DEGREE OF TILT ON THE STEERING COLUMN. BECAUSE HE COULD NOT EXTEND THE STEERING COLUMN, ON THAT OCCASION, HE TILTED THE STEERING WHEEL DOWN, BUT FURTHER THAN HE USUALLY DID. THE RESULT, WAS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BLOCKED HIS RIGHT LEG FROM MOVING TO THE LEFT.

NHTSA ID

10476427

Incident

Sep 1, 2012

HELLO IM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS. 1. IVE RECEIVED AN RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 2003 TOYOTA AVALON FOR "STEERING PROBLEM UPPER BRACKET". AND HAVE, TRIED TO REMEDY THIS, ONLY TO FIND OUT TOYOTA, OFFERS NO COURTESY VEHICLE?. OR A DEFINITE TIME YOUR VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED?. 2ND THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER DEFECT ON THIS CAR, WHEN GOING OVER "ROUGH" ROADS AND BRAKING, THE CAR FEELS LIKE ITS NOT BRAKING AT ALL. OR LIKE THE BRAKES ARE SLIPPING?. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ON THE 2003 AVALON? THERE HAVE BEEN NO INCIDENTS TO DATE, BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED. *KB

NHTSA ID

10416796

Incident

Aug 2, 2011

Mileage

149,866 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V345000 (STEERING). AFTER THE REMEDY REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, AN UNUSUAL NOISE WOULD SOUND WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE DEALER REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10415474

Incident

Jul 27, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE STEERING WHEEL WITH FORCE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT AN EARLIER DETECTION OF THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT FAILURE WAS IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO THE DESIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,515. UPDATED 05/25/11 *BF

NHTSA ID

10397483

Incident

Apr 16, 2011

Mileage

70,515 mi

WHILE IN PARKING LOT, PLACED CAR IN REVERSE. THE CAR ACCELERATED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, JUMPING A CURB AND HITTING A 2 FOOT HIGH POLE IN NEXT PARKING LOT. BRAKING HAD NO EFFECT. ATTEMPT TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL FAILED. STEERING ALSO FAILED. CAR TOWED TO COLLISION CENTER SUBSEQUENTLY TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. CAR HIT WITH SUCH FORCE, IT WAS WRAPPED AROUND POLE AND RESTING ON TOP OF POLE. WRIST OF DRIVER HURT - HAD TO SEEK ATTENTION FROM EMTS AND GO TO EMERGENCY ROOM. UNDER ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALIST CARE CURRENTLY. PASSENGER IN BACK SEAT, 20 YR OLD, HAS NECK STRAIN AND HEADACHE CONCERNS.

NHTSA ID

10374289

Incident

Dec 15, 2010

Mileage

86,000 mi

2003 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN *TGW THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, ONLY TO BE TOLD THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10364753

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

I HAD TO REPLACE 6 MONTH OLD TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN ON THE EDGES. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD ALIGNMENT, SO I BOUGHT NEW TIRES, HAD THEM BALANCED AND RE-ALIGNED. 1 MONTH LATER MY CAR IS STILL PULLING TO THE LEFT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10349775

Incident

Jul 19, 2010

Mileage

83,000 mi

2003 AVALON TOYOTA: EVERY MORNING, COMING OUT OF THE GARAGE, STEERING RIGHT PRODUCES STRANGE SOUND AS WELL AS STIFFNESS. REPORTED TO TOYOTA DEALER LAST WEEK AFTER 6 MONTHS OF THIS EXPERIENCE. THEY HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM TOYOTA YET. TOLD US TO WAIT TILL MID AUGUST FOR MORE INFO FROM TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347017

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

68,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN MOVING TO THE LEFT. HE HAD TO GUIDE THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE, AND THEY ROTATED, BALANCED THE TIRES, AND PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MECHANIC ALSO EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. HE REFERENCED RECALL 10V345000, STEERING AND HIS VEHICLE WAS A PART OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,300.

NHTSA ID

10346322

Incident

Dec 15, 2002

Mileage

2,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING UNIVERSAL JOINT IN THE STEERING SHAFT, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF OVER $1,000. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC VERIFIED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF OVER $500. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 103,000.

NHTSA ID

10272760

Incident

Jan 19, 2009

Mileage

103,000 mi