RoadVitals

2009 Toyota Avalon Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest Aug 8, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
21%
of 91 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Toyota Avalon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Aug 8, 2017

THE CAR FOR SOME REASON HAS THE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON AND ALSO THE VSC AND ABS LIGHT S COME.

NHTSA ID
11013595
Incident
Aug 7, 2017
Mileage
68,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 30, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FEW VEHICLES DRIVING ON THE ROAD, A CURB, AND A PARKED VEHICLE.THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ID
10787264
Incident
Jan 6, 2015
Mileage
42,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 1, 2013
Crash reported

WHEN SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A BUILDING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ACROSS A 3-FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK AND INTO ONE OF THE STOREFRONTS OF A BUILDING--RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE (CURRENTLY IN THE BODY SHOP) AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE STOREFRONT. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS ON THE SIDEWALK AT THE TIME. THIS IS THE FIRST SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FOR US...BUT APPARENTLY NOT THE FIRST FOR THE 2009 AVALON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10550517
Incident
Oct 31, 2013
Mileage
40,677 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 19, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY RENTED A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AS HE COASTED OFF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AS IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE RENTAL FACILITY OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ID
10350536
Incident
Aug 15, 2010
Mileage
25,000 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 11, 2010

MY 2009 TOYOTA AVALON HAS TWO RECALLS. FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE & STICKY ACCELERATOR PEDAL. TOYOTA SAID I CAN HAVE A REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSTALLED IN APRIL 2010. IT'S NOW 2.5 MONTHS LATER AND I'M STILL WAITING. TOYOTA HAS BEEN INSTALLING THE REDESIGNED PEDAL ON NEW CARS COMING OFF THE MANUFACTURING LINE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHILE NOT INSTALLING THEM ON CURRENT CUSTOMER CARS. THEY KEEP HOLDING ME OFF. THEY PREFER TO SAW MY CURRENT PEDAL. I WATCHED THE DEALER DO THIS ON A CUSTOMER'S CAR. A HAND HELD HACK SAW IS USED TO SAW THE PEDAL FOLLOWED BY A HAND HELD METAL GRINDER TO SMOOTH THE CUT. I PAID $35,000 FOR A NEW CAR, NOT ONE HACKED. I AM FILLING THIS COMPLAINT FOR YOUR RECORDS. TOYOTA STILL IS NOT PROPERLY FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THIS RECALL FROM NOV. 2009. *TR

NHTSA ID
10335817
Incident
Nov 1, 2009
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 8, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

2009 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES ACCELERATOR HESITATION CAUSING A CRASH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHILE STOPPED, SHE NOTED THERE WERE THREE CARS DRIVING WESTWARD AND SHE LET THEM PASS. THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS TRAVELING THAT DIRECTION AT THE TIME. SHE WAITED FOR TWO CARS TO PASS DRIVING IN THE EASTWARD BOUND LANES AND NOTED ANOTHER CAR TRAVELING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. THAT CAR WAS IN THE LANE NEAREST THE MEDIAN AND SHE DETERMINED THAT SHE HAD SUFFICIENT TIME TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT THAT TIME BEFORE THE CAR WOULD BE NEAR HER. WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, SHE RELEASED IT TO PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GO FORWARD, THE VEHICLE EASED INTO THE INTERSECTION, BUT DID NOT RESPOND TO HER FOOT PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ONCOMING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER. THE CONSUMER WAS SEVERELY INJURED. SHE BELIEVED THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS ACCELERATOR HESITATION. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT REGARDING THE FLOOR MAT ISSUE AND THEY WERE DEEMED TO BE SECURELY HOOKED. THE RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE ACCELERATOR PROBLEM WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE ACCIDENT, NOTING THAT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INVOLVED A HARD TO PRESS ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10335915
Incident
Dec 16, 2009
Driver assistance
Filed May 18, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD DEACTIVATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,000. UPDATED 7/20/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED FUNCTIONING, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. UPDATED 07/23/10*JB

NHTSA ID
10331055
Incident
Feb 19, 2010
Mileage
16,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 11, 2010

TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE I BEGAN THE PROCEDURES TO CORRECTLY PASS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I STARTED TO PASS MY TOYOTA AVALON ACCELERATED BEFORE I COULD CHANGE LANES. I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME REGAINING CONTROL TO PREVENT HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND TO KEEP FROM HITTING A CONCRETE WALL DIVIDING THE NORTH/SOUTH LANES. I WAS BEARING HARD ON THE BRAKE AND I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. I THOUGHT OTHERS ON THE INTERSTATE WOULD BE CALLING POLICE ABOUT MY IRRATIONAL DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS ANNOUNCED. I TRADED THE CAR ON FEBRUARY 4, 2010 BECAUSE I DID NOT FEEL CONFIDENT DRIVING THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10318940
Incident
Jan 4, 2010
Mileage
5,576 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Mar 9, 2010

WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE CAR SURGED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10318309
Incident
Feb 28, 2010
Mileage
17,900 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 9, 2010

I BELIEVE THE TOYOTA ACCELERATION ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. I BELIEVE THE CRUISE CONTROL IS BEING INVOKED BY A SOFTWARE BUG AND ALSO THE ACCELERATE FUNCTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SOMEHOW GETS ACTIVATED. I WAS DRIVING A TOYOTA AVALON USING THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL. I DECIDED TO BUMP UP MY SPEED TO I TAPPED "ACCEL" A FEW TIMES. BEFORE I KNEW IT THE CAR WAS AT 85 MPH ON THE CRUISE CONTROL DISPLAY. I DO NOT THINK I WAS ACTUALLY TRAVELING 85 MPH, THOUGH. I HIT THE BRAKE AND IT CANCELLED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10318285
Incident
Mar 7, 2010
Mileage
2,500 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 5, 2010

I'M THE OWNER OF A 2009 AVALON. TOYOTA'S WEB PAGE HAS A CUSTOMER SERVICE PHONE NUMBER, 1-800-331-4331, FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR RECALL FOR STICKY PEDAL AND FLOOR MAT ENTRAPMENT. I'VE CALLED TWICE. EACH TIME I WAITED FOR 1.5 HOURS, THEN DISCONNECTED SINCE THEY NEVER ANSWER BUT KEEP YOU ON HOLD. THIS DEMONSTRATES THAT ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. TOYOTA IS NOT SERIOUS ABOUT THIS RECALL. NHTSA NEED TO INSIST THAT TOYOTA RESPOND TO PHONE CALLS REGARDING THEIR RECALLED CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10316993
Incident
Mar 5, 2010
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 4, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THE TECHNICIAN MODIFIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,200.

NHTSA ID
10316807
Incident
Dec 31, 2009
Mileage
19,200 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 3, 2010

ACCELLERATION OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10316343
Incident
Feb 7, 2010
Mileage
7,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 25, 2010

WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP, JUST AS THE CAR FINALLY COMES TO A STOP, THE ENGINE REVS KICK UP BY A FEW HUNDRED RPM. THIS IS NOT ON EVERY OCCASION, BUT MANY OF THEM ( 50% OR MORE). GIVEN THE RECENT CONCERNS RAISED REGARDING TOYOTA THROTTLE CONTROL AND BRAKE SOFTWARE, I AM BECOMING CONCERNED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314147
Incident
Feb 25, 2010
Mileage
15,500 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Feb 22, 2010

MY 2009 TOYOTA AVALON HAS TWO RECALLS. FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE & STICKY ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER 4 MONTHS AGO FROM TOYOTA BUT HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A FOLLOW-UP LETTER FOR REPAIR. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES BY MAIL BUT THEY NEVER RESPONDED. TOYOTA IS INSTALLING BRAKE OVERRIDE SOFTWARE ON NEW AVALONS, HOWEVER IS NOT AVAILABLE AT MY DEALERSHIP FOR MY CAR. MY COMPLAINT IS TOYOTA IS INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE ON NEW CARS BUT IS NOT MAKING IT AVAILABLE FOR MY CAR. THAT IS A SERIOUS MISHANDLING OF SAFETY. TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO TAKE CARE OF CARS ON THE ROAD BEFORE NEW PRODUCTION AVALONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10312589
Incident
Nov 1, 2009
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 9, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS BACKING UP INTO A DRIVEWAY AND THE CAR STARTED GOING REAL FAST AND WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE, IT WOULDN'T STOP AND THEN MY SHOE GOT CAUGHT. I RAN INTO A BLD., I TRIED TO MISS IT SO I HIT THE CORNER OF THE BLD. IT WAS A VERY HARD HIT. IT KNOCKED ME SILLY FOR A WHILE. THE CAR I WAS DRIVING WAS A RENTAL CAR WHICH WAS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN # FOR THIS WAS A RENTAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10308116
Incident
Mar 13, 2009
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Dec 29, 2009
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. DURING BRAKE APPLICATION THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. AS A CONSEQUENCE SHE REAR-ENDED THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18000. UPDATED 1/28/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS DRIVING SLOWLY AND WHEN SHE LOOKED TO HER LEFT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED TO TURN AND THEY FAILED TO SIGNAL. WHEN SHE TRIED TO STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED 02/03/10.*JB

NHTSA ID
10297342
Incident
Dec 13, 2009
Mileage
18,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Oct 1, 2009
Crash reported

GOING VERY SLOWLY AND HEADING INTO A CURB IN A PARKING LOT, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, AND INSTEAD THE CAR ACCELERATED AND STOPPED ONLY WHEN IT HIT A LIMB OF A LARGE BUSH. IT LEFT A DENT IN MY FRONT BUMPER. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONLY ONE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10285972
Incident
Jun 23, 2009
Mileage
3,240 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 17, 2009

AFTER PASSING A CAR AND SPEEDING UP FROM 90KM PER HOUR TO 120 KM I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THE CAR CONTINUED ON IT'S OWN, 120,130, 140 AND TOPPING OUT AT 155KM WHERE AT THIS TIME I HAD ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND COULD ONLY SLOW THE CAR TO 120, WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE ( LITERALLY "STANDING" ON THE BRAKES) THE CAR SLOWED FROM 120 TO ABOUT 30 WHEREUPON MU WIFE SHUT THE CAR OFF. THE TIRES WERE POURING SMOKE OUT OF THEM AND IT TOOK US ABOUT A MILE TO STOP THE CAR. IT IS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON BRAND NEW. HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS REPORTED? *TR

NHTSA ID
10280698
Incident
Jul 30, 2009
Mileage
5,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .