2011 Toyota Avalon

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger's side seat belt failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt latch failed to unlock. The contact stated that his wife was stuck in the seat for five minutes doe to the failure. The contact attempted several times before the seat belt unlatched. Additionally, the contact stated that the seat belt became inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 121,578.

NHTSA ID

11628627

Incident

Dec 1, 2024

Mileage

121,578 mi

the rear trunk lid arms broken lid feel on top of me

NHTSA ID

11515505

Incident

Mar 23, 2023

The rear sun screen will get stuck in the up position . At night there is almost no visibility out of the back window. This is a very dangerous safety problem. Apparently Toyota has had a problem with this feature with no effort made to correct it.

NHTSA ID

11481479

Incident

Aug 26, 2022

The engine has quit while in traffic several times and the check engine light and the skid control lights are the only lights lit on the dashboard. Once the car comes to rest and one waits 3 to 5 minutes, the car will restart. We have taken the car to the dealer twice, ( each time the had it for nearly a week) and they could not find the problem. This is a very serious problem because the engine stops without notice causing loss of power steering and total loss of control. The lights for check engine and skid control are sometimes on when this happens, but not always; and the fact that these lights are lit does not predict this event happening.I think there might be a sensor in the engine that is faulty.

NHTSA ID

11443659

Incident

Dec 12, 2021

Failure of the Sun shade in the rear causes a problem with visability. Stays stuck in up or down position. Creates a loud distracting grinding noise when in operation and highly reduces visibility through the rear window. Particularly when it is stuck in the half way position.

NHTSA ID

11442918

Incident

Jun 25, 2021

TELESCOPING STEERING COLUMN LOCK LOOSENS WHILE DRIVING CAUSING STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES TO SHAKE. ADVISED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT I COULD PAY THEM TO REPAIR THE ISSUE WITH A UPGRADED REPAIR THAT TOYOTA HAS IDENTIFIED. A NOTICE WAS NEVER SENT OUT TO TOYOTA OWNERS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL NOTICE. SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING. SERVICE BULLETIN (#00206, NHTSA # 10019669) THEY NOW INFORM ME OF A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TELESCOPIC LEVER DETENT CLIP AND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB-0147-13 AND ALSO THAT TOYOTA HAD A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM - ZTY TO ADDRESS IT WHICH EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD CONTINUE TO STAND BEHIND.

NHTSA ID

11407050

Incident

May 19, 2019

Mileage

45,636 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO READJUSTED THE STEERING COLUMN HOWEVER, EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WITHIN A FEW DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,800.

NHTSA ID

11397586

Incident

Jan 11, 2021

Mileage

111,800 mi

2011 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE KEY FOB AND DOOR LOCKS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE KEY FOB AT TIMES WOULD ONLY UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR. ALL OTHER DOORS HAD TO BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY. MORE RECENTLY, THE KEY FOB DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AS WELL AS THE LOCK SWITCHES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ECM. *JS

NHTSA ID

11383733

Incident

Dec 14, 2018

Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manual and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines.

Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage and result in visible depressions in the paint surface. The following are the three major categories of acid rain damage: •Minor damage: requires only buffing to repair. •Moderate damage: usually requires neutralizing, color sanding, and buffing. •Severe damage: extending beyond 1/2 mil of clearcoat on a pearl, metallic, or solid color, requires neutralization, sanding, and repainting. In cases where acid rain damage is minor, neutralization and buffing with a liquid-type paint finessing product may provide an adequate repair. Only specially formulated products outlined in this bulletin should be used for that purpose. Unfortunately, other than minor damage, there is no simple method of determining the actual extent (depth) of acid penetration other than color sanding a representative affected area until there is no visible etching or depressions, followed by measuring the amount of paint removed with either a magnetic or digital-type film thickness gauge. The procedures in this bulletin are intended for use by qualified body/paint technicians and should not be attempted by inexperienced personnel. It is the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. Perform frequent vehicle washing, as often as daily, during high heat and humidity periods to minimize the potential for paint damage due to acid rain exposure. This is especially important in geographical areas known for high frequency and concentration of acid rain and industrial fallout.

The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint and appears as pitting or water spots. As acid rain droplets on the vehicle surface evaporate, the concentration strength of the acid increases, causing deeper and more rapid damage. This evaporation and corrosive action also occur more rapidly on dark colored cars as direct sun heat increases. It is the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. In areas known for high frequency and/or concentration of acid rain, frequent vehicle washing during high heat or humidity periods will minimize the potential for paint damage caused by acid rain. It is further recommended that either reverse osmosis or deionized water be used to prevent water spotting.

To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.

Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application.

Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brushing a hand across horizontal body surfaces such as the hood, roof, or deck lid. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to clean vehicles that may have been subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles such as rail dust during rail transportation or extended storage near industrial areas.