Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 Toyota Avalon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Dash board is melting which causes it to get shiny which causes it to reflect onto the windshield. This reflection makes it very difficult to see other vehicles, road lines, and traffic direction sighns.
The reflective trim on the interior of the vehicle creates pain for the eyes and is so high that it interferes with the ability of the driver to see out the front window.
ALL LEATHER AREAS ARE STICKY AND DIFFICULT TO USE IN THE CABIN. THE DASH, ALL COVERS, SHIFT NOB, CENTER CONSOLE, AND STEERING WHEEL. THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WHERE EVERYWHERE YOU TOUCH IS STICKY. IT ALSO HAS AN ODOR AND MOLD/MILDEW SMELL. TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPAIR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE RUBBER PEDAL COVER ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A 2004 TOYOTA. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED .THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PASSPORT TOYOTA 5001 AUTH WAY, SUITLAND-SILVER HILL, MD 20746 (301) 899-6000.THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,900. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET, THE GLASS ON THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED WITH A LOUD EXPLOSION WITH LARGE SHARDS OF GLASS, THE SHADE WAS CLOSED. THANK GOD, THIS HAPPENED TODAY. WILL TAKE IT IN TOMORROW
CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE FOR COUPLE DAYS UNDER A HEAVY RAIN. NEXT DAY, WHEN IT WAS HOT AND SUNNY, I OPENED CAR'S DOOR AND INSIDE OF THE CAR WAS ALL HUMID AND STEAMY. THERE WAS A MUSTY SCENT AS WELL. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR I FOUND SOME WATER IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUNK. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AFTER TWO DAY DIAGNOSTICS TOLD ME THAT ONE OF SUNROOF DRAIN TUBES IS DETACHED AND THAT CAUSED A LEAK INSIDE THE CAR. I THINK IT PRESENTS BOTH DRIVING SAFETY AND HEALTH SAFETY ISSUES: - I WEAR GLASSES AND BECAUSE OF THE HUMID AND STEAMY ATMOSPHERE IN THE CAR - MY GLASSES KEPT FOGGING UP AND I HAD TO STOP COUPLE TIMES TO CLEAR THEM. CONDITION GOT BETTER, BUT DID NOT IMPROVE MUCH AFTER AIR CONDITIONING IN THE CAR RUN FOR SOME TIME. - HEALTH CONCERN IS RELATED TO A MOLD THAT CAN ACCUMULATE IN THE CAR BECAUSE OF THESE LEAKS. IT MIGHT CAUSE ALLERGIC REACTIONS OR ASTHMA. I THINK CAR MANUFACTURER SHOULD EITHER USE BETTER MATERIALS FOR THESE DRAINS, SO THEY DO NOT DETERIORATE WITH TIME OR CHANGE THE DESIGN OF SUNROOF DRAIN SYSTEM.
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE GLASS SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED. FORTUNATELY THE SHADE WAS CLOSED, BECAUSE THE GLASS BROKE INTO LARGE SHARDS. THE REPAIR WAS DONE BY A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS PAID IN FULL BY MY INSURANCE. MY REASON FOR THIS REPORT IS TO CALL A MANUFACTURING DEFAULT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
THE COVER TO THE GAS TANK LOCKS WHEN THE CAR IS LOCKED, AND CAN BE OPENED WHEN THE CAR IS UNLOCKED. IF, FOR SOME REASON, THIS MECHANISM IS INOPERATIVE, AND ONE CANNOT OPEN THE GAS TANK COVER, ONE IS INSTRUCTED TO OPEN THE TRUNK, REMOVE THE TRUNK LINING, REACH IN BLINDLY PAST ALL THE WIRES AND CONNECTERS, AND FIND A LITTLE WHITE PLASTIC LEVER. THE LEVER EMERGES FROM BEHIND THE TRUNK THROUGH A HOLE IN THE TRUNK THAT IS COMPOSED OF SHARP METAL. THE LEVER IS ATTACHED BY A FLIMSY LITTLE PLASTIC WIRE. ONE MUST PULL THE LEVER PERFECTLY HORIZONTALLY. IF ONE EXERTS THE SLIGHTEST UPWARDS PRESSURE WHEN PULLING ON THE LEVER, THE FLIMSY LITTLE PLASTIC WIRE IS SHEARED BY THE SHARP EDGES OF THE HOLE THROUGH WHICH THE WIRE EMERGES. EVEN IF ONE MANAGES THE ABOVE FEAT, THE GAS TANK COVER IS NOT GUARANTEED TO OPEN. SO ONE IS STUCK AT THE GAS STATION WITH NO WAY TO ADD GASOLINE TO THE TANK. AND IF THE WIRE IS SHEARED OFF, ONE IS REALLY IN DEEP TROUBLE. FIRST OF ALL, THE WIRE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SO I AM REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THEY SAY IT WAS MY FAULT; I PULLED TOO HARD. THE TRUTH IS IT IS THE FAULT OF THE ENGINEERS FOR DESIGNING SUCH A POOR SYSTEM. THE WIRE IS FLIMSY PLASTIC; THE EDGES OF THE HOLE ARE SHARP METAL; HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO PULL THE LEVER WITHOUT SHEARING THE WIRE. THE WHOLE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED. SECONDLY, PULLING THE WIRE DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. WHAT IS THE BACKUP PLAN? THIRDLY, I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE FELT LINING OF THE TRUNK, REACH IN BLINDLY, AND FIND THE LEVER. THERE IS NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT MY WIFE COULD HAVE DONE THIS. THE LEVER SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE SIMPLY BY OPENING THE TRUNK. *TR
I BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA AVALON. AFTER ABOUT A MONTH I NOTICED THE HEADLINER FALLING OFF BY THE SUN ROOF. TOYOTA REPLACED THE HEADLINER. THE NEW HEADLINER DID THE SAME THING AFTER A FEW WEEKS. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO TOYOTA AND THE PUT DOUBLE SIDED TAPE ON TOP OF THE DOUBLE SIDED TAPE WHICH IS PUT ON TO HOLD THE HEADLINER UP. THE HEADLINE CAME DOWN AGAIN. TOYOTA WANT TO REPLACE THE HEADLINER AGAIN. I ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY CHANGES IN THE HEADLINER AND THEY SAID NO. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAD BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE 2013-2014 AVALONS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON A CITY STREET MIDDAY, IN SUNNY CLEAR CONDITIONS, SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED THE SUNS GLARE FROM AT LEAST 3 SPOTS ON SHINY CHROME COVERED DASHBOARD ALL AT SAME TIME, FROM DIFFERENT SPOTS, BLINDING AND DISTRACTING ME AND ALMOST MAKING ME RUN A RED LIGHT SINCE I COULD BARELY SEE. IT WAS LIKE 3 SUNS IN MY FACE. CHROME IS MIRROR LIKE, QUITE THICK, AND AT AN ANGLE THAT CAUSES SUN TO REFLECT STRAIGHT INTO YOUR EYES WHEN IT'S MIDDAY AND THE SUN SHINES DOWN THROUGH WINDSHIELD FROM OVERHEAD. I HAD TO BREAK HARD WHEN I NOTICED LIGHT WAS RED AT THE LAST MINUTE. ALMOST CAUSED ME TO RUN THE RED LIGHT. *TR UPDATED 2/20/15 *JS
WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAYTIME THE SUN LIGHT REFLECTS FROM CHROME LINING OF THE DASH AND AROUND AND UNDER SPEEDOMETER. THIS CAUSES GLARE AS IF I WERE WATCHING A WELDER AT WORK WITH NO SHEILD. THIS WILL BLIND YOU, THIS WILL BLIND YOU, THIS WILL BLIND YOU. NOT ONLY WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING BUT PERMANENTLY,PERMANENTLY, AND EVEN MORE QUICKLY FOR DRIVERS THAT REQUIRE GLASSES THAT MAGNIFY, THAT MAGNIFY THE WELDING SPOTS. THE WELDING SPOTS DO NOT OCCUR IN ONLY ONE SPOT BUT SEVERAL AS THE CAR AND SUN MOVE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING BRAND NEW 2014 TOYOTA AVALON, NOTICED A HIGHLY INTENSE MIRROR LIKE REFLECTION OF THE SUN COMING OFF THE VERY THICK SHINY POLISHED CHROME IN THE DASHBOARD THAT SURROUNDS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE AC VENTS IN THE CENTER. 3 SPOTS IN THE DASH WHERE I GET SEVERE GLARE. IT HAPPENS USUALLY MIDDAY WHEN IT'S SUNNY OUTSIDE AND SUN IS OVERHEAD. THE BLINDING LIGHT IS SO BAD I MUST PUT MY HAND IN A POSITION TO OBSTRUCT THE VIEW FROM MY EYES. I AM SCARED THIS MAY DISTRACT ME FROM DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, OR EVEN CAUSE INJURY TO MY VISION AND PERMANENTLY BLIND ME. PLEASE HELP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER COMPLAINING ABOUT IT 6/10/14. THEY SAID THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT. I SEE COMPLAINTS FROM 2013. WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS? HOW CAN THEY BUILD A CAR LIKE THIS AND CONTINUE SELLING IT THIS WAY? I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH THE THICK POLISHED CHROME IN THE DASH. *JS
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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