2014 Toyota Avalon Brakes Problems

I was pulling into a parking spot when my car suddenly accelerated to a very high speed. I traveled over a curb, on some pavement, through some bushes, knocked down a light pole and miraculously came to a stop. My foot was pumping the brakes to no avail. My entire car was damaged but miraculously no one was hurt. Car was towed to a mechanic who confirmed that the car accelerated with him as well. Front, back, underside, roof, tires and frames were all badly damaged.

NHTSA ID

11607893

Incident

Jul 31, 2024

Multiple warning lights suddenly appeared on the dash while stopped at a traffic signal. (Photo attached) Note: the photo does not show the red "PCS" light which was flashing. I was able to get off the road safely although the brakes did not feel normal. Had the car towed to Capitol Toyota in San Jose the following morning for repair. They diagnosed the problem as a failure in the Master Cylinder Booster Unit and replaced it. Note: the attached invoice misstates the issue as "check engine light" which is incorrect.

NHTSA ID

11443380

Incident

Dec 2, 2021

My Avalon is trying to kill me. I promise I have done nothing wrong! When going down the highway at 85mph I have had people cut in front of me. When pushing on the brakes to avoid collision, the brakes lock up and do not release for about 5 seconds. Naturally, this is quite unnerving for myself, passengers as cars that scatter around me when the Avalon takes control --- slamming on the brakes --- and wont hand control back until it has caused quite a mess. This has happened three times now and no one can tell me what is wrong. I am told to get a brake job at the Toyota dealership even though the pads still have plenty of life.

NHTSA ID

11434535

Incident

Aug 25, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA AVALON . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, LIGHT PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE FOUR INCIDENTS OF UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE FOURTH INCIDENT RESULTED IN A COLLISION WHEN THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND APPLIED LIGHT PRESSURE ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE IN THE PARKING SPACE AHEAD. NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS REQUIRED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LIA TOYOTA OF ROCKLAND (618 NY-303, BLAUVELT, NY 10913) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND A TEST DRIVE WAS PERFORMED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD A THIRD-PARTY TEST DRIVE AND DIAGNOSIS THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11406432

Incident

Feb 6, 2021

Mileage

75,000 mi

MY CAR HAS BEEN ON A MANUFACTURER RECALL SINCE NOVEMBER 3, 2015. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER FOV NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 15V728 RECALL STATUS : RECALL INCOMPLETE IN CERTAIN DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE OPTIONAL PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM (PCS) COULD INTERPRET A STEEL ROAD JOINT OR STEEL PLATE IN THE ROAD SURFACE AS AN OBSTACLE OR VEHICLE IN THE PATH OF TRAVEL AND ACTIVATE. WHEN THE SYSTEM ACTIVATES, MY VEHICLE'S BRAKES ARE APPLIED AUTOMATICALLY. THE SYSTEM ACTIVATES BRAKE ASSIST MODE, AND MY FRONT SEATBELTS MAY TIGHTEN. I WILL HEAR A WARNING BUZZER, THE PCS INDICATOR LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE AND A MESSAGE WILL APPEAR ON THE MULTI INFORMATION DISPLAY.

NHTSA ID

11098719

Incident

May 29, 2018

Mileage

114,650 mi

CAR WENT INTO PANIC STOP (INCL TIGHTENING SAFETY BELTS) AT 50 MPH WITH NOTHING IN FRONT OF IT..SEE- EQ- 10724000...-....UPDATED 07/23/15 *BF THE POST COLLISION SYSTEM (WITH AUTO-BRAKE) ACTIVATED (INCLUDING THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENING) WITH A CLEAR ROAD AHEAD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR DISASTER IF IT HAD HAPPENED AHEAD OF A TRACTOR TRAILER AT INTERSTATE SPEED.

NHTSA ID

10723107

Incident

Jun 2, 2015

Mileage

4,500 mi

THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM ABRUPTLY AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON ACTIVATED ON A FREEWAY IN CHARLESTON, SC. NO CAR OR OTHER OBSTRUCTION WAS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. A DISORIENTING LOUD ALARM BEGAN, THE SEAT BELTS FORCED US INTO OUR SEATS AND IMMOBILIZED US, AND THE VEHICLE DID A PANIC BRAKING MANEUVER-IT COULD NOT HAVE BRAKED MORE FORCEFULLY. IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN BEHIND US WE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.THE DEALERSHIP FOUND NO ANOMALY. THEY GAVE US A LIST OF 13 DIFFERENT HIGHWAY SITUATIONS THAT COULD CAUSE THIS. NONE OF THEM ARE UNCOMMON. THIS SYSTEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. I HAVE DISABLED MINE. YOUR AGENCY SHOULD REQUIRE THAT THEY BE DISABLED AND NOT INSTALLED IN OTHER VEHICLES UNTIL THIS FATAL FLAW IS OVERCOME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683158

Incident

Feb 6, 2015

Mileage

6,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN ROAD.. NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME NO OBJECTS IN ROAD. CLEAR SUNNY DAY WHEN THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM ALARM SOUNDED AND THE PCS INDICATOR LIGHT LITE. THE ABS ENGAGED. AND THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN HALT. LUCKILY NOONE WAS BEHIND ME, BECAUSE IF THERE WAS, A REAR END COLLISION COULD HAVE OCCURED. THIS ISSUE DID OCCUR TO A LESSOR EXTENT ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS (ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO) BUT THE CAR DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE HALT AS IT DID ON 7/6. IN BOTH OF THOSE INSTANCES, THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND NO OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE ROAD. THE ROAD(S) WERE STRAIT. NO CURVES. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IM AFRAID THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, WHICH COULD HURT MYSELF, OTHERS OR CAUSE PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609721

Incident

Jul 6, 2014

Mileage

3,900 mi