Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 13 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
Installed new Rainex wipers two days ago. Driving tonight in rain and the exterior of the windshield has a film on it that makes it difficult to see when the wipers cycle when near streetlights or when cars with headlighs on are approaching. Seems really dangerous.
The rear window retractable sun visor motor/gears have failed. When this happens, it leaves the sun visor in the up position in the rear window at all times. This makes it very, very, hard to see anything out the rear window at night, also pretty hard when it's raining or cloudy out. I understand this has happened to quite a lot of these cars and is a VERY expensive repair cost. I feel this is hazard that Toyota should bear the cost of fixing, because of the sheer amount of vehicles this has happened. Thank you for keeping us all informed and safe from these types of things!
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.
THE REAR WINDOW SHADE MUST STAY IN THE UP POSITION OR MAKES A VERY LOUD NOISE WHEN VEHICLE IS I PLACED IN REVERSE. THEREFORE, THE SHADE HAS TO STAY IN THE UP POSITION, WHICH MAKES NIGHT DRIVING HAZARDOUS DUE TO LACK OF REAR VISION. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND MANY TOYOTA'S HAVE THIS PROBLEMS FOR MANY YEARS MODELS ACCORDING TO INTERNET. NEEDS A RECALL FOR SAFETY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE SUN ROOF. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT LOST THE KEYS FOR THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FRED HAAS TOYOTA COUNTRY, 22435 TX-249, HOUSTON, TX 77070, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,014.
I HAVE A REAR SUNSHADE ON THIS 2014 AVALON LIMITED VERSION THAT WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL I DECIDED TO PARK MY CAR OUTSIDE IN THE HOT SUMMER IN HOUSTON. THE AUTOMATIC REAR SUNSHADE STOPPED WORKING AND IS NOW STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. NOW IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE VISIBILITY IS VERY POOR AT NIGHT AS A RESULT OF THE SHADE STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE SHADE. I AM UNABLE TO REVERSE AT NIGHT. VERY INCONVENIENT. PLEASE HELP.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH THE SUN ROOF CLOSED THE GLASS FOR THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED FOR NO EXPLAINABLE REASON.
SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED/SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON FREEWAY ON NOV. 25-2015. LOUD NOISE (LIKE GUNSHOT OR EXPLOSION), FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY SOUND OF WIND ENTERING CAR AND SHATTERED GLASS ROLLING IN SPACE ABOVE INTERIOR SUNROOF CLOSURE. PULLED OFF HIGHWAY, STOPPED VEHICLE, FOUND LARGE HOLE IN MIDDLE OF SUNROOF WITH JAGGED EDGES AND NUMEROUS SHARDS OF GLASS BETWEEN REMAINS OF EXTERIOR SUNROOF AND INTERIOR COVER. FORTUNATELY, INTERIOR COVER WAS CLOSED OR WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SPRAYED WITH GLASS FRAGMENTS. TEMP OUTSIDE IN 60S, DRY. NO TRUCKS, OVERPASSES, OR ROAD DEBRIS WHEN IT OCCURRED -- TOTALLY SPONTANEOUS. VEHICLE PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2014, TOYOTA COOL SPRINGS, FRANKLIN, TN. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE AT OCCURRENCE 9,430.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUNROOF GLASS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,144. UPDATED 10/7/14*CN
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
VEHICLE DASHBOARD CHROME ACCENTS REFLECT THE SUN AT MID-DAY LIKE A MIRROR, BLINDING THE DRIVER. THIS HAPPENED TO ME TODAY WHILE DRIVING. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE FOR NEARLY 2 HOURS EACH DAY. THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR REPORTS ONLINE, INCLUDING THIS ONE FROM A PROFESSIONAL REVIEWER: " ALTHOUGH THE CHROME USED IS ?SMOKED? TO LESSEN BRIGHTNESS, MATTE ALUMINUM WOULD HAVE IMPROVED THE OVERALL AMBIANCE IMMENSELY. AT ONE POINT, I WAS ACTUALLY BLINDED BY DAZZLING REFLECTIONS OFF THE BEZEL OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER." - HTTP://REVIEWS.CARREVIEW.COM/2013-TOYOTA-AVALON-LIMITED-REVIEW *JS
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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