2013 TOYOTA AVALON Complaints

RE:REPORT RECEIPT DATE: OCT 17, 2013 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V442000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EQUIPMENT TOYOTA NEEDS TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE DRAIN LINE. THE CONDENSATE THAT IS NOT DRAINING OUT OF THE EVAPORATOR IS ENCOURAGING THE GROWTH OF MOLD IN THE EVAPORATOR WITH AN ACCOMPANYING OBNOXIOUS ODOR. COULD THE MOLD BE A TOXIC MOLD? THE ROOT PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE SOLVED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A CONSTANT GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD, AFFECTING THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE APPROACHING VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO ALTER THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN OPTED TO CLEAN THE DASHBOARD AND WINDSHIELD AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 767. UPDATED 11/20/13*CN

DRIVING ON STRAIGHT LEVEL INTERSTATE WITH LASER CRUISE SET AT 65 MPH AND NO OTHER CARS OR OBSTACLES PRESENT, CAR SUDDENLY BRAKED TWO TIMES (ABOUT 20 MINUTES APART). THE SAME THING OCCURRED ABOUT 7 DAYS LATER ON COMPARABLE ROAD IN LIGHT RAIN. IN THIS LATER SITUATION, WIPERS SUDDENLY WENT ON HIGH SPEED, FOR 5 SECONDS AND CAR BRAKED TWICE IN SPAN OF ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED, THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. WE TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER THE NEXT MORNING IN RAPID CITY, SD, WHO SAID HE COULD NOT WORK ON IT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND SUGGESTED WE CALL TOYOTA. TOYOTA SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A CRUISE PROBLEM AND ASKED IF WE COULD CAREFULLY DRIVE IT TO SALT LAKE CITY TO BE EVALUATED. ON WAY TO SALT LAKE CITY, CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ABOVE THE SETTING OF 65 MPH. PRESSED BRAKES TO CANCEL. DEALER IN SALT LAKE CITY SAID CAR DISPLAYED A DEFECT CODE FOR THE LASER CRUISE AND THE BLIND SPOT MONITORING AND SAID CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE HOME TO ARIZONA IF WE DID NOT USE THE CRUISE. TOOK CAR BACK TO ORIGINATING DEALER IN PHOENIX AREA FOR REPAIRS BLIND SPOT MONITORING APPARENTLY REPAIRED. HOWEVER, FACTORY REP DROVE CAR FOR 25 MILES AND STATED THAT THIS IS THE WAY LASER CRUISE IS SUPPOSED TO WORK AND REFUSES TO AUTHORIZE ANY REPAIRS. WE DO NOT DEEM THE CAR TO BE SAFE TO DRIVE AND ARE AFRAID THAT TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE GOING TO DO NOTHING. *LN

I HAD WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP PLAZA TOYOTA IN BROOKLYN NY TO HAVE THEM TAKE A LOOK AT THE REAR HEADLINER THAT HAD BEEN COMING DOWN. I WAS TOLD THAT MY APPOINTMENT WAS TOO LATE IN THE EVENING SO I HAD TO SET AN EARLIER APPOINT WHICH WOULD BE THE FOLLOWING MONDAY AFTER THE HOLIDAY. I DROPPED MY CAR OFF AT ABOUT 9AM ON JULY 8TH AND PICKED IT UP ABOUT 6:30PM THAT DAY ONLY TO HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ROTATED THE TIRES...WHICH WAS LAUGHABLE BECAUSE I WAS NEVER CALLED AND TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WITH MY REAR HEADLINER COULD NOT BE FIXED THAT DAY. I WAS TOLD BY MY SERVICE ADVISER THAT THEY NEEDED APPROVAL FROM THE DISTRICT MANAGER BECAUSE THE REPAIRS WERE QUITE COSTLY AND IT TAKES UP TO 30 DAYS IN MOST INSTANCES TO GET APPROVAL. I IMMEDIATELY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND NYC BBB. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME BACK IN A FEW DAYS AND ASSURED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE FIXED WHEN I CAME BACK IN THE COUNTRY FROM VACATION. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP IN MID AUGUST ONLY TO HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS WERE DENIED BECAUSE THE PICTURES SHOW THAT THE HEADLINER WAS TAMPERED WITH AND VOIDED THE WARRANTY. I AGAIN FILED ANOTHER COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND NYC BBB ONLY THIS TIME I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO ARBITRATION WITH NATIONAL CENTER FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT. I ALSO HAVE CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP VIA VOICEMAIL AND THE RESPONSE THEY GAVE BBB THAT I VOIDED THE WARRANTY. THE FUNNY THING ABOUT THIS IS WHEN THE DEALERSHIP RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT I HAD REQUESTED AN ARBITRATION THEY IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO CALL MY PHONE EVERY DAY FOR 2 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY WERE WRONG TO DENY MY CLAIM AND FIX THE CAR FOR FREE. NOW THEY ARE FACING THE FACT THEY MAY HAVE TO GIVE ME A FULL REFUND FOR THE VEHICLE OR A COMPARABLE CAR.....IDIOTS. *TR

WHILE PULLING INTO A HEAD ON PARKING PLACE; SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB, CROSSED THE SIDEWALK AND THE FRONT WHEELS WENT A FOOT OR SO INTO THE GRASS. APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STOPPED. *TR

ONE WEEK (7/11/13) AFTER PURCHASING A BRAND NEW AVALON, NOTICED A SAG IN THE HEADLINER TOWARDS THE REAR WINDSHIELD. AFTER LOOKING CLOSER, THE HEADLINER IS DROOPING TOWARDS THE REAR WINDSHIELD AS WELL AS A NOTICEABLE GAP NEAR THE MOON ROOF. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND THEY ORDERED A NEW PART. ABOUT 8/27/13, TOOK BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE THE SEAT PANEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WAS FALLING OFF. 9/13/13, DEALER INSTALLED A NEW HEADLINER. PICKING UP ON 9/18/13 AFTER A NEW HEADLINER WAS INSTALLED, THE GAP REMAINS AT THE MOON ROOF AREA AND ONE OF THE BACK PANELS WAS NOT IN PLACE. THE DEALER WAS STILL WAITING FOR SEAT BACK PANEL PART AND WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLACE THE SEAT BACK PANEL. 9/18/13 - LEFT IT AT THE DEALER SINCE HEADLINER ISSUE IS STILL NOT RESOLVED AND THE SEAT BACK PANEL IS STILL NOT FIXED. I'M AFRAID THE CAR WILL NEVER BE LIKE NEW AND I'M AFRAID EVEN ANOTHER NEW HEADLINER WILL STILL HAVE ISSUES. I BELIEVE IT'S A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. AFTER PURCHASING IT NEW ON 7/3/13, DROOPING HEADLINER AND SEAT BACK PANEL FALLING OFF, IS NOT PRESENTABLE AND APPROPRIATE TO DRIVE SINCE I USE MY CAR FOR BUSINESS. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY MY NEW CAR AND NOW I'M DRIVING A COROLLA AS MY LOANER CAR. *TR

COMPLAINT: SUN GLARE REFLECTION COMING FROM DASHBOARD, SAFETY ISSUE, SIMILAR TO NETS. ON 04/01/13, JAMES FEWEL TOYOTA NATIONAL HQ, DOCUMENTED MY DASH GLARE ISSUE UNDER FILE #[XXX]: ON 3-16-2013, WE PURCHASED A 2013 AVALON FROM COGGIN TOYOTA JACKSONVILLE. IT HAS FL LEGAL WINDOW TINTING. THE DASH'S CHROME TRIM CAUSES A GLARE ISSUE ON A SUNNY DAY, CAUSING BRIGHT GLARE DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF DASHBOARD TRIM THAT IS SILVER/CHROME. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH GLARE COMING FROM THE DASH AREA. WHAT IS TOYOTA'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE? ON 05/21/13, [XXX], SERVICE DIRECTOR, TOYOTA AVENUES, RESPONDED: [XXX], I FORWARDED YOUR PICTURES TO OUR TECH DEPT AS WELL AS SUBMITTED A PRODUCT QUALITY CASE. RESPONSE BACK FROM MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE CHANGED AT THIS TIME TO KEEP THE GLARE COMING OFF OF THE CHROME TRIM PANELS. THE REF FOR THE DEALER PRODUCT REPORT IS CASE # [XXX] IF YOU WISH TO CALL THE CUST SPT CENTER TO UPDATE YOUR CASE. THANK YOU, [XXX], TOYOTA AVENUES [XXX]. ON 05/22/2013 [XXX] AT TOYOTA HQ RESPONDED: [XXX], WE ARE SORRY FOR THE CONCERNS THIS CONDITION HAS CAUSED AND HAVE FORWARDED YOUR EMAIL TO A CASE MANAGER HERE IN OUR DEPT. THE CASE MANAGER WILL CONTACT YOU VIA PHONE BEFORE THE END OF BUSINESS, MAY 23, 2013. WE HAVE DOCUMENTED YOUR EMAIL AT OUR NATIONAL HQ UNDER FILE #[XXX]. ON 05/23/2013 RECEIVED A CALL FROM TOYOTA CASE MANAGER [XXX], SO I SENT HIM PICTURES SHOWING THE GLARE ISSUE. THERE WAS NEVER ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM TOYOTA HQ ON IT. BOTTOM LINE: TOYOTA NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A FIX TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE, REPLACING ALL THIS GLOSSY CHROME WITH SOMETHING NON-REFLECTIVE. PUTTING CHROME IN THE DASH AREA WAS A POOR DESIGN. MY WIFE OFTEN FEELS SICK, DUE TO THE WAY THIS GLARE HURTS HER EYES. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE HEADLINER IS FALLING IN MY CAR. I HAVE WAITED A MONTH TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED YET IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE BACK OF MY CHAIR IS ALSO FALLING. *TR

VERY UPSET TOYOTA CUSTOMER, PURCHASED SHOWROOM 2013 TOYOTA AVALON WITH HEADLINER IN THE REAR DROOPED DOWN. THIS IS BRAND NEW...I WAS TOLD THAT PROBABLY SOME KIDS HAVE PULLED THE HEADLINER DOWN WHILE IN SHOWROOM. WAITING FOR RESOLUTION I DECIDED TO READ ON COMMON PROBLEMS AND LONE BEHOLD! TOYOTA, YOU HAD BETTER GET THIS FIXED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT DUE TO HEADLINER OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVERS VIEW. HOW FAST THIS IS RESOLVED IS GOING TO DETERMINE HOW I SPEAK ABOUT TOYOTA AND FUTURE PURCHASES! GET AFTER IT! NEXT UP, SEAT BACK COVERS ALSO WAS BLAMED ON KIDS IN SHOWROOM PULLING THEM DOWN. I LOOKED AT THE DESIGN AND SEE HOW SORRY THE ENGINEERING IS. TOYOTA, NEED FIX AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.. A GOOD ONE! I WILL REPORT THIS TO THE NEWS IF NOT RECTIFIED. *TR

SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE HUNG UP WHEN PULLED OUT TO ATTACH IT TO THE SEAT LATCH. WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO THE COMPARTMENT IN THE VEHICLE BODY. HANGING LOOSE. WILL NOT ADJUST TO YOUR BODY. WOULD NOT LOCK UP IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR