2000 TOYOTA AVALON Complaints

I WAS FOLLOWING MY WIFE OUT OF THE SUBDIVISION TO WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 06:40. I WENT THROUGH 3 STOP SIGNS WITH NO APPARENT PROBLEMS BREAKING. WHEN MY WIFE STOPPED AT THE 4TH SIGN, MY BREAK PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HIT HER REAR END AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THERE SCRATCHES AND DENTS IN BOTH BUMPERS. I CREPT BACK HOME AT 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT ALL THREE STOP SIGNS. THE CAR STOPPED SLOWLY, BUT THE BREAK PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR EACH TIME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. A TOYOTA FACTOR REPRESENTATIVE EXAMINED THE CAR ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2000. I RECIEVED A CALL FROM TOYOTA TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. THIS IS THE BIGGEST BUNCH OF BULL SINCE FIRESTONE SAID THEY MAKE GOOD TIRES. I TALKED TO THE OWNER OF THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND TOLD HIM THAT I HAD LOST COFINDENCE IN THE CAR AND TOYOTA, AND WANTED MY MONEY BACK. HE SAID THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS AN "ALLEGED" BREAK FAILURE THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT. MY ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES (ADMINISTERS THE TEXAS LEMON LAW). I WILL PERSUE THESE AVENUES OF RECOURSE, BUT ALSO WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA'S LAWYERS HAVE CONTROL OF THIS SITUATION, AND THERE IS NO WAY THEY WILL ADMIT THAT THEIR PRODUCE IS FAULTY. DOES THE NHYSA HAVE ANY OTHER REPORTS OF BREAK FAILURES ON NEW TOYOTA AVALON'S? I APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE. THANKS MIKE VORNDAM

IN DAYTIME WHEN SUNLIGHT REFLECTS OFF THE DASHBOARD IT MAKES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS BLINDING. AT NIGHT THE LIGHT FROM THE DASH PANEL REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD. TOYOTA HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

AS NOTED ON PAGE 52 OF THE FEBRUARY 2000 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS, THERE IS AN "ANNOYING GREEN REFLECTION FROM THE WINDSHIELD AT NIGHT." THIS IS CAUSED BY THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD NOT EXTENDING FAR ENOUGH TO BLOCK LIGHT FROM THE GAUGES AND THE RADIO FROM STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE SUN IS AT JUST THE RIGHT ANGLE BEHIND THE CAR, SUNLIGHT STRIKES THE BOTTOM OF THE CLEAR PLASTIC COVER FOR THE GAUGES AND IS REFLECTED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES. THE SAME THING HAPPENS AT NIGHT WHEN LIGHT FROM HEADLIGHTS BEHIND THE CAR ARE REFLECTED FROM THE CLEAR PLASTIC GAUGE COVER ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES. I HAVE FOUND THAT PLACING A PIECE OF PAPER ON TOP OF THE DASH, EXTENDING TWO MORE INCHES TOWARDS THE DRIVER BLOCKS MOST OF THE GAUGE LIGHT AND REFLECTIONS FROM THE GAUGE COVER ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FAULT. THE TOPS OF THE DASHES ON ALMOST ALL OTHER CARS EXTENDS FURTHER OUT TO BLOCK LIGHT FROM THE GAUGES STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD. THESE LIGHTS AND ESPECIALLY THE REFLECTIONS THAT I DESCRIBED CAN BE VERY BRIGHT AND VERY DISTRACTING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTS. TOYOTA SHOULD EITHER PROVIDE A NEW TOP TO THEIR DASH OR A DASH TOP EXTENDER (THAT HAS BEEN TESTED AND FOUND TO BE SAFE IN ACCIDENTS). IN ADDITION THEY SHOULD INSTALL A SWITCH FOR TURNING OFF THE LIGHT FROM THE RADIO AT NIGHT (SO OWNER'S WHO FIND THIS LIGHT REFLECTED ON THE WINDSHIELD DISTRACTING CAN TURN IT OFF), AND THEY SHOULD PROVIDE A NON-REFLECTIVE COATING FOR THE TOP OF THE WOOD GRAIN TRIM ON THE CENTRAL VENT, WHERE SUNLIGHT CAN ALSO BE REFLECTED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THIS LIGHT IN PARTICULAR CAN BE EXTREMELY BRIGHT. ALL OF THESE REFLECTION IN WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS ARE VERY ANNOYING AND DISTRACTING AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

CONTINENTAL GENERAL TIRE P205 65 R15 EXPERIENCED A BREAK IN THE BELT IN THE SIDEWALL. *SLC

CONSUMER HEARS SQUEAKING NOISE IN BRAKES IN FORWARD AND REVERSE MOTION, DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM WITHIN THE SYSTEM. *SLC

AXLE HUB BOLTS BROKE. ALL TORQUED TO MFGR SPECS OF 76 FT. LBS. BOLTS BROKE WHEN BEING RE TORQUED TO SPECS. ON BOTH LEFT FRONT AND REAR AXLES

CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF INTERSECTION & WAS HIT ON FORNT DRIVER SIDE. AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE COME OUT. THEY TOOK PICTURES & SENT THEM TO A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE. CONSUMER WAS SENT TO AN AUTO REPAIR GARAGE. THERE, A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INVESTIGATED FURTHER & SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH AIRBAGS. CONSUMER DISAGREED WITH THE CONCLUSION & WAS UNSATISFIED. *AK

DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS AN "UNUSUAL" PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. I CALLED TOYOTA & WAS TOLD THE 1998 & 1999 MODELS HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY THOUGHT THAT THE SUPPLIERS PARTS WEREN'T USED IN THE 2000 MODELS. THEY WERE, APPARENTLY, WRONG. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

STEERING WHEEL INSTALLED 30-45 DEGREES OFF CENTER. AFTER CORRECTING/ALIGNMENT CAR EXHIBITED EXTREME PULL TO LEFT. 3 PLUS FURTHER ATTEMPTS DO NOT CURE PULL TO LEFT. PULLING CONTRIBUTED TO ACCIDENT 5/13/2000. REQUESTED ARBITRATION, UNSATISFIED. CURRENTLY SUING UNDER FEDERAL MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT AND OHIO LEMON LAW. DASH LIGHTS ALSO ANNOYINGLY REFLECT IN WINDSHIELD IN DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT. *AK

WHILE STANDING ON TOP OF A HILL AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GO AND MOVE FOOT FROM BRAKES TO ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LOCKS SKID CONTOL MECHANISM. *AK