1999 TOYOTA AVALON Complaints

THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION BEGAN TO KNOCK. THE DRIVER WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD STRUT. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT WILL COST 500.00 FOR REPAIR. *NM TOYOTA SERVICE SAID THAT IF STRUT WEREN'T REPAIRED, ENGINE WILL FALL OFF FROM THE FRAME. ALSO, STRUT PROBLEM IS COMMON FOR THIS MODEL. *LA

MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON (52,000 MILES) DEVELOPED EXCESSIVE FRONT-END NOISE AND VIBRATION. THIS PROBLEM REQUIRED SERVICING OF FRONT END SUSPENSION SYSTEM.I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN SEPT 1999. I HAVE DISCOVERD THAT TOYOTA MOTOR ISSUED A TSB UPDATE (SU002-99 DATED SEPT 3, 1999) ADVISING TOYOTA DEALERS OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH MODELS 1997-1999 TOYOTA AVALON. THE TSB ALSO STATED THAT TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM THES SUSPENSION SUPPORT HAS BEEN CHANGED. MY COMPLAINT: I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURED ON MY VEHICLE, IT CAUSED A SAFETY CONCERN AND REQUIRED REPAIRS COSTING ME $298. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FILED FOR REIMBURSEMENT APPROVAL WITH TOYOTA MOTOR WHO ONLY AUTHORIZED REIMBURSEMENT OF SMALL COST OF PARTS. I APPEALED TO TOYOTA MOTOR ABOUT THIS SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. TOYOTA ADVISED ME THAT THEIR DECISION WAS FINAL. I CONTACTED CALIFORNIA STATE CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY WHO ADVISED ME TO CONTACT NHTSA.

WITH AT LEAST 50% OF THE TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRES (42,488 MILES) THE VEHICLE STARTED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED BACK AND FORTH. UPON EXAMINATION, THE FRONT TIRES WERE SWOLLEN IN THE TREAD PORTION OF THE TIRE. *AK *SC *JB

AT 39,00 MI. MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON MAKES ALOT OF NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE, VIBRATES AT ANY SPEED ON LESS THAN SMOOTH ROAD, VIBRATES ON FREEWAY AT 70 MPH.LOUD CLUNKING NOISES. CAR DEALER REPLACED FRONT STRUTS AND ALIGNED FRONT TO NO AVAIL.*AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT 25-30 MPH. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER TO KEEP DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL LIGHT MIGHT GO OFF ON IT'S OWN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR 4 WEEKS, COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE AT THAT TIME, AND IT SHOWED THAT CHARCOAL CANISTER VACUUM SWITCHING VALVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA PAID FOR PART UNDER GOOD WILL PROGRAM.*AK *PH

THE STRUT CAPS KEEP REPEATEDLY BREAKING AND THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE PLACEMENT OF THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS.*AK

THE DRIVER HEATER SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED THE CONSUMER. *JB THE FIRST SEAT GRID WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WORK. THE REPLACEMENT BURNED THE CONSUMER WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING AND NEVER CAME ON AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FAILED PART AGAIN. *PH *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE TRYING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. *AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN TRAVELING ~ 20 MPH, A '89 HEAVY AUTO TRAVELING @ 48 MPH IMPACTED PASSENGER SIDE OF CONSUMERS VEHICLE, SLAMMING CONSUMERS VEHICLE INTO A '94 HEAVY AUTO STOPPED AT LIGHT, TOTALING ALL THREE AUTOS. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS ON CONSUMERS 1999 TOYOTA AVALON DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE LEG/HIP/BACK, AND CHEST INJURIES. TOYOTA OFFICIALS SAY THE AIR BAGS WERE IN NORMAL FUNCTIONING CONDITION. *NLM