1997 TOYOTA AVALON Complaints

NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM RACK AND PINION STEERING BOOT, DEALER REPLACED ASSEMBLY, PARTS HAD TO BE BACK ORDERED BECAUSE OF FREQUENCY OF PROBLEM, ALSO RIGHT SRTUT MOUNT HAD TO BE REPLACED,AND BACK ORDERED .*AK

UPPER AND LOWER TIE RODS SEVERED AT LOW SPEED (PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE). IF FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHER SPEED, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ENSUED.*AK

SEAL ON RACK STEERING WENT BAD AND STARTED LEAKING FLUID. DEALER REPLACED RACK, BUT CONSUMER WAITED A MONTH BEFORE PART WAS AVAILABLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF WHEELS BOUNCING, COULD NOT TELL IF IT WAS THE FRONT END OR BACK END OR BOTH, WHEN VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING, BUT ON 10-23-00 THE PROBLEM INCREASED AND A RATTLING SOUND WAS EVIDENT, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT FRONT STRUTS WERE LEAKING AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND NOW VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

TIRE FAILED OUTSIDE SIDEWALL NEAR JOINT BETWEEN TREAD AND SIDEWALL.TIRES NEAR END OF LIFE 6/32" IN CENTER A BIT LESS ON OUTSIDE.BUT STILL, NEVER HAD A TIRE COME APART LIKE THIS BEFORE,DANGER ON THE FREEWAY...WIFE DRIVING ALONE...I'M SHAKEN...NEW TIRES IMMEDIATELY...NOT BRIDGESTONE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P205/65/15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/65/15 )

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED DURNING A RAIN STORM, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AFTER NOTICING OIL SPOTS ON PAVEMENT HAD MECHANIC CHECK VEHICLE. FOUND RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED/ DRIVER'S SEAT BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO TENSIONER TIGHTENING UP WITH TOO MUCH FORCE/ TIRES WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO BAD SUSPENSION/VEHICLE HAD ROUGH RIDE, AND STRUTS WERE LEAKING. *AK

RACK AND PINION STARTED LEAKING FLUID AND WITHIN 2 WEEKS NO LONGER HELD ANY FLUID AND THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPLACED. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY FILED THE COMPLAINT, BUT OFFERED NO REMEDY AND WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE. FROM OTHER RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COSTLY PROBLEM ON MANY OF THE '97 AVALONS. *AK

DEALER REPORTS THAT THE PART FAILS SO OFTEN THAT THE PARTS ARE BACK-ORDERED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD MAKE CLICKING NOISES. HAD NOT HIT ANY BUMPS OR HOLES WHEN IT DID THIS. FRONT TIRES FELT REAL LOOSE LIKE BOLTS AND NUTS WERE COMING OFF. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND BEEN INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH SUSPENSION. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK