1997 TOYOTA AVALON Complaints

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35-40 MPH OIL LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND OFF. ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR NOISES OR SMELL BEFORE ENGINE LOCKED UP.*AK CONSUMER HAD ASKED THE MECHANIC FOR THE OLD ENGINE BECAUSE IT NEEDED REPLACED, LATER THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE ORIGINAL ENGINE COULD NOT GO TO THE VEHICLE'S OWNER. *SLC

NOISE FROM FRONT END WHEN ROAD NOT SMOOTH OR SPEED BUMPS. FINALLY TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND WERE TOLD STRUT MOUNTS WORN, BUSHINGS BAD AT TOWERS. FEEL FOR STRUTS TO FAIL WITH THIS LOW A MILEAGE IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE HAVE 5 YR/60,000 PLATINUM EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY CLAIM IT IS "USUAL WEAR & TEAR". IS IT USUAL TO WEAR OUT IN 49,000 MILES. 85% PROBABLY LONG DIST. HIGHWAY MILES?

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE (4) SETS OF BRIDGESTONE AND FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY '97 AVALON DUE TO HYDROPLANEING, POOR WEAR QUALITY AND SUBSTANDARD PERFORMANCE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT FIRESTONE & BRIDGESTONE TIRES ON THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW. YET, I HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO $2000.00 AND ALOT OF MY TIME TO REPLACE TIRES THAT HAVEN'T HELD UP TO THE PERFORMANCE AND QUALITY "AS ADVERTISED"! ON 11/16/00, I SPENT AN ADDITIONAL $543.15 REPLACEMY LAST SET OF BRIDGESTONE TIRES WITH MICHILEN 205/60/15 TIRES. I ALSO HAVE A 1988 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER WITH 230,000 MILES ON IT. FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT NEW, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT BRIDGSTONE DESSERT DEULER'S ON IT. THE LAST SET OF B/S DESSERT DUELERS I PURCHASED FOR MY 4-RUNNER WERE SO POORLY BUILT, THAT I WENT THROUGH 8 (EIGHT) TIRES TO FIND FOUR GOOD ONES; BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL OUT OF ROUND AND HOPPING. ON 11/15/00, I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE MY 4-RUNNER TIRES WITH MICHELIN TIRES AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN A TRUE BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE TIRE DIEHARD UNTIL THESE MOST RECENT PROBLEMS. BUT I GOT TO THE POINT THAT I FELT THAT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND I WAS AT RISK DUE TO THE POOR QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE HAD ADVERTISED THEIR TIRES TO BE. I AM REQUESTING A FULL INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA AND THE BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE COMPANY. I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT MY CLAIM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AT (904) 223-9549 IF YOU HAVE FURHTER QUESTIONS OR I MAY ASSIST IN ANY WAY. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP. RESPECTFULLY, JOHN M. GRAVES. *AK (TIRESIZE: P20565HR15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P20565HR15 )

DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING RACK BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING. OWNER NOTICED NOISE WHILE STEERING, AND CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID TO FIND THAT IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO EMPTY. THE DEALER DIDN'T CHARGE FOR LABOR, SO I ONLY PAID FOR THE RACK ($600.00). CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT A RECALL, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NONE, AND THAT I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE DEALER PAID FOR THE LABOR. I AGREE THAT I WAS FORTUNATE FOR THAT, BUT FEEL THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE WORN OUT .

FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CATCHES TOO FAST, AND CONSUMER CAN HARDLY MOVE AT ALL. *AK

I HAD TO ADD CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF POWER STEERING FLUID MONTHLY FOR PAST 3 MONTHS; DEALER SAYS RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR UNIT LEAKING; CAR OUT OF WARRANTY, COST TO REPLACE PART $1,500. I PAY PREMIUM PRICE FOR TOYOTA QUALITY, AND RACK & PINION SHOULD NOT GO BAD ON ANY CAR AT ONLY 63,000 MILES!!!! IF NECESSARY, I WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT TO GET REIMBURSED. *AK

STEERING: GEAR: RACK WAS LEAKING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED/REPAIRED AT CONSUMER'S COST. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY IS LEAKING STEERING FLUID ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS A WHOPPING 1,500 ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. *AK

BRAKES FEEL SOFT AND MUSHY, FRONT BRAKES APROX 9.5MM REMAIN AND REARS APROX 9MM REMAIN.TEST DROVE AND ADJUST PARK BRAKE. ADJUST BRAKE PEDAL HEIGHT PEDAL TO LOW, CHECKED AND RESET PEDAL TO SPECS, PER CUST REP AIR MANUAL. 6 INCHES FROM THE FLOOR

WHEN ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ENGAGES TOO QUICKLY AND STAYS ENGAGED TOO LONG, SEVERELY REDUCING POWER AVAILABLE TO PROPERLY MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. *AK