1997 Toyota Avalon Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: August 4, 2016 · Filed: August 8, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE MADE LOUD NOISES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATERAL ARM SNAPPED OFF THE SUBFRAME DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. UPDATED 11/03/16*LJ *TR

Incident: June 22, 2015 · Filed: June 26, 2015

WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE TIRE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED MY TIRES COMPLAINING OF A SHAKING STEERING WHEEL (THINKING ONE OF MY TIRES HAD LOST A BALANCE WEIGHT), THAT'S WHEN I DISCOVERED 3 OF THE 4 TIRES I HAD PURCHASED A YEAR AGO SEPTEMBER (AND WHICH HAD ONLY 14,000 MILES OF WEAR) HAD ALL EXPERIENCED THE STEEL BELT SEPARATING INSIDE THE TIRE. UPDATED 09/02/15*LJ UPDATED 10/31/2017*CN

Incident: July 9, 2014 · Filed: January 19, 2015

MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, GOING APPROX. 10 MPH, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE (ONLY) BUMPED INTO A RAILROAD TRACK AND THE SENSORS TOLD THE CAR IT HAD A FRONT END COLLISION AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS EXPLOSION BUSTED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, PASSENGER SIDE GLASS, KNOCKED THE FRONT GRILL OFF, ETC.. AS THE DRIVER MY FACE WAS CUT AND MY LEFT EYE LENS WAS BLOWN OUT FROM THE EXPLOSION AND FLYING SHRAPNEL AND SO I NOW HAVE A TRANSPLANTED LEFT EYE LENS WITH A SERIAL NUMBER AND POOR EYESIGHT. *TR

Incident: December 3, 2014 · Filed: December 31, 2014

THE TUBING FROM THE FILLER NECK TO THE FUEL TANK IS SUBJECT TO RUST. THE RUST RESULTS IN HOLES IN THE TUBE. FUEL SPILLS OUT DURING REFUELING AND ACCELERATION. *JS

Incident: October 8, 2013 · Filed: November 5, 2014

AUTO LOCKING SYSTEM LOCKS DOORS WHILE DOORS ARE OPEN OR CLOSED AND YOU ARE GETTING OUT OF CAR OR PUTTING GROCERS IN IF UR KEYS ARE IN CAR IT STILL LOCKS I HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT MANY TIMES IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN UR DAUGHTER BORROWS YOUR CAR AND GETS HER9 MONTH OLD BABY LOCKED IN AT 95 DEGREES AT 11AM IN FLORIDA IN THE SUN IN A PARKING LOT.THE LOCKSMITH COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR CAUSE EVERY TIME HE POP THE LOCK THE SYSTEM WOULD RELOCK IT SELF IMMEDIATELY .THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM .SOME TIMES IT LOCKS ITSELF IN SECONDS OR MINS.IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. *TR

Incident: April 2, 2014 · Filed: April 9, 2014

I WAS ON MY WAY TO COLLEGE AT 7:45 A.M HEADING HIGHWAY 72 WEST. MY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATED FROM 75MPH TO 100 MPH. I PUSHED, PRESSED, AND PUMPED MY BRAKES THAT WOULDN'T WORK. I PRESSED DOWN MY EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH DID NOT WORK EITHER. I TRAVELED ABOUT TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE CAR JUST SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP SMOKING FROM MY TIRES AND UNDER THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR SCREAMING THANKING GOD FOR MY LIFE HE SPARED. I WAS TRAUMATIZED AT THIS POINT. I DID COME TO MYSELF AND DIALED 911 FOR THE FIRE TRUCKS BECAUSE MY CAR WAS SMOKING SO BAD.NEXT DAY TOYOTA COMPANY SAID IT WAS MY COIL PACK AND CHARGED ME TO FIX IT BUT I AM NOW TERRIFIED OF THIS CAR AND REFUSE TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE. I HAVE SINCE HAD SEVERE NIGHTMARES EVERY NIGHT SINCE THIS ACCIDENT THAT COULD'VE BEEN DEADLY. *TR

Incident: October 13, 2012 · Filed: October 30, 2012

NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF CAR, UPON INSPECTION, REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER WAS RUSTED OUT. NO OTHER SIGNIFICANT RUST UNDER CAR. CROSSMEMBER FAILED PREMATURELY. *TR

Incident: February 20, 2012 · Filed: March 26, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS THEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Incident: October 18, 2011 · Filed: November 9, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,970 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

Incident: March 3, 2011 · Filed: March 4, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON XLS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP OR DECELERATE DESPITE THE CONTACTS BRAKING ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY CABLE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE STUCK OR DEFECTIVE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE ENGINE RPMS RAPIDLY INCREASED TO 7500. AFTER WAITING FIVE MINUTES THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD BE TAKING THE VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSIS TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 297,000.