1995 Toyota Avalon Problems & Complaints

MY DAD'S OLD TOYOTA AVALON USED TO UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BETWEEN THE END OF 2005 AND 2007. I WOULD SAY THAT BY THE END OF 2007 IT WOULD HAPPEN EVERY TIME I DROVE ON THE INTERSTATE!! WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED I WOULD HIT THE BRAKES AND USUALLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE CAR WOULD DECELERATE (OBVIOUSLY CROSSING MY FINGERS AND PRAYING AT THIS MOMENT) HOWEVER THIS GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY I NEVER HIT ANYONE OR CRASHED. I BECAME SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND IT EVENTUALLY FELL APART ANYWAY... *TR

1)WAS RECENTLY ABLE TO SHUT OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY WHILE STILL IN DRIVE. DID THIS INADVERTENTLY WHEN I FORGOT TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. FORTUNATELY VEHICLE DID NOT ROLL AWAY AS I WAS IN THE GARAGE AT HOME. 2) FAILURE ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN I TRY SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE IN DRIVE. THE KEY SIMPLY COMES OUT. KEY SHOULD NOT COME OUT IN DRIVE. 3) AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. HAD IT DIAGNOSED. AFTER AN HOUR AND A HALF, THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT NEEDS A NEW SHIFT SOLENOID ECU, WHICH THEY MUST ORDER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN DRIVING HE NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE BOLTS TIGHTENED ON THE STEERING SHAFT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107000.

1995 TOYOTA AVALON ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *KB A PASSERBY INFORMED THE CONSUMER A ROD MAY HAVE WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN OIL LEAK, WHICH THEN DRIPPED ON THE MUFFLER. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0043-91. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING IN STOP AND GO FREEWAY TRAFFIC, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES (BOTH I AND MY WIFE THOUGHT THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP) BUT RATHER THAN STOPPING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED AND WE SLID INTO A STOPPED CAR. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO OPEN.*AK

OIL SLUDGE IN ENGINE VALVE COVERS RESULTED IN OIL BEING PULLED INTO THE AIR INTAKE THROUGH THE PCV VALVE. THE BAFFLE SYSTEM ON BOTH COVERS WERE REMOVED TO REVEAL NEAR TOTAL BLOCKAGE OF BAKED SLUDGE. THE CAMSHAFT VALLEYS IN THE CYLINDER HEADS WERE COATED WITH UP TO 1/2 OF SLUDGE. THE THROTTLE BODY, AIR CHAMBER, AIR CHAMBER CONTROL VALVE, AND INTAKE PLENUM WERE COATED WITH OILY SLUDGE AS WELL. AIR INTAKE AND CAMSHAFT CHAMBERS REQUIRED MANY HOUR OF CLEANING.

PARKED MY AVALON IN MY APARTMENT PARKING LOT FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR. WHEN I RETURNED THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD HAD MELTED COMPLETELY AROUND THE FUSE BOX AND STEERING WHEEL. ALL OF THE DASH AND SURROUNDING AREA WAS BURNED OR MELTED. ALSO I MIGHT MENTION THAT I AM AWARE OF NO CHANGES OF THE FUSES BY MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE, AND THE CAR HASN'T HAD ANY MAJOR REPAIRS (OUTSIDE OF FLUID CHANGES, TIRE ALIGNMENTS) SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. *JB

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE IN TWO RESULTING IN PUNCTURED TIRE AND THE COST OF REPLACING BOTH SIDES WITH NEW STRUTS & SPRINGS. *NLM

MY CAR JUST RECENTLY STARTED TO EMIT WHITE SMOKE WHEN WE WOULD START IT, AND THEN IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD OIL SLUDGE/GEL AND THAT I HAD BLOWN A ROD. THEY THEN TOLD ME ABOUT TOYOTA PAYING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT I THEN FOUND OUT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED THAT IT STARTED WITH THE 1997 MODEL. I THEN REQUESTED THAT THEY(TOYOTA) REVIEW THIS FURTHER AND THEY ASKED THAT I SUBMIT MY OIL CHANGE LOG AND DEALER DIAGNOSIS. AFTER THEY REVIEWED IT FURTHER THEY SAID IT WAS A LACK OF MAINTENANCE ON MY PART AND THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THAT THEY WOULD DO. I HAVE REALLY TAKEN CARE OF MY CAR AND AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CAR HAS BEEN GREAT UP TIL NOW. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING FURTHER THAT I SHOULD DO.

WHILE VEHICLE SAT IN DRIVE WAY, OIL SLUGGED IN THE ENGINE CAUSING THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. PH

CONSUMER STATED GLUE RAN DOWN ALL 4 DOORS. GLUE WAS COMING FROM DOOR PANELS INSIDE OF CAR. CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF GLUE FUMES. TS *TT

SIX BOLTS ON THE DRIVETRAIN WHERE IT ENTERS THE ENGINE CAME LOOSE. ALL FELL OUT EXCEPT ABOUT TWO. MECHANIC WHO CHECKED IT SAID IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF IT FELL OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TOYOTA REPLACED IT FOR FREE, ONLY AFTER INTENSE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHO SHOULD PAY FOR REPAIR.*AK

RIGHT SIDE STEERING RACK SEAL WAS LEAKING, DEALER REPLACED STEERING RACK. *SLC

FROM 60,000 MILES TO THE PRESENT TEN STUDS BROKE OFF ON VARIOUS WHEELS. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING FOOT SLIPPED FROM BRAKES PEDAL TO GAS PEDAL ONLY TOUCHING GAS PEDAL LIGHTLY, AND VEHICLE SPED UNCONTROLLABLY IN REVERSE. VEHICLE STILL WAS ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING. *AK

FLUID LEAKS AT A FAST RATE COMPROMISING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO TURN; MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES IN THE MODELS BUILT BETWEEN 1995-1998; PLEASE CONTACT ME AT X64026. *AK

ABS WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A HIGH PITCH SQUEAL COMING FROM THE REAR SEAT AREA WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT ABS SENSOR FOR LEFT-REAR WHEEL FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER DOOR LOCKS - ALLOWING DOORS TO BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE RESULTS IN INABILITY TO EXIT CAR THRU DOOR(S) AFFECTED; PROB REPORTED TO TOYOTA DEALER; THEY UNABLE TO RE-CREATE NOR REPAIR ; HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE; THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM ; HOW CAN I GET TOYOTA'S ATTENTION ?*AK

TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE CLUNKING NOISES WHENEVER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. ALSO, HAVE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTOR. WHILE AT DEALERSHIP HAD INFORMED MECHANIC OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. WAS INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS SUPPOSE TO WORK LIKE THAT. THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING LOUDER & WORSE.*AK

A CODE HAS BEN 'LOCKED' INTO COMPUTER THAT MAKES ABS SYSTEM INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS CHECKED, AND SAID THEY NEED NEW SENSORS. BUT, TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT SHOP AND IT VERIFIED THAT THE SENSORS WERE FINE. *AK

THE RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING FLUID. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK DEALER REFUSED TO SHARE ANY COST OF REPAIR. *YH

REAR POWER WINDOWS SPORADICALLY FAIL. CAR HAS 48,000 MILES. TECHNICIAN SAYS "REGULATOR CABLES" ARE DEFECTIVE.

WHILE DRIVING EAST ON MAIN STREET TRAVELING AT 40MPH REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

THE FAULTY COMPUTER CHIP CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOT TO ILLUMINATE AND WARN THE CONSUMER OF ENGINE PROBLEM RESULTING IN A PREMATURELY BLOWN ENGINE. NLM

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM BEGIN. HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LTS., INTERIOR LIGHTS. CAR HAS A CONTINUOUS CLICKING NOISE AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS BEING TURNED OFF/ON.BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MANY TIMES BY US . THE HEADLIGHTS WERE FIXED BY DEALER-THEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF. ALSO I HAVE HAD PROB. WITH W/FRONT PASS.POWER WINDOW NOT WORKING, DEALER SAID MOTOR WAS REPLACED ONE TIME,BUT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN-SERVICE DEPT. SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL

STEERING RACK BEGAN LEAKING; REPLACED RACK WITH OEM PART

LOOSE SUNVISOR CAN BLOCK FRONTVIEW AND LOOSE DASHBOARD CAN DAMAGE INTERNAL PART IN SIDE THE DASH BOARD

POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING & REPLACED 3/99; POWER STEERING RACK LEAKING AND REPLACED 8/99

1.IGNITION WHEN I PUT KEY IN IGN. IT WOULDN'T MOVE EVERY THING FROZE UP NOTHING WOULD MOVE.I COULDN'T TURN THE KEY ,STEERING WHEEL , BRAKE PEDAL OR GEAR SHIFT (IS THIS NORMAL?) 2. TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO WORK . CHECKED AND REPLACED FUSE ALTHOUGH THE FUSE WAS NOT BURNT OUT WE REPLACED IT ANY WAY AND TURN SIGNAL WORK AFTER THAT. 3. BATTERY CAR FAILED TO START SEVERAL TIMES EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ORIGINAL BATTERY IT IS STILL GOOD THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CABLE HAD LOOSENED UP CAUSING BAD CONNECTION. IF WE HADNT KNOWN TO CHECK THESE THINGS WE WOULD HAVE PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE IN THREE PLACES, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE STRUT, WHICH IN TURN, CUT A HOLE IN THE TIRE.. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFORMATION IN THIS MATTER.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

THE THROTTLE ON THIS CAR STUCK ON FULL OPEN, A VERY DANGEROUS SITUTATION. THE CAUSE IS UNKOWN AT THIS TIME.

STRONG ODOR FROM AIR CONDITIONER.

ALL DOORS LOCK BY THEMSELVES.

RACK AND PINION SEAL FAILED.

RACK AND PINION FAILURE.

RACK AND PINION FAILURE.

WHILE PARKING WITH ENGINE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN VEHICLE BEING WEDGED BETWEEN A TREE AND A FENCE. *AK

BRAKES CONTINUALLY MAKE NOISE.

IN JULY OF 95 OWNER HAD THE TURN SIGNAL FIXED BECAUSE THE TURN SIGNAL DID NOT WORK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHOLE TURN SIGNAL CONSOLE. NOW, SINCE THE DEALER REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL IT WORKS OFF AND ON. *AK

AFTER GOING UP A STEEP HILL ABOUT 5 OR 10 MPH THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND VEHICLE JUST TOOK OFF. DRIVER HAD TO HIT BRAKES REAL HARD TO STOP VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. ON 7/22/97 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME HITTING A HOUSE. DEALER IN NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE HAD THREE CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH RECAPS ON THE ROADWAY; ONE RESULTED IN $1000 DAMAGE. *AK

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS, NO POWER AND NO WAY TO GET OUT. DEALER SAYS THE CAUSE OF THIS SHUTDOWN WAS THE BATTERY. *AK

THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING SHIMMYING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND PULSATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THAT INCREASED AT HIGHER SPEEDS. REPLACED ROTORS AT EVERY 30,000 MILES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH CAR HIT A SPEED BUMP AND THE REAR END MOVED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. *AK

BRAKE NOISE/EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.

ANTILOCK BRAKES WORK IMPROPERLY.

DRIVING VEHICLE ON WET GROUND VEHICLE SPUN AROUND FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SEMI STRUCK L/FRONT SIDE SPUN 3/4 & WAS HIT BY 2ND SEMI R/R WHEEL, R/FRONT SIDE HIT, DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT AIRBAGS PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD FOR SHORT PEOPLE.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AFTER THE RELEASE BUTTON HAS BEEN PRESSED. *AK

ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, TOOK TO DEALER THREE DIFFERENT TIMES; FIRST IT WAS THE IGNITION SYSTEM, TOOK THE SECOND TIME AND REPLACED THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND THE THIRD TIME REPLACED THE VACUUM CANISTER.

THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER CASEMENT SHORTED OUT, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE. *AK

DEFOGGER INOPERATIVE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

TWO GENERAL TIRES WORN.

REMOTE CONTROL DEFECTIVE.

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS DURING COLLISION. ( ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)

UNDERCARRIAGE NOISE WHEN IT IS RAINING.

WHENDRIVING THROW SHALLOW/DEEP PUDDLE OF WATER, THE AIR CONDITIONING AUTOMATICALLY COMES OFF DUE TO A WET COMPRESSOR, CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO BECOME FOGGY, IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. *AK

SEAT CUSHION DEVELOPS LUMPS, CAUSING DISCOMFORT FOR DRIVER.

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. *DH

BRAKES FAILED. *DH

AFTER STOPPING, THE AIR BAG CAME OUT UPON IMPACT. PLEASE GIVE DETAILS. *AK

TRUNK LID DESIGN CAUSES LID TO COME DOWN WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE FRONT END HIGHER THAN THE REAR END. *DH

SHAPE OF DOOR CAUSES DRIVER TO HIT HERSELF WHEN OPENING DOOR.

TRUNK LID COMES DOWN OCCASIONALLY, HITTING HEADS OF PEOPLE LOADING OR UNLOADING TRUNK.

GAS PEDAL STUCK, VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AS A RESULT OF TRYING TO UNSTICK PEDAL. *DSH

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER HAS FAILED, ITS NOT FULLY FUNCTION DUE TO THE LOCATION OF OIL FILTER THERE OIL SPILLED ON ENGINE, CAUSING BAD ODOR AND OIL TO BURN *AK

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER HAS FAILED, ITS NOT FULLY FUNCTION DUE TO THE LOCATION OF OIL FILTER THERE OIL SPILLED ON ENGINE, CAUSING BAD ODOR AND OIL TO BURN *AK

KEYLESS ENTRY DEVICE; IF INSIDE AFTER ACTIVATION, NO ONE INSIDE CAN EXIT, ROLL DOWN WINDOWS OR GET OUT SEAT BELT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED TWICE DUE TO VIBRATION/NOISE. *SD

BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE. *SD

GASOLINE ENTERING INSIDE THE VEHICLE, DUE TO A FUEL INJECTOR LEAKING SAID SECOND HAND MECHANIC, DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. TT CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO HAVING TO RENT A CAR, GET A HOTEL ROOM, AND PAY FOR A MECHANICE TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. *SLC

DRIVERS SEAT BELT FAILED. *TT

FRONT DOOR SEALS FAILED.

FRONTAL COLLISION IMPACT 12:00 POSITION SPEED 12MPH, AIR BAD DID NOT DEPLOY. TT

HEADLIGHTS DO NOT COME ON EARLY ENOUGH WHEN SET IN AUTOMATIC POSITION/AUTOMATIC POSITION ONLY WORKS IN DARK, NOT AT DUSK. *AK

BRAKE CALIPER PROBLEMS, CAUSING NOISE. *SKD

EGR VALVE FAILURE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 MPH THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE DIRECTION OF THE TURN. TT

FRONT DRIVER/ PASSENGER SHOULDER BELTS CANNOT BE PROPERLY ADJUSTED FOR SHORT PEOPLE/ SHOULDER BELT WRAPS AROUND A SHORT PERSON'S THROAT. *AK

SEAT BELT FAILURE, PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL LOCK IN PLACE BY ITSELF. TT

PASSENGER/DRIVER SHOULDER HARNESS CUTS ACROSS NECK OF DRIVER/PASSENGER; IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT, COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY. TT

EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL; IN A POSITION TOO LOW AND TOO FAR FORWARD KEEPING AWAY FROM FIRE WALL. OWNER HAS FURTHER DETAILS. TT