1999 TOYOTA AVALON

THE CAR STEERING IS HARD TO TURN UNTIL IT WARMS UP. I TOOK THE STEERING TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR FLUSHING 12/3/2015 BUT THIS HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE STEERING CONTINUES TO BE STIFF/HARD WHEN TURNING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. IT IS THE ONLY CAR MY FAMILY USES AND THIS IS INCREASING MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

Mileage: 156,901

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A REPAIR FACILITY FOR AN UNRELATED ISSUE THE MECHANIC NOTICED AN ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANEL. UPON EXAMINATION THE MECHANIC FOUND THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW SWITCH ON THE DRIVERS MASTER WINDOW CONTROL PANEL HAD MELTED AND A HOLE FUSED THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE SWITCH CONTROL UNIT. THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE PART HOWEVER UPON REPLACEMENT OF THE PART THE REPLACEMENT PANEL BEGAN TO MELT. *TR

Mileage: 134,900

ON OR ABOUT THE DATE BELOW, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE I-405 N FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES WHEN MY SUNROOF GLASS PANEL FLEW OFF OF MY CAR. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME, BUT I HAD NOTICED INCREASING WIND NOISE OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS OR SO. AFTER CONDUCTING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT OTHER SUNROOFS (E.G., THE WEBASTO MODELS 600/700 AND 900) THAT ALSO USED GLASS PANELS MANUFACTURED BY VERMEULEN HOLLANDIA ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I PURCHASED MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON USED IN 2004 WITH ABOUT 16K MILES ON IT. I AM UNSURE WHETHER WEBASTO IS THE MANUFACTURER, BUT AM LISTING THEM IN THE FOLLOWING PAGE SO THAT I AM ABLE TO FILL OUT ALL THE REQUIRED INFORMATION TO FILE THIS REPORT ELECTRONICALLY. THE GLASS PANEL INDICATES THAT VERMEULEN HOLLANDIA BV IS THE MANUFACTURER, AND THE SN IS 361607. *TR

ON OR ABOUT THE DATE BELOW, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE I-405 N FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES WHEN MY SUNROOF GLASS PANEL FLEW OFF OF MY CAR. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME, BUT I HAD NOTICED INCREASING WIND NOISE OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS OR SO. AFTER CONDUCTING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT OTHER SUNROOFS (E.G., THE WEBASTO MODELS 600/700 AND 900) THAT ALSO USED GLASS PANELS MANUFACTURED BY VERMEULEN HOLLANDIA ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I PURCHASED MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON USED IN 2004 WITH ABOUT 16K MILES ON IT. I AM UNSURE WHETHER WEBASTO IS THE MANUFACTURER, BUT AM LISTING THEM IN THE FOLLOWING PAGE SO THAT I AM ABLE TO FILL OUT ALL THE REQUIRED INFORMATION TO FILE THIS REPORT ELECTRONICALLY. THE GLASS PANEL INDICATES THAT VERMEULEN HOLLANDIA BV IS THE MANUFACTURER, AND THE SN IS 361607. *TR

WAS DRIVING SOUND ON GREGORY RD AND ANOTHER CAR WAS TRAVELING NORTH SHE CAME INTO MY LANE AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND HIT ME HEAD ON MY AIRBAG NEW DEPLOYED AND MY SEATBELT DID NOT HOLD I HAVE A BRUISE ACROSS MY CHEST FROM STEERING WHEEL AND BUMPS ON MY HEAD. *TR

Mileage: 189,675

DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL ABOUT THE 17TH OF DECEMBER 2013, I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE THE CAR TO A STOP. INSTEAD THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD SUDDENLY OUT OF CONTROL AND MOUNTED THE SIDEWALK. IT TRAVELED ABOUT 20 FEET BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE IT TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS NO OBJECT OR PERSON IN THE PATH OF THE CAR AND NOBODY WAS INJURED. THIS IS THE THIRD SUCH INCIDENT. THE FIRST WAS ON JUNE 3, 2006; THE SECOND WAS ON 3 FEBRUARY 2010. ALL INVOLVED THE CAR EITHER BEING STOPPED OR COMING TO A STOP. I DOCUMENTED BOTH, WRITING TO TOYOTA FULL ACCOUNTS OF EACH INCIDENT. I HAVE COPIES OF THESE LETTERS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUNE 3, 2006 LONG BEFORE THE WIDELY PUBLICIZED DEATH OF 4 PEOPLE IN AN ACCELERATING TOYOTA VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 121,000

DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL ABOUT THE 17TH OF DECEMBER 2013, I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE THE CAR TO A STOP. INSTEAD THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD SUDDENLY OUT OF CONTROL AND MOUNTED THE SIDEWALK. IT TRAVELED ABOUT 20 FEET BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE IT TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS NO OBJECT OR PERSON IN THE PATH OF THE CAR AND NOBODY WAS INJURED. THIS IS THE THIRD SUCH INCIDENT. THE FIRST WAS ON JUNE 3, 2006; THE SECOND WAS ON 3 FEBRUARY 2010. ALL INVOLVED THE CAR EITHER BEING STOPPED OR COMING TO A STOP. I DOCUMENTED BOTH, WRITING TO TOYOTA FULL ACCOUNTS OF EACH INCIDENT. I HAVE COPIES OF THESE LETTERS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUNE 3, 2006 LONG BEFORE THE WIDELY PUBLICIZED DEATH OF 4 PEOPLE IN AN ACCELERATING TOYOTA VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 121,000

TL*THE DRIVER OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE ALARM SYSTEM WOULD INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON INVOLUNTARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98E035000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

Mileage: 170,000

THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC "EVENT" CAR JUST SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE. CAR WAS PARKED, DRIVER AWAY FROM THE CAR, WHEN DRIVER RETURNED AND GOT INTO CAR NOTICED A SMELL, THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE, PUT THE WINDOW UP AND SMELL WAS STRONGER. LOOKED DOWN AND FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE RADIO. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED, FIRE EXTINGUISHED. *TR

Mileage: 175,000

ON AUGUST 9, 2009, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER AVALON WITH OUR 8-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IN IT, TO GRAB A BITE TO EAT IN WALNUT CREEK, CA. WHEN MY WIFE TRIED TO STOP THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, THE CAR WAS SHAKING AND THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING EVEN THOUGH THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION. SINCE SHE COULD NOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE, SHE DECIDED TO DRIVE BACK HOME THAT WAS ONLY MINUTES AWAY. BUT ON HER WAY HOME, THE CAR LOST POWER AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, WHITE SMOKE WAS ERUPTED OUT OF THE ENGINE. LUCKILY, THEY WERE TRAVELING ON THE RESIDENTIAL STREET AND MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO STEP ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR IN TIME BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. EVEN PEOPLE FROM NEARBY RESIDENCE SAW THIS INCIDENT AND CAME OUT TO OFFER HELP. I COULD NOT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THEY WERE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY. NEVERTHELESS, MY WIFE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AFTERWARD DUE TO THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. NOW THE CAR WAS DEAD!! I ORDERED AAA TO TOW THE CAR TO WALNUT CREEK TOYOTA DEALER T

Mileage: 165,432

1999 TOYOTA AVALON. UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS AT A CAR WASH WHICH WAS NEARING THE END OF THE WAS ON THE CONVEYOR BELT WITH THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL GEAR AS REQUIRED. AT THE END OF THE WASH CYCLE, THE GREEN LIGHT CAME ON WHICH WAS HER SIGNAL TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND EASE OFF THE BELT ONTO THE LOT. AT THE GREEN LIGHT, THE CONSUMER PUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO CHANGE THE GEAR FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. ONCE IN DRIVE GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND INSTANTLY ACCELERATED AT A TREMENDOUSLY HIGH SPEED. THE CONSUMER STOMPED ON THE BRAKES CONTINUOUSLY WITH NO RESULT. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE EAST SIDEWALK AND THREE EMPTY SOUTHBOUND LANES. IT THEN COLLIDED INTO THE THREE NORTHBOUND-LANE CARS; CROSSED THE WEST SIDEWALK AND CRASHED THROUGH A SIX FOOT COMMERCIAL CHAIN LINK FENCE; HIT A PARKED PICK UP TRUCK AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE WALL WAS THE FINAL OBJECT THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHICH HAD MAINTAINED EXCESSIVE SPEED. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT,

1999 TOYOTA AVALON. UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS AT A CAR WASH WHICH WAS NEARING THE END OF THE WAS ON THE CONVEYOR BELT WITH THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL GEAR AS REQUIRED. AT THE END OF THE WASH CYCLE, THE GREEN LIGHT CAME ON WHICH WAS HER SIGNAL TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND EASE OFF THE BELT ONTO THE LOT. AT THE GREEN LIGHT, THE CONSUMER PUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO CHANGE THE GEAR FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. ONCE IN DRIVE GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND INSTANTLY ACCELERATED AT A TREMENDOUSLY HIGH SPEED. THE CONSUMER STOMPED ON THE BRAKES CONTINUOUSLY WITH NO RESULT. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE EAST SIDEWALK AND THREE EMPTY SOUTHBOUND LANES. IT THEN COLLIDED INTO THE THREE NORTHBOUND-LANE CARS; CROSSED THE WEST SIDEWALK AND CRASHED THROUGH A SIX FOOT COMMERCIAL CHAIN LINK FENCE; HIT A PARKED PICK UP TRUCK AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE WALL WAS THE FINAL OBJECT THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHICH HAD MAINTAINED EXCESSIVE SPEED. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT,

1999 TOYOTA AVALON. UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS AT A CAR WASH WHICH WAS NEARING THE END OF THE WAS ON THE CONVEYOR BELT WITH THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL GEAR AS REQUIRED. AT THE END OF THE WASH CYCLE, THE GREEN LIGHT CAME ON WHICH WAS HER SIGNAL TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND EASE OFF THE BELT ONTO THE LOT. AT THE GREEN LIGHT, THE CONSUMER PUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO CHANGE THE GEAR FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. ONCE IN DRIVE GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND INSTANTLY ACCELERATED AT A TREMENDOUSLY HIGH SPEED. THE CONSUMER STOMPED ON THE BRAKES CONTINUOUSLY WITH NO RESULT. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE EAST SIDEWALK AND THREE EMPTY SOUTHBOUND LANES. IT THEN COLLIDED INTO THE THREE NORTHBOUND-LANE CARS; CROSSED THE WEST SIDEWALK AND CRASHED THROUGH A SIX FOOT COMMERCIAL CHAIN LINK FENCE; HIT A PARKED PICK UP TRUCK AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE WALL WAS THE FINAL OBJECT THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHICH HAD MAINTAINED EXCESSIVE SPEED. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT,

MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON PERIODICALLY SURGES WHEN I USE CRUISE CONTROL ON AN UPHILL INCLINE. TO STOP THE SURGE IN SPEED, I TAKE THE CAR OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

IT HAS HAPPENED ON LEVEL SURFACES AS WELL AS INCLINES. WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE, THEY FIRST MAKE A GRINDING SOUND. THEN, IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THEY MAKE A SOUND LIKE A METAL SPRING UNCOILING (LIKE A CLICKING, OTHERWISE). AFTER THAT, YOU ARE FREE SAILING AS YOU HAVE NO BRAKES! THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE EITHER TRYING TO BRAKE OR EVEN AFTER BRAKING SUCCESSFULLY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY LET LOOSE WHILE AT A STOP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. I HAVE THANKFULLY BEEN ABLE TO AVOID ANY SERIOUS INJURY OR ACCIDENTS, HOWEVER HAVE HAD A MINOR ISSUE WITH HITTING A FENCE DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE. WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKE SYSTEM CHECKED FOR ANY REPAIRS NEEDED ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. ALSO NOTE THAT THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION LITE OFTEN COMES ON DASH EVEN ON DRY SURFACES. THIS BRAKING PROBLEM IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE SIENNA, BUT IN OTHER MODEL TOYOTAS AS WELL. CURRENTLY, IT IS ONLY THE PRIUS BRAKING SYSTEM THAT IS GETTIN

Mileage: 131,000

MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON XLS, HAS HAD SEVERAL ACCELERATION EVENTS, THIS HAS OCCURRED WILL AT A STOP, WITH FOOT BRAKE ENGAGED, IN DRIVE GEAR, THE CAR SURGES FORWARD FOR 1 TO 2 SECONDS. THE BRAKE IS ABLE TO KEEP CAR FROM MOVING MORE THAN A FOOT. *TR

SUSPECT SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IS DEATH. *TR

Mileage: 10,000

AT ABOUT 5:00 P.M. MARCH 18, 2007, AS I WENT TO PICK UP MY 96 YEAR OLD MOTHER AT THE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, I STOPPED MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON UNDERNEATH THE DRIVE-THROUGH CANOPY TO WAIT FOR HER. AS I WAITED THERE, I NOTICED THAT A CAR HAD PULLED UP BEHIND ME AND WAS PREPARING TO DISCHARGE AN ELDERLY PASSENGER SO I PROCEEDED AROUND THE CIRCULAR DRIVE TO GET OUT OF THEIR WAY. AS I SLOWLY CIRCLED AROUND THE DRIVE BACK TOWARD THE ENTRANCE I NOTED THE OTHER CAR HAD CLEARED OUT. AS I COASTED TOWARD THE ENTRANCE I NOTED A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALK WALKING TOWARD THE ENTRANCE IN FRONT OF ME. AS I CONTINUED SLOWLY BACK TOWARD THE ENTRANCE, I FELT MY VEHICLE ACCELERATE VIOLENTLY TOWARD THE GROUP OF PEDESTRIANS. ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET, I GRADUALLY BROUGHT MY VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND CONTINUED TO A SAFE STOP WHERE I SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. IT WAS A TERRIFYING FEELING TO FEEL THE SURGE OF POWER THAT I WAS BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL AND TO REALIZE THAT WITH THE PEOPLE WALKI

Mileage: 89,140

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO CHANGE LANES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. IT BEGAN SWAYING FROM ONE LANE TO THE NEXT. SHE TRIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE. SHE HIT THE CENTER DIVIDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE HAD NO CONTROL AND COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. WHEN INSPECTED, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN 2007. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 27,000. UPDATED 03/10/10 *BF UPDATED 06/14/10.*JB

Mileage: 27,000

DRIVER'S EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, AND COMMENTS WERE THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME ON TOYOTAS (FROM MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON DIFFERENT DATES. BEING ABLE TO OPEN DOOR QUICKLY CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS IS OCCURRING AS FREQUENTLY AS TOYOTA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES LED TO BELIEVE, WHY HASN'T TOYOTA DOES SOMETHING TO CORRECT? THE GRASPING PORTION OF HANDLE IS ALL PLASTIC. PROBLEM COULD MOST LIKELY BE SOLVED EASILY WITH A LITTLE REINFORCEMENT WITH A DURABLE MATERIAL. *TR

Mileage: 184,300