2014 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID

AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags a

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: CRASH IMMINENT BRAKING

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015. The affected vehicles are equippe

DRIVING ON I-10 IN THE METARIE, LA AREA AT SPEED LIMIT, WE HEARD A LOUD BANG, THEN WIND COMING INTO THE CAR. NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND US, WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF WHEN IT HAPPENED. WE RETURNED TO OUR HOTEL AND TAPED THE GLASS TO PREVENT FURTHER GLASS FRACTURE AND SPRAY TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

Mileage: 26,000

AUTO SUDDENLY BRAKED TO A STOP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AUTO HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE RECALL, 15V728000, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: CRASH IMMINENT BRAKING. HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH. HAVE SINCE DEACTIVITED THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM. BOTH OCCURRENCES HAPPENED WHILE ON CRUISE CONTROL, TRAVELING AT 55 MPH IN ONE CASE AND 60 MPH IN THE OTHER. BOTH WERE ON STRAIGHT, LEVEL HIGHWAYS WITH NO OBVIOUS CAUSE. THE 55 MPH CASE WAS WHILE CRUISE WAS SET AT 60 MPH BUT CRUISE CONTROL WAS CONTROLLING AT THE LOWER SPEED TO CONTROL THE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THE CAR AHEAD DID NOT BRAKE OR SLOW DOWN. THERE WAS NO COLLISION IN EITHER CASE. MY DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE REPAIR FOR THE ABOVE RECALL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 36,000

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS COASTING AT A STEADY SPEED ON A STRAIGHT ROAD (~30-40 MPH), A SLIGHT ROARING NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE BAY WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER, NORTHSIDE TOYOTA OF CHICAGO, INSPECTED THIS VEHICLE ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016, AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND WILL NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. HOWEVER, THEY CLAIM THAT, DUE TO A "COLLISION IMPACT" (A VEHICLE WHICH SCRAPED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT BUMPER AND WHICH MIRACULOUSLY DID NOT IMPACT EITHER THE ENGINE OR THE BODY FRAME), A LEAK HAS BEEN CAUSED FROM A "CLIP" THAT IS "MISSING," AND BASED ON THESE GROUNDS, THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. INSTEAD, THEY HAVE TOLD US WE NEED TO EITHER REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF POCKET ($6000.00 - $7000.00) OR GO THROUGH OUR INSURANCE. THIS KIND OF PROBLEM MIGHT BE NORMAL FOR AN OLDER VEHICLE, BUT WHAT IS UNUSUAL ABOUT THIS CASE IS THAT THIS HYBRID AVALON IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND BARELY CLOCKED 16,000 MILES

Mileage: 16,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CENTER CONSOLE, WHERE THE CUP HOLDERS WERE LOCATED, WOULD BECOME HOT WHEN THE HEAT WAS ACTIVATED AND COLD WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT NO FAILURE COULD BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V728000 (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE). THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE REMEDY AND PARTS. THE SYSTEM WAS DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM SOLUTION MONTHS AGO. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS UNABLE TO INDICATE A REASONABLE TIME FRAME FOR THE REMEDY AND PARTS. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SYSTEM RANDOMLY ENGAGING WHILE MAKING A TURN AND HAD TO ADJUST TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Mileage: 29,000

BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL400 P215/55R17 TIRES SHOWING EXCESSIVE WEAR. MILEAGE ON CAR 30,579. THESE ARE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS EQUIPMENT. BECAUSE OF TREAD WIRE EXPOSURE, CAR DEEMED TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.

Mileage: 30,579

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V728000 (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA RECALL 15V728 INVOLVING PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM. OVER 6 MONTHS HAVE PASSED SINCE I RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS RECALL. TO DATE NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OTHER THAN TELLING ME TO TURN OFF THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM. BOTH LEAVING IT ON OR TURNING IT OFF LESSEN THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.

I WAS DRIVING WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ON A PAVED ROAD AND THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM (PCS) SUDDENLY SOUNDED THE ALARM AND SLAMMED ON THE ENGINE BRAKING CAUSING THE CAR TO INSTANTLY DECELERATE. I WAS THROWN FORWARD AND THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER STRAP LOCKED. ALL THE ITEMS ON MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WERE THROWN TO THE FLOOR. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME NOR, THANKFULLY, IMMEDIATELY BEHIND ME. THE ONLY THING I CAN FIGURE OUT IS THAT THE PCS APPARENTLY ACTIVATED DETECTING THE METAL IN A CATTLE GUARD IN THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE BEEN OVER THIS ROAD HUNDREDS OF TIMES IN THIS VEHICLE AND WHY IT HAPPENED TODAY, I HAVE NO IDEA. I AM QUITE SORE IN MY SHOULDER, WRISTS AND MIDDLE UPPER BACK FROM BEING THROWN FORWARD AND THEN RESTRAINED BY THE SHOULDER STRAP LOCKING.

Mileage: 45,640

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/24/16*LJ VIN INVALID UPDATED 4/27/18*JB *TR

Mileage: 16,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/24/16*LJ VIN INVALID UPDATED 4/27/18*JB *TR

Mileage: 16,000

AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM.IN THE MORNING WHEN TURN ON THE FAN THE AIR COME OUT IS VERY STINT.DURING THE DAY AFTER USING THE AIR CONDITIONING ,STOP THE CAR.WHEN YOU START THE CAR AGAIN THEN OPEN THE FAN THE AIR COME OUT HAS A FOUL ODOR.COMPLAIN 3 TIMES DURING 2014-2015 ,AS TOYOTA RECOMMEND CHANGING THE AIR FILTER USING THE CARBON ONE,CLEAN UP THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM ,CLEAN THE WHOLE CAR ,THE STINT STILL EXIST.EVERY MORNING WHEN WE START OPERATE THE CAR WE HAVE TO INHALE THE FOUL ODOR CAUSING HEADACHE .VERY FRUSTRATION BUT TOYOTA STILL SAID IT WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT SMELL ANYTHING AFTER TESTING THE CAR.I WAS HAPPENED AFTER THE FIRST CAR SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE.

Mileage: 10,000

WHEN TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITIONER IN SUMMER AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A FEW HOURS OR OVERNIGHT; THERE IS A MUSTY, URINE TYPE SMELL. I DID WHAT TOYOTA SERVICE RECOMMENDED BY NOT RECIRCULATING THE AIR; WHICH WE RARELY DO UNLESS DUSTY. THE SYSTEM DEFAULT IS FOR RECIRCULATING AIR AND WE SWITCH IT OVER RIGHT AWAY TO FRESH AIR WHEN WE START THE VEHICLE. WE CHANGED THE CABIN FILTER TO A TOYOTA CHARCOAL FILTER WHICH WAS RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA WHICH HELPED FOR ONLY A FEW DAYS WE ARE CONCERNED THIS MAYBE LINKED TO A MOLD PROBLEM ETC.

Mileage: 2,000

I WAS T-BONED BY AN UNLICENSED, UNINSURED DRIVER. HIS 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CARE HIT MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, BACK DOOR. DESTROYED BOTH DOORS, FRONT FENDER, REAR FENDER, AND TWO TIRES. NO AIRBAG WENT OFF IN MY TOYOTA AND I WAS WONDERING WHY. I MAY HAVE A BROKEN BONE IN THE ROTOCUFF OF MY LEFT SHOULDER. I AM SCHEDULED FOR AN MRI TO FIND OUT.

Mileage: 11,800

I WAS T-BONED BY AN UNLICENSED, UNINSURED DRIVER. HIS 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CARE HIT MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, BACK DOOR. DESTROYED BOTH DOORS, FRONT FENDER, REAR FENDER, AND TWO TIRES. NO AIRBAG WENT OFF IN MY TOYOTA AND I WAS WONDERING WHY. I MAY HAVE A BROKEN BONE IN THE ROTOCUFF OF MY LEFT SHOULDER. I AM SCHEDULED FOR AN MRI TO FIND OUT.

Mileage: 11,800

I WAS T-BONED BY AN UNLICENSED, UNINSURED DRIVER. HIS 1998 LINCOLN TOWN CARE HIT MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, BACK DOOR. DESTROYED BOTH DOORS, FRONT FENDER, REAR FENDER, AND TWO TIRES. NO AIRBAG WENT OFF IN MY TOYOTA AND I WAS WONDERING WHY. I MAY HAVE A BROKEN BONE IN THE ROTOCUFF OF MY LEFT SHOULDER. I AM SCHEDULED FOR AN MRI TO FIND OUT.

Mileage: 11,800

WHEN APPLYING FOOT ON ACCELERATOR VEHICLE DELAYS MOVEMENT AND HESITATION ENGINE MAKES RATTLING NOISE HIT BUMPS AND POTHOLES EVEN HIGHWAY JOINT VERY ROUGHLY ,VERY POOR STEERING CONTROL FEELS UNSAFE. *TR

Mileage: 5,700

ON OCTOBER 7, 2014, WE PURCHASED OUR CAR FROM NEW ROCHELLE TOYOTA. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE BARELY DRIVEN THE CAR. AFTER FIVE MONTHS WE HAVE DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 1,700 MILES. WE HAVE SPECIFICALLY AVOIDED DRIVING THE CAR IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AND ON BUMPY ROADS. DESPITE OUR CARE, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT BUMPER HAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR IN THE FRONT WHEEL WELL. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT THAT A SCREW HAD COME OUT, BUT ON CLOSER INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT THE METAL PIECE OF THE BUMPER WHICH THE SCREW HELD IN PLACE HAD BROKEN OFF. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BUMPER. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE METAL AT THE END OF THE BUMPER IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A COMBINATION OF METAL FATIGUE AND POOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. I AM WR

Mileage: 1,700

WHILE TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON THE SAN FRANCISCO / OAKLAND BAY BRIDGE AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM (PCS) SPONTANEOUSLY ENGAGED, QUICKLY BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE ROAD AHEAD WAS CLEAR; THERE WERE NO OBSTRUCTIONS AND NO STOPPED TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY NO CARS WERE TRAVELING CLOSE BEHIND, OTHERWISE A REAR COLLISION WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKELY. *TR

Mileage: 22,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER BUMPS AND POTHOLES VERY ROUGHLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S BODY WAS VERY SORE AFTER DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TEN OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.

Mileage: 400