10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,048 miles

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problem #5

Mar 052010

Avalon

  • miles
I'm the owner of a 2009 Avalon. Toyota's web page has a customer service phone number, 1-800-331-4331, for assistance with their recall for sticky pedal and floor mat entrapment. I've called twice. Each time I waited for 1.5 hours, then disconnected since they never answer but keep you on hold. This demonstrates that actions speak louder than words. Toyota is not serious about this recall. NHTSA need to insist that Toyota respond to phone calls regarding their recalled cars.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #4

Feb 022010

Avalon

  • 750 miles
Brake failure issue with 2009 Toyota Avalon driving slowly (10-15 mph) downhill on very smoothly paved residential community street; applied slow, steady pressure on brake pedal on approaching stop sign intersection. Felt and heard a ratcheting, sort of gear-gnashing noise in the brake pedal. Vehicle did not stop, but continued moving forward into intersection. Lifted foot off the brake and hit pedal again, more firmly. Only then did vehicle stop, already into the thankfully empty intersection. Brought problem to local Toyota dealer's attention on February 12th (at which time, they brought to my attention the accelerator recall status of my vehicle.) while said dealer applied the accelerator pedal recall fix, they did not take any remedial action on the reported brake failure, although they did suggest that it sounded like a dysfunctional engaging of the ABS. They said that their diagnostics did not evince a confirming problem code(s), nor did a short test run replicate the glitch. This is a virtually brand new 2009 Toyota Avalon with only 790 miles accumulated on it to date (the first 100 of which were accrued on the original dealer's sales lot). It is worrisome that such a potentially dangerous ABS dysfunction should be showing up so soon!

- Porter Ranch, CA, USA

problem #3

Feb 022010

Avalon

  • 750 miles
Brake failure issue with 2009 Toyota Avalon driving very slowly (110-15 mph) downhill on smoothly paved residential community road; applied slow, steady pressure on brake pedal on approaching stop sign intersection. Felt and heard a ratcheting noise in the brake pedal. Vehicle did not stop, but continued moving forward into intersection. Lifted foot off the brake and hit pedal again, more firmly. Only then did vehicle stop, already into the thankfully empty intersection. Brought problem to local Toyota dealer's attention on February 12th (at which time, they brought to my attention the accelerator recall status of my vehicle.) while said dealer applied the accelerator pedal recall fix, they did not take any remedial action on the reported brake failure, although they did suggest that it sounded like a dysfunctional engaging of the ABS. They said that their diagnostics did not evince a confirming problem code(s), nor did a short test run replicate the glitch. This is a virtually brand new 2009 Toyota Avalon with only 790 miles accumulated on it to date (the first 100 of which were accrued on the original dealer's sales lot). It is worrisome that such a potentially dangerous ABS dysfunction should be showing up so soon!

- Porter Ranch, CA, USA

problem #2

Jun 232009

Avalon

  • 3,240 miles
Going very slowly and heading into a curb in a parking lot, I stepped on the brake, and instead the car accelerated and stopped only when it hit a limb of a large bush. It left a dent in my front bumper. This has happened only one time.

- Banning, CA, USA

problem #1

Mar 012009

Avalon

  • 500 miles
Purchased 2009 Avalon in Feb. 2009. About 3 weeks after purchase, I was pulling out of a parking lot into on coming traffic. After braking, the car started moving forward under its own power. It was not just rolling forward, there was power. Luckily no car was close. I proceeded on hoping this was a one time incident. A few weeks later it happened again. This time, I had braked to yield to a car in a parking lot. The brakes stopped the car initially, then car started moving forward again. I had to accelerate to avoid a collision. The same situation happened to my brother while driving one day. It happened to my husband at a light. By now I am feeling apprehensive when I drive the car. A few weeks went by without incident. Then one day I was in the drive through lane at the bank. I was the third car back. I brakes, the car stopped. I reached for my purse when I felt the car begin to move forward. This is with power. It almost feels like the transmission has kicked in. I started pumping the brakes to no avail. I hit the car in front of me. Insurance paid my deductible was $500. I took the car to the dealer where I purchased the car. They say they cannot the car to duplicate the problem with the mechanic in the car. So no problem exist. We were told the vehicle was operating to the manufacturer's specifications and no repairs were made. A few day later the same thing happened while my husband was driving. No crash this time. In all there have been 8 incidents. The dealer will not help. We had a mechanic keep the car and drive it for a week. He could not get the car to do this. He guesses the problem has to do with the anti lock brakes. Toyota just says nothing is wrong. My husband called Toyota. They suggested we take it to another Toyota dealer to be checked out. Same as before. If does not happen to them, then nothing is wrong. I have discontinued driving car. I paid $36,000 for this vehicle and it is unsafe to drive.

- Tulsa, OK, USA