7.9
pretty bad- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 5,187 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The vehicle was taken to a local dealership for the required 10,000 mile warranty maintenance. At this time, I showed the dealership where water marks had appeared in all four upper corners of the inside cloth liners beside the front and rear windshields. I was told the sunroof had tubes that occasionally clogged and they would clear the tubes and clean the inside cloth. Over the past few months our area experienced a tremendous amount of rain. When the car was taken to the dealership for the 15,000 mile warranty maintenance, I showed the dealership where water marks appeared to have worsened in the same areas. The dealership explained that there were no clogs in the sunroof tubing and they had attempted to recreate the water leakage by running water over the car for one hour. They could not explain why the water marks kept reappearing and did not know if anyone called Toyota. A representative from the dealership explained that they could not do anything else to correct the issue because there were no "recalls" pertaining to this issue. I performed a google search and discovered a blog where many people have experienced this problem and one person even had to have the headliners and cloth replaced due to water damage. The representative said there was nothing else they could do but I could report this to the NHTSA if I felt the need to seek repairs.
- Meridian, MS, USA
The main issue with this vehicle is the headliner coming down, it has been to 2 different Toyota dealers for repair, and to date it is still not corrected. I was told by the last dealership, that they can not fix it anymore, it is taking away from there man hours. This issue has been filed in a court setting, awaiting a court date. This issue is going to cause harm to someone soon, and Toyota is aware of this issue.
- Atlantic Highlands, NJ, USA
I am writing about my 2013 Toyota Avalon, there is one really bad design flaw!!! the accent chrome around the controls and air conditioner vents reflect the sunlight into the eyes of the driver and front passenger, and it is blinding. The blinding reflection may cause accidents and/or direct injury to the eyes such as retina, cornea damage as well as any other eye damage as a result of bright sunlight. I have tried the darkest/protective eyewear that I can purchase but the reflection still comes through blinding. I have also had the darkest window tent allowed by law installed (purchased at the dealership). I have contacted the dealership and Toyota directly but have had no offer for a solution. This is a simple to fix with a replacement piece of dash chrome in a non-reflective color such as a flat black, wood-grain, or brushed metal color. A custom designed dash area shade should also offer a solution. I have verified that there have been many other complaints through an internet search.
- Punta Gorda, FL, USA
Sunlight is reflected into the eyes of the driver and front seat passenger from the interior trim. This bright reflection not only makes it difficult to see at times, the sunlight can cause damage to the retina and cornea. The light comes from many different parts of the car so it is impossible to constantly shield with our hands while driving. We keep the sunroof closed. It does not matter if the sun is directly overhead or at an angle because there are so many areas that reflect the light. We noticed this problem within the first week of purchase. We contacted the dealer and manufacturer. While they initially seemed willing to help, it is obvious from their silence, that they hope the problem will go away. There are numerous conditions such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and pterygium, caused by exposure to bright sunlight in the eyes and are concerned about the damage that could result from this constant exposure. It would be great if the manufacturer would correct the design flaw in our car.
- Saint Johns, FL, USA
I went through a car wash the other day and when the car was being dried by the blower, some water came in through the sunroof. I took the car to the Toyota dealer where I bought it and they did a high pressure water test. They said nothing was the matter. It was explained to me that they could hap[pen when you drive through the car wash. I immediately filed a complaint with Toyota and they advised that I have another dealer look at it. I have an appointment Monday 11/11. We will see what happens.
- Quincy, MA, USA
One week (7/11/13) after purchasing a brand new Avalon, noticed a sag in the headliner towards the rear windshield. After looking closer, the headliner is drooping towards the rear windshield as well as a noticeable gap near the moon roof. Took back to dealer and they ordered a new part. About 8/27/13, took back to dealer because the seat panel on the driver side seat was falling off. 9/13/13, dealer installed a new headliner. Picking up on 9/18/13 after a new headliner was installed, the gap remains at the moon roof area and one of the back panels was not in place. The dealer was still waiting for seat back panel part and was not able to replace the seat back panel. 9/18/13 - left it at the dealer since headliner issue is still not resolved and the seat back panel is still not fixed. I'm afraid the car will never be like new and I'm afraid even another new headliner will still have issues. I believe it's a serious design flaw. After purchasing it new on 7/3/13, drooping headliner and seat back panel falling off, is not presentable and appropriate to drive since I use my car for business. I haven't been able to enjoy my new car and now I'm driving a corolla as my loaner car.
- Milpitas, CA, USA
Complaint: Sun glare reflection coming from dashboard, safety issue, similar to nets. On 04/01/13, james fewel Toyota national hq, documented my dash glare issue under file #[xxx]: on 3-16-2013, we purchased a 2013 Avalon from coggin Toyota jacksonville. It has fl legal window tinting. The dash's chrome trim causes a glare issue on a sunny day, causing bright glare due to the amount of dashboard trim that is silver/chrome. It is a safety issue when there is so much glare coming from the dash area. What is Toyota's recommendation is to rectify the issue? on 05/21/13, [xxx], service director, Toyota avenues, responded: [xxx], I forwarded your pictures to our tech dept as well as submitted a product quality case. Response back from manufacturer has been that there is nothing that can be changed at this time to keep the glare coming off of the chrome trim panels. The ref for the dealer product report is case # [xxx] if you wish to call the cust spt center to update your case. Thank you, [xxx], Toyota avenues [xxx]. on 05/22/2013 [xxx] at Toyota hq responded: [xxx], we are sorry for the concerns this condition has caused and have forwarded your email to a case manager here in our dept. The case manager will contact you via phone before the end of business, May 23, 2013. We have documented your email at our national hq under file #[xxx]. on 05/23/2013 received a call from Toyota case manager [xxx], so I sent him pictures showing the glare issue. There was never any further communication from Toyota hq on it. Bottom line: Toyota needs to come up with a fix to this safety issue, replacing all this glossy chrome with something non-reflective. Putting chrome in the dash area was a poor design. My wife often feels sick, due to the way this glare hurts her eyes. Thank you. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Saint Johns, FL, USA
Very upset Toyota customer, purchased showroom 2013 Toyota Avalon with headliner in the rear drooped down. This is brand new...I was told that probably some kids have pulled the headliner down while in showroom. Waiting for resolution I decided to read on common problems and lone behold! Toyota, you had better get this fixed immediately before there is an accident due to headliner obstructing the drivers view. How fast this is resolved is going to determine how I speak about Toyota and future purchases! get after it! next up, seat back covers also was blamed on kids in showroom pulling them down. I looked at the design and see how sorry the engineering is. Toyota, need fix as soon as possible.. a good one! I will report this to the news if not rectified.
- Henderson, NV, USA
Toyota Corp continues to sell 2013 Toyota Avalons with a known defect to the headliner. The headliner to the rear of the vehicle sags and may potentially obstruct the view of the driver while driving. It is apparent after researching the issue online that Toyota is fully aware of the defect but failed to contact dealerships at the local level. Per Toyota there is no known fix at this time and my vehicle has remained at the dealership for the past 4 days.
- Arleta , CA, USA
This Toyota was purchased with a sunroof top. After driving the car for two weeks we noticed the headliner was coming loose from the roof. We noticed that when you opened the sunroof the air entering the car made the roof or headliner shake and move as if to much air was getting under it causing the headliner to separate from the roof. We took the car in for service and the dealership finally told us there was a recall on these headliners and that no parts were being replaced at this time. I look at this as a major flaw and the roof coming loose should have been something the Toyota should have said something about. We've had the car two weeks shouldn't they have said O by the way the roof may separate from the top of the car. No calls about the recall and they told us to take our car that they could not repair it right now. Please tell everyone the roof in this car has problems an Toyota is not fixing it. It's unfair to the consumer that things like this can happen and people know about it and are still allowed to sell these car if you want to buy one today.
- Stone Mountain, GA, USA
Headliner of the car is peeling from the rear. Went to the dealership I.e. holman Toyota, mt. Laurel, NJ, they advised they would order the new headliner and replace the same. Went today July 2nd, 2013, holman Toyota advised the peeling headliner is common issue in the 2013 Avalon and Toyota has instructed dealers not to replace the headliner as replacing the headliner will not fix the problem and it may happen again. Toyota has advised it is trying to come up with a permanent fix via a "repair" job, not eta on the same yet. Till Toyota comes up with a repair I have a peeling headline which can fall on head while I am driving causing an accident and Toyota is just sitting on it.
- Cherry Hill, NJ, USA
Design flaw chrome strip on dash causes glare from sun which is blinding when driving in sun and possibly causing damage to retina. Esp bad for senior drivers who has cataracts --[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Tucson, AZ, USA
- Mchenry, IL, USA