9.3

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,542 miles

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problem #4

Jan 112015

Avalon 6-cyl

  • 50 miles
The cover to the gas tank locks when the car is locked, and can be opened when the car is unlocked. If, for some reason, this mechanism is inoperative, and one cannot open the gas tank cover, one is instructed to open the trunk, remove the trunk lining, reach in blindly past all the wires and connecters, and find a little white plastic lever. The lever emerges from behind the trunk through a hole in the trunk that is composed of sharp metal. The lever is attached by a flimsy little plastic wire. One must pull the lever perfectly horizontally. If one exerts the slightest upwards pressure when pulling on the lever, the flimsy little plastic wire is sheared by the sharp edges of the hole through which the wire emerges. Even if one manages the above feat, the gas tank cover is not guaranteed to open. So one is stuck at the gas station with no way to add gasoline to the tank. And if the wire is sheared off, one is really in deep trouble. First of all, the wire is not covered under warranty, so I am required to pay for the replacement. They say it was my fault; I pulled too hard. The truth is it is the fault of the engineers for designing such a poor system. The wire is flimsy plastic; the edges of the hole are sharp metal; how is it possible to pull the lever without shearing the wire. The whole system needs to be redesigned. Secondly, pulling the wire doesn't always work. What is the backup plan? thirdly, I was able to remove the felt lining of the trunk, reach in blindly, and find the lever. There is no way in the world that my wife could have done this. The lever should be readily available simply by opening the trunk.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #3

Sep 012014

Avalon 4-cyl

  • 6,000 miles
I bought a new Toyota Avalon. After about a month I noticed the headliner falling off by the sun roof. Toyota replaced the headliner. The new headliner did the same thing after a few weeks. Brought the car back to Toyota and the put double sided tape on top of the double sided tape which is put on to hold the headliner up. The headline came down again. Toyota want to replace the headliner again. I asked if there had been any changes in the headliner and they said no. This is a common problem that had been happening with the 2013-2014 Avalons.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #2

Jun 212014

Avalon 6-cyl

  • 0 miles
While driving during the daytime the sun light reflects from chrome lining of the dash and around and under speedometer. This causes glare as if I were watching a welder at work with no sheild. This will blind you, this will blind you, this will blind you. Not only while you are driving but permanently, permanently, and even more quickly for drivers that require glasses that magnify, that magnify the welding spots. The welding spots do not occur in only one spot but several as the car and sun move. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Mulberry, FL, USA

problem #1

Jun 032014

Avalon 6-cyl

  • 120 miles
Few days after purchasing brand new 2014 Toyota Avalon, noticed a highly intense mirror like reflection of the sun coming off the very thick shiny polished chrome in the dashboard that surrounds the instrument cluster and the ac vents in the center. 3 spots in the dash where I get severe glare. It happens usually midday when it's sunny outside and sun is overhead. The blinding light is so bad I must put my hand in a position to obstruct the view from my eyes. I am scared this may distract me from driving and cause an accident, or even cause injury to my vision and permanently blind me. Please help. Took vehicle to dealer complaining about it 6/10/14. They said they will look into it. I see complaints from 2013. Why hasn't anything been done about this" how can they build a car like this and continue selling it this way" I am scared to drive this car with the thick polished chrome in the dash.

- Glendale, CA, USA