1996 Toyota Avalon

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/28/2000· STEERING

  POWER STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, HAD BEEN LEAKING WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. BUT , THEN DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A TSB ON THAT PROBLEM. VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, AND DEALER KNEW WHAT PROBLEM WAS. DEALER OFFERED TO PAY FOR PART, BUT CONSUMER FELT DEALER SHOULD ALSO PAY FOR LABOR. *AK

• 12/20/1999· VISIBILITY

  WHEN DEFROSTING, A/C FAILS, HOT AIR COMES OUT OF WINDOW VENTS AND WINDOW FOGS UP MAKING DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE. YH

• 12/10/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE STALLED. THEN, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CAM HEAD BROKE OFF. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE WAS REQUIRED.*AK THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED. WHEN PULLING INTO THE PARKING LOT, THE ENGINE DIED. THE OIL WAS CHECKED AND IT WAS FINE. HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE CAM HEAD BLEW OFF. CONSUMER NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULDN'T HELP SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER NOTED WHEN THE ENGINE GET REPAIRED, SHE WILL SELL THE VEHICLE AND NEVER RECOMMEND IT TO NO ONE ELSE. HER MECHANIC STATED THE CAM HAD NO OIL IN IT, YET THE VEHICLE WAS FULL OF OIL. THE OIL PUMP FAILED COSTING THE CONSUMER $6000. DOLLARS. SHE WAS INFORMED SINCE SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE VEHICLE ROUTINELY MAINTAINED AT THE DEALERSHIP. *PH

• 12/05/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS.

• 12/04/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

• 11/21/1997· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  BLINKERS DO NOT WORK ON VEHICLE, AND THAT PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED, BUT HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK.OWNER NOTES VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR PROBLEM, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK

• 11/18/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I HAVE A 1996 TOYOTA AVALON AND THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE BURNING A LOT OF OIL AND SENDING OFF A LOT OF SMOKE RELATED TO THE SLUDGE PROBLEM KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE PROBLEM KNOWN ONCE MORE. *JB

• 11/09/2009· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE PULLING UP TO A CURB, THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION, THEN PUTTING THE GEAR IN PARK WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE GO INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED BACKWARDS 50 FEET AND PINNED A PEDESTRIAN UNDER THE VEHICLE DRAGGING HIM APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET. THE PEDESTRIAN DIED FROM HIS INJURES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED BACKWARDS UNTIL IT HIT A UTILITY POLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,047. UPDATED 02/19/10 *BF UPDATED 09/02/10*JB UPDATED 9/27/11*CW

• 11/07/2003· VISIBILITY

  DURING THE WINTER SEASON THE DEFROSTER FAILED. CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONER TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD.*AK

• 11/07/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT BATTERY HAD FAILED, BUT DASH INDICATOR DID NOT LIGHT UP TO WARN CONSUMER.*AK *YD

• 11/04/1997· VISIBILITY

  WINDOW SHATTERED AND BROKE WHILE DRIVING.

• 11/04/1996· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THE REMOTE CONTROL MECHANISM IS VERY SENSITIVE AND OPENED THE TRUCK INADVERTENTLY. *AK *JB

• 11/03/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  WHILE BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AND CAR JUMPED THE WALL AND HIT A BULIDING. THEN THE ENGINE SLOWED DOWNED, AND CONSUMER PROCEDED TO PARK. CONSUMER FELT THIS CAR COULD HAVE HIT SOMEONE IF THEY WERE CROSSING. *AK

• 11/02/2010· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FILLER PIPE HAS CORRODED, SPILLS FUEL ON THE GROUND WHEN FILLING VEHICLE. *TR

• 10/28/1999· SEAT BELTS

  THE SEAT BELT DO NOT ALWAYS RETRACT WHEN RELEASED THUS DAMAGING THE DOOR AND PREVENTING THE LOCKING APPARATUS FROM WORKING PROPERLY. NLM

• 10/27/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS FAILED RESULTING IN BURNING AND SMOKE.

• 10/27/1997· EQUIPMENT

  AM RADIO FAILED.

• 10/27/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CANISTER ASSEMBLY AND VACCUMS FAILED.

• 10/27/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  EMISSION CONTROL VALVE FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

• 10/27/1997· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  LIGHT BULB INDICATOR FAILED.

• 10/20/2000· TIRES

  THE STEEL BELTS OF THE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES (P205/65R15) SEPARATED CAUSING VIBRATION, CONSUMER BOUGHT A NEW SET OF BRIDGESTONE TIRES OF THE SAME MODEL BUT WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THE NEW TIRES EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. NLM

• 10/17/1996· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HEADLIGHTS ARE POORLY ADJUSTED, THEY COME ON TOO LATE. *AK

• 10/09/1997· SEATSCrash

  WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A STANDSTILL WHEN IT WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHCLE GOING 45-50 MPH, AND THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS COLLAPSED TO A RECLINING POSITION. *AK

• 10/02/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HAS SLUDGE.TOYTA DOES NOT WANT TO FIX IT.ENGINE WILL CUT OFF GOING DOWN ROADIT COULD POSSIBLTY CAUSE ACCIDENT.IT IS NOT JUST ONE MODEL OF CAR BUT THE SIX CYLINDER IS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TALKED TO ABOUT 20 PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH ENGINE SLUDGE.THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA SAYS OIL NOT CHANGED PROPERLY BUT PEOPLE HAVE RECORDS.PLEASE LOOK AT THE WEBSITE WWW.THECOMPLAINTSTATION.COM UNDER TOYOTA AND LOOK AT PROBLEMS. THIS IS JUST SOME PEOPLETHAT HAVE FOUND OUT IT AND KNOW ONE PLACE THEY CAN LOG IT.HOW MANY OUT THERE THAT DONT KNOW. I WAS AT TOYOTA DELERSHIP AND WHILE THEY WERE CHECKING MINE ANOTHER CAME IN IT WAS A 98 TOYOTA SINNEA VAN ONLY 38000 MILES TOYTOA TOLD THESE PEOPLE THE SAME THING THING THEY TOLD ME OIL NOT CHANGED AND IT WAS THE WORST THEY EVER SAW.I BELEIVE TOYOTA IS TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING. I HAVE A TOYTOA WITH 237000 MILES ON IT NO PROBLEM WITHIT. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS. I WAS TOLD BY A TOYOTA TECH. IT WAS POSSIBLE CAUSE OF ENGINE DESIGN .HE SAID THE FRONT HEAD IS FLAT AND THE BACK HEAD IS AT A ANGLE POSSIBLY CAUSING AFLOE PROBLEM. THANKS PAT. *A

• 10/02/1996· VISIBILITY

  WHILE DRIVING ON SMOTTH, WELL TRAVELED, PAVED ROAD RIGHT REAR DOOR WINDOW SHATTERED WITH PIECES ACROSS BACK SEAT AND IN THE STREET. *AK

• 10/01/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, DRIVER HEARD LOUD NOISE, VEHICLE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN. *AK

• 09/26/1999· VISIBILITY

  WIPERS SQUEEK TWICE PER WIPE. LUBED UNDER WARRANTY. QUIET FOR SIX MONTHS. NOW SQUEEK AGAIN. I HAVE TWO 1996 TOYOTA AVALONS. NOW MY SECOND, LOWER MILEAGE, AVALON'S WIPERS SQUEEK. NOISE IS INTERNAL. CAN BE HEARD WITH WIPERS FOLDED UP AWAY FROM GLASS. DEALERS ARE HELPLESS, CARS OFF WARRANTY.

• 09/25/1996· STRUCTURE

  ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK DESIGN REQUIRES OPERATOR TO UNLOCK DOOR BEFORE PULLING HANDLE, WHICH COULD BE DIFFICULT TO DO IN STRESSFUL SITUATIONS.

• 09/19/1997· SUSPENSION

  MAIN BEARINGS HAVE TOO MUCH CLEARANCE.

• 09/18/1997· VISIBILITY

  HIGH FREQUENCY WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DASH WINDSHIELD AREA.

• 09/18/1997· SUSPENSION

  STRUTS FAILED.

• 09/11/1997· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  REAR TURN SIGNAL BULBS FAILED.

• 09/11/1997· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TURNING SIGNAL SWITCH FAILED.

• 09/10/1997· VISIBILITY

  SWITCH TO ACTUATE WINDOW.

• 09/09/1997· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  DOOR LOCKS FAILED.

• 09/07/2003· POWER TRAIN

  I BOUGHT A USED 1996 TOYOTA AVALON. IT WAS COVERED UNDER 6 YEAR / 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN MARCH OF 2002. I NOW HAVE JUST OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT.*AK WHEN PUTTING THE AUTO TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE FROM PARK OR NEUTRAL THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES VIOLENTLY. ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT "BARK" THE TIRES, IT IS QUITE SEVERE. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY GASKET(S) WERE THE LIKELY CAUSE AND THEY HAD MY CAR FROM 9-3-03 TO 9-5-03 REPLACING THEM. THEY SAID THAT A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED DETAILING THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE GASKETS, BUT NO RECALL HAS YET BEEN ISSUED. TOYOTA ENGINEERS CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE LOWER VALVE BODY GASKET IN 1997 (TC00197 APR 1997) BECAUSE OF THIS. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE DIRECT CLUTCH PORTION OF THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE DAMAGED DUE TO THE CROSS LEAK FROM THE GASKET. MY QUESTION IS- WHY DID TOYOTA NOT RECALL THESE CARS BECAUSE OF THIS? TWO VALVE BODY GASKETS ARE LESS THAN $30.00 (TOYOTA PRICES). I AM NOT SURE IF THE NEW GASKETS WILL INTERCHANGE DUE TO CONSTRUCTION OF THE VALVE BODY, BORE, ETC. ALL I KNOW IS THAT THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED THESE GASKETS AND I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I DID ORIGINALLY. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS GREAT TO WORK WITH (THEY CHARGED ME NO LABOR BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FIX THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM). I AM NOW STUCK WITH A CAR THAT I HAVE PUT ROUGHLY 60,000 MILES ON SINCE PAYING OVER $20,000.00 FOR IT (BEFORE TRADE-IN) IN 1999. I CAN'T TRADE OR SELL THIS CAR UNTILL I GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED ( INSTALL A NEW OR REBUILT UNIT). THE COST OF A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND INSTALLATION WOULD LIKELY BE OVER 30% OF THE CARS CURRENT VALUE.

• 08/30/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN DRIVING AT CITY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

• 08/23/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  REAR BRAKES SQUEALED ONLY WHEN BACKING UP. HAD BRAKE SHOES CLEANED MANY TIMES BY DEALER. ALWAYS THE SAME THING UNTIL REPLACING REAR BRAKES FIXED PROBLEM. NOT UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

• 08/19/1997· VISIBILITY

  WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE CONTINUALLY GET FOGGED UP ON THE INSIDE, WHEN CLEANING IT TAKES AT LEAST 4 TIMES TO GET EMOLLIENTS FROM WINDOWS. THE OWNER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE DANGEROUS FOR CONSUMER TO INHALE.

• 08/16/2002· STEERING

  WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

• 08/13/2007· AIR BAGSCrash

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 32 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL AND DROVE HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS EJECTED THROUGH THE SUN ROOF AND SUSTAINED A SEVERE HEAD CONCUSSION. SHE ALSO LOST COMPLETE VISION IN ONE EYE, ACUTE MEMORY LOSS, AND IS UNABLE TO PERFORM CERTAIN FUNCTIONS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT CANNOT REMEMBER ANY OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION DUE TO HER MEMORY LOSS.

• 08/09/2000· STRUCTURE

  BOTH REAR DOOR HANDLE MECHANISMS HAVE FAILED. IF IT WERE ONE IT MAY BE CONSIDERED A FLUKE, BUT SINCE BOTH HAVE FAILED I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT THE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK IS NOT ON BUT IT MAY BE SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO THE PROBLEM. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT IF THERE IS A FIRE IN THE CAR OR A NEED FOR AN IMMEDIATE EVACUATION OF THE CAR, THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK SEAT CANNOT GET OUT.

• 08/05/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE CALIPER FAILED.

• 08/04/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  I OWN A 1996 TOYOTA AVALON WITH 53K MILES ON IT. IT STARTED CONSUMING OIL AND BLOWING SMOKE ON COLD STARTS OVER THE WINTER. I HAVE DONE NUMEROUS MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. BEFORE THEN, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 15MONTHS AGO SO I ASKED MY TOYOTA DEALER TO CHECK THE ENGINE. THEY DID SOME MINOR CHECKS AND TURNED THE LIGHT OFF. CURRENTLY MY CAR HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS "ENGINE INTERNALL DAMAGED NEEDS ENGINE" BOTH THE SERVICE MANAGER MIKE AND THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED SLUDGE IN ENGINE THAT CAUSED DIAGNOSED ENGINE PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RESOLVE WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE PERSONELL AS I BECAME AWARE OF THE 1997-2002 TOYOTA VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY TOYOTA UNDER THE "SPA CAMPAIGN" THAT TOYOTA SAID THEY WORKED OUT WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION. I HAVE BEEN OFFERED 50% REPAIR FROM TOYOTA CORPORATE DESPITE BEING ACCUSED OF NEGLECTING MY VEHICLE(I PROVIDED TOYOTA WITH ALL OF MY SCHEDULED MAINTENEANCE AND OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS AT WELL WITHIN THEIR RECOMMENDED TIME/MILEAGE INTERVALS. I AM AWARE OF MANY OTHER 1996 TOYOTA AVALON OWNERS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HE SAME PROBLEMS/FALSE ACCUSATIONS AN GRIEF FROM TOYOTA. SOME HAVE RECEIVED FULL PAYMENT FOR THEIR ENGINE REPAIRS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OIL GELLING(SLUDGE) PROBLEMS MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES ARE HAVING. I FEEL THAT MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND I ARE AT RISK OF SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY DUE TO THE PROBLEM WITH TOYOTAS 6 CYL ENGINE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME AND WHY 1996 AVALONS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE "SPA" PROGRAM WHEN IT IS THE SAME ENGINE AND SAME ENGINE PROBLEMS OCCURRING. PLEASE HELP. MONICA AT TOYOTA SAID IT WAS WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION, GUIDANCE AND APPROVAL THAT THE CURRENT "SPA" CAMPAIGN WAS IMPLEMENTED. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STAND UP TALL AND SUPPORT THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD. IT IS WAY TOO EASY TO BE A "FAIR WEATHER FRIEND" . NOW WE ARE "NEGLECTFUL OWNERS" HMMM.*AK

• 07/29/1998· AIR BAGS

  CANNOT FIND DEALER TO INSTALL AIR BAG CUT OFF SWITCH.

• 07/25/2002· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THERE HAS BEEN SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN THE RPM INCREASING WITHOUT ACCELERATION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE, DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*JB

• 07/23/1999· VISIBILITY

  VEHICLE INSTANTLY FOGS UP FRONT AND SIDE WINDOWS WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING. CAUSING SERIOUS OBSTRUCTION OF VIEW. AIR COND. SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE USED IN THE WINTER IN ORDER TO KEEP WINDOWS CLEAR. SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS ON FREEWAY.

• 07/23/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  BRAKES MAKE LOUD WHISTLE WHEN IN BACKING OUT OF PARKING PLACE.

• 07/15/1998· TIRES

  TIRES SHOW ABNORMAL WEAR ON OUTSIDE OF THE EDGES CAUSED BY UNDER-INFLATION AND HARD CORNERING.

• 07/14/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I OWN A 1996 TOYOTA AVALON. MY CAR HAS BEEN PUTTING OUT A WHITE SMOKE DURING COLD START-UPS. I AM ADDING TWO QUARTS OF OIL A WEEK. I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES. I EVEN REPLACE SOME SEALS, BELIEVING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS COME TO A-HEAD. MY CAR STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE GOING TO WORK ON JULY 13, 2003. THE CAR ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER IT STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO PARK THE CAR AND IT WILL BE MY MECHANIC. I HAVE READ ON THIS SITE THAT THERE HAS BEEN OTHERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP US IN NOT ONLY FINDING THE PROBLEM BUT FIXING IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY, MICHAEL T. MARCHAND.*AK