2014 Toyota Avalon Hybrid problems

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #11105271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10954981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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. IT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH A MAJOR COMPONENT OF A NEARLY-NEW VEHICLE TO FAIL SO SOON AND THE DEALER IS WAVING IT OFF AS NOT A DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10925189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10907221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10889036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10881971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

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 complaint #10875184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10860334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10839275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10785306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10745166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10704587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

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 WRITING TO YOU TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM, WHICH CLEARLY IS NOT A UNIQUE SITUATION. THE DEALER?S SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD NO SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BUMPER. THIS SOLUTION IS COSTLY (ALTHOUGH I WOULD EXPECT TOYOTA TO PAY THIS COST) AND, UNLESS THE PIECE IS REDESIGNED WILL SIMPLY TEMPORARILY SOLVE THE PROBLEM SINCE THE SAME PIECE IS LIKELY TO BREAK AGAIN. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT A PROBLEM LIKE THIS SHOULD DEVELOP ON SUCH AN EXPENSIVE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10695166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10693131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10639271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT SEATS, THERE IS A METAL BAR THAT IS NOT WELL PADDED. FROM ALL INDICATIONS THIS BAR AFFECTED EITHER THE NERVES OR BLOOD FLOW IN MY LEGS CAUSING THEM TO GO NUMB. THIS WAS 1.5 HOURS INTO A 5 HOUR DRIVE THAT WE MAKE SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE WITH ANY OTHER CAR. THIS WAS THE FIRST TRIP WITH THE NEW TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. THE DRIVER SIDE HAS MORE PADDING THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE MAYBE IN ATTEMPT TO MINIMIZE THIS PROBLEM? THE LIGHTER THE PERSON, THE LESS OF AN ISSUE THIS MAY BE. WHILE TRYING TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER, I WAS QUESTIONING MY CONTROL OF THE CAR. DEALER RESPONSE WAS TO OFFER TO TRADE ME INTO A DIFFERENT CAR, SINCE HAVING THIS ISSUE SEARCHING THE INTERNET HAS FOUND OTHERS THAT HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES, A FEW TRADED, IN AT LEAST ONE CASE THE DEALER COVERED THE COST OF HAVE A UPHOLSTERY SHOP ADD PADDING.

NHTSA complaint #10627829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.