10 of the
121 complaints about the 1996 Toyota Avalon are about the
throttle and cruise control — 8% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
188,000 miles.
F
10
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Vehicle Speed Control
10100.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Toyota Avalon year
WHILE DRIVING TO AN APPOINTMENT, I HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AFTER USING TWO FEET TO SLOW VEHICLE, AND SHUT VEHICLE OFF. AFTER TRYING TO RESTART VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, IT WAS STILL REVVING. AFTER A HALF HOUR, I WAS ABLE TO START IT AND BRING IT HOME. VERY SCARY! IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN, WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, AND WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF TO SAFETY. WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC, AND SINCE IT WAS NOT DOING IT WHILE THEY HAD IT, THEY COULDN'T FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, AND FIX IT. WHILE TRYING TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, WE DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM TO THIS VEHICLE YEAR, AND MOST WERE ON CAMRY'S. WE DO NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT FLOOR MATS, AND THE PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK. WE CALLED TOYOTA TO CHECK ON RECALL INFORMATION. SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON OUR VIN#, AND TOLD IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, DUE TO THE MILEAGE, BUT THEY DOCUMENTED MY REPORT IN THEIR CORPORATE RECORDS, AND TO TAKE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT EVALUATED AND REPAIRED, WHICH WOULD NO DOUBT BE AT OUR EXPENSE SINCE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. WE ARE SENIOR CITIZENS, AND ARE AFRAID TO EVEN DRIVE THIS CAR NOW, MUCH LESS DRIVE IT ALL THE WAY TO A DEALER OUT OF TOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10609281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 188,000 milesWesterville, OH
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER RECEIVING A JUMP, I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, THE GAS PEDAL SEEMED TO STICK. THEN WHEN DRIVING THE SPEED BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. THE LONGER WE DROVE THE HIGHER THE ENGINE REVVED. I DECIDED TO RETURN TO MY HOME ABOUT 5 MINUTES AWAY THEN THE CAR BRAKE WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR AT A STOP LIGHT AND I HAD TO QUICKLY TURN THE CORNER TO A SIDE STREET UNTIL THE LIGHT CHANGED AND I WAS ABLE TO ENTER MY STREET. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE TO PARK IT AND IT WOULD NOT STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR SO I QUICKLY PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. IT REVVED A FEW SECONDS BEFORE FINALLY TURNING OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10501127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 97,909 milesBronx, NYCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CRASHING INTO THE FRONT OF A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,909.
NHTSA complaint #10448166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 226,444 milesCrozet, VACrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED HIP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL REMAINED STUCK TO THE FLOOR WHEN THE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED WHICH CAUSED HIM TO CRASH INTO A BUILDING. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 226,444. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10383276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,047 milesCranford, NJCrash1 injured1 killed
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
NHTSA complaint #10291453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hampton, NH
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.
NHTSA complaint #8014744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diago, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
NHTSA complaint #852476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pompton Lakes, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
NHTSA complaint #516287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ponte Vedra Beach, FLCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING INTO PARKING LOT; STARTED TO TURN VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED SUDDENLY & HIT POST IN FRONT OF STORE; BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #810019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pompton LA, NJ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM A STOPPED POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #505662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.