12 of the
353 complaints about the 2003 Toyota Avalon are about the
engine — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
88,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the vehicle started smoking and the engine stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the engine needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
NHTSA complaint #11419230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 71,000 milesMyrtle Beach, SC
ENGINE
THE AUTO SURGES FORWARD AS I'M TRYING TO STOP EITHER AT A STOP LIGHT OR PARKING SPOT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 OR 4 TIMES AND MY MECHANIC SAID THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WOULD BE FOR IT TO HAPPEN WHILE HE WAS DRIVING IT. THERE'S NO PATTERN TO WHEN IT HAPPENS BUT IT'S SCARY AND I'M AFRAID TO LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT. IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AS I WAS COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE ENTERING A 2 LANE HIGHWAY. THE OTHER TIMES IT HAPPENED WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND APPLYING THE BRAKES TO STOP. I NOW PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHEN IT HAPPENS AND THE ENGINE IS RACING AWAY. PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE ISN'T ENOUGH TO COME TO A COMPETE STOP. I'VE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING WITH NO HONEST ANSWER FOR CORRECTING IT. MOSTLY TRAIL AND ERROR. TOYOTA HAS TO KNOW THE ANSWER BUT THERE'S NO SERVICE BULLETINS FROM THEM. I'M AFRAID THAT IT'S GOING TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR BODILY INJURY TO ME OR MY WIFE. NHTSB HAS GOT TO LOOK INTO THIS ASAP. P.S. MY CAR HAS 71000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #11174487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 200 milesRichmond, VA
ENGINE
TESTING API.
NHTSA complaint #10806194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100 milesRichmond, VACrash1 injured
ENGINE
TESTING API
NHTSA complaint #10789446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 138,766 milesMarietta, GA
ENGINE
THE ENGINE STARTED COLD AND REVVED TO 2500 RPM AND THEN OSCILLATED BETWEEN 2500 AND ABOUT 3000 RPM AND NEVER SLOWED DOWN. I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND DROVE IT THE BLOCK AND A HALF TO MY HOUSE USING THE BRAKE TO STOP AT THE ONLY STOP SIGN ON THE ROUTE BUT STOPPING WAS DIFFICULT. THE NEXT MORNING I EXPERIENCED THE SAME ULTRA-FAST IDLE AND DROVE THE CAR ON AN ERRAND THAT WAS ABOUT 2 MILES DISTANT. THE SAME PATTERN PERSISTED BUT THE BRAKES WERE HEATING UP AND SMELLING FROM FREQUENT USE IN KEEPING THE CAR WITHIN THE CITY SPEED LIMIT. IT ALSO STRESSED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHILE BRAKING AGAINST THE FAST MOTOR. I STARTED SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND COASTING TO CONTROL THE SPEED WHILE THE ENGINE SPEED OSCILLATION CONTINUED. I PARKED THE CAR BACK HOME AND HAD A TOW TRUCK TAKE IT TO MARIETTA TOYOTA WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS WAS TO REPLACE THE IDLE CONTROL MOTOR AT A COST OF $669.00 LESS A $99.00 NEGOTIATED DISCOUNT. THAT SERVICE SOLVED THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM HAD THE POTENTIAL TO OVERHEAT THE BRAKES, CAUSE ONE TO COAST IN NEUTRAL WITHOUT IDEAL CONTROL OF THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY, ETC.
NHTSA complaint #10671578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,000 milesCody, WY
ENGINE
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) ISSUE: PROBLEM W/ INTERMITTENT WARNING LIGHTS FOR AIR BAG SOME TIME AGO (RESEARCHING DATE)- TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. NO MORE LIGHT, BUT VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING/LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING- RARELY, BUT BECAME MORE FREQUENT OVER TIME. INSTRUMENT PANEL/CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE- NOW EVERY MINUTE OR SO WHILE DRIVING. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM- NHTSA ID 10605681. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER LATE MAY. DEALER ON PHONE W/ TOYOTA MULTIPLE TIMES + HAD TECH FROM ANOTHER DEALER COME AND LOOK AT VEHICLE - COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. DEALER NOW SAYS THE ECM FAULTY. NOT REPAIRED, BUT DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE 8HRS OF DIAGNOSTIC TIME AND NOT REPAIRED - CAN DEALER CHARGE IF RECALL ITEM? MY CONCERN IS THAT PROBLEM IS MORE THAN AIR BAGS- FAULTY ECM RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER/CONTROL WHEN ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, STALLS OR EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER- VEHICLE NO LONGER SAFE TO OPERATE. I CANNOT DRIVE IT; I CANNOT SELL IT. CALLED TOYOTA, ASKED FOR PART # OF RECALLED SRS/ECM- WAS TOLD ONLY LOCAL DEALER HAS PART NUMBERS. THEY TOOK INFORMATION AND TRANSFERRED ME TO "TOYOTA CORPORATE"- OPERATOR ID'D AS TOYOTA CORPORATE ASKED QUESTIONS, INDICATED THEY HAD DOCUMENTED MY FILE. WHEN I ASKED OPERATOR TO CONFIRM ITEMS OPERATOR HAD CHOSEN TO DOCUMENT, OPERATOR REFUSED TO RESPOND TO MY REQUESTS FOR CONFIRMATION- I ASKED FOR SUPERVISOR- WAS TOLD "NO SUPERVISOR" THERE. OPERATOR THREW ME ON HOLD (ON HOLD FOR OVER 30 MINUTES W/ CORPORATE THEN TRANSFERRED ME TO NHTSA W/OUT OPERATOR EVER COMING BACK ON THE LINE PRIOR TO TRANSFER (NHTSA CONF # AVAILABLE). "CORPORATE" INDICATED THAT TOYOTA HAS NO CONTROL OVER DEALERS- THEY CAN CHARGE WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DIAGNOSE EVEN IF RELATED TO RECALL NOTICE. LOSS OF USE OVER 1 MONTH. DEALER SAID NO NEW ECM REPLACEMENT PART AVAILABLE. PRETTY SURE RECALL REMEDY INADEQUATE.
NHTSA complaint #10609730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 123,000 milesBroken Arrow, OKCrash2 injured
ENGINE
I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHERE MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE CAME OFF OF A LEDGE IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AT WHICH POINT I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO BARRIER IN PLACE ON THAT SIDE. I CHOSE TO DIRECT MY VEHICLE TOWARD THE MUD PIT ON THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD. I CORRECTED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OFF OF THE ROAD AND NOSE DIVE THROUGH THE FIRST MUD/DIRT EMBANKMENT. I EXPECTED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY ON BOTH SIDE AND FRONT TAKING THE SPEED AND FORCE OF THE COLLISION WITH THE FIRST EMBANKMENT AND THE YAW OF THE VEHICLE IN THE AIR. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE STILL AT THIS TIME AT WHICH POINT I HAD NOW LANDED REAR BUMPER FIRST AND A BIT SIDEWAYS ON A 2ND EMBANKMENT. THIS THEN LAUNCHES THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AIRBORNE FINALLY COMING TO REST IN A MUD AND GRAVEL DRIVE WAY OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO LIVES OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL OF IT'S TRANSMISSION FLUID ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THROUGH SOME OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT DAMAGED BUT AFTER FURTHER RESEARCHED I HAD DETERMINED THAT THE IMPACT SENSORS ARE ACTUALLY LOCATED IN THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE. 2 WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT WHICH WERE MYSELF, THE DRIVER, AND MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PASSENGER WHO WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT BUT NOT PROPERLY. SHE HAD THE LAP PORTION OF THE BELT ON BUT THE SHOULDER PORTION BEHIND HER. SHE IS A 20 YEAR OLD ADULT FEMALE.I AM A 19 YEAR OLD MALE AND HAD MINE ON PROPERLY. SHE HIT HER HEAD TWICE ON MY HEADREST. I WAS THROWN INTO THE SIDE OF MY DOOR AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL, THEN BACK AGAINST THE DOOR RESULTING IN BRUISED RIBS. IF THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAG SYSTEM WERE TO HAVE DEPLOYED PROPERLY THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A BARRIER BETWEEN ME AND THE DOOR WHICH CAUSED MY BRUISED RIBS ON MY LEFT SIDE. THERE IS A KNOWN AIRBAG RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR WHICH TOYOTA WHICH I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF A SOLUTION FOR AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10595701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesMilford, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A SQUEALING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V539000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE 2003 MODELS, ONLY 2004. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 01/04/12*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 2008. UPDATED 01/09/12
NHTSA complaint #10437875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 95,000 milesGahanna, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE EXHIBITED SLUDGE. THE CONTACT HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE WHO CONFIRMED THE SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THE ENGINE BUT THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10421613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH GAS PEDAL AND IDLE RUNNING TOO HIGH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE HIGH AT TIMES AND THEN TOO LOW, TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY ON. THE PROBLEM WAS INCONSISTENT, BUT RECURRING. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS MOUNTED TOO HIGH.
NHTSA complaint #10382312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesFort Worth, TX
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OUR 2003 TOYOTA AVALON HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL OCCURRENCES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR TOYOTA DEALER AND BOTH TIMES THEY SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE FLOORMAT STICKING UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. THE MAT WAS REMOVED AND IT STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I LET OFF THE GAS TO SLOW DOWN AND IT STARTED TO SPEED UP. I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV UP AND DOWN FROM 1000 RPM TO 2500 RPM. THIS CONTINUED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES UNTIL I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART IT. (THIS IS ALWAYS THE FIX...TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT. IT SEEMS TO RESET THE COMPUTER). THIS PROBLEM STARTED OVER A YEAR AGO AND CONTINUES TO OCCUR ALMOST MONTHLY. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND EVEN IF IT WAS, I DON'T FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM HAS A FIX, YET. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER ONE AND THE RESALE VALUE HAS PLUMMETED. JUST LAST WEEK MY WIFE WAS STOPPED BY A DPS OFFICER FOR SPEEDING FROM A STOP LIGHT. SHE DID NOT EVEN HAVE HER FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. SHE EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WAS NOT TICKETED.
NHTSA complaint #10314149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 88,000 milesMonrovia, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE RESPONDED SLOWLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NINE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,858.
NHTSA complaint #10258219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.