2018 Toyota Avalon problems

STRUCTURE:BODY

Hello, My name is [XXX]. I bought my car from Longo Toyota in El Monte about 15 months ago. The car was certified preowned and had a Carfax report with no accident reported history. That is exactly why I bought the car, because this was going to be my family car. So I bought it and have been driving around my daughter, who just turned one for over a year. I also work as a Behavioral Therapist and drive around kids with autism in my car on a daily basis. It wasn’t until I decided to trade in my car that it was discovered that the Avalon car has frame damage, which was discovered by third-party. A car condition expert came to check out the car and discovered the frame damage by using a true frame meter and a paint meter. Now Longo Toyota in El Monte has gave me the go around and hasn't even checked for frame damage. Longo Toyota is asking me how much would I want for my car and asking me about my car's value. There is clear fraud going on, and the fact that this is the largest car dealership in the country makes me wonder how many more people are driving around in cars that have frame damage as well. Best regards, [XXX] “INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11503063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Intermittently, unpredictably, for several seconds at a time, the engine almost quits, especially when accelerating So far, it has not happened in heavy traffic, but if it did, it would create a possibly major safety hazard. I have not taken it to a dealer yet. Just learned about the fuel pump problem that is associated with my 2018 Toyota Avalon. Plan to contact the dealer tomorrow. I have not seen any instrumental warning or notification. There is no warning that the engine is about to lose power and so far the engine has not stopped, but recovers to normal operation.. This has been occurring over the last couple of months. I fear for my wife's safety so that she will be unable to drive this 2018 Toyota Avalon 3.5L sedan until it is repaired.

NHTSA complaint #11495198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

At approximately 42000 miles with no significant issues and no front end damages, the steering failed as I was driving at highway speed (70 mph) on a 2 lane road approaching a 90 degree curve. The power steering warning light and a separate triangle warning light appeared at the same time as I felt a pop and lost power and response in the steering wheel. Thankfully, I have driven heavy power equipment in the past and was able to control the vehicle to the shoulder and there was no surrounding traffic. I was able to proceed to my residence at a slow speed on the road shoulder with no power steering and an almost unresponsive steering wheel. After being towed to the local dealer, it was determined the torque sensor failed and the entire steering column required replacement. I had no warning of this impending failure. The airbag recall was done on this vehicle by the dealer several weeks prior to this with no reports of an issue. It is unknown if the airbag recall service impacted this catastrophic failure. The dealership was in possession of the faulty part on 8/27/2021, when the repair was completed. I understand there were previous recalls on Avalons pre-2005 for this issue.

NHTSA complaint #11430947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My car check engine light lane sensor light and Lad light came on and card had rough handling i took it to Toyota of plano and they worked on charged me $650 so i was was happy they fixed the problem after one day the lights came back they said it was the rodent damage a Rat chewed the wire because what i learned toyota is using soy base wires it attracts Rats they should not use it it is a safety hazards now my safety feathers don't work i can not afford $600 every other day so please recall this problem Thanks so many accidents can be avoided,

NHTSA complaint #11422114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

My car check engine light lane sensor light and Lad light came on and card had rough handling i took it to Toyota of plano and they worked on charged me $650 so i was was happy they fixed the problem after one day the lights came back they said it was the rodent damage a Rat chewed the wire because what i learned toyota is using soy base wires it attracts Rats they should not use it it is a safety hazards now my safety feathers don't work i can not afford $600 every other day so please recall this problem Thanks so many accidents can be avoided,

NHTSA complaint #11422114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING

My car check engine light lane sensor light and Lad light came on and card had rough handling i took it to Toyota of plano and they worked on charged me $650 so i was was happy they fixed the problem after one day the lights came back they said it was the rodent damage a Rat chewed the wire because what i learned toyota is using soy base wires it attracts Rats they should not use it it is a safety hazards now my safety feathers don't work i can not afford $600 every other day so please recall this problem Thanks so many accidents can be avoided,

NHTSA complaint #11422114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

THE PRE-COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT APPEAR TO WORK. SEVERAL TIMES WHEN CARS IN FRONT OF US HAVE SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES, THE PRE-COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND. WE OWN A 2016 PRIUS WITH THE SAME FEATURE AND IT ALWAYS RESPONDS ' FLASHING A WARNING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. WE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THEY SAID THE SYSTEM IN OUR CAR PERFORMS A CHECK EVERY TIME WE TURN ON THE CAR AND SINCE IT DOES NOT INDICATE A FAULT, TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE THE SYSTEM IS WORKING FINE. THEY SAID THERE ARE NO OTHER TESTS FOR THEM TO PERFORM. I'VE ADJUSTED THE SYSTEM TO THE MOST SENSITIVE MODE (ACTIVE WHEN VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US IS FURTHER AWAY), BUT THIS HAS HAD NO EFFECT. ALSO, THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WHICH USES THE SAME RADAR SYSTEM AS THE PRE-COLLISION BRAKING WORKS FINE. THERE DEFINITELY IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PRE-COLLISION BRAKING, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS SAFETY FEATURE WILL NOT SAVE US FROM A COLLISION. THE ONLY WAY SOMEONE WOULD BE AWARE THAT THE SYSTEM ISN'T WORKING IS TO EXPERIENCE A NEAR COLLISION. I BELIEVE THE PRE-COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM COULD BE TESTED WITHOUT DAMAGING OUR CAR BY PLACING A LARGE STATIONARY INFLATABLE OBJECT IN FRONT OF OUR MOVING CAR. I WOULD BE GLAD TO PROVIDE OUR CAR FOR YOU TO PERFORM SUCH A TEST OR ANOTHER TEST THAT YOU MAY HAVE DEVELOPED. THIS MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER TOYOTA AVALONS AND OTHER CARS.

NHTSA complaint #11415720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY RADIO HANGING UP PHONE CALLS AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS. AFTER TAKING MY CAR SEVERAL TIME I WAS TOLD IT WILL BE REPLACED. I TOOK MY CAR AND LEFT IT OVER NIGHT MARCH 18TH AND MARCH 19TH. IT HAD A CHARGING LIGHT ON SO THEY SAID IT'S BEST IF IT SAYS OVER NIGHT. WHEN CONTACTED THE SATELLITE RADIO COMPANY TO GIVE THE NEW RADIO ID, THE SAID IT WAS THE ID. I CALLED APPLE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY ISSUES WITH MY IPHONE, THERE WAS NONE AND WE EVEN WENT THROUGH RESETTING THE PHONE, JUST IN CASE CASE THE RADIO WAS STILL DROPPING CALLS AND OTHER THINGS. I HAVE A CASE WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE #2103032049. I CONTACTED THEM AND THE DEALERSHIP THE MONDAY AFTERWARDS MARCH 22, I STILL WAS UNABLE TO GET ANY ANSWERS. I HAVE NO PROOF THE RADIO WAS REPLACED, NO ONE FROM TOYOTA OR THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS MIKE CALVERT TOYOTA 713-558-8100

NHTSA complaint #11405151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY AUTO HIGH BEAMS DAILY FAIL TO WORK CORRECTLY DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING, THE LOW BEAM WOULD BE ON, THE TURN SIGNAL CONTROL LEVER WILL BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY FORWARD. THE GREEN LIGHT ON THE DASH PANEL IS SHOWING A HEADLIGHT WITH A WORD "AUTO" WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE HIGH BEAMS WOULD CYCLE ON & OFF AS THEY SHOULD WITH THE AUTO HIGH BEAM SYSTEM. THEN THE GREEN "AUTO" LIGHT WOULD MYSTERIOUSLY GO OFF AND THE HIGH BEAMS WOULD NOT TURN ON ANYMORE EVEN UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS - THIS WOULD LAST FROM THIRTY SECONDS TO ABOUT FIVE MINUTES..THEN THE AUTO HIGH BEAM SYSTEM MYSTERIOUSLY COMES BACK ON AND ALL WORKING CORRECTLY AGAIN. THIS IS ONLY ON NIGHT TIME DRIVING WHEN THE AUTO HIGH BEAM SYSTEM IS TURNED ON WITH THE GREEN AUTO INDICATOR. THIS IS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND MOSTLY ON DARKER / RURAL ROADS WHERE HIGH BEAMS ARE DESIRED. THIS PROBLEM IS WITH THOUSANDS OF TOYOTAS..AND LEXUS ES ALL MODELS AND THE LAST FIVE MODEL YEARS. DEALERS TURN A BLIND EYE TO IT... ALTHOUGH IT IS OFTEN A VERY INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. TOYOTA DEALERS WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT... LOOK IN ALL THE TOYOTA ONLINE AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS... IT'S OUT THERE...THIS HAPPENS EVERY AND ANY EVENING WE DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT. VERY ANNOYING FOR SURE.

NHTSA complaint #11375620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I OWN A 2018 TOYOTA AVALON THAT IS SUBJECT TO RECALL FOR A POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. I TOOK THE CAR IN 8/3/2020 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE CORRECT FUEL PUMP IN PARTS AND THAT IT WILL BE LATE SEPT. OR OCT. BEFORE THEY HAVE THE CORRECT FUEL PUMP. IN THE INTERIM, I HAVE A VEHICLE WITH A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11350749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

CHECKING ON THE STATUS OF THE FUEL PUMP RECALL?? WAS SUPPOSED TO GET A NOTICE BY MAY BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE NOTICE YET. I ENTERED THE 17 DIGIT VIN NUMEBER IN YOUR FORM BUT GOT NO RESPONSE.

NHTSA complaint #11341599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SUBJECTED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS) AFTER A VIN SEARCH WAS PERFORMED ONLINE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH NHTSA HOTLINE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11301611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE SPEED BETWEEN 60-70 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKS TO THE RIGHT. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED BECAUSE IT FELT SCARY (AS IF I WOULD HIT THE CAR IN THE NEXT LANE) I HAD THE PROBLEM CHECKED THROUGH A REPUTABLE SERVICE CENTER- THE TORQUE STEERING WAS OFF; CAR JERKED WITH ACCELERATION

NHTSA complaint #11271236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.