Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 01/01/2013 | 2 | ||
| 2004 toyota avalon. consumer requests reimbursement for power steering and wheel hub repairs. *smd the consumer stated she experienced steering failure, two years prior to the recall. the consumer went to a local mechanic, because the toyota dealership was too far to drive to for the repair. upon submitting all the required proof, toyota refused reimbursement stating the repair she paid for was not the reason for the recall. therefore, the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for the correct repair, which she felt had already been done. last fall, the consumer started to hear a whirring noise while driving on the highway. the dealer was unable to diagnose the problem then, the noise became louder and again, she went back to the dealer. at that time, the noise was diagnosed as a wheel hub that needed to be replace at a cost of $ 750 per wheel plus tax totaling over $3,000. the lead mechanic diagnosed the problem as being one replacement of the right rear hub, not all four. *jb | |||
| 01/07/2013 | 85000 | 1 | |
| Steering became difficult. vehicle would not return to straight forward direction after a turn. force was required to bring vehicle back to straight path. problem was caused by internal leaking of steering fluid. dealer replaced steering rack. power steering lines had to be replaced due to rusting. *tr | |||
| 01/07/2013 | 85000 | ||
| Steering became difficult. vehicle would not return to straight forward direction after a turn. force was required to bring vehicle back to straight path. problem was caused by internal leaking of steering fluid. dealer replaced steering rack. power steering lines had to be replaced due to rusting. | |||
| 02/02/2012 | 80146 | 1 | |
| Toyota dealer in merritt island, fl advised me power steering rack is leaking... 2-2-2012 my son in has a toyota 2005 sienna in annapolis, md was advised that his power steering rack was leaking. 7-17-2012 a friend with a toyota camry in bowie, md was advised that his power steering rack is leaking. *tr | |||
| 02/02/2012 | 80146 | ||
| Toyota dealer in merritt istand, fl advised me power steering rack is leaking... 2-2-2012 my son in has a toyota 2005 sienna in annapolis, md was advied that his power steering rack was leaking. 7-17-2012 a friend with a toyota camrey in bowie, md was advised that his power steering rack is leaking. | |||
| 03/01/2012 | 1 | ||
| 2004 toyota avalon. consumer writes in regards to two recall notices *tgw the consumer stated it would be a 150 mile- round trip to the nearest dealer to have the recalls performed. the consumer stated there were competent ford, gm and chrysler automotive technicians that could perform the work if provided the parts and guidance. *jb | |||
| 03/28/2011 | 75000 | ||
| In december, i took my 2004 avalon to the dealership for the steering column bracket recall. shortly after, i returned to the dealership complaining about my odd steering. i could feel the steering stiffen, then return to normal, then back to stiffening. the dealership had the car for a day to check out the steering which they couldn't find anything wrong with it. now, my steeringi is stiff all of the time. i am afraid to drive the car. it is not safe to be on the road. in reseaching i have not found a recall for this problem. clearly, there is a steering problem since i have found several similar complaints. a recall should immediately be ordered by toyota. | |||
| 01/10/2011 | 71986 | ||
| On 30 december 2010, i took my 2004 toyota avalon for service per a recall for a steering bracket replacemant. i picked up the car on 03 january 2011 and drove it home. the next time it was driven was on january 10 and i noticed the steering was sticking so i notified the toyota service department. while driving to have the vehicle checked, the steering locked up and i nearly crashed before managing to stop. the car was towed in for service and i was told that there was aproblem with the steering rack. i have serious concerns that repairs to the steering due to a recall were performed and immediately following this problem occurred. | |||
| 07/08/2009 | 1 | ||
| 2004 toyota avalon with a recall for the steering column upper bracket. *kb the consumer stated she experienced the steering problem prior to the recall. *jb | |||
| 09/08/2010 | 0 | ||
| I got a notice from toyota that my 2004 avalon had been recalled. i have tried to make an appointment to have this problem fixed. the service department of toyota of rockwall states they will return my call but they never do. this is unacceptable. i am still waiting for an appointment to get this recall repaired. | |||
| 04/03/2008 | 20000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota avalon. the contact stated while driving at approximate speeds of 30 mph, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to maneuver. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing twice and the dealer replaced the lower steering shaft on each occasion. the repairs did not correct the failure. the failure mileage was 20,000 and the current mileage was 35,000. | |||
| 03/03/2010 | 1 | ||
| 2004 toyota avalon xls- while driving on the expressway one day last week, the steering wheel became very hard to turn. took the car immediately to the toyota dealer the same day. was told there wasn't anything wrong with the car. the next day the same problem, took the car back to dealer and asked for someone to test drive the car with me. the mechanic could not turn the steering wheel without strong force. my car has been in the shop for 6 days. *tr | |||
| 08/17/2008 | 23000 | 1 | |
| Steering became very stiff. *tr | |||
| 03/25/2008 | 41539 | 1 | |
| My 2004 toyota avalon xls had a problem. i was trying to go to my office in the morning and the steering wheel was very tight & hard to turn. there was no accident or road potholes involved in this case. when i took the car to the toyota dealership in erie, pennsylvania, the toyota manager told me that the intermediate steering shaft is bound up/twisted. it is very shocking to me that such a reputable toyota car had this life-threatening problem. if i was on the highway, i would not have been able to turn my vehicle and would have went off the road. *tr | |||
| 11/13/2007 | 32000 | 12 | 03/24/2004 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota avalon. while driving 14 mph, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn. the dealer stated that the steering shaft failed due to corrosion and they replaced the steering shaft. there were no further occurrences. the failure mileage was 32,000 and current mileage was 32,289. updated 01/03/08. *lj the consumer stated the part had no grease fitting. updated 12/12/07. | |||
| 03/01/2005 | 2 | ||
| Toyota avalon xls 2004 problem seeing the trunk when backing up for visual idea of how close to what behind me. *bf six days after purchasing the vehicle, the key would not turn in the ignition and all the dash lights stayed lit. there was a grinding noise coming from the steering. *jb | |||
| 11/28/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving 35 miles per hour the consumer hit a curb which caused the right front tire to go flat. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and results showed that the strut arm, knuckle steering, bushings and bearings all needed to be replaced.*jb | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||
| 03/23/2004 | 40 | 5 | 03/22/2004 |
| While driving at any speed, the consumer heard a brushing sound coming from the steering column. the dealer has examined the vehicle on two occasions and was unable to find the cause of the problem. *ak when the a/c was running the vehicle would die as was unable to be duplicated, the trunk gasket leaked, noises were heard when turning to the left (steering felt tight), the trunk bottom would not open, the wipers would hit the hood, there was a scraping when turning to the left, the driver door was leaking water, and the vehicle could not turn right. *sc *jb | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | |||
| 12/25/2005 | 25349 | 1 | 02/03/2004 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while traveling at 70 mph lost power steering. the vehicle suddenly became difficult to steer. the contact was able to drive the vehicle to the service dealer for inspection. after inspection the dealer informed the contact that power steering pump failed. repairs have been made. *ak updated 1/23/2006 - at not time prior to or after failure did the vehicle exhibit any external fluid loss. *nm | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 03/30/2007 | 36080 | 5 | 11/11/2006 |
| Tl*- the contact owns a 2004 toyota avalon with a current odometer reading of 36,080 miles, when the power steering failed. the contact was driving at t 25 mph under normal dry weather conditions. the contact was able to continue driving , but the steering was very stiff and hard to control. the contact stated that the power steering came and went. the fluid had been checked, and was at the correct levels. *ak | |||