Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
T-SB-0167-0906/02/200910032523Toyota: vehicle may experience multiple warning lights illuminated, vehicle not shifting from park to driver, and/or other accessories becoming inoperative after the vehicle has cold soaked in sub-freezing (below 14% f [-10% c]) ambient air04/07/2010
0120511/01/200510018279Repair manual supplement: laser cruise control beam axis adjustment. *ak12/20/2005
0010501/11/200510015196Short pin installation to minize battery discharge during pre-delivery service (pds). *tt07/08/2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
T-SB-0167-0906/02/200910032523Toyota: vehicle may experience multiple warning lights illuminated, vehicle not shifting from park to driver, and/or other accessories becoming inoperative after the vehicle has cold soaked in sub-freezing (below 14% f [-10% c]) ambient air04/07/2010

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RQ10003TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION02/16/2010UNINTENDED ACCELERATION
 On september 26, 2007, toyota filed a defect information report and notified nhtsa that some of its model year (my) 2007 and 2008 lexus e350 and toyota camry vehicles could experience unintended and uncontrolled acceleration due to interference between the optional all weather floor mat offered on those vehicles and the vehicles' accelerator pedal.this decision was influenced by an office of defects investigation (odi) engineering analysis.this recall was designated 07e082.two years later, on october 5, 2009, toyota filed a defect information report and notified nhtsa that a number of its my 2004-2009 lexus and toyota vehicles may also experience unintended and uncontrolled acceleration due to interference between the accelerator pedal and the driver's floor mat.this recall was designated 09v388.several months later, on january 27, 2010, toyota filed an amended, or supplemental, defect information report and expanded the population of vehicles to include additional my 2008-2010 toyota and lexus vehicles.since this expansiontook place in a different calendar year, this recall was designated 10v023.separately on january 21, 2010, toyota filed a defect information report and notified nhtsa that certain toyota vehicles and certain pontiac vibe vehicles contained a safety defect in the accelerator pedal assembly that may cause the accelerator pedal to become harder to depress, slower to return, or in the worse case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position.nhtsa designated this recall 10v017.in total, the four recalls cover over 7.6 million toyota and lexus vehicles as well as the pontiac vibe product made by new united motor manufacturing, inc., a venture of toyota and general motors corporation.nhtsa requires additional information from toyota to more fully understand and evaluate, among other things, whether the scope of the recalls identified above (makes, models and model years) is sufficiently broad.the agency is seeking to determine whether toyota viewed the underlying defects too narrowly as interference between the accelerator pedal and the driver

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
04/03/200638000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2005 toyota avalon. the contact stated that when he went to apply the horn it failed to function. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the pad was removed and the contact points were replaced. the remedy lasted about a year and the horn failed again. the vehicle was taken to the dealer again and the contact points were lubricated. the remedy laster for approximately one year. in september 2009 the sopc lock spring assembly was replaced and the repair lasted approximately one year. the horn has failed again. the vehicle has been taken to the dealer again and the failure could not be duplicated. the owner decided to adjust the steering wheel and when he did the horn worked. toyota has been contacted and asked the owner to work with the dealer. the failure mileage was approximately 38,000. rd
04/18/20105000
 Purchased the vehicle in 2005. within 6 months the key less entry fob would not work when touching the handle, as specified in the owners manual, with the fob next to door handle in my hand. turned the vehicle in more than 5 times for the trouble. several trips to the repair shop for the problem, the reason stated herein, was not logged into the service report. on at least two trips the service adviser said it wasn't a problem they could fix. the service manager at the facility where i have my work done and where i purchased it becomes irritated if i mention the problem with a curt response we can't repeat the problem, therefore we cannot do anything. i called toyota to report the problem. they sent, one time, a technical expert to check the vehicle. he reported: (1) he could not recreate the problem. (2) it was obvious because i was parking near high radio frequency areas. (3) your fob battery must be low. when it was checked, it was fine. after several batteries were replaced within months of each other, the problem continues. i related (1) i understand rf interference due to formal us government training. then why would it malfunction in a remote farm site? no power lines, no rf towers .. .i checked. malfunctions occurred sometimes at specific locations and then next day at about the same time of day, it would not? no answer. this problem for almost a year never occurred. now within the last 3 months it has started again and there have been no changes in locations, time of day, day of week or parking spots.' this is very serious problem as you can not get into the car when this malfunctions occurs. what if my life was in danger? on rare occasion, after using the handle more than 6 times, the doors will open. during the period that this malfunction is occurring, the engine will not start with the key less fob next to the on/off starting switch. batteries are fine and not low due to testing. incident date below is last occurrence
05/01/2006205/31/2005
 2005 toyota avalon touring model taken in 5000 mile service with complaints about a noise coming from rear end or transmission. toyota could not hear it until i insisted mechanic take ride me. mechanic acknowledged noise and said maybe coming from computerized abs brake initiating at 5 mph. wife parked at work just couple weeks after maintenance. pulled into parking at work, stopped, put in park and in seconds the car lunged forward with engine revving at high speed; wife stomped on parking brake but by that time car jumped over 10 or 12 foot curb , a four foot sidewalk and into a wall just stopping as it hit the wall. tire marks. call to elmore toyota garden grove (alan/service) who said they had no body shop and did not want to see car or need to check and work on it before body work. said if no lights were on the dash there was nothing wrong. just like their attitude about the ratcheting noise supposed from the abs brake system. wife insists she did not the gas pedal accidentally . when engine revelation after hitting wall went back to normal, car put in reverse to back off side walk. state farm told us not to drive the car to body shop. how do we force toyota to find the problem with this car.
02/01/20064500303/20/2005
 Three different electrical shorts in a 2005 toyota avalon limited with less that 5000 miles. the shorts were in the brake light switch, the engine control unit, and the fuse box. the first and third short prevented the car from starting. the second short caused the engine to stall while traveling at 55 mph on a major highway. it is a miracle that there was not an accident. the switch, engine control unit, and fuse box have all been replaced. the car has been towed 4 times during the first year of ownership. *nm
08/21/2005208/21/2005
 Dt: the consumer complained about an automatic transmission problem. when applying pressure to the accelerator pedal the gear would not engage. the vehicle did not shift gears smoothly. the consumer suspected that there was a problem with the vehicle speed control. the consumer lost control of the vehicle when another vehicle passed. the dealership informed the consumer that they could not do anything because the vehicle was computer controlled. *ak (12/01/05) *sc
07/11/2005331004/08/2005
 I have a 2005 toyota avalon purchased new in april,2005.i also have an earlier complaint,odi#10119869,regarding having to re sauder radio speaker wires,replacing the bushings and lower sub frame,as well as air conditoning,steering,and radio problems all occurring in the first 33 miles of owning the new car.i accidentally filed it under a toyota scion for toyota corp. please see that compliant also.. this complaint is about the transmission. it seems to not want to get out of first gear.getting onto the the freeway is terrible,as well as driving in slow traffic. i have taken it into the dublin toyota dealership and they said there is nothing wrong,it's just that the sensory computer in the car knows how i drive and the gears follow my driving habits. they said they reset it,that maybe when the car was test driven,it set itself to another driver. they said to drive it easy for the first 50 miles,then normally after that. well, before i even drove off thier lot,it stuck again-but i had to go to work so i called them as soon as i got to work and have to take it back in again. the real safety issue occurred yesterday,when i was the first car waiting at a train crossing for about 3 minutes while the train was passing. afetr it passed,as i was crossing the tracks,it took about 15 seconds for the car to move ,again stuck and reving in low gear!i have almost been rear ended on freeway entrances,red lights turning to green,andnd numerours other times,and now on train tracks!!!!something has to be done- i also have compliined to the dealership about noises when steering and they said it is just the release of the brakes.since i cannnot duplicate it,they say there is nothing i can do- it is not the brakes because it happens when i am making sharp turns.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY
08/18/200722500107/22/2005
 Tl*the contact owns a 2005 toyota avalon. the contact left the ignition turned on over night and found the battery completely dead the next morning. the trunk would not open as a result of the dead battery and it cannot be manually unlocked. aaa was called to jump start the vehicle so the trunk could be opened. the toyota dealer advised him to go to a locksmith and have a key operated lock installed on the vehicle. the contact felt that the dealer should be responsible for this repair. he went to a second dealer and they stated that they would send his concern through the chain of command, but the contact has yet to receive a response. the current and failure mileages were 22,500. the consumer provided the email correspondence from the consumer pertaining to the defect. updated 09/12/07 *tr
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
10/24/20058800203/23/2005
 I own a 2005 toyota avalon limited, this is the second time within an approximate six month period that the vehicle just shut off while in operation. during both occasions the engine surged, hesitated and shut off. the vehicle could not be restarted and was towed to dealer. the first repair for this problem, mechanics stated was a fuse in the fuel control system that blew. the vehicle is presently in the shop for the same problem. they advised at this time they do not know what is causing the fuse to blow. each failure occurred during normal driving conditions, clear dry day, freeway driving. *nm
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
07/21/20062
 2005 toyota avalon. consumer states problem with vehicle's horn *tgw the dealer tried to make repairs by lubricating the contact points in the steering wheel. the longest time the horn would work, was about 12 months and then the problem returned. recently, when the consumer released the wheel lock and pulled the steering toward him and returned it to the down position two times, the horn began to work . the consumer then began to question the electrical wiring in the steering column. *jb