What 106 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Toyota Avalon

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger's side seat belt failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt latch failed to unlock. The contact stated that his wife was stuck in the seat for five minutes doe to the failure. The contact attempted several times before the seat belt unlatched. Additionally, the contact stated that the seat belt became inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 121,578.

NHTSA ODI 11628627

the rear trunk lid arms broken lid feel on top of me

NHTSA ODI 11515505

The rear sun screen will get stuck in the up position . At night there is almost no visibility out of the back window. This is a very dangerous safety problem. Apparently Toyota has had a problem with this feature with no effort made to correct it.

NHTSA ODI 11481479

The engine has quit while in traffic several times and the check engine light and the skid control lights are the only lights lit on the dashboard. Once the car comes to rest and one waits 3 to 5 minutes, the car will restart. We have taken the car to the dealer twice, ( each time the had it for nearly a week) and they could not find the problem. This is a very serious problem because the engine stops without notice causing loss of power steering and total loss of control. The lights for check engine and skid control are sometimes on when this happens, but not always; and the fact that these lights are lit does not predict this event happening.I think there might be a sensor in the engine that is faulty.

NHTSA ODI 11443659

Failure of the Sun shade in the rear causes a problem with visability. Stays stuck in up or down position. Creates a loud distracting grinding noise when in operation and highly reduces visibility through the rear window. Particularly when it is stuck in the half way position.

NHTSA ODI 11442918

TELESCOPING STEERING COLUMN LOCK LOOSENS WHILE DRIVING CAUSING STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES TO SHAKE. ADVISED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT I COULD PAY THEM TO REPAIR THE ISSUE WITH A UPGRADED REPAIR THAT TOYOTA HAS IDENTIFIED. A NOTICE WAS NEVER SENT OUT TO TOYOTA OWNERS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL NOTICE. SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING. SERVICE BULLETIN (#00206, NHTSA # 10019669) THEY NOW INFORM ME OF A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TELESCOPIC LEVER DETENT CLIP AND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB-0147-13 AND ALSO THAT TOYOTA HAD A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM - ZTY TO ADDRESS IT WHICH EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD CONTINUE TO STAND BEHIND.

NHTSA ODI 11407050

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO READJUSTED THE STEERING COLUMN HOWEVER, EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WITHIN A FEW DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,800.

NHTSA ODI 11397586

2011 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE KEY FOB AND DOOR LOCKS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE KEY FOB AT TIMES WOULD ONLY UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR. ALL OTHER DOORS HAD TO BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY. MORE RECENTLY, THE KEY FOB DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AS WELL AS THE LOCK SWITCHES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ECM. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11383733

HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING CONSTANTLY AND AT TIMES ONE OR BOTH WILL GO COMPLETELY OFF. WILL HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN OFF AND THEN TURN ON AGAIN. BOTH WILL SHINE STEADY FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES AND THEN BEGAN TO FLICKER AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS WHEN PARKED OR WHEN IN MOTION. THIS ONLY APPLIES TO WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON LOW BEAM. (THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW MONTHS).

NHTSA ODI 11373915

I WAS USING THE LEVER TO PUSH THE SEAT AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN ONE SIDE STOPPED MOVING, CAUSING THE OTHER SIDE TO DERAIL. I TOOK THE CAR TO JIM HUDSON TOYOTA IMMEDIATELY, AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO GET SEAT BACK ON TRACK. HOWEVER, HE WASN'T ABLE TO GET THE SIDE MOVING, AND STATED THE ENTIRE SEAT RAIL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. FURTHERMORE, I WAS TOLD I HAVE A LEAK IN THE ROD AND PINION SYSTEM BECAUSE THE INNER SEAL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH, I SERVICE MY VEHICLE REGULARLY WITH FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA, AND NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN SAID ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11373521

THE REAR SUNSHADE DOES NOT WORK AND OBSTRUCTS YOUR VIEW OF THE REAR ROAD. IF YOU GOOGLE IT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ODI 11361052

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING COLUMN TELESCOPIC LEVER COMES LOOSE AND THE COLUMN DEPRESSES. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE PULLING UP ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL, DURING SHARP TURNS FOR EXAMPLE, AND THE LEVER UNLOCKS. THEN AS SOON AS YOU PRESS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, PERHAPS SOME TIME LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL GOES COMPLETELY INTO THE DASH. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS FALLING AWAY FROM ME, AND I HAVE PARTIALLY GONE THROUGH TWO (THANKFULLY EMPTY) INTERSECTIONS BECAUSE I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN COLLAPSED UNEXPECTEDLY.

NHTSA ODI 11338711

I RAISED MY REAR SUNSHADE AND COULDN'T LOWER IT. IT WAS DURING THE DAY RUNNING ERRANDS AND VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE BACK WINDOW. I CHOSE NOT TO DRIVE MY CAR LATE EVENINGS AND NIGHT BECAUSE OF SAFETY AND VISIBILITY .I NEED MY CAR 24/7, I PAID FOR THE SHADE TO BE LOWERED BUT IT'S INOPERABLE. THIS SUMMER I KNOW I WILL NEED THE SUNSHADE.

NHTSA ODI 11318717

POWER STEERING FLUID WAS SEEPING AND THEN BECAME A FULL LEAK THAT RESULTED IN LOSS OF ALL POWER STEERING FLUID. VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED, AND TOYOTA QUOTED A $1800 RACK AND PINION REPLACEMENT. MILEAGE OF FAILURE IS APPROXIMATELY 126K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11292561

MY PAINT IS PEELING OFF MY CAR ALREADY HAD ONE AREA FIXED ON IT & NOW MORE IS PEELING ON THE ROOF. THIS IS RIDICULOUS I'M STILL PAYING ON THIS CAR & THIS LOOKS HIDEOUS 🤬 TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO SOME RECALLS SOONER THEN LATER.

NHTSA ODI 11282554

THE TILT/TELESCOPIC LEVER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN STAYS IN PLACE VIA SOME TYPE OF FRICTION TENSION. IT REGULARLY DISENGAGES BY ITSELF AND ALLOWS THE STEERING COLUMN/STEERING WHEEL TO FALL DOWN OR SUDDENLY MOVE INWARD. THIS CAN OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT BOTH HIGHWAY AND SLOW SPEEDS. IT IS DANGEROUS AS IT CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO HANG ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH OF THIS ISSUE SHOWS LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME PERHAPS MORE THAN 50 TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11279406

FLIM OVER REAR WINDOW, INSIDE THE GLASS , AROUND THE HEAT ELEMENTS.I CAN NOT CLEAN THE FILM OFF.I CAN NOT SEE THROUGH THE REAR GLASS, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI 11253812

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN THE CONTACT PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GENERATOR AND SPUN IN THE GARAGE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES AND NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. TOYOTA TOWED THE VEHICLE TO JEFF HENDRICKS TOYOTA: 228 S COLLEGE RD, WILMINGTON, NC 28403 (910) 791-2424, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INVESTIGATOR WHO TRAVELED FROM VIRGINIA. THE TEST WAS NOT COMPLETED AND THE RESULTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AS OF YET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI 11221510

REAR WINDOW SUNSHADE MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE IN THE DOWN POSITION. IT MUST REMAIN IN THE UP POSITION AT ALL TIMES. VISIBILITY IS ZERO AT NIGHT. IT STARTED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. THE LOUD NOISE IS WHILE IN REVERSE AND CONTINUES UNLESS YOU MANUALLY PLACE THE SHADE IN THE UP POSITION. THIS CONTINUES REGARDLESS OF IN MOTION OR STATIONARY, TURNING, STREET OR HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI 11205288

TELESCOPIC STEERING WHEEL LEVER WILL RANDOMLY DROP, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO COLLAPSE. HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION

NHTSA ODI 11190227

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT BRAKE ROTORS 4 TIMES ON MY 2011 AVALON.. I CURRENTLY HAVE 173,800 MILES WITH 75-80% OF THIS MILEAGE ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE INDICATED THAT THIS PREMATURE WEAR ON THE FRONT ROTORS IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL. MY ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PREMATURE ROTOR WEAR ISSUE HAVE EITHER NO RESPONSE OR A FORM LETTER STATING THEY HAVE NO ISSUES WITH THEIR BRAKES. MY VEHICLE IS SERVICED REGULARLY AND TO ME THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ISSUE. PERHAPS YOU CAN GET THE ATTENTION OF TOYOTA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI 11186570

THE REAR SUNSHADE IS STUCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION WITHOUT BEING ACTIVATED AND DOES NOT GO DOWN WHEN THE CAR IN PUT IN REVERSE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL SITUATION AT NIGHT WHEN VISIBILITY IS POOR. THERE ARE A PLETHORA OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SUNSHADE ON THE INTERNET. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO REPAIR, THEY ONLY REPLACE THE DEVICE FOR $1000, AND THE DEFECTIVE SUNSHADE EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT COULD REPEAT THE HAZARDOUS SITUATION. TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE, HAZARDOUS PART AT NO COST. IT IS A THREAT TO SAFETY FOR ALL PASSENGERS. THE DEFECT OCCURRED RANDOMLY WITHOUT PROVOCATION UPON STARTUP WITH THE CAR PARKED. A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD, THEN THE SHADE WENT UP - UNRESPONSIVE TO THE ACTIVATING/DEACTIVATION CONTROL BUTTON. I HAD TO DRIVE IN THE SLOW LANE DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI 11156879

WENT FOR MY ROUTINE SERVICE AND WAS TOLD I HAVE A RACK&PINION LEAK, NO LEAKING OBSERVED UNDER CARPORT BUT WAS SHOWN THE LEAK ONCE CAR WAS PLACED ON RACK TO BE VIEWED. ASKED IF CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE TO ATLANTA, MECHANIC AND SERVICE MANAGER ENCOURAGED ME TO GO AHEAD AND DRIVE IT, THEY STATED IT WILL NEED A NEW RACK & PINION, STATING IT WILL COST APPROX.. $800.00 PULSE $89.00 FOR FRONT END ALIGMENT. THEY SAID THIS IS NORMAL FOR AVALONS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM A TOYOTA DEARLERSHIP WITH 38,000 ON SPEEDOMETER AND AT THE TIME OF SERVICE I ONLY HAD PUT APPROX. 21,000 MILES. I READ UP ON RACK AND PINION LEAKS AND IT STATED IT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF THE FLUID STARTED TO SPUR OUT WITHOUT A WARNING AND CAN CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I PURCHASED I THOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR $2600 AND TO BE TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN MAY 2018, 3YRS OR 30 THOUSAND MILES AND CAR WAS SERVED IN AUG.2018. I FILED BANKRUPTCY IN 2016 AND DON'T HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO FIX MY CAR SO I CALLED THE FEDELITY WARRANTY COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD AS MY DEALERSHIP FOR A POSSIBLE REFUND. NOW THE VEHICLE DRIVE VERY BAD AND I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD AT COMPENSATE ME AND FIX THE VEHICLE AT A REDUCED CHARGE SINCE I PAID THEM $2600. I FEEL LIKE MY LIFE HAS BEEN PUT IN DANGER BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO MAKE A CAR NOTE AND PAY A LARGE FEE TO FIX THE CAR. ALSO I ASKED FOR NEW TIRES, BUT THEY SAID THE TIRES WERE GOOD FOR AT 15,000 MILES. I PAID $24,995 FOR THE AVALON 2011 IN 2014. THEY AGREED TO GIVE ME 2 NEW TIRES WHEN NEEDED, BUT THESE WERE NOT MICHELINS, THEY WERE CHEAP TIRES AND THE THESE WERE PLACED ON THE FRONT AND THE OLD MICHELINS WERE PLACED ON THE BACK LAST YEAR AND AT THE NEXT SERVICE DATE THEY TOLD MED THEY COULD NOT BALANCE THE TIRES. I'M DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I FEEL I GOT A BAD DEAL. I HAVE NEVER KNOWN IT TO BE NORMAL FOR A TOYOTA BRAND CAR TO EXPECT PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11132204

THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT WORKING THIS PART IS TERRIBLY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. A PART LIKE THIS SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER THAN IT DOES AND SHOULD NOT BE CAUSING ONE TO TAKE OUT A LOAN TO GET IT FIXED!

NHTSA ODI 11121684

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS AND THE REAR DRIVER DOOR. THE DEALER (GLOCKNER TOYOTA, 2867 US-23, PORTSMOUTH, OH, 740-351-2980) DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT

NHTSA ODI 11103853