1997 Toyota AVALON problems and owner complaints

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 1997 TOYOTA AVALON FOR MY WIFE. THE VEHICLE HAS JUST RECENTLY TURNED OVER 29,000 MILES, AND OBVIOUSLY HAS PASSED THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY. HOWEVER, IT HAS YET TO REACH THE NORMAL 36,000 MILE WARRANTY MARK. ON JANUARY 18, 2003 I NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I CHECKED THE FLUID LEVELS, AND FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS ALMOST EMPTY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING, AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACE…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,309 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005436 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON XLS WITH 55,000 MILES ON IT FROM LEITH TOYOTA IN RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA IN MARCH OF 2002. I NOW HAVE 74,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND COMPLETE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1200.00. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. I HAVE REVIEWED THE NTSB WEBSITE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL? I TRIED TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO COVER SOME OF THE COSTS AND ALL THEY OFFERED WAS A FREE RE…

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019161 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, SHE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH TWO OTHER VEHICLES. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAD A HISTORY OF EGR VALVE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT THE SERVICE DEALERSHIP AS WELL. THE PROBLEM HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE THROTTLE BODY INJECTOR. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 4K RPM'S. *SC THE POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK AND EGR VALVE WERE REPLACED. UPDATED EVOQ 08/27/10 UP…

Owner-reported narrative. 86,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063174 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON XLS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP OR DECELERATE DESPITE THE CONTACTS BRAKING ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY CABLE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE STUCK OR DEFECTIVE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE ENGINE RPMS RAPIDLY INCREASED T…

Owner-reported narrative. 297,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386401 at NHTSA ↗

DEALER SERVICED TRANSMISSION WITH A FLUSH AND FLUID REPLACEMENT AT 120,406 MILES. ALSO, TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED AND COOLANT FLUSH DONE. EIGHT WEEKS LATER, TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. WAS ON 250 MILE TRIP, FELT BUMPING WHICH THOUGHT MAY BE ROUGH ROAD CONDITION, THEN WHEN CLOSE TO DESTINATION, CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER STOPPING AT STOP LIGHT. DIAGNOSIS WAS COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEALER WOULD NOT CONCEDE ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTRIBUTING TO FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION ALTHOUGH DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY OTHER TOYOTA AVALON TRANSM…

Owner-reported narrative. 120,406 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182427 at NHTSA ↗

LEAK IN POWER STEERING MECHANISM CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL,I.E. STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT.

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133491 at NHTSA ↗

CONTINUOUS LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID. STEERING FELT TIGHT. RACK AND PINION AND POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 99,000 MILES. NOTICED A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217515 at NHTSA ↗

I AM ON MY 3RD BATTERY IN SIX AND ONE HALF YEARS. I HAVE A 1997 AVALON, TOYOTA. NO INDICATION THAT BATTERY IS GOING, THE CAR JUST GOES DEAD. THE LAST TWO TIMES WERE AT NIGHT AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. APRIL 23, 2001 BATTERY WITH A 70 MONTH WARRANTY LASTED TILL AUG.26,2003.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036756 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN A RAIN STORM WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE AUTO WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA DIRECT, THE CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS WIPER TRANSMISSION BROKEN AND THE SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE WIPER TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS EXPLAINED TO ACTUALLY BE A LINKAGE ASSEMBLY. THE REPAIR COST (INCLUDING TWO NEW WIPER INSERTS) WAS $295.05. THIS WAS $182.65 FOR PARTS (LINKAGE $171.77, WIPER INSERTS @ $5.44 EACH), LABOR-MECHANICAL - $88.04, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS - $4.40, SHOP SUPPLIES - $4.40, AND SALES TAX OF $15.56.…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 745472 at NHTSA ↗

THE TUBING FROM THE FILLER NECK TO THE FUEL TANK IS SUBJECT TO RUST. THE RUST RESULTS IN HOLES IN THE TUBE. FUEL SPILLS OUT DURING REFUELING AND ACCELERATION. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669434 at NHTSA ↗