2010 Toyota AVALON: complaints, problems and recalls

MY NEW (PURCHASED SEPT. 2009) 2010 TOYOTA AVALON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A VEHICLE DEFECT (THIS MODEL IS UNDER A RECALL BY TOYOTA). I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP FOR A VEHICLE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. AFTER THE OTHER VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, I PROCEEDED TO GO AROUND THE OTHER VEHICLE (WHICH REMAINED STATIONARY). AS SOON AS I TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR, MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL IMMEDIATELY BUT I COULD STILL HEAR THE ENGINE REVVING AT HIGH SPEED. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP MY VEHICLE UNTIL IT H…

Owner-reported narrative. 760 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291594 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA AVALON XL. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL BLUETOOTH HANDS- FREE PHONE CAPABILITY. THE BLUETOOTH CONTROL SWITCH WAS MOUNTED UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS IN AN AGREEMENT THAT THE BLUETOOTH CONTROL SWITCH SHOULD BE MOUNTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 900. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, THE BLUETOOTH THAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL AND THE VEHICLE THAT HE WAS SHOWN WAS NOT …

Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295273 at NHTSA ↗

1. ON THREE OCCASIONS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS JAMMED OPEN BY FACTORY CLOTH FLOOR MAT. REMOVED THE MAT. 2. ON MULTIPLE RECENT OCCASIONS WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND PLACED IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE EVEN IF THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. CAR SEEMS AS IF THE WHEELS ARE CHOCKED. THEN WHEN CAR DOES MOVE IT ACCELERATE QUICKLY IN REVERSE. HAVE DISCOVERED WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE TRACTION CONTROL APPEARS WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND STAYS LIT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT AND THE CA…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10298556 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED EQUIPPED WITH A DYNAMIC LASER CRUISE CONTROL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT SPEEDS OF FEWER THAN 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES TO SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL, TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND SHE ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CRUI…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,625 miles reported. Look up ODI 10308003 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2010 TOYOTA AVALON DOES INFACT ACCELERATE ON IT'S ON WHEN YOU ARE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. WHEN YOU LET OFF THE GAS AND LET IT COAST AT ABOUT 20MPH IT WILL START TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. I DO NOT IN ANY WAY BELIEVE THIS IS A PEDAL PROBLEM. YOUR INVESTIGATORS ARE WELCOME TO DRIVE IT. I PURCHASED THE CAR ON DEC 31ST. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10308138 at NHTSA ↗

2008 TOYOTA AVALON FEBRUARY 16TH AND 17TH MY CAR JOLTED FORWARD AT STOP LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BUT, IT DID GO ABOUT 50FT BEFORE I COULD CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL AND STOP THE CAR. I HAD THIS SERVICED AT LAKE NORMAN TOYOTA[phone removed] EARLIER THIS MONTH. UPON CALLING IN TODAY ABOUT MY CAR, WAS INFORMED THE REPAIR HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED. WHY IN THE HECK DID THE DEALERSHIP TELL ME THEY COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE AND THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE? MY LIFE AND THAT OF NOT ONLY MY FAMILY BUT OTHERS IS AT STAKE. I WANT ACTION, TRUTHFULNESS AND ACC…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311342 at NHTSA ↗

ON OUR 2010 TOYOTA AVALON WE HAVE HAD ALL THE LIGHTS ON OUR DASH GO OUT FOR A PERIOD OF 10 SECONDS OR SO ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE WE WERE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND MAKING A TURN. THE DASH LIGHTS ON ALL OUR GAUGES GO OUT AND COME BACK ON THERE OWN. THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO WORK AND NO HARM WAS DONE TO ANYONE, BUT WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK TO OUT DEALER THEY COULD NOT MAKE IT DO IT WHEN THEY CHECKED IT OUT SO THEY SIMPLY RETURNED OUR CAR BACK TO US WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION. WE ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS ISN'T NORMAL. IS THERE SOMETHING…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10312825 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING A 2010 TOYOTA AVALON ON MONDAY 3-1-2010 AT 2PM ON THE 210 GOING WEST AT 70 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC WHEN I UP THE SPEED TO 75 MPH AND THE CAR TOOK OFF UP TO 100MPH BY ITSELF I PRESSED THE BRAKE TAKING IT OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL THIS HAPPENED IN A FEW SECONDS. I BOUGHT MY CAR ONE WEEK BEFORE ALL THE RECALLS STARTED I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 359 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316938 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-10-05 (October 5, 2009)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.

Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: TOYOTA FILED AN AMENDED DEFECT REPORT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009, STATING THAT DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR SURFACE UNDER THE PEDAL. THESE CHANGES ADDRESS THE RISK OF PEDAL ENTRAPMENT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Reported: 2010-01-21 (January 21, 2010)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 CAMRY, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX, RAV4, MODEL YEAR 2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SEQUOIA, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 TUNDRA VEHICLES. DUE TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FRICTION LEVER INTERACTS WITH THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSIDE THE PEDAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY, THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE LEVER MAY BECOME SMOOTH DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IN THIS CONDITION, IF CONDENSATION OCCURS ON THE SURFACE, AS MAY OCCUR FROM HEATER OPERATION (WITHOUT A/C) WHEN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS COLD, THE FRICTION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS OPERATED MAY INCREASE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMING HARDER TO DEPRESS, SLOWER TO RETURN, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION.

Consequence: THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY BECOME HARD TO DEPRESS, SLOW TO RETURN TO IDLE, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BAR IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHICH WILL ALLOW THE PEDAL TO OPERATE SMOOTHLY. GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS FOR THE PONTIAC VIBE PLEASE SEE 10V-018. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2010 AND WILL BE COMPLETED ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

Reported: 2013-01-16 (January 16, 2013)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Reported: 2014-11-19 (November 19, 2014)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

Consequence: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

Reported: 2016-06-02 (June 2, 2016)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.