1999 TOYOTA AVALON Suspension Problems

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE REAR BEARING WAS LOOSE. THE BEARING BECAME LOOSE DUE TO THE WORN BUSHINGS. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V154000, REGARDING THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

Mileage: 50,000

BY CHECKING THE BRAKES IN THE CAR THE MECHANIC FOUNDED THAT THE BEARING ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL IS BROKEN. THE CAR IS 1999 TOYOTA AVALON. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE HAVING AN OIL CHANGE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THE TIRES WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS NO WAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.*AK

STRUTS AND STRUT PLATES, ENGINE SMOKING AT 40,000 MILES. *AK

Mileage: 39,900

WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION BEGAN TO KNOCK. THE DRIVER WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD STRUT. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT WILL COST 500.00 FOR REPAIR. *NM TOYOTA SERVICE SAID THAT IF STRUT WEREN'T REPAIRED, ENGINE WILL FALL OFF FROM THE FRAME. ALSO, STRUT PROBLEM IS COMMON FOR THIS MODEL. *LA

Mileage: 17,000

MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON (52,000 MILES) DEVELOPED EXCESSIVE FRONT-END NOISE AND VIBRATION. THIS PROBLEM REQUIRED SERVICING OF FRONT END SUSPENSION SYSTEM.I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN SEPT 1999. I HAVE DISCOVERD THAT TOYOTA MOTOR ISSUED A TSB UPDATE (SU002-99 DATED SEPT 3, 1999) ADVISING TOYOTA DEALERS OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH MODELS 1997-1999 TOYOTA AVALON. THE TSB ALSO STATED THAT TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM THES SUSPENSION SUPPORT HAS BEEN CHANGED. MY COMPLAINT: I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURED ON MY VEHICLE, IT CAUSED A SAFETY CONCERN AND REQUIRED REPAIRS COSTING ME $298. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FILED FOR REIMBURSEMENT APPROVAL WITH TOYOTA MOTOR WHO ONLY AUTHORIZED REIMBURSEMENT OF SMALL COST OF PARTS. I APPEALED TO TOYOTA MOTOR ABOUT THIS SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. TOYOTA ADVISED ME THAT THEIR DECISION WAS FINAL. I CONTACTED CALIFORNIA STATE CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY WHO ADVISED ME TO CONTACT NHTSA.

AT 39,00 MI. MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON MAKES ALOT OF NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE, VIBRATES AT ANY SPEED ON LESS THAN SMOOTH ROAD, VIBRATES ON FREEWAY AT 70 MPH.LOUD CLUNKING NOISES. CAR DEALER REPLACED FRONT STRUTS AND ALIGNED FRONT TO NO AVAIL.*AK

Mileage: 39,500

THE STRUT CAPS KEEP REPEATEDLY BREAKING AND THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE PLACEMENT OF THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS.*AK

Mileage: 50,000

FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES A CRUNCHING NOISE WHEN EXPANDED OR CONTRACTED. DEALER STATED THAT THEY "THINK" IT MIGHT BE THE STRUT MOUNTS. VERY COSTLY ESTIMATE TO TRY SOMETHING THAT MIGHT WORK. I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS AND WANTED TO REGISTER MINE ALONG WITH THE OTHERS. *NLM

Mileage: 29,000

FRONT STRUTS ON SUSPENSION WERE REPLACED AT ABOUT 24000 MILES DUE TO NOISE INDICATING FAILURE OF SAME. NOW DEALER WON'T REPLACE REAR STRUTS MAKING SAME TYPE OF NOISE WHEN CROSSING BUMP AT LOW SPEEDS. FEAR IS THAT SUSPENSION COULD FAIL AT HIGHER SPEEDS LEADING TO SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING WOULD EXPERIENCE VIBRATION ON ENTIRE VEHICLE. WOULD FEEL LIKE THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE. HIGHER THE SPEED STRONGER IS VIBRATION, AND COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED BY DEALER .*AK

VIBRATION IN FRONT END, FELT IN STEERING AND GETTING WORSE. TOYOTA MECHANIC SUSPECTS CV JOINT FAILING.FACTORY REP SAYS IT'S A DESIGN FLAW; THEY ALL DO IT. NEW AVALONS ARE REDESIGNED TO CORRECT FLAW. REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITION.*AK

THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE, DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL. NLM

CONSUMER WAS AFRAID THAT THE STRUTS WERE WEARING OUT ABNORMALLY BECAUSE HE KEPT HEARING NOISES COMING FROM VEHICLE. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK