2008 TOYOTA AVALON Power Train Problems

I have an 08 Avalon xls and was driving and out of no where it started to shudder and it happened as I was bending a curve. I almost ran off the road. No indicators came on my dash! Because I am mechanically inclined I do know a little about vehicles! So I pulled to inspect the bottom of the transmission pan was wet! And due to the seal transmission there was no way for me to check the fluid! I believe the shudder could be from the torque converter or transmission! I took the vehicle to a friend shop and was told how to add the transmission fluid! And end up putting in a whole court of transmission fluid in before it started to show coming out where it’s supposed to be checked! By not being able to check the transmission fluid and with the shudder like it did it could have caused an accident! I still don’t know what the problem is due to the lack of money to be able to take it to a dealer to find out the true cause! And now my car shudder at 30mph and 45mph if I cruise up to the speed limit but if I accelerate faster then nothing!

1. HIGH BEAMS AND DAY RUNNING LIGHTS INOPERABLE (DISCOVERED JANUARY 2018). 2. TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND CAUSED CAR TO DECELERATE IN APRIL 2018.

Mileage: 70,000

DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE CAR HAD UNEXPECTED, SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL. DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT; AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PERSON WAS UNINJURED EXCEPT FOR CHEST BRUISES. THE CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN IN WHEN IT WAS RECALLED AND WAS " FIXED" IN RESPONSE TO 2 RECALL NOTICES BY THE DEALER ON MARCH 4, 2010. THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS BASHED IN, HOOD IS BENT UPWARD, RADIATOR DAMAGED AND THE FRONT DOORS JAMMED. MEN HAD TO FORCE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN TO GET THE DRIVER FROM THE CAR. TOYOTA AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BUT NEITHER HAVE HAD TIME TO EXAMINE THE CAR. *KB

Mileage: 30,000

06/12/10-I STARTED MY CAR AS USUAL WITH MY BRAKE DEPRESSED AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE---IT WIGGLED BUT WOULD NOT MOVE FROM THE PARK POSITION TO THE REVERSE POSITION. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS I WAS ABLE TO DO SO AND TAKE CARE OF MY SHOPPING TRIP. UPON COMPLETING MY ERRANDS THE SAME EVENT OCCURRED WITH THE SHIFT LEVER ONCE AGAIN. SEVERAL WEEKS BACK THIS HAPPENED ONE TIME AND I DID NOT GIVE IT THE ATTENTION I SHOULD HAVE. WITH TODAY'S HAPPENING OF TWICE IN LESS THAN AN HOUR I AM REALLY CONCERNED. ON MONDAY 06/14/10 I WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP (DAVE EDWARDS TOYOTA) TO SEEK A REPAIR REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR

Mileage: 31,377

2008 TOYOTA AVALON _ SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MOVE CAR UP SLIGHTLY FROM REST WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT. CAR WAS GOING LESS THAN 10 MPH WHEN ENGINE REVVED VIOLENTLY & CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY & CRASHED INTO BARRIERS & HEAD ON INTO A BRICK WALL. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO BODY SHOP & HAS HEAVY DAMAGE. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

CANNOT EXPRESS MY COMPLETE AND UTTER DISGUST WITH MY RECENT EXPERIENCE AND OVERALL EXPERIENCE SINCE BUYING MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. I EXPECTED "QUALITY FROM THE PRODUCT" AS THE TOYOTA WEBSITE STATES..HOWEVER, SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE THE 300 DOLLAR A PIECE DRIVERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT BLEW OUT ALONG WITH BOTH HIGH BEAM LIGHTS. HERE IS MY CURRENT ISSUE. MY AREA RECENTLY WENT THROUGH A TERRIBLE WINTER BLIZZARD. DURING THIS SNOW STORM, DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE TERRIBLE. WE WERE ALL TRAPPED IN THE HOUSE FOR DAYS ON END. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I FOUND OUT MY WHEELS ARE NO LONGER SPINNING AND MY 2008 TOYOTA WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 48000 MILES ON IT. THE COMPREHENSIVE WARRANTY THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS WILL NOT SUFFICE AS THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED. ACCORDING TO A COMPUTER READ OUT, OUTSIDE INFLUENCES MADE THE TRANSMISSION FAIL. COULD THAT MEAN SNOW? DOES TOYOTA PROVIDE ANYTHING THAT SAYS TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL IF DRIVEN ON SNOW....I AM UTTERLY DISGUSTED WITH THIS SITUATION AND CURRENTLY WITHOUT A VEHICLE. I PLAN ON CAMPAIGNING VERY LOUDLY AGAINST TOYOTA AND BROADCASTING THIS DEPLORABLE SITUATION IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT MEAN ME BUYING A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR A 2008 AVALON. *TR

Mileage: 48,500

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON THAT I HAD ONLY 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE CAR APPEARED TO BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION UNTIL MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO THE DELTA SONIC CARWASH TO HAVE IT CLEAN. AS HE WAS COMING OUT OF THE CAR WASH, HE SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE AND THE ACCELERATOR FAILED , STICKING IN FULL THROTTLE,CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TO AVOID COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES COMING OUT OF THE GAS STATION, WHICH IS PART OF THE BUSINESS, AND HITTING PEDESTRIANS AND THE GAS PUMPS, HE STEERED THE CAR HITTING A POLE, GOING OVER EMBANKMENT, THE SIDEWALK AND INTO ONGOING TRAFFIC IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE CAR CAME TO A STOP TWO BUSINESS DOWN FROM WHERE THE ACCIDENT ORIGINATED. DAMAGES WAS DONE TO ALL 4 TIRESWITH BENT RIMS, THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT BUMPER AND GRILLE, THE HOOD, THE LAMP GROUND WITH THE HEAD LIGHT KNOCKED OUT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR WAS HANGING DOWN. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM (MUFFLER, TAILPIPES) WERE DAMAGED. THE REAR FENDER AND BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. THE BATTERY, OIL PAN, REAR ENGINE CRADLE CUSHION PIPES WERE REPLACED. AT THE TIME, WE THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE DID, BUT WE NOW SINCE HAVE FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING IN FULL THROTTLE AND HAVE ASKED FOR A RECALL. THE TOTAL DAMAGE WAS TO A SUM OF $12,226.39. THE INSURANCE AND REPAIR COMPANY HAVE FIXED THE CAR AT OUR EXPENSE AND THE OLD OR REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I HAVE ONLY PHOTOS OF THE CAR IN THE DAMAGED STATE. I DID GO TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AND THEY PLAN TO START REPAIRS FEB. 15. 2010. MY CONCERNS IS HOW DO I GET TOYOTA TO HONOR MY REQUEST FOR A CAR REPLACEMENT BECAUSE MY CAR HAS BEEN DEVALUED BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT AND IS NOW PART OF THE CAR FAX REPORT. I RUN THE RISK OF HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS. IF NOT REPLACE THE CAR, PROVIDE ME WITH FREE MAINTENANCE FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND REPAY ME FOR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES DUE TO THE FAILED ACCELERATOR. *TR

Mileage: 5,278

2008 TOYOTA AVALON. STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, FOOT ON BRAKE. WITHOUT WARNING, CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD. PUSHED HARDER ON BRAKE AND CAR NOSE-DIVED AND COLLIDED WITH PU TRUCK STOPPED AHEAD. AVALON FRONT BUMPER WENT UNDER REAR BUMPER OF PU . AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. FLOOR MAT STILL IN PLACE. $5600 DAMAGE TO AVALON, NONE TO PU. *TR

Mileage: 21,500

MY HUSBAND GOT INTO THE CAR THE LATE AFTERNOON OF JAN. 17, 2010. TURNED THE AUTO ON AND I THOUGHT THE ENGINE WAS EXPLODING. I WAS INSIDE THE HOUSE AND RAN OUTDOORS. SOMETHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS MAKING AN EXTREME LOUD RATTLE. IF YOU TOOK AN OLD COW BELL AND SHOOK IT FOR DEAR LIFE, YOU WOULD GET AN IDEAL OF WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT REGARDING THE SOUND. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE VSC LIGHT WAS ON. MY HUSBAND CUT THE ENGINE OFF, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND NOTHING. I WAS GOING TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY WANTED TO TOW THE CAR IN. I STARTED THE CAR BACK UP JUST TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AND IT PURRED LIKE A BABY. NO LIGHTS ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT, TEST DROVE IT AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY SAID WHATEVER IT WAS MUST HAVE RESET ITSELF. NOW MY QUESTION IS WHAT CAUSED IT TO ACT LIKE THAT AND WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING. WAS IT IN THE COMPUTER OR WHAT. WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN? THESE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN ANSWER. *CN

Mileage: 12,500

I PURCHASED A USED 2008 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED FROM HORNBURG JAGUAR DEALER IN SANTA MONICA ON 10/29/2009. AT HOME AT 8 AM, ON THE CLEAR, COOL DAY OF 11/1/2009 I HAD THE CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY TO INSTALL THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER. WANTING TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE STREET I STARTED THE CAR USING THE REQUIRED PROCEEDURE FOR A PUSHBUTTON IGNITION (LIKE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID FOR 2 1/2 YEARS). THAT IS, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED THE IGNITION BUTTON SIMULTAENEOUSLY. THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE RAPIDLY DOWN MY SHORT SLOPING DRIVEWAY (7 OR 8 FEET). AS I PUSHED HARDER, THE BREAK PEDAL IN EFFECT WENT TO THE FLOOR- NO BREAKING AT ALL. I HIT THE CURB VERY HARD ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NARROW STREET, THE REAR END OF THE CAR BOUNCING INTO THE AIR , AND ENDED UP, PERHAPS 10 FEET BEYOND, HITTING THE FRONT BEDROOM WALL OF MY NEIGHBOR'S HOME WITH CONSIDERABLE FORCE AND RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE WALL. I APPARENTLY DID NOT SUSTAIN PHYSICAL DAMAGE. I AM INCLINED TO BELIEVE THERE WAS AN ACCELERATOR COMPONENT PROBLEM ALSO BECAUSE I WAS MOVING SO FAST. THE CAR IS BEING REPAIRED NOW PHYSICALLY, AS IS THE HOUSE, AND I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA LOCALLY IN TORRANCE AND I UNDERSTAND SOMEONE THERE WILL FOLLOW-UP ON THIS ACCIDENT WITHIN THE NEXT 4 DAYS. I TRIED TO DUPLICATE THE BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEM WITH MY CAMRY HYBRID AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. WHEN PRESSING ON THE START BUTTON AND THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME I ALWAYS HAVE A FIRM BRAKE ON THE CAMRY. WHEN I DUPLICATED THE PROCEEDURE ON THE AVALON I FOUND THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT SOFT RAPIDLY, THE MORE I PUSHED IT, TO THE FLOOR. MY REPAIR SHOP WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL SOMETHING IS RESOLVED, NOR WILL I. I WILL BE GLAD TO FURNISH ANYTHING MORE YOU MAY WISH TO KNOW ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 42,600

WHEN CAR IS IN NEUTRAL AND MOVING FORWARD YOU CAN ACCIDENTALLY MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER TO REVERSE , WITHOUT STOPPING THE CAR FIRST OR APPLYING THE BRAKES . *TR

Mileage: 500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S RPMS RADICALLY INCREASED AND A LOUD REVVING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE FAILURE IS MORE NOTICEABLE AFTER ACCELERATING FROM AN IDLE POSITION. THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT AND THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THERE WAS NO CORRELATION BETWEEN THE SPEED AND THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19.

Mileage: 19

PURCHASED A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED. DISCOVERED THIS CAR'S ENGINE CAN BE SHUT OFF WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK ALLOWING THE CAR TO ROLL FREELY. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD . THIS PROBLEM IS COMPOUNDED NOW WITH THE NEW PUSH BUTTON ON/OFF SWITCH USED TO CONTROL THE MOTOR. I FOUND THIS TO BE THE CASE WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE START/STOP ENGINE SWITCH WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK STOPPING THE ENGINE. THE CAR STARTED TO FREE ROLL IN THE GARAGE. THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY THE POOR STEERING AND BRAKING ACTION RESPONSE WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. I CAN NOT SEE WHY TOYOTA DID NOT INSTALL AN INTERLOCK SWITCH TO ENSURE THE ENGINE COULD NEITHER BE STARTED NOR STOPPED UNLESS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK? AM I MISSING SOMETHING? THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. *TR

Mileage: 20