High Severity Issue
This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.
This Problem Across All Years
I HAVE 95000 MILES ON MY TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT JUST QUIT - DEAD STOP (VERY DANGEROUS) AND, HAD IT NOT BEEN A HYBRID, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET IT OFF OF THE INTERSTATE. TURNS OUT THAT THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WITH NO WARNING. MY LAST AVALON WENT ALMOST 300,000 MILES ON THE SAME FUEL PUMP. THE PUMP, IN MY OPINION, IS FAULTY BUT OUT OF WARRANTY. TOYOTA IS CHARGING OVER $1,000 TO FIX IT. I TRIED TO GET TOYOTA MANAGEMENT CONTACT INFORMATION (DISTRICT MGR.) FROM THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY WOULD NOT SUPPLY IT IN ORDER FOR ME TO DRAW ATTENTION TO TOYOTA OF THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF A KEY COMPONENT OF THE CAR. I CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS, GOT THE SAME RESPONSE AND FELT LIKE THEY COULD CARE LESS THAT THERE MAY BE A DEFICIENCY IN THEIR COMPONENTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE SEEN ONLINE OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS EARLY FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP. TOYOTA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM AND THEY NEED TO ISSUE A TSB ON IT AND PERFORM THE WORK AT COST VS MAKING MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT COULD KILL ME AND MY FAMILY MEMBERS. I STILL CAN GET OVER THEIR LACK OF CONCERN.
I HAVE 95000 MILES ON MY TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT JUST QUIT - DEAD STOP (VERY DANGEROUS) AND, HAD IT NOT BEEN A HYBRID, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET IT OFF OF THE INTERSTATE. TURNS OUT THAT THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WITH NO WARNING. MY LAST AVALON WENT ALMOST 300,000 MILES ON THE SAME FUEL PUMP. THE PUMP, IN MY OPINION, IS FAULTY BUT OUT OF WARRANTY. TOYOTA IS CHARGING OVER $1,000 TO FIX IT. I TRIED TO GET TOYOTA MANAGEMENT CONTACT INFORMATION (DISTRICT MGR.) FROM THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY WOULD NOT SUPPLY IT IN ORDER FOR ME TO DRAW ATTENTION TO TOYOTA OF THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF A KEY COMPONENT OF THE CAR. I CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS, GOT THE SAME RESPONSE AND FELT LIKE THEY COULD CARE LESS THAT THERE MAY BE A DEFICIENCY IN THEIR COMPONENTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE SEEN ONLINE OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS EARLY FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP. TOYOTA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM AND THEY NEED TO ISSUE A TSB ON IT AND PERFORM THE WORK AT COST VS MAKING MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT COULD KILL ME AND MY FAMILY MEMBERS. I STILL CAN GET OVER THEIR LACK OF CONCERN.
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED 50-70 MILES PER HOUR ENGINE SUDDENLY SLOWED TO IDLE SPEED. CAR WOULD NOT TAKE GAS EVEN AFTER PULLING TO SIDE OF ROAD. ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED AND HAD NO MORE PROBLEM.
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED 50-70 MILES PER HOUR ENGINE SUDDENLY SLOWED TO IDLE SPEED. CAR WOULD NOT TAKE GAS EVEN AFTER PULLING TO SIDE OF ROAD. ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED AND HAD NO MORE PROBLEM.
FUEL DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN NORMALLY (PRESSING CENTER REAR EDGE) NOR WHEN USING THE EMERGENCY RELEASE PULL CORD LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE TRUNK WHILE PRESSING REAR CENTER EDGE. ALSO, FUEL DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED WHILE PULLING EMERGENCY RELEASE CORD AND PULLING ON REAR CENTER DOOR SIMULTANEOUSLY. CAR WAS PLACED IN SERVICE IN FEBRUARY 2015 AND HAS 2300 MILES. TOOK CAR TO AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER AND SERVICE WRITER COULD NOT OPEN FUEL DOOR WITH EMERGENCY RELEASE EITHER. CAR COULD NOT BE REFUELED WITHOUT DAMAGING DOOR OR LOCK MECHANISM.
FUEL DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN NORMALLY (PRESSING CENTER REAR EDGE) NOR WHEN USING THE EMERGENCY RELEASE PULL CORD LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE TRUNK WHILE PRESSING REAR CENTER EDGE. ALSO, FUEL DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED WHILE PULLING EMERGENCY RELEASE CORD AND PULLING ON REAR CENTER DOOR SIMULTANEOUSLY. CAR WAS PLACED IN SERVICE IN FEBRUARY 2015 AND HAS 2300 MILES. TOOK CAR TO AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER AND SERVICE WRITER COULD NOT OPEN FUEL DOOR WITH EMERGENCY RELEASE EITHER. CAR COULD NOT BE REFUELED WITHOUT DAMAGING DOOR OR LOCK MECHANISM.
RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA. THE WORLD TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS NO IDEA WHEN PARTS MAY COME IN. THE RECALL SOUNDS SERIOUS, COULD POTENTIALLY BE A FIRE. IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL GET IT. WHEN RECALLS ARE INITIATED ARE THEY NOT UNDER SOME KIND OF ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IN A TIMELY FASHION? *TR
RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA. THE WORLD TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS NO IDEA WHEN PARTS MAY COME IN. THE RECALL SOUNDS SERIOUS, COULD POTENTIALLY BE A FIRE. IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL GET IT. WHEN RECALLS ARE INITIATED ARE THEY NOT UNDER SOME KIND OF ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IN A TIMELY FASHION? *TR
I WAS STOPPING IN A TENNIS COURT PARKING LOT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A TREE. THE DAMAGE CAME TO ABOUT $7,000. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS 4/2/2014. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN I WAS GOING APPROX. 5 MILES AN HOUR BUT I WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF ROAD AND STOPPED THE CAR WITHOUT DOING ANY DAMAGE. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I FELL THAT THIS CAR HAS A SERIOUS DEFECT AND SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED. *TR
I WAS STOPPING IN A TENNIS COURT PARKING LOT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A TREE. THE DAMAGE CAME TO ABOUT $7,000. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS 4/2/2014. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN I WAS GOING APPROX. 5 MILES AN HOUR BUT I WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF ROAD AND STOPPED THE CAR WITHOUT DOING ANY DAMAGE. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I FELL THAT THIS CAR HAS A SERIOUS DEFECT AND SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED. *TR
I HAVE HAD A DRIVING LICENSE FOR 68 YEARS WITH 3 MINOR COLLISIONS WITH NO FATALITIES OR HOSPITALIZATION. WHEN I WAS TAUGHT TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, I WAS INTRODUCED TO LEFT FOOT BRAKING AND TOLD IT WOULD RESULT IN FASTER BRAKING AS WELL AS INSURING THAT I WOULD NOT DRIVE INTO OR THROUGH A STORE OR BUILDING WHEN MY RIGHT FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL ONTO THE ACCELERATOR. WE TOOK POSSESSION OF THE AVALON ON AUGUST 6, 2014. THIS FIRST FRIGHTENING INCIDENT OCCURRED AUGUST 11, 2014. I WAS ATTEMPTING A U TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION AT AN ISLAND ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, EASING OFF ON THE GAS PEDAL, BUT NOT REMOVING MY FOOT FROM IT COMPLETELY, WHILE MODERATING MY SPEED WITH SLIGHT APPLICATIONS OF THE BRAKES WITH MY LEFT FOOT. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND APPLIED A BIT MORE GAS, AND NOTHING HAPPENED, AND I THOUGHT THAT MY ENGINE HAD STALLED. MY TACHOMETER SHOWED THE ENGINE WAS REVVED TO 1200 RPM, BUT THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN. AFTER A DELAY I ESTIMATE WAS 3 OR 4 SECONDS, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY ENGAGED, AND THE CAR TOOK OFF. I HAD A FEW MORE SIMILAR INCIDENTS ENTERING OR LEAVING PARKING LOTS IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS. I WAS TOLD BY A TOYOTA SERVICE REP. AT THE DEALER THAT THE TOYOTAS ARE DESIGNED TO DISCOURAGE LEFT FOOT BRAKING. AFTER GOING THROUGH MY SEVERAL TOYOTA MANUALS I DISCOVERED ON PAGE 27 OF THE 2014 TOYOTA QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE A PARAGRAPH ENTITLED "SMART STOP TECHNOLOGY", WHICH EXPLAINS A FEATURE INCORPORATED TO KEEP A CAR FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS WHEN STARTING ON A HILL I BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT FOR A DRIVER WITH MANY YEARS OF LEFT FOOT BRAKING. *TR
I HAVE HAD A DRIVING LICENSE FOR 68 YEARS WITH 3 MINOR COLLISIONS WITH NO FATALITIES OR HOSPITALIZATION. WHEN I WAS TAUGHT TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, I WAS INTRODUCED TO LEFT FOOT BRAKING AND TOLD IT WOULD RESULT IN FASTER BRAKING AS WELL AS INSURING THAT I WOULD NOT DRIVE INTO OR THROUGH A STORE OR BUILDING WHEN MY RIGHT FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL ONTO THE ACCELERATOR. WE TOOK POSSESSION OF THE AVALON ON AUGUST 6, 2014. THIS FIRST FRIGHTENING INCIDENT OCCURRED AUGUST 11, 2014. I WAS ATTEMPTING A U TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION AT AN ISLAND ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, EASING OFF ON THE GAS PEDAL, BUT NOT REMOVING MY FOOT FROM IT COMPLETELY, WHILE MODERATING MY SPEED WITH SLIGHT APPLICATIONS OF THE BRAKES WITH MY LEFT FOOT. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND APPLIED A BIT MORE GAS, AND NOTHING HAPPENED, AND I THOUGHT THAT MY ENGINE HAD STALLED. MY TACHOMETER SHOWED THE ENGINE WAS REVVED TO 1200 RPM, BUT THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN. AFTER A DELAY I ESTIMATE WAS 3 OR 4 SECONDS, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY ENGAGED, AND THE CAR TOOK OFF. I HAD A FEW MORE SIMILAR INCIDENTS ENTERING OR LEAVING PARKING LOTS IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS. I WAS TOLD BY A TOYOTA SERVICE REP. AT THE DEALER THAT THE TOYOTAS ARE DESIGNED TO DISCOURAGE LEFT FOOT BRAKING. AFTER GOING THROUGH MY SEVERAL TOYOTA MANUALS I DISCOVERED ON PAGE 27 OF THE 2014 TOYOTA QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE A PARAGRAPH ENTITLED "SMART STOP TECHNOLOGY", WHICH EXPLAINS A FEATURE INCORPORATED TO KEEP A CAR FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS WHEN STARTING ON A HILL I BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT FOR A DRIVER WITH MANY YEARS OF LEFT FOOT BRAKING. *TR