1997 Toyota Avalon Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS THEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I HAVE BEEN HAVING THE PROBLEM OF SUSPENSION NOISE AND WHEN HITTING BUMPS CAUSING A LOUD THUMP IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR RIDING ON TRACKS EACH TIME YOU HIT A BUMP. *TR

THE CAR HAS A SERIOUS FLAW IN THE HANDLING, RIDE AND SUSPENSION!THIS CAR HAS THE SUSPENSION THAT ROCKS LIKE A BOAT; AND EVEN THE SMALLEST BUMP RATTLES THE ENTIRE FRAME AND REMINDS ME OF A THUNDER-LIKE NOISE . *AK I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED SERVICING AT THE DEALER, AND HAVE A HISTORY OF COMPLAINING ABOUT IT --NEARLY EVERY TIME I TOOK IT IN, I WOULD ASK TO INSPECT IT - SEEMS LIKE THEY NEVER DID A THOROUGH REQUIRED ANALYSIS, UNTIL RECENTLY THE SERVICE DIRECTOR WAS NICE ENOUGHT TO TAKE IT FOR A DRIVE AND CONFIRMED THAT IT NEEDS ALL NEW STRUTS AND ARMS FOR $2000. PROBLEM IS IT WAS ALWAYS BAD AND COULD HAVE CAUSED OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR TO BREAK PREMATURELY AND BE REPLACED AS WELL IN CAR I'VE BEEN IN CARS WITH WORKING SUSPENSIONS BEFORE AND THIS ONE IS ***NOT*** THIS WASN'T THE SAME CAR I TEST DROVE OR TOYOTA HAS EARNED IT'S REPUTATION ON. PLEASE LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION

HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST COMPLAIN BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? THERE MUST BE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T COMPLAIN, BUT HAVE THESE SAME PROBLEMS! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

SO MANY SUSPENSION/STRUTS PROBLEMS WITH 1997 AVALON. SO MANY COMPLAINS ON THE WEB SITE. TALK TO THE SERVICE ADVISER AT BUENA PARK TOYOTA AND HE TOLD ME THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE IN BACK ORDER BECAUSE OF SO MANY FAILURES. PLEASE CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION ABOUT THIS FALURE SINCE SO MANY VEHICLES INVOLVE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THANK YOU.*AK

I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES BEFORE THEY ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THE STRUTS, AND ANOTHER TWO VISITS TO REPAIR THEM. THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THE STEERING, DESPITE ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE. *AK

DEALER REPORTS THAT THE PART FAILS SO OFTEN THAT THE PARTS ARE BACK-ORDERED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

EXCESSIVE WEAR ON TIRES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 004550 TIRESIZE: P205/65R15)

WHILE DRIVING FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD MAKE CLICKING NOISES. HAD NOT HIT ANY BUMPS OR HOLES WHEN IT DID THIS. FRONT TIRES FELT REAL LOOSE LIKE BOLTS AND NUTS WERE COMING OFF. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND BEEN INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH SUSPENSION. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

FAILURE OF FRONT STRUTS ASSEMBLY AS EVIDENCED BY BOUNCING OF FRONT WHEELS AND RATTTLING. INSPECTION BY TOYOTA SERVICE DEALER FOUND STRUTS TO BE LEAKING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY ON BASIS OF TIME (3 YEARS) EVEN IF NOT BY MILEAGE, THEY WERE NOT AT FAULT. FOLLOWING MY PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT A FRIEND HAD ASIMILAR PROBLEM ON THEIR RENTED 1998 MODEL OF THE SAME CAR AND TURNED THE CAR IN AT THE END OF THE RENTAL INSTEAD OF PURCHASING IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF WHEELS BOUNCING, COULD NOT TELL IF IT WAS THE FRONT END OR BACK END OR BOTH, WHEN VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING, BUT ON 10-23-00 THE PROBLEM INCREASED AND A RATTLING SOUND WAS EVIDENT, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT FRONT STRUTS WERE LEAKING AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND NOW VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

SUSPENSION OF MY CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT IS MOANING, GROANING, SQUEAZING, ETC. WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL, WHEN I DRIVE OVER A BUMP AND WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES. VERY SCARY SOUND, SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG.

THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT STRUTS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE 1995 AND THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST IN YEAR 2001. *AK

DEALER MECHANIC TOLD ME IN STRICT CONFIDENCE THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON. COST TO REPLACE TWO FRONT STRUTS IS $743.00. ACCORDING TO MECHANIC, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD RESULT IN TIRE FAILURE. *AK

NOISE FROM FRONT END WHEN ROAD NOT SMOOTH OR SPEED BUMPS. FINALLY TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND WERE TOLD STRUT MOUNTS WORN, BUSHINGS BAD AT TOWERS. FEEL FOR STRUTS TO FAIL WITH THIS LOW A MILEAGE IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE HAVE 5 YR/60,000 PLATINUM EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY CLAIM IT IS "USUAL WEAR & TEAR". IS IT USUAL TO WEAR OUT IN 49,000 MILES. 85% PROBABLY LONG DIST. HIGHWAY MILES?

THE FRONT SUSPENSION BAR WAS BROKEN CAUSING THE VEHICLE VEERES TO THE LEFT WHILE ON HIGHWAY AND GOES OUT OF CONTROL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. YH

MCPHERSON STRUTS ARE LEAKING AND NO LONGER GIVES ANY SUSPENSION. WHEN A BUMP IS HIT FRONT SUSPENSION RATTLES AND SHAKES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

STRUTS.

PROBLEM MANIFESTS ITSELF BY RATTLES THAT APPARENTLY ARE ON RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE.

RIGHT & LEFT STRUTS FAILED. *YC