2005 Toyota Avalon VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2005 TOYOTA AVALON - SENT CAR IN ON THURS, MAR 11TH FOR FIXES PER RECALL ON ACCELERATOR AND FLOOR MAT. THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE FIX HAD BEEN COMPLETED, WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AFTER RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR WAS FIXED AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN REDWOOD CITY, CA. *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA AVALON (2005) THAT HAS BEEN IN TO TOYOTA FOR ALL THE RECALLS (FLOORMAT, ACCELERATOR). ON MARCH 14, 2010 I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I COULD NOT STOP IT EVEN BY PUTTING 2 FEET ON THE BRAKE. I STEERED THE CAR OVER TOWARDS THE CURB, JUMPED IT AND PUSHED THE IGNITION BUTTON WHILE BOTH FEET WERE ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR THEN STOPPED. I WAITED ABOUT 10 MINUTES THEN DROVE SLOWLY AND APPREHENSIVELY HOME. I CALLED THE DEALER FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING AND WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO THE SHOP UNTIL TUESDAY MORNING. THE CAR REMAINS AT THE DEALER'S AS THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO RECREATE WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD THEY WERE TALKING TO KANSAS CITY AND CALIFORNIA. MY FEAR IS THAT NOTHING WILL BE FOUND, THEY CANNOT ASSURE ME THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM VERY APPREHENSIVE AS I AWAIT THE OUTCOME. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, PROCEEDING TO MAKE A TURN. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CRASHED INTO A LARGE BUSH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT A MANUFACTURER INSPECTION WAS REQUIRED BEFORE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD POSSIBLY TAKE MONTHS. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF BEING WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR SUCH A LENGTHY PERIOD AND UNCERTAINTY OF THE SERVICE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000.

RE: 2005 TOYOTA AVALON// 11/22/05 WE WERE ENTERING THE FREEWAY AND OUR VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE// BOTH FEET ON BRAKE// ACCELERATED TO APPROX 85 MPH// PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL///THE CAR REVVED TO 8000 RPM'S// HEARD A POP AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. WE DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER AND HAVE ALL OF THIS DOCUMENTED. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ON A RURAL COUNTY ROAD; APPROACHING A CURVE; WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOWLY DECEASE SPEED TO GO IN CURVE THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WENT FASTER, CAUSING ME TO RUN ACROSS AND OFF THE ROAD HITTING A TREE. *TR

TOYOTA AVALON 2005. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN POWER SURGE OR RUNAWAY CAR, I DO BELIEVE THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ELECTRONICS. EVER SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, BRAND NEW, IN THE TWILIGHT HOURS OF DRIVING, THE DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS WILL DIM AND GO BRIGHT WHEN I STEP ON OR LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL. I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR, BUT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T REACT WHEN THE SUPERVISOR WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME HE COULDN'T REPORT IT OR SAY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *TR

I HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON SINCE MAY 20, 2005. NOW IT HAS ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON IT. FROM TIME TO TIME, ESTIMATED AT SEVEN OR SO INSTANCES, I NOTED A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED ONLY DURING BRAKE APPLICATION, NOT AT OTHER TIMES. IN EACH INSTANCE OF UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITH A FIRM, STEADY APPLICATION OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AFTER THE FIRST RECALL FOR THE FLOOR MAT, I REMOVED THE MAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I WAS SKEPTICAL THAT THE MAT WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS A HEAVY, OEM, FITTED MAT WHICH WAS ANCHORED WITH TWO FACTORY INSTALLED HOOKS ON THE FLOOR. THEY ENGAGE THE MAT THROUGH EYELETS NEAR THE MAT'S TRAILING EDGE. WITH THE MAT REMOVED, I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENT IN THE GARAGE OF HARTFORD HOSPITAL. IT WAS CLOSE TO A DISASTER BUT THE APPLICATION OF HEAVY, STEADY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL STOPPED THE CAR. I CONSIDERED THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE CONFIGURED OR POSITIONED SO THAT BOTH ARE ACTIVATED AT THE SAME TIME. ON CLOSE EXAMINATION I CONCLUDED THAT WAS UNLIKELY. I NOW CONCLUDE THESE FAILURES HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM IN THE CAR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO CTDOT. A REPRESENTATIVE(?) PHONED TO REFER MY CORRESPONDENCE TO FEDERAL DOT. *TR

WE OWN A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON THAT WAS RECALLED AND FIXED..ON 2/15/10 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENED AND THE CAR ACTUALLY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN...SHE AGAIN PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CAR PERFORMED NORMALLY. WE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO OUR DEALER...HOPEFULLY IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT HAD A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT THE END OF A LONG ROAD , WHICH HE TAKES EVERYDAY, THERE IS A TIGHT SPOT WERE PEOPLE SLOW DOWN TO MAKE WHAT IS A VERY TIGHT CURVE THAT THEN GOES UP HILL. THE CONTACT TRIED SLOW DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SPEED UP AS THE CONTACT TRIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED WHEN THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE LARGE ROCKS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46000 MILES AT THE FAILURE AND CURRENTLY HAD 46000 MILES.

WHILE EN ROUTE FROM SAN JUAN TO PONCE, PR, I DECIDED TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY TOYOTA AVALON 2005. IT WORKED VERY WELL, UNTIL I DECIDED TO USE THE RESUME SPEED OPTION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. AS SOON AS THE RESUME MOVEMENT WAS ACTIVATED, THE CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND LUNGED FORWARD AT AN UNBELIEVABLE RATE OF SPEED THAT SCARED US, AND I HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DISENGAGE THE RESUME OPTION. THIS OCCURRED TWICE AND THEN I OPTED FOR NOT USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AT ALL. RECENTLY MY CAR WAS SERVICED AT FURIEL TOYOTA DEALER HERE IN PONCE, WHERE THE RECALL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ACCELERATOR AND OIL HOSE WERE COMPLETED. *TR

65 MPH INTERSTATE 64 E EXITING TO FORT EUSTIS BLVD VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. WHILE TRYING TO CONTROL WITH BRAKES (STANDING ON THE BRAKES) AND STEERING, THE PASSENGER MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. OCCURRENCE: ONCE REPORTED TO DEALER: ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. NOTHING ELSE WAS SUGGESTED BUT TO WAIT UNTIL TOYOTA ISSUES A NOTICE. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH EXTREME ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR ALTHOUGH I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. THIS WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING TO ME AND CAUSED MY BOLD PRESSURE TO RISE SEVERELY...THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS REPORTED DIRECTLY TO THE SAFETY DEPARTMENT OF TOYOTA..ON DECEMBER 28TH ,2009. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM... *TR

SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN MY 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE MAT DID NOT INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR. WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE TOYOTA HAS MAINTAINED THAT THE MAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT ABOUT WHAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IS NOT BEING CANDID WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WHEN INFORMING THEM OF THE ISSUE. *TR

MY COMPLAINT IS THE QUICK SO CALLED FIX OF THE ACCELERATION PEDAL THAT TOYOTA SAYS IS THE PROBLEM. THE ACCELERATION PEDAL IS NOT THE PROBLEM. FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH OUR 2005 TOYOTA AVALON OCCURRED AFTER STARTING THE CAR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND SHIFTING THE GEAR INTO REVERSE. I HAD NOT TOUCHED THE ACCELERATION PEDAL SO THEREFORE IT ISN'T JUST THE PEDAL EVEN IF THE PEDAL IS FAULTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, BUT THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000 . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. UPDATED 11/09/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. UPDATED 11/09/09

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 80 MPH. HE HAD TO MANUALLY LIFT THE PEDAL FROM THE FLOOR TO DECELERATE. HE WAS ADVISED THAT HE COULD BRING THE VEHICLE IN AS A TRADE-IN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,400.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE GOING UP A RAMP THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO WALL. THE CONTACT THOUGHT AT THE TIME HER FOOT SLIPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT HURT AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ONE YEAR AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE SURGED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BREAK AND STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ALWAYS CRASHING INTO THE GARAGE. CONTACT FEELS THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND REFUSES TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 1/11/09 *CN UPDATED 01/15/10.*JB

WEATHER: SUNNY. ENGINE WARM - DRIVEN ABOUT 10 MILES ON THE WAY TO SMALL SHOPPING CENTER. I'M IN NO HURRY, STOPPING TO BROWSE IN A FAVORITE BOUTIQUE. LOOKING FOR A PARKING SPACE, SLOWED VEHICLE TO A CRAWL WHILE SCANNING THE LOT & THEN TURNED SLOWLY ABOUT 45 DEGREES TO DRIFT INTO AN AVAILABLE SPACE WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD OUT OF CONTROL RAMMING THE PARKED VEHICLE FACING THE SPACE I WAS IN. I REMEMBER A LOUD NOISE - WHICH WAS THE ENGINE ACCELERATING: AN UNFAMILIAR SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS JUST ABOUT STOPPED. THEN, THE NOISE OF THE CRASH - ABOUT 6 FT IN FRONT OF THE AVALON AT THE TIME OF THE NOISE & LURCH. THE IMPACT STOPPED THE CAR. I PUT IT IN REVERSE & BACKED AWAY, THEN TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR BY MISTAKE AS IT HAD BEEN ON THE BRAKE WHILE DRIFTING DOWN THE AISLE TOWARD THE OPEN SPACE - THERE HAD BEEN NO ACCELERATION WHILE IN THAT AISLE. TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE SPACE I WOULD HAVE HAD TO APPLY ONLY THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE ; THEREFORE, IF I HAD TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR BY MISTAKE I WOULD HAVE NOT DONE SO WITH ENOUGH PRESSURE TO CAUSE THE WILD ACCELERATION. WITH MY FOOT ABOVE THE BRAKE IN THAT INSTANT WHEN I TOUCHED THE BRAKE TO STOP THE LURCH IT DIDN'T AFFECT THE SPEED OF THE CAR BEFORE IMPACT: THERE WAS NOT ANY HESITATION IN THE ENGINE. NO DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AVALON SUSTAINED SOME BUMPER DAMAGE AND A BENT HOOD - DRIVABLE, BUT I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK I DROVE TO THE EMPTY LOT BEHIND THE STORES AND TRIED TO REPEAT THE EVENT, UNSUCCESSFULLY. I DISCOVERED THAT IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE THAT QUICKLY, I WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR - AN IMPOSSIBILITY AT THE 0 MILES PER HOUR I WAS DRIFTING INTO POSITION IN THE PARKING SPACE. THE CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNINTENTIONAL THROUGH NO ACTION ON MY PART. THE TOYOTA DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AUTOMATICALLY TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT BACK INTO AUTO MANUAL MODE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE DROVE UP A HILL WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO APPLY MAXIMUM BRAKE PRESSURE TO MODERATE THE ACCELERATION AND PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE RECENTLY HAD A ROUTINE INSPECTION AT 25,300 MILES. THE DEALER DID NOT FIND ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SURGES AHEAD OR SHIFTS TO ANOTHER GEAR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. HE HAS SPOKEN WITH THE AVALON DIVISION OF TOYOTA AND THEY STATED THAT SOMEONE WILL CONTACT HIM IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 22,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED IT SURGED AUTOMATICALLY AND THEN LEVEL ED OFF TWO GEARS. THE FAILURE GAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. WHILE DRIVING IN LIGHT RAIN AT 50 MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE VEHICLE'S FRONT WHEELS TO SPIN. TOYOTA STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A PROGRAMMING FAILURE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 242,000 , AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.*AK

2005 TOYOTA AVALON ACCELERATION SURGE WHEN BRAKING. ALMOST REAR ENDED STOPPED VEHICLE. WENT TO DEALER THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

THERE SEEMS TO BE A HESITATION WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDDLE, IT TAKES A COUPLE SECONDS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSIONS RESPONDS. WHEN IT DOES, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT GEAR TO PUT IT IN. SOMETIMES IT ACCELERATES NORMALLY. BUT OTHER TIMES IT IS UNPREDICTABLE....CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING OR TURNING ONTO MAJOR ROADS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY.

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP ON THE INCIDENTS REPORTED UNDER 10142940. WHEN STARTING TO SLOWLY PROCEED FORWARD BEHIND HEAVY TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. I PLACED TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND ENGINE REV'S TO ~7000 RPM BEFORE I COULD SHUT IT OFF. TRIED RESTARTING THE ENGINE ABOUT 6 TIMES WITH IT IMMEDIATELY GOING TO ~7000 RPM. ON ABOUT THE 7TH TRY THE ENGINE STARTED NORMALLY AND RAN NORMALLY UNTIL I REACHED HOME (ABOUT 4 MILES). CALLED DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND THEY DID NOT PARTICULARLY WANT TO SEE VEHICLE AS I COULD NOT REPORT ANY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. I INSISTED ON AN APPOINTMENT AND WAS PUT OFF UNTIL NEXT WEEK. THEY CLAIMED THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA AVALONS AND CAMRY'S EXCEPT FOR MY VEHICLE. CALLED THE DEALER/ZONE CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND PLACED COMPLAINT BUT THEY ALSO DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO EXCEPT CALL TOYOTA ENGINEERING. *NM SEE ALSO VOQ 10142940. *DSY