2003 Toyota Avalon

AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOUND NO CODES STORED DURING VEHICLE CHECK. ILLUMINATION OF WARNING LIGHT IS INCONSISTENT, HAS NO APPARENT CONNECTION TO SPEED OR CONDITIONS, BUT HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY. DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE, AND THE APPARENT TREND OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM ON A RANGE OF TOYOTA AVALON MODEL YEARS, INACTION BY NHTSA AND TOYOTA MUST CEASE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A SQUEALING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V539000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE 2003 MODELS, ONLY 2004. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 01/04/12*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 2008. UPDATED 01/09/12

AIR BAG SYSTEM LIGHT IS NOW LUMINATED ON DASBORD WHICH INDICATES INDICATES THE SYSTEM IS DISABLED. THIS STARTED ON 8/1/2011 HAD AUTO REPAIR SHOP DO SCAN DOWN ON VEHICLE AND NO CODES ARE APPEARING TO SHOW PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2003 FROMTOYOTA DEALERSHIP. CURRENT ODM READING 97,500. ANY BODY ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM?WILL BE CALLING TOYOTA MANUFACTURER. *TT

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING THEN STOPPED. TOOK TO DEALER WHO DISCOVERED A ERROR CODE B0166 STORED IN THE COMPUTER (OPEN CIRCUIT IN LEFT SIDE AIRBAG) BUT WAS NOT FLASHING WHEN EVALUATED. ONE DAY LATER THE LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON. THE DEALER WANTS $1700.00 PLUS LABOR TO FIX AND THAT IT WOULD BE INOPERATIVE IN AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA--[XXX] AT 800-331-4331 WHO ADVISED ME IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND TOYOTA WOULD TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR FIXING A FEDERALLY MANDATED SAFETY FEATURE WHICH HAS NO MAINTENANCE OR WEAR AND TEAR EXPECTATION. IT IS A PART NOT EXPECTED TO FAIL. I AM NOW WAITING ON A SUPERVISOR, [XXX], TO CALL ME BACK BUT [XXX] ASSURES ME HE WILL NOT BE HELPFUL EITHER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

2003, TOYOTA AVALON, BACKING UP, SUDDEN ACCELERATION, POLE STOPPED CAR, BRAKES DIDN'T STOP RACING ENGINE, PUT CAR IN DRIVE, SHOT FORWARD INTO GOLF COURSE, BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK, PUT CAR IN PARK, DIDN'T STOP CAR, HIT TREES, UTILITY POLE, TRIED TO STEER, LITTLE OR NO RESPONSE, TURNED KEY OFF, CAR FINALLY STOPPED, CAR TOTALED, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, SEAT BELT ON, BUT IMPACT MADE HEAD HIT LEFT SIDE OF WINDSHIELD, RECEIVED CONCUSSION, OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAY. REPORTED TO TOYOTA, THEY WANTED CAR, WE REFUSED TO LET THEM HAVE IT. TOYOTA SENT INSPECTOR HE REFUSED TO OPEN HOOD, OR PUT AUTO ON HOIST TO EXAMINE, REFUSED TO EXAMINE, JUST TOOK PICTURES. THEN TOYOTA ATTORNEY SENT LETTER SAYING THEY COULDN'T SEE FROM THEIR EXAMINATION THAT THE CAR FAILED. HAD 3 WITTINESS THAT TOYOTA INSPECTOR REFUSED TO INSPECT CAR. MY AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE TOTALED AUTO AND SETTLED, THEY TOOK AUTO. *JB

WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP IT. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL THE LAST TIME, THE CONSUMER HIT A WALL AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB