We purchased a new 02 Avalon. We bought the car because of Toyota's reputation for high satisfaction along with previous Toyota experience. We got the fully loaded XLS.
Less than 1000-miles the dual zone climate control froze up on high heat setting. Fixed under warranty.
3000-miles, air bag light came on. Dealership fixed this under warranty. A faulty connection they said.
7000-miles at first oil change they found a code for ABS fault. They told me that they took care of it. After this I noticed that the ABS light would not come on like it did.
Called Toyota and they said to bring it back. They replaced some circuitry under warranty. Now it works fine. No ABS problems since. Light does not stay on all the time now. They siad that it is not designed to stay on and that the ABS is on with out light on. OK..
9000-miles, transmission starts to jerk sometimes when it is under a load around 40mph.
Taken in and they checked for codes and found nothing.
12,000-miles, Calendar function on drivers center will not move to next day. Stuck. Toyota replaced the whole assembly. I had to sign the warranty bill. It was $885. They paid it.
16,000-miles the transmission still jerks more and more. Toyota drove and checked out the car, but found nothing. It just does it like 1-time on a 10-mile trip.
20,000-Battery in airbag system fails. Air bag light came on. Toyota replaced for free.
40,000-miles transmission still jerks. Had transmission fully serviced. Still didn't help.
54,000-miles the compass is now showing that every direction is N. Also the instant fuel economy computer is showing that the car is getting 88.8mpg. Frozen up.
Not sure what to do. Toyota will no longer pay for repairs due to it being not covered now.
In college in 1988 I got a used Toyota 87 Cressida with only 8,000-miles on it. It had the strong 2.8 L engine. I drove this car to almost 200,000-miles with the only problems being the A/C loosing freon at 100,000-miles and 2-alternators. Maybe Toyota has lost its touch for building excellent trouble free cars.
I can say that our LHS has had many more problems than any other car we have owned.
62000-miles I took the car to Ammco Transmission to have them drive it because the jerking is getting worse. They diagnosed the car as having internal transmission clutch failure. Caused from overheating the transmission and or manufacturing defects. They ask me if we use the car to pull a trailer. I said no and we never have. They want to rebuild the transmission for $2,600 and I am going back to Toyota to see what they have to say about this. With papers from Ammco.
Ammco also told us that our Engine is knocking as well. We can't hear it, but we have an appointment to take it to them to have them check it all out again.
I hope for the best. We will not put a new transmission in it, we plan on trading it off, maybe another Toyota, depends on what Toyota says and if they are willing to fix this one. If so we will trade it in on the spot if they say yes. If not we will go else where. Not Chrysler or Toyota again. We'll see.
Not Chrysler again no matter what.
The car looks odd at first, but you will grow to like the looks.
The car needs more power.
The car never got the MPG that Toyota said it would. city avg is 14mpg and highway is 22mpg. Disappointment.
The car is super smooth, when working right.
The car is easy to wash and clean. Nothing sticks to the paint.
People who ride in the car think it is a Lexus.
Maybe toyota didn't spend the needed time to make the 02 Avalon what the older toyotas were.
We will see.
I am the guy that placed this review in this site. We had Toyota look at our Avalon and they did find an engine problem. They claim that the car has a bad engine, even though the engine runs fine and the check engine light has never come on. They told us that the engine is suffering from massive premature ware due to heat and lubricant failure. Give me a break, I have put around 200,000-miles on engines and never had a problem, even other Toyotas.. They are claiming that the oil is at fault and they are replacing the engine due to the bad oil that they didn’t even make. I think they should make the oil company’s pay for my engine, but this proves that the engine was defective at new and that is why Toyota is paying for the engine. Otherwise they would be suing the oil company’s for recovery. They know it is an internal Toyota problem. Think about it.
As far as our documentation on the transmission failure from an outside source, Toyota stated that the transmission will not be a covered repair. I called my lawyer (my brother in Kansas) and told him the whole story. I made sure to tell him of all the documentation of when the car was practically new and the transmission problems we had then. My lawyer asked me that each time we took the car in to be looked at, the transmission problem, did Toyota look at the car and diagnose the car as having no transmission problem. I said well of course they said it had no problem. He said this means that Toyota has covered themselves and will not be liable. They have it all on file that the car was clean.
They checked the car out and found noting and documented it. He said it was not worth fighting. He said had I taken the car to an outside transmission shop back then, then we would have a fighting chance.
Toyota has begged me to let them replace the so called defective engine, but they will not replace my bad transmission. If you ask me, I think that my dealer is fabricating bad engines to do work and then charge it to Toyota home office. I think that they are getting rich off of toyota’s home office. If that is how it even works. I know I did sign a warranty bill one time that was to “Be submitted to Toyota claims to payment to the dealer”.
We have written letters to Toyota of USA and they have not written back yet. We have e-mailed them, they e-mailed us back and said they have received our e-mail and will be getting back in touch with us shortly. Shortly has turned into almost 2-weeks. We have called them and they tell us they can do noting at this point.
After much fighting with Toyota, the dealership that is placing a new engine in out car, they said that they will offer us a discount on the transmission repair due to the fact that they have to extract the transmission anyway to get out the engine. They still want an arm and leg to do it.
I asked the shop manager if I could come and pick up the transmission with my truck and take it to Aamco transmission and let them rebuild it and then bring it back real fast. Toyota said no. Aamco wants $2500 to do the removal themselves and overhaul, if I bring the transmission to them, they will fully rebuild it for only $600.
Toyota said that doing such a “Stunt” is strictly prohibited for liability purposes. And would void the warranty as well. They said that they will send out the transmission to be rebuilt, themselves for me to their shop, but the cost would be $2600.
They said they typically don’t have a transmission rebuilt anyway and offered to sell me a Toyota factory remanufactured transmission for $2200.
Like I said, I am not paying for this transmission no matter what. We set up the appointment to have the engine replaced in the second week of march, which is long away due to a “waiting line of engines to be replaced in front of me, they claim.—like I said my dealer is scamming Toyota and I am reporting them. There is noting wrong with my engine, but I am not turning down a free engine any day.
We left in disgust. My wife, who is 44, has driven this car since new. It has mostly been highway mile as she drives 49 miles one way to her teaching job at the community college. Her uncles and mother mostly have Mercury Grand Marquis cars and have had virtually no problems.
We went looking to trade the Avalon off once we get the new engine in it. I told my wife we will not be buying another Toyota or Chrysler and they the choice was hers. A new Cadillac or Acura or whatever.
She said that she thinks she want a Mercury. Why not she said? We took the Avalon to the Lincoln Mercury place and meet them. They were nice to us. We told them the whole story, but left out the transmission part. Then my wife ask me if the computers can check on VIN numbers. She then told the manager about the transmission issue on the Avalon.
Get this. Mercury is going to pay for the transmission, a transmission that they didn’t even sell or build, and Toyota will not even pay for their own faulty mistakes. Shows which company is the better citizen in my town.
Hear is the deal that Mercury put out on the table for us. We took it..
1-pick out the Grand marquis we want, any car or anything on the lot, or order one.
2-call Toyota and authorize the transmission repair to be done when the engine is
being replace. If still possible they said.
3-bring them a copy of the repair order and bill and they will pay for it. That simple
4-trade the Avalon in on the new mercury purchase
5-be a satisfied customer with our Lincoln-Mercury experience.
Well we are doing it and Toyota was happy to add the transmission to the repair job. $2200 they are happy to take.
Mercury has already drew up the sales contract and allowed us $15,000 trade in on our 2002 Avalon with 62,000-miles. They are not stealing the car from us. That is a good deal. If you ask me I think the car is worthless.
In fact we have already taken the car to Toyota’s lot and signed the repair order and left the thing. We took delivery of an in stock 2004 Grand Marquis ultimate with every possible option. This is one nice car and drives so much different then the Avalon. Better I’d say. Feels a lot safer and I really like the controls on the steering wheel and love the seats. This car is a huge improvement over the Avalon.
Mercury even told us to cancel our insurance on the Toyota because it is under them as of now in the trade. We did.
Now why could Toyota not do such a simple thing as do what was right. They are more than willing to replace our engine that is out of warranty just the same as their bad transmission, but not willing to help us on their transmission mistake.
I am so mad right now I could punch some one at Toyota. We feel like we have been let down and used.
Don’t think that it is over Toyota if you are reading this. I am still going to fight this and make you all have to pay back mercury for the transmission. Shame on you all.
You just lost a customer for life. And are the type of people who buy a new car every few year.
Besides we really like the grand marquis so far and why didn’t we think to buy one of these anyway. Her whole family owns them and they put 150-200k-miles on them with minimal problems if any.
No car, almost $30,000 like our Avalon or even a $9K kia, has any excuse to have a defective engine and transmission before 62,000 miles. I’d say even 162,000-miles for that matter if it was always serviced at Toyota like ours was. On the dot, by the book, on time. We have spent thousands of dollars servicing our Avalon and then look what happens at only 62k of super easy highway miles.
I can say that we will miss the Avalon in way. It seem to maybe have more rear room than the grand marquis and more air tight, but you really don’t want air tight anyway when air bags explode out and displace/compress so much air all the sudden in the cab of a car because your ear drums will rupture. I am a doctor and I have seen this many times following an accident.
Well that is that I guess, I feel better now after this venting. I am also sending Toyota a copy of this review and this reply and making sure to tell them where it can be found. On the internet…..hope fully others can read this before they get into what I have.
As far as the dealer, you better watch out, if you are taking advantage of Toyota home office on these bogus repair jobs that you all dream up and charge them for. I really don’t know for sure one way or the other. I guess I can ask for my old parts and take them to someone and let them see if they are really bad….This is the engine stuff…not the transmission…I know it is bad just from driving it.
Aamco did document the knocking engine and I have it in writing, so maybe it is real, I ask why I can’t hear it knock and they said you have to be under the car and know what to listen for.
Bye Bye Toyota and you have not heard the last of me.
It is not over with yet I'll tell you.
It is unfortunate that you had a poor experience with Toyota. I find your comments very credible and also understand your anger. Who wouldn't be?
I suspect that you simply got a lemon. I think that Toyota generally makes a good product, but with thousands of cars manufactured each year, some of them are no good. In effect, you won the "reverse lottery".
I own a Corolla and am very happy with it. Perhaps the Avalon, which has not been around as long as the Corolla, does not have the usual Toyota quality. It seems that when manufacturers put out a new model, there are often problems in the first few years and then the product improves. Look at the Ford Focus. It was a disaster in the first few years and now it is getting good reviews.
Good luck in resolving your issues.
I read your comment original comment and am wondering how things worked out. I have been driving toyotas for 20 years and have a unique problem. I have a 2002 Camry which needed a new clutch at 18000 miles (totally gone, car undrivable). This all happemned wiothin 100 miles of having a dealer look at the car. Well I now have 40000 miles and the clutch is totally gone again. The sing and danc eI get is that clutchs are always driver eror and are not cvered under warranty. Well this driver has been driving clutches for 20 years and has never blown one out before 100000 miles so there mu\st be somethign going on here. Just curious if you resolved anything, and if anyone knows of some systemic problem with the 2002 clutch/transmissions in camry's or other toyota's.
Thanks!
Hey I am sorry to hear about your problem with Toyota. I own a Toyota and never had a problem with it. I know for sure that any car built on the night shift or afternoon are built crappy, also if an employee is having a bad day they usually make a bad product. Cars that are built in Canada and California Florida are of the highest standard in North America. California is rated number 1 for the highest quality follow by Canada. Hopes this help.
I'm sorry for the problems you're experiencing, but the 4th paragraph tells it all: YOUR FIRST OIL CHANGE AT 7000 MILES! I don't care if the Bible states that you can go 7000 miles between oil changes, you never go that long in between oil changes with an all aluminum block engine and especially for the 1st 1000-mile break-in period. Aluminum block engines produce extreme heat which breaks down oil at a faster pace compared to the old iron block engines, so changing oil every 3000 miles on your Avalon just makes more sense if you wished to keep your Toyota running for a long time. As far as your transmission problems, WHY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH WOULD YOU TAKE YOUR CAR TO AAMCO FOR TRANSMISSION WORK? The first words that always come out of Aamco's mouth is "REBUILT TRANSMISSION TIME," and it doesn't matter if your car is brand new or 10 years old. Your Toyota Avalon may shift hard like mine, but at least it will never slip like your Mercury Grand Marquis after 100-150K miles. I hope you take better care of your Grand Marquis because a Ford product definitely will need the extra care!
Thanks for posting your experience online. I was planning to buy a new Avalon, but I'll now go with an Accord. I hope toyota read this. By posting your experience you have managed to take away one customer at least. I don't care if the product is manufactured defective, but once it has been manufactured company and the dealer who sold it should stand behind it and try to help the customer for their mistake because customer is for not as rich as these companies. I always wish companies and dealers like this go bankrupt.
I never thought I would buy a foreign car, but a friend of mine had to sell her Avalon and my wife wanted it. I bought in '97 it is a '96 it had 16000 miles on it and now it has 185000 miles and I love it, in fact I will probably buy a new one for her this year. As for breakdowns there are none if you maintain it. I change my oil every 5000 miles like I always and I have had no problems at all with it and I still get 28-30 miles per gallon. All I can say is I don't regret buying it at all. By the way I use Castrol 20-50 oil in it.
I have owned 2 Toyota's with manual transmission for 15 years and never had to replace a clutch under 100K miles. I got a 2002 Camry and had to replace the clutch at 15K. Dealer said it was operator error. At 44k clutch went again. I had an independent mechanic fix it, and he told me that Toyota had replaced the original pressure plate part with a new one because they were having problems with the original one. I will let you know what Toyota says about this.