NHTSA Complaint #10005436 — 1997 TOYOTA AVALON

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 1997 TOYOTA AVALON FOR MY WIFE. THE VEHICLE HAS JUST RECENTLY TURNED OVER 29,000 MILES, AND OBVIOUSLY HAS PASSED THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY. HOWEVER, IT HAS YET TO REACH THE NORMAL 36,000 MILE WARRANTY MARK. ON JANUARY 18, 2003 I NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I CHECKED THE FLUID LEVELS, AND FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS ALMOST EMPTY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING, AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $850.00 PLUS TAX, FOR A RE-MANUFACTURED PART. I CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WITH THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD SUCH LOW MILEAGE. HE SUGGESTED I CONTACT TOYOTA CORPORATE, BUT THAT DUE TO THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, THAT TOYOTA WAS NOT BEING VERY GENERIOUS WITH "GOOD WILL" COMPENSATIONS. I CALLED TOYOTA COROPORATE IN CALIFORNIA AND LODGED MY COMPLAINT. WHILE I HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM (IT IS NOW FEBRUARY 6, 2003) I WAS GIVEN THE IMPRESSION THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE TO HELP ME DEFREY THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS. I HAVE SINCE DONE CONSIDERABLE RESEARCH VIA THE INTERNET, AND ON THE NHSTA WEBSITE ALONE, I FOUND A LARGE PORTION OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAD BEEN FILED REGARDING THIS VEHICLE WAS THE RESULT OF THE POWER STEERING RACK LEAKING FLUID, AND REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. HOW MANY OTHERS ARE OUT THERE THAT HAVE NOT FILED A REPORT. I BELIEVE THIS PROBELM COULD RESULT IN SOME ONE BEING KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED SHOULD THE STEERING LOCK UP OR BECOME TOO HARD TO MOVE BECAUSE OF ALL THE FLUID LEAKING FROM THIS DEVICE. I FURTHER BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA SHOUL BE INSTRUCTED TO RECALL AND REPAIR, OR REIMBURSE ANYONE WHO HAS ONE OF THESE VEHICLES.