NHTSA Complaint #10174686 — 2005 TOYOTA AVALON

I OWN A 2005 AVALON THAT HAS A TRANSMISSION/THROTTLE PROBLEM. SLOWING FROM SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH, THEN ACCELERATING MODERATELY, THE ENGINE WILL INCREASE RPM TO 2500-3000 RPM AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL UNTIL THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL DECIDES TO SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR. AT THE SHIFT POINT THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD RAPIDLY. THIS SURGE OCCURS EVEN ON THIS VEHICLE WITH TRACTION CONTROL. THIS "SURGE" HAS RESULTED IN MULTIPLE NEAR END COLLISIONS IN CITY TRAFFIC. THE NEUTRAL SHIFT PROBLEM HAS ALSO BEEN ENCOUNTERED ON OCCASION WHEN ENTERING HIGH SPEED INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. 18 WHEELERS BEARING DOWN ON YOU AT SPEED WHILE YOUR CAR IS TURNING 4000 PLUS RPMS IN NEUTRAL IS FRIGHTENING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THREE SEPARATE DEALERS AND A COMPLAINT WAS REGISTERED WITH TOYOTA MANUFACTURER. TOYOTA RESPONDED, SAYING THE TRANSMISSION WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I, AND OTHERS, BECOME A STATISTIC IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT AS AN INJURY OR DEATH NUMBERS. MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND ON SEVERAL OTHER WEB SITES. I'VE BEEN A TOYOTA OWNER FOR OVER 25 YEARS AND THIS LACK OF RESPONSE BY THE MANUFACTURER ON THIS HIGH END OF THE BRAND ENDS THAT . AND TOYOTA DOES NOT CARE IF THEY LOST A LONG TERM CUSTOMER, SO STATED BY TOYOTA OF AMERICA. *NM