NHTSA Complaint #10256471 — 2006 TOYOTA AVALON

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON A SNOW PACKED INCLINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) ACTIVATED VOLUNTARY. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS PROCEEDING UP AN INCLINE ON SNOW COVER ROAD SURFACES. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WAS A MANUFACTURER DESIGN, HOWEVER, SOME VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A MECHANISM THAT DISENGAGES THE TCS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000. UPDATED 2/23/09 *CN WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE UP A SLIGHT INCLINE IN SNOW, THE DRIVE WHEEL SLIPPED WHICH ENGAGE THE TCS. THE DRIVE WHEEL WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN TRACTION WHICH WOULD HAVE DISENGAGED THE TCS. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP SLIDING BACKWARDS. THERE WAS NO WAY TO MANUALY DISENGAGE THE TCS. IF THE TCS COULD BE DISENGAGED THE VEHICLE COULD BE HANDLED MORE EASILY. UPDATED 02/27/09. *JB