NHTSA Complaint #11307524 — 2013 TOYOTA AVALON

02/06/2020 NHTSA COMPLAINT: 2013 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID LIMITED, REAR WINDOW SUNSHADE ASSEMBLY FAILURE, COMPLETE AND TOTAL, IN THE 'UP' POSITION AND/OR IN THE 'DOWN' POSITION. WHEN STUCK UP, THE FAILURE OBSTRUCTS REAR VIEW AT NIGHTTIME. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE SUNSHADE IS DESIGNED TO AUTOMATICALLY RETRACT INTO THE 'DOWN' POSITION WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN REVERSE, BUT IF THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED, THE SUNSHADE WILL MAKE A LOUD GRINDING SOUND FOR ABOUT 15-20 SECONDS WHILE THE SUNSHADE ATTEMPTS (AND FAILS) TO RETRACT INTO THE 'DOWN' POSITION. IT WILL ALSO MAKE THE SOUND EVEN IF THE SUNSHADE IS ALREADY RETRACTED. IF THE SHADE IS ALREADY DOWN/RETRACTED AND I SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE GRINDING NOISE STARTS IMMEDIATELY, AND THE SHADE DOES NOT MOVE (GO UP). BUT IF I PRESS THE ACTIVATE BUTTON, THE SHADE WILL START TO EXTEND, AND IF I CAN PRESS THE ACTIVATE BUTTON AGAIN BEFORE THE SHADE IS FULLY EXTENDED, IT WILL RETRACT (AND BEGIN ANOTHER 20 SECOND CYCLE OF GRINDING) AND STAY DOWN. WHILE STOPPED OR IN MOTION, PRESSING THE ACTIVATE BUTTON RAISES THE SHADE (IF IT WAS DOWN OR RETRACTED), BUT NOT WITHOUT THE 20 SECONDS OF LOUD GRINDING NOISE. IF THE SHADE IS UP/EXTENDED AND YOU PRESS THE ACTIVATE BUTTON, THE SHADE WILL NOT RETRACT/GO DOWN, BUT THE GRINDING NOISE WILL BEGIN. IF THE SHADE IS UP/EXTENDED THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT GO DOWN IS TO PRESS THE ACTIVATE BUTTON AND, WHILE THE GRINDING NOISE IS PRESENT, SIMULTANEOUSLY GO TO THE BACK SEAT SO YOU CAN REACH THE SHADE AND MANUALLY PUSH ONE OF THE VERTICAL BARS TOWARD THE CENTER; THEN THE SHADE RETRACTS FULLY AND CONTINUES GRINDING FOR ANOTHER 20 SECOND CYCLE. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IT IS CONTINUOUS AND THE GRINDING NOISE IS INCREDIBLY ANNOYING.