NHTSA Complaint #730136 — 2000 TOYOTA AVALON

AS NOTED ON PAGE 52 OF THE FEBRUARY 2000 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS, THERE IS AN "ANNOYING GREEN REFLECTION FROM THE WINDSHIELD AT NIGHT." THIS IS CAUSED BY THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD NOT EXTENDING FAR ENOUGH TO BLOCK LIGHT FROM THE GAUGES AND THE RADIO FROM STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE SUN IS AT JUST THE RIGHT ANGLE BEHIND THE CAR, SUNLIGHT STRIKES THE BOTTOM OF THE CLEAR PLASTIC COVER FOR THE GAUGES AND IS REFLECTED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES. THE SAME THING HAPPENS AT NIGHT WHEN LIGHT FROM HEADLIGHTS BEHIND THE CAR ARE REFLECTED FROM THE CLEAR PLASTIC GAUGE COVER ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES. I HAVE FOUND THAT PLACING A PIECE OF PAPER ON TOP OF THE DASH, EXTENDING TWO MORE INCHES TOWARDS THE DRIVER BLOCKS MOST OF THE GAUGE LIGHT AND REFLECTIONS FROM THE GAUGE COVER ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FAULT. THE TOPS OF THE DASHES ON ALMOST ALL OTHER CARS EXTENDS FURTHER OUT TO BLOCK LIGHT FROM THE GAUGES STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD. THESE LIGHTS AND ESPECIALLY THE REFLECTIONS THAT I DESCRIBED CAN BE VERY BRIGHT AND VERY DISTRACTING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTS. TOYOTA SHOULD EITHER PROVIDE A NEW TOP TO THEIR DASH OR A DASH TOP EXTENDER (THAT HAS BEEN TESTED AND FOUND TO BE SAFE IN ACCIDENTS). IN ADDITION THEY SHOULD INSTALL A SWITCH FOR TURNING OFF THE LIGHT FROM THE RADIO AT NIGHT (SO OWNER'S WHO FIND THIS LIGHT REFLECTED ON THE WINDSHIELD DISTRACTING CAN TURN IT OFF), AND THEY SHOULD PROVIDE A NON-REFLECTIVE COATING FOR THE TOP OF THE WOOD GRAIN TRIM ON THE CENTRAL VENT, WHERE SUNLIGHT CAN ALSO BE REFLECTED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THIS LIGHT IN PARTICULAR CAN BE EXTREMELY BRIGHT. ALL OF THESE REFLECTION IN WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS ARE VERY ANNOYING AND DISTRACTING AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.