2001 TOYOTA AVALON Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AFTER THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CUTS TO THE BODY, INJURIES TO THE NECK, BOTH KNEES, AND THE LEFT ANKLE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

TOYOTA KEEPS SENDING ME SAFETY RECALL NOTICES, BUT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HERE IN THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS(USVI) REFUSES TO DO THE WORK. THEY KEEP SAYING MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN THEIR SYSTEM, AND THEY WON'T PUT IT IN THEIR SYSTEM. HOW DO I SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND HE BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY CAME APART AND TWO OF THE BELTS WERE DISENGAGED AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

3/30/11 COMING OUT OF A RIGHT HAND TURN, IT LOOKED LIKE THE STEERING LOCKED INTO A POSITION WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER. THE CAR SLID AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS CRUSHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT WORK. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL FROM INTERNAL INJURIES. THE CAR HAS BEEN PRESERVED AT A STORAGE FACILITY IN TEXAS SINCE SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. IT IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. NOT SURE WHETHER THE GAS PEDAL STUCK OR NOT. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A BLACK BOX IN THESE CARS WHICH COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO ANSWERS. THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPAIR IN JANUARY 2011. I HAVE COPIES OF THE REPAIR BILL. PLEASE SEE THAT NO OTHERS ARE HURT. UPDATED 10/31/11 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL, ABS AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CONCLUDED THAT THE STEERING POSITIONING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 173,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA AVALON ON THE FREEWAY. A CAR CUT ME OFF SO I SWERVED TO AVOID IT. AFTER THAT, I COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING IN MY CAR. I HEADED TOWARD A WALL AND TRIED TO TURN AWAY FROM IT, BUT THE STEERING DID NOT RESPOND EVEN THOUGH I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I CRASHED HEAD FIRST INTO THE WALL. *TR

2001 TOYOTA AVALON WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTAL AREA AND TURING RIGHT FROM ONE STREET TO ANOTHER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL. I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO AVOID RUNNING INTO A RESIDENTAIL WALL. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES, I MOVED THE TRANSMISSION FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND THEN REVERSE. THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. I DROVE THE TWO BLOCKS TO MY HOME AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. ON AUGUST 26, 2007, THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED, EVEN WHILE DRIVING. HE JIGGLED THE WHEEL AND IT UNLOCKED. HE STATED THAT THE INTERLOCK FAILS TO RELEASE. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE PURCHASE DATE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,740. UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER BRACKET