NHTSA complaint: 2004 TOYOTA AVALON — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1. I WAS AT NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE PERFORMING A CEREMONY. AFTER THE CEREMONY I ENTERED THE VEHICLE WITH WIFE TO GO TO THE BASE SHOPPING AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE WITH A CONCRETE TIRE STOP, AND WALL IN FRONT. ENTERED THE VEHICLE TO BACK OUT. IT CAME OUT QUICKER THAN NORMAL OFF AXIS AND THE REAR BUMPER IMPACTED THE CONCRETE PROTECTOR TO A POLE WITH VERY LITTLE DAMAGE. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND FELT NO OUT OF THE ORDINARY INDICATIONS. 2. I PUT IT INTO DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PULL FORWARD THEN BACK OUT. THE CAR ACCELERATED AT FULL POWER SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO KICK OUT THE CONCRETE TIRE STOP BEHIND THE VEHICLE, AND TOTAL THE FRONT END OF THE 2003 TOYOTA AVALON X LS TO THE TUNE OF 17684 DOLLARS.. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 2008 AND HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS, AND NOT BEING A RECALLED AVALON NO WARNING. I WENT THROUGH THE NHTSA DATABASE FOR AVALON FROM 2000--2010 AND FOUND I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OTHERS REPORTED. 3. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WHEN I CALLED CORPORATE LATER IN THE MONTH THEY DID NOT EVEN HAVE THE VEHICLE IN MY NAME. I ASKED FOR AN INSPECTOR AND THEY SENT ONE HIS NAME EMAIL ETC IS ON FILE. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AGAIN THEY SAID I WOULD GET A LETTER FROM THEIR CLAIMS DEPARTMENT. ABOUT THE FINDINGS.IN 2-4 WEEKS. THEY DID NOT OFFER TO PICK UP THE RENTAL OR TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE.. NOTE: I PUT IN SPEED CONTROL AND AIR BAGS FOR I HAD TO PUT IN SOMETHING TO MAKE THE MENU WOR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation