2003 Toyota Avalon: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jun 1, 2021 · Engine · 96,000 miles · TX · fire

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the vehicle started smoking and the engine stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the engine needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

Filed Dec 5, 2015 · Airbags · NE

I received a safety recall notice from toyota in january 2015. The instructions say they are working on a remedy for the SRS ecu. I have called them twice and submitted a complaint to you once regarding the unreasonable delay in implementing the 'remedy'. They continue to say to wait until they have replacement parts. It is beginning to feel like a stalling process waiting for my persistence to weaken. The potential problem includes reports of inadvertent airbag deployment. Someone needs to provide them with some encouragement. Is that your job?

Filed Feb 12, 2015 · Airbags · 117,000 miles · NY

Airbag lights blink. Brought the car in to two toyota dealers and they said that there is a recall on this item however they do not have the parts to fix the problem. Car was in shop for over a week till I finally got tired of the stalling tactic. It appears that toyota is not complying with their agreement to fix the problem. In a different dealership they said they do have the parts but have no available appointments for quite some time. Am getting very concerned that this dangerous situation is not being handled properly and responsibly.

Filed Jul 10, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 105,000 miles · WY

Electronic control module (ECM) issue: problem w/ intermittent warning lights for air bag some time ago (researching date)- took vehicle to dealership. No more light, but vehicle began stalling/losing power while driving- rarely, but became more frequent over time. Instrument panel/check engine lights will illuminate- now every minute or so while driving. Other people have same problem- the federal safety agency id 10605681. Took vehicle to dealer late may. Dealer on phone w/ toyota multiple times + had tech from another dealer come and look at vehicle - could not figure out what was wrong. Dealer now says the ECM faulty. Not repaired, but dealer wants to charge 8hrs of diagnostic time and not repaired - can dealer charge if recall item? My concern is that problem is more than air bags- faulty ECM results in loss of power/control when engine shuts down, stalls or experiences intermittent loss of power- vehicle no longer safe to operate. I cannot drive it; I cannot sell it. Called toyota, asked for part # of recalled SRS/ECM- was told only local dealer has part numbers. They took information and transferred me to "toyota corporate"- operator id'd as toyota corporate asked questions, indicated they had documented my file. When I asked operator to confirm items operator had chosen to document, operator refused to respond to my requests for confirmation- I asked for supervisor- was told "no supervisor" there. Operator threw me on hold (on hold for over 30 minutes w/ corporate then transferred me to the federal safety agency w/out operator ever coming back on the line prior to transfer (the federal safety agency conf # available). "corporate" indicated that toyota has no control over dealers- they can charge whatever they want to diagnose even if related to recall notice. Loss of use over 1 month. Dealer said no new ECM replacement part available. Pretty sure recall remedy inadequate.

Filed Dec 8, 2009 · Fuel system · 63,736 miles · CA

2003 toyota avalon xls. Stalled while driving. Had to leave the car in street and walk home. Would not restart for at least 30 minutes. Also would start, then stall and not restart for at least 30 minutes on other occasions intermittently. This was very concerning because the engine would just turn off during driving and not restart. Took to b&d auto repair, who could not replicate problem and then called toyota dealership in carlsbad who told them was probably the idle air control valve as they had been finding this an issue with avalons. So b&d auto replaced the idle air control valve and the problem never recurred. This cost us $500. I have the receipt for the date of 5-5-2006 repair. Our friends have the same vehicle, same year and they began to have the same difficulty with their 2003 avalon a few weeks later and had to have the same repair done and their problem then went away as well. Today, I phoned b&d auto and bernie ( the man who took care of my car in 2006) informed me that they are currently having similar problems with approximately one toyota vehicle per week, and they are replacing the idle air control valves. He stated that this includes rav 4, tacoma, camry, avalon, and forerunners. I am letting you know this information because today the wall street journal had an article that states this is a problem with 2006 toyota corollas and matrix vehicles. This is obviously much farther reaching than this article states and I hope it will be investigated further because of the danger of this difficulty to all of those driving or occupying a vehicle when this happens. I am wondering if there have been accidents or deaths due to this dangerous problem? I was very concerned that my car would turn off on the high speed lane of the freeway. I was so relieved when this was repaired and I wasn't afraid to drive my car again.