Sunlight is reflected into the eyes of the driver and front seat passenger from the interior trim. This bright reflection not only makes it difficult to see at times, the sunlight can cause damage to the retina and cornea. The light comes from many different parts of the car so it is impossible to constantly shield with our hands while driving. We keep the sunroof closed. It does not matter if the sun is directly overhead or at an angle because there are so many areas that reflect the light. We noticed this problem within the first week of purchase. We contacted the dealer and manufacturer. While they initially seemed willing to help, it is obvious from their silence, that they hope the problem will go away. There are numerous conditions such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and pterygium, caused by exposure to bright sunlight in the eyes and are concerned about the damage that could result from this constant exposure. It would be great if the manufacturer would correct the design flaw in our car.
2013 Toyota Avalon body complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 25 of 25, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I went through a car wash the other day and when the car was being dried by the blower, some water came in through the sunroof. I took the car to the toyota dealer where I bought it and they did a high pressure water test. They said nothing was the matter. It was explained to me that they could hap[pen when you drive through the car wash. I immediately filed a complaint with toyota and they advised that I have another dealer look at it. I have an appointment monday 11/11. We will see what happens.
I had went to my local dealership plaza toyota in brooklyn ny to have them take a look at the rear headliner that had been coming down. I was told that my appointment was too late in the evening so I had to set an earlier appoint which would be the following monday after the holiday. I dropped my car off at about 9am on july 8th and picked it up about 6:30pm that day only to have been told that they rotated the tires...which was laughable because I was never called and told that the problem with my rear headliner could not be fixed that day. I was told by my service adviser that they needed approval from the district manager because the repairs were quite costly and it takes up to 30 days in most instances to get approval. I immediately filed a complaint with toyota headquarters and nyc bbb. The dealership called me back in a few days and assured me that the problem would be fixed when I came back in the country from vacation. I contacted the dealership in mid august only to have been told that the repairs were denied because the pictures show that the headliner was tampered with and voided the warranty. I again filed another complaint with toyota headquarters and nyc bbb only this time I was given the opportunity to go to arbitration with national center for dispute settlement. I also have correspondence from the dealership via voicemail and the response they gave bbb that I voided the warranty. The funny thing about this is when the dealership received notification that I had requested an arbitration they immediately started to call my phone every day for 2 consecutive weeks because they know they were wrong to deny my claim and fix the car for free. Now they are facing the fact they may have to give me a full refund for the vehicle or a comparable car.....idiots.
One week (7/11/13) after purchasing a brand new avalon, noticed a sag in the headliner towards the rear windshield. After looking closer, the headliner is drooping towards the rear windshield as well as a noticeable gap near the moon roof. Took back to dealer and they ordered a new part. About 8/27/13, took back to dealer because the seat panel on the driver side seat was falling off. 9/13/13, dealer installed a new headliner. Picking up on 9/18/13 after a new headliner was installed, the gap remains at the moon roof area and one of the back panels was not in place. The dealer was still waiting for seat back panel part and was not able to replace the seat back panel. 9/18/13 - left it at the dealer since headliner issue is still not resolved and the seat back panel is still not fixed. I'm afraid the car will never be like new and I'm afraid even another new headliner will still have issues. I believe it's a serious design flaw. After purchasing it new on 7/3/13, drooping headliner and seat back panel falling off, is not presentable and appropriate to drive since I use my car for business. I haven't been able to enjoy my new car and now I'm driving a corolla as my loaner car.
Complaint: sun glare reflection coming from dashboard, safety issue, similar to nets. On 04/01/13, james fewel toyota national hq, documented my dash glare issue under file #[xxx]: on 3-16-2013, we purchased a 2013 avalon from coggin toyota jacksonville. It has fl legal window tinting. The dash's chrome trim causes a glare issue on a sunny day, causing bright glare due to the amount of dashboard trim that is silver/chrome. It is a safety issue when there is so much glare coming from the dash area. What is toyota's recommendation is to rectify the issue? On 05/21/13, [xxx], service director, toyota avenues, responded: [xxx], I forwarded your pictures to our tech dept as well as submitted a product quality case. Response back from manufacturer has been that there is nothing that can be changed at this time to keep the glare coming off of the chrome trim panels. The ref for the dealer product report is case # [xxx] if you wish to call the cust spt center to update your case. Thank you, [xxx], toyota avenues [xxx]. On 05/22/2013 [xxx] at toyota hq responded: [xxx], we are sorry for the concerns this condition has caused and have forwarded your email to a case manager here in our dept. The case manager will contact you via phone before the end of business, may 23, 2013. We have documented your email at our national hq under file #[xxx]. On 05/23/2013 received a call from toyota case manager [xxx], so I sent him pictures showing the glare issue. There was never any further communication from toyota hq on it. Bottom line: toyota needs to come up with a fix to this safety issue, replacing all this glossy chrome with something non-reflective. Putting chrome in the dash area was a poor design. My wife often feels sick, due to the way this glare hurts her eyes. Thank you. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The headliner is falling in my car. I have waited a month to get the problem fixed yet it has not been fixed. The back of my chair is also falling.
Very upset toyota customer, purchased showroom 2013 toyota avalon with headliner in the rear drooped down. This is brand new...I was told that probably some kids have pulled the headliner down while in showroom. Waiting for resolution I decided to read on common problems and lone behold! Toyota, you had better get this fixed immediately before there is an accident due to headliner obstructing the drivers view. How fast this is resolved is going to determine how I speak about toyota and future purchases! Get after it! Next up, seat back covers also was blamed on kids in showroom pulling them down. I looked at the design and see how sorry the engineering is. Toyota, need fix as soon as possible.. A good one! I will report this to the news if not rectified.
Toyota corp continues to sell 2013 toyota avalons with a known defect to the headliner. The headliner to the rear of the vehicle sags and may potentially obstruct the view of the driver while driving. It is apparent after researching the issue online that toyota is fully aware of the defect but failed to contact dealerships at the local level. Per toyota there is no known fix at this time and my vehicle has remained at the dealership for the past 4 days.
Headliner is falling down in back by rear window. Problem was reported to toyota. I am told toyota is working on a fix for it but it will be a while before a resolution is found. As a good will gesture toyota tacked up the headliner in the middle where it was falling down. A few days later the headliner began to fall down on both sides where it was tacked up by the rear window. I was then told, they were afraid that would happen. Toyota has no resolution and will not replace the headliner or vehicle. I am told by toyota that this is a common problem. However, as they cannot repair the vehicles that have this problem it sounds like they are still selling vehicles with this defect to unsuspecting customers. Although you can still see out the rear window, who knows for how much longer before it just gives way. As toyota will not/or can not repair this issue, and will not replace the headliner or the vehicle they really aren't honoring the warranty either. In an effort to try to resolve this issue, I could not get past the claim representative at headquarters nor the factory rep. Evidently, management will not speak with customers and no one will respond by e-mail.
Serious problem: 2013 toyota avalon dashboard trim causes a dangerous reflection of sunlight directly into driver's eyes. During mid-day sun, blinding beams of sunlight bounce off several areas of the mirrored-chrome-colored plastic trim that surrounds the dashboard and wraps around the instrument cluster. Sunlight is reflected off chrome trim beneath the tachometer and speedometer. Blinding sunlight also reflects off trim on both sides of the steering wheel, and other points across the trim. Depending on time of day and direction of car, sunlight bounces off different places on the trim. Because the trim is beveled, instead of a vertical surface, it focuses the sunlight directly back into the driver''s eyes. Drivers need to regularly glance down at the instrument cluster and reflected sunlight from that area and other sections on the dash is dangerously distracting. Accidents could occur as a result of drivers being momentarily blinded by their dashboard trim. Toyota needs to replace the mirrored surface of the trim, as well as other chrome trim on the steering wheel and around the air conditioning vents, with a dark-colored trim or matte, non-reflective surface. Despite similar complaints posted at the federal safety agency and my direct contact with toyota motors USA, the company refused to offer a solution and/or temporary work-around for retro-fitting the trim with a non-reflective surface. The company told me it does not acknowledge there is a problem with sunlight reflecting into driver's' eyes from the trim. Thus, no problem means no need for a solution. This needs to be investigated by the federal safety agency. Because the problem occurs in 2013 models of toyota avalon currently being sold in dealerships, the buying public needs to know about it. Further, toyota needs to be prompted to take corrective action to prevent unnecessary injuries or fatalities in the future.
Headliner of the car is peeling from the rear. Went to the dealership I.e. Holman toyota, mt. Laurel, nj, they advised they would order the new headliner and replace the same. Went today july 2nd, 2013, holman toyota advised the peeling headliner is common issue in the 2013 avalon and toyota has instructed dealers not to replace the headliner as replacing the headliner will not fix the problem and it may happen again. Toyota has advised it is trying to come up with a permanent fix via a "repair" job, not eta on the same yet. Till toyota comes up with a repair I have a peeling headline which can fall on head while I am driving causing an accident and toyota is just sitting on it.
This toyota was purchased with a sunroof top. After driving the car for two weeks we noticed the headliner was coming loose from the roof. We noticed that when you opened the sunroof the air entering the car made the roof or headliner shake and move as if to much air was getting under it causing the headliner to separate from the roof. We took the car in for service and the dealership finally told us there was a recall on these headliners and that no parts were being replaced at this time. I look at this as a major flaw and the roof coming loose should have been something the toyota should have said something about. We've had the car two weeks shouldn't they have said o by the way the roof may separate from the top of the car. No calls about the recall and they told us to take our car that they could not repair it right now. Please tell everyone the roof in this car has problems an toyota is not fixing it. It's unfair to the consumer that things like this can happen and people know about it and are still allowed to sell these car if you want to buy one today.
Design flaw chrome strip on dash causes glare from sun which is blinding when driving in sun and possibly causing damage to retina. Esp bad for senior drivers who has cataracts --[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 toyota avalon. The contact stated that the sun reflection from the chrome on the dashboard and arm rest distorted his vision while driving. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 15. Updated 07/16/13
2013 avalon touring on april 2013 experience with this car hasn't been very good considering that it is a new car. There was an issue with the leather on the back seat buckling and a stain that was on the headliner in the driver's side rear area because of a water leak from the roof. It was taken to clint's auto trim to correct the leather. He felt it was a water stain that was the result of water leaking from an area on the roof that wasn't sealed correctly. Based on what we heard from clint's auto trim, we tested the car by placing water on the car over the area where the stain was present. It revealed a new water stain on the headliner. We immediately took it to service about our finding. The car was taken to stephen's auto glass to fix the leak. The stain on the headliner was cleaned. However, the stain can still be seen. We requested that the headliner be replaced because of the stain. However, my wife is having issues with her eyes burning and nose running while in the car due to the smell of mildew. We turned our car in for service yesterday to get the headliner replaced. Now, they tell us that the headliner is too short to install. So another one will have to be ordered. So our car will have stay until tuesday. I am highly upset that a brand new car has so many issues. First, it was the leather, then a water leak, and the headliner is too short from the factory. Problems just continue to stack on top of one another. The toyota experience hardly lives up what is stated on your website that it is supposed to bring a smile to someone's face as akio toyoda said it.
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