Toyota Avalon fire or smoke problems

Filed Jul 19, 2026 · Acceleration, Brakes · PA · crash · 2 injuries

Immediately upon making a low-speed contact of my back bumper with a pole, the engine revved loudly. I attempted to go from reverse to drive to get some clearance from the pole. I then immediately attempted to put the car in park so I could get out and observe any damage. Immediately, the car accelerated extremely suddenly and quickly. I went over a curb where I had parked prior to backing up and contacting the pole. I hit a landscaping decorative boulder and a young tree. It was clear that my car was headed into the two-way street straight ahead since it was clear my breaking efforts were useless. I believe the car went airborne for a second, landed and continued straight, thankfully not hitting any vehicle or pedestrian. I saw a parked black full-size pickup truck and figured we would hit it, we did. I thought if the truck didn't stop us then we would continue into the building just beyond it. We landed on a memorial boulder next to the truck with the front end on the boulder and the rear of the car low to the ground. It was very difficult to exit the driver's door because the truck was angled so that my door wouldn't open much. It was difficult to get the door handle to actually open the door. I kept trying the lock in case it was engaged. I squeezed out praying loudly for God to help us, over and over again as I squeezed out. I thought the engine was on fire - I thought I saw smoke but later realized it was the powder from the airbags. I was trying to get to the other side of the vehicle to help my friend out. I had a hard time walking due to scraped up legs. A lady came up to me to help. I asked if my friend was ok. I asked if anyone was hit. She said he was out of the vehicle and no one was hit. I held onto her because I was very weak and shaking. I thought my chest pain was due to a heart attack. But when she coached me on my breathing I realized the pain at my sternum was from the seatbelt. I yelled, "I tried to stop, I couldn't stop, the brakes didn't work!

Filed Apr 7, 2022 · Electrical · 130,000 miles · CA · fire

The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while attempt to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact mentioned waiting days later to start the vehicle and noticed the burnt odor coming from the vehicle. In addition there was white smoke coming from underneath the front passenger side of the vehicle. The contact noticed that there was wires burnt. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact the price for a diagnosis for the harness wiring. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Feb 17, 2021 · Body, Engine · 106,500 miles · IN

I've noticed that sometimes I smell something burning, electrical, coolant or something. My mechanics finds no leaks, but I checked once and the coolant reservoir was empty, find no leaks. Somehow, the passenger side rear mud flap came off and the trunk lid doesn't line up. It always looks like it's partially opened. When driving I hear and feel rattling sounds that sounds and feels like the front passenger side suspension or body panels. More like the suspension. The person I bought it from had it serviced regularly and had timing chain, o2 sensor, anti-lock brakes checked and fixed or replaced. They also had it completely checked out and anything wrong was fixed. It also gets very poor gas mileage. The steering also doesn't feel quite right, can't really explain that very well, other than it's no quite right. Also, for some reason the battery wouldn't start the car one day and we checked the battery and the cells were dry.

Filed Jul 31, 2018 · Electrical · DE

July 30, 2018 while in parking space I turned on ignition and heard a mild pop, the looking towards passenger seat I saw white smoke rising between chair and window and smoke coming from under seat. It smelled as if doming was burning. I turned ignition off. Smoke stopped. I did not see anything under the chair. I checked movement of chair and it was ok. I called toyota: no idea of cause and claimed no recalls. I mentioned what I saw on line, to no avail. I observed 6/2/2016 recall: 16v396000 and 11/19/2014 # 14v743000. I would like these heating wires on both sides to be disconnected to prevent possible fire while driving. Thank you

Filed May 24, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 22,000 miles · GA · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2016 toyota avalon. Approximately 30 minutes after parking and turning the engine off, flames were discovered coming from the front driver's side carpet. Approximately 10 minutes later, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an undisclosed location and deemed destroyed. The cause of the failure was not determined by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 22,000.

Filed Sep 8, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 149,000 miles · SC

When driving north on I-95, my car began to slow down even though I had not released pressure on the gas peddle, so I accelerated. As soon as I accelerated, the car then began to run extremely rough, the RPM monitor fluctuated back and forth, and the began to slow down even more. I looked in the rear view mirror to check traffic as I prepared to pull off the interstate and saw smoke coming from the rear of the car. When I stopped and exited the car, smoke was then bellowing profusely from the front right side of the hood and upper right tire rim, so much so that I thought the engine was about to explode. It should also be noted that the check engine light never came on. A tow truck was called and now I'm waiting for my local toyota dealership to open so that I can find out what is wrong with my car. A similar energy surge and rough driving occurred approximately one year ago and my car was towed in, but no problem could be detected. The problem stopped as mysteriously as it appeared, with no serious reoccurrences until yesterday, 9/7/15. In 2014, the mechanic chalked the problem up to possibly bad or cheap gas.

Filed Jun 24, 2015 · 156,800 miles · CA · fire

On the night of 6/20, I was driving down in los angeles westwood area near gayley avenue and wilshire blvd, my car suddenly slowed down then stopped. Then there was a lot of smoke coming out from the hood, then tuned to flame. This happened 2 months after I brought my car to toyota of glendale for recall services related to wire harness and ignition bracket.

Filed Jan 13, 2015 · Seats · 50,000 miles · TX

I was reading your recall notice 14v‑743 I called my toyota service dept and they said this only applied to vehicles that went thru the southeast toyota distributors, I believe mine went through gulf states toyota in houston. My wife noticed a burning smell when I used my seat heaters so I have quit using them. Would this problem apply to all cars listed in the southeast toyota bulletin or only cars that went thru their facility?

Filed Mar 18, 2014 · Engine · 88,000 miles · NH

My 2007 avalon never had an oil problem. Last thursday I noticed oil in the driveway as a shoveled snow. I checked the oil level and the vehicle was 1 1/2 quarts down. I put the 1 1/2 quarts into the car and drove it to my mechanic 5 miles away. The mechanic said that the vehicle was totally out of oil and that I was very lucky that the engine didn't catch on fire because the oil was spraying all over the engine. The mechanic diagnosed the problem as an oil leak from the vvt-I oil hose. I went on line and discovered this limited service campaign for vvt-I oil line. I contacted the dealership where I purchased the vehicle. They stated that they would get back to me. They never did. I contacted toyota.com and spoke to the representative. They stated that the lsc was for 07 toyota avalon's but my VIN wasn't include in the lsc, even though it was the same problem all the 07 avalons were having. This problem is going to cause major damage to the avalons. It is also very dangerous the way the oil leaks all over the engine. There is going to be a large number of engine fires. Toyota basically told me to bad and good luck. I hope something will be done before someone gets badly hurt. Obviously all 07 avalons are effected not just a certain few vins the lsc can be obtained by goggling vvt-I oil leak, 2007 avolonshere is the lsc.

Filed Jun 25, 2013 · Acceleration · 120,000 miles · VA · crash · fire · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota avalon. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated independently. As a result, the vehicle crashed into three other vehicles and the engine caught fire. The contact was taken to the hospital where she sustained both hand and neck injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate current and failure mileage was 120,000.