general problems of the 1996 Toyota Avalon

While driving to an appointment, I had unintended acceleration. Luckily, I was able to pull over to side of road after using two feet to slow vehicle, and shut vehicle off. After trying to restart vehicle several times, it was still revving. After a half hour, I was able to start it and bring it home. Very scary! it has happened several times since then, when my husband was driving, and we were able to pull off to safety. We took it to our mechanic, and since it was not doing it while they had it, they couldn't find what was causing the problem, and fix it. While trying to find the cause of this problem on the internet, we discovered that this was a common problem to this vehicle year, and most were on camry's. We do not have replacement floor mats, and the pedal was not stuck. We called Toyota to check on recall information. Said there were no recalls on our VIN#, and told it was out of warranty, due to the mileage, but they documented my report in their corporate records, and to take it to a Toyota dealership to have it evaluated and repaired, which would no doubt be at our expense since it was not under warranty. We are senior citizens, and are afraid to even drive this car now, much less drive it all the way to a dealer out of town.

After receiving a jump, I was told to drive the car for about 20 minutes to recharge the battery. After driving for about 10 minutes, the gas pedel seemed to stick. Then when driving the speed began to accelerate without pressing the gas pedel. The longer we drove the higher the engine reved. I decided to return to my home about 5 minutes away then the car brake would not stop the car at a stop light and I had to quickly turn the corner to a side street until the light changed and I was able to enter my street. I pulled the car to the side to park it and it would not stop with my foot on the brake to the floor so I quickly put it in park and turned it off. It reved a few seconds before finally turning off.

The vehicle was taken to dealer for an oil change, and consumer found that there was sludge in the engine. A recall was issued for Avalons of 1997, but not for this year.

I have a 1996 Toyota Avalon that has the oil sludgle problem. I have filed a claim with corporate office of Toyota and they contacted local Toyota dealer who asked for receipts of oil changes and said they will review case, receipts were provided and after being reviewed they said there was nothing they could do to help. I am a single mother who has two small children and I need reliable transportation and I was told it would be 5000. 00 to repair when I owe 5020. 00 any help would be greatly appreciated! thanks, cheryl foley.

Engine: engine sludge buildup has ruined the engine despite reasonable maintenence. Engine must now be rebuilt or replaced. Engine has been problematic for the last year or two. Dealership has informed me that my engine is not covered under the current Toyota letter due to the fact that it was manufactured in may of 1996 and Toyota has an August of 1996 manufactuing cut-off date. I also own a 1998 Toyota sienna which is begining to have similar problems. From all I have been able to research at least part of this problem is due to a design flaw in the head. I have had a number of cars in the last twn years which I have driven well into high miles with the same maintenece attention as this one but have not had the sludge problem before. I would like Toyota to pick up at least a portion of the repair cost.