Car Accelerates On Its Own problems of the 2003 Toyota Avalon

Submission from constituent re 2003 Toyota Avalon 4 dr-sd re sticky gas pedal problem. The consumer stated on July 25, 2014, as his wife was backing out of the driveway, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own. Despite pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle did not slow until it made contact with a lamp post. The dealer was unable to replicate, the consumers concern.

2003 Toyota Avalon. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle sudden acceleration. The consumer stated the brakes locked up and the vehicle suddenly accelerated. She frantically tried to stop the vehicle, even shifting the transmission into park, but to no avail. The consumer finally crashed into three cars that were stopped at a traffic light. The vehicle was totaled.

As I was backing out from a space in a parking lot, my car suddenly accelerated and I had a hard time getting it to stop with the brake pedal. The wheels were turned in a sharp left position. The engine sounded like it was at a high rev. The right side of my car crashed into two cars on the opposite side of the parking lot aisle before coming to a halt. The whole event lasted just a few seconds. Fortunately, no one was injured.

9/17/2010 accident occurred as I entered a parking space with my foot on the brake and stopped when the car suddenly accelerated going thru a fence and hitting a stone wall when the car stopped. Our insurance company repaired the car after a Toyota rep. Examined the car. I received a letter from [xxx] from Toyota dated 10/25/2010 that stated they could not find any type of manufacture design or defect. Daytona Toyota did an aoh recall on the car during that time. My back and neck was strained and I had chiropractic adjustments, heat therapy and massages for two months paid by my insurance. 11/05/2012 accident occurred as I entered a parking space with my foot on the brake and stopped when the car accelerated over the curb hitting a stop sign. The sign ripped the left outside mirror off the door, scraped and bent the front and back doors on drivers side. The car now sits in my garage wrecked because I will not turn in another accident on my insurance because my premium went up after the first accident. I will absolutely not drive the car again because there is definitely something wrong and it is a blessing there was no one on the sidewalk nor a car on the street when my car accelerated. Someone could have been injured or killed. I do not believe that Toyota knows what is wrong nor do they know how to fix it. They need to take responsibility for what has happened to customers who trusted their vehicles. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that when trying to drive in reverse out of a parking lot, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a pole. The contact then shifted from neutral gear then to drive and although his foot was on the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated into a brick wall. The air bags did not deploy. The contact and the passenger were both injured as a result of the crash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing but the dealer could not duplicate the failure. The contact called the manufacturer and requested that the vehicle be inspected. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was not available. The current and failure mileages were 53,809.

Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6) was braking to park 2003 Toyota Avalon 4 dr sedan (VIN [xxx] ). It suddenly accelerated and went through a fence and landed in canal #e4 in lantana, florida on December 19, 2009. Car had 63,000 miles on odometer. Nothing like this ever happened before. Park lot is located at 2810 hypoluxo rd. Lantana florida. Car was "totaled" by geico insurance CO.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Avalon. While driving in reverse, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The vehicle proceeded to crash into another vehicle. The vehicle did not stop and continued accelerating, pushing that vehicle onto someone's lawn. The incident caused major damage to the vehicle and property. A passerby was injured and a police report was filed accordingly. The dealer was contacted and told the contact that there were no mechanical issues with her vehicle. The vehicle was not inspected and there were no previous incidents of unintended acceleration. The manufacturer was not contacted. The current mileage was approximately 93,000 and the failure mileage was 91,000.

Our 2003 Toyota Avalon has experienced several occurrences of sudden acceleration. My wife took the car to our Toyota dealer and both times they said that it was due to the floormat sticking under the gas pedal. The mat was removed and it still has the problem. While I was driving it down the highway, I let off the gas to slow down and it started to speed up. I put the car into neutral and the engine started to rev up and down from 1000 rpm to 2500 rpm. This continued for a couple of minutes until I was forced to pull over to the side of the road and turn the engine off and restart it. (this is always the fix. . . Turn off the engine and restart it. It seems to reset the computer). This problem started over a year ago and continues to occur almost monthly. This vehicle is not included in the recall and even if it was, I don't feel that the problem has a fix, yet. We have to continue to drive the car because we can't afford another one and the resale value has plummeted. Just last week my wife was stopped by a dps officer for speeding from a stop light. She did not even have her foot on the gas pedal. She explained what had happened and was not ticketed.

2003 Toyota Avalon with unintended acceleration. The consumer stated he sold the vehicle back to the dealer, but wanted to detail the events of the accident. While attempting to park the vehicle, it suddenly surged forward and caused the vehicle to accelerate over a curb, through the bushes and into another vehicle. A Toyota representative suggested that perhaps both pedals were depressed simultaneously or that perhaps the floor mat was pressed against the gas pedal. The consumer stated neither happened. The consumer stated the was the third incident of sudden acceleration that had she had experienced in the vehicle, but the first two were not severe enough to warrant a police report.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Avalon. While driving 3 mph with the brakes applied, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact applied more pressure to the brakes; however , the vehicle did not stop and crashed into some bushes. A police report was filed. There were no prior warning indicators. The vehicle was towed. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure and there were no error codes. The purchase date was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 45,000. New york police report. Updated 12/12/07.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Avalon. While parking the vehicle the accelerator pedal engaged without warning. The contact was driving 5 mph. The contact depressed the brakes and the vehicle would not stop, and it crashed into a parked Ford pick up truck. The road conditions were not a factor. The vehicle was towed ,and the contact was unable to drive the vehicle. The contact sustained a shoulder injury due to the seat belt. The passenger in the front seat stated due to the airbag deployment she was having hearing problems and experienced discomfort to her teeth. The passenger in the back seat experienced chest pains. The vehicle has not been inspected to determine the reason for the unexpected acceleration. The current and failure mileage was 35,000. The consumer stated that they received vehicle back but are concerned that this incident will happen again. Update 5/3/tr the consumer stated they had an accident caused by rapid acceleration and caused over $13,500 in damages. The consumer further stated they escaped the accident with minor bruises and they have retrieved via website 9 other cases with same make and model as the consumer's vehicle and since reported to the agency. The consumer stated would like an investigation done due to the fact that an article in the washington post stated an all weather floor mat can trap the throttle pedal when not properly secured and consumer is wondering whether this is in fact what happened to their vehicle.

In 2006 my wife experienced unintended acceleration in our 2003 Toyota Avalon. This happened in a parking garage, as she was slowly easing into a parking space, the car suddenly speeded up and crashed into the wall of the parking garage, causing extensive damage to the front of the car. She claimed she did not have her foot on the accelerator, but on the brake. After having the car repaired by a collision business, the Toyota dealer said there was nothing wrong with the accelerator. It happened a couple of years later, but this time a concrete parking strip stopped her after she moved it about three feet. Her friend that was with her was really scared.

2003, Toyota Avalon, backing up, sudden acceleration, pole stopped car, brakes didn't stop racing engine, put car in drive, shot forward into golf course, brakes wouldn't work, put car in park, didn't stop car, hit trees, utility pole, tried to steer, little or no response, turned key off, car finally stopped, car totaled, airbags did not deploy, seat belt on, but impact made head hit left side of windshield, received concussion, overnight hospital stay. Reported to Toyota, they wanted car, we refused to let them have it. Toyota sent inspector he refused to open hood, or put auto on hoist to examine, refused to examine, just took pictures. Then Toyota attorney sent letter saying they couldn't see from their examination that the car failed. Had 3 wittiness that Toyota inspector refused to inspect car. My automobile insurance totaled auto and settled, they took auto.

The consumer experienced sudden acceleration when placed in reverse. The consumer was attempting to back up in order to drive straight into the garage. When placed in reverse, the vehicle raced backwards out of control, hit a parked van, a tree and stopped side ways on the grass. The consumer sustained a badly bruised left hand and index finger. Consumer requested Toyota to refund the full purchase price of the vehicle, cost of extended warranty and cost of repairs. Updated 04/30/10.

Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration, jumped a curb and ended up in store front. The consumer had driven in a grocery store parking lot when the incident occurred. The consumer requested Toyota to take possession of the vehicle and refund the full purchase price.

While pulling inside of a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated uncontrollably. The consumer placed both feet on the brake pedal. But vehicle continued to accelerated. The consumer turned off the vehicle in order to stop it. The consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection but mechanic could not duplicate the problem. When the vehicle went out of control the last time, the consumer hit a wall and the air bags did not deploy.