8.9
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$1,433.00
Average Mileage:
57,139 miles
Total Complaints:
53 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace an oil hose which sprang a leak (21 reports)
- not sure (12 reports)
- replace hose cam bearings and all gaskets (6 reports)
- replace oil hose (6 reports)
- replace engine (5 reports)
- engine rebuild (2 reports)
engine problem
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Toyota dealer.
Helpful Websites About 2006 Toyota Avalon complete loss of engine oil with no warning light
2009Sep 18
Avalon Limited
- Tiptronic transmission
- 50,000 miles
Just like everyone else posted. Gorgeous Friday afternoon, I pull into the driveway and my husband happens to hear my car, says it sounds like a diesel truck. Pulls the dipstick out and it's dry. I had just had the oil changed at a local place so my husband thought they had mistakenly left the old gasket on. He looked under the car and the whole underside was covered in oil. I was shocked as there were no indicator lights on. Had the car towed to a friend who works at a dealership (not Toyota). He investigated and found the pin hole leak in the oil hose. We thought it was just a fluke thing. Thanked God there were no engine issues... until this week (3 weeks after the incident). Now there is a LOUD ticking when I drive at low speeds. Investigating further, we came upon this site. What a mess and how shameful of Toyota to not fix the issue. We're not sure what to do at this point, haven't called a dealership or anything. Ugh.
2009Sep 28
Avalon Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 63,000 miles
Total loss of engine oil with NO WARNING LIGHTS at all. Just had oil changed at Toyota dealer 4 weeks ago. Driving home, started to hear slight noise. Car was driving fine. By the time I arrived home, rest of oil emptied onto the floor of my garage. Had car towed to dealership. So far they say it's a "torque tube". And according to them they are seeing it more on Avalons with higher mileage (63,000 miles is high mileage????). We have extended warranty plan. Now trying to argue with dealership that this should be covered.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Sep 22
Avalon Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 39,000 miles
I could not believe it when I found this website. All of the complaints were EXACTLY like mine, and they just went on,and on, and on! I cannot believe Toyota hasn't recalled this faulty oil line. I drove a Toyota Camry for 11 years and it is still running great, I was just simply sick of looking at it after that long. I was actually wanting to look around at some other makes, but my husabnd insisted on another Toyota since the Camry had been so good. I love this Avalon, and I hope this is the only issue we have with it.
2009Sep 04
Avalon Limited 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 72,900 miles
Well, This is my 3rd Toyota, the car was running fine up until Thursday night when I started the car I heard a cranky fan like noise, I did not know what it was after I drove shopping and came back after 2-3 miles and parked the car on my driveway in the dark. Next morning when I pulled my car out of the driveway the noise continued and I saw a pool of engine oil all over, I called the dealer immediately and surprisingly they offered to repair the car the same day (same day appointments-never happened before even for just oil changes)
After taking a look they said the oil line needs to be fixed and cost would be $450 for a half days work. I called back the evening and was told now they called Toyota as they don't know what was wrong but have not heard from Toyota so I wont get my car up until after labor day weekend- (had to get a rental for a week)
Next week, they told be the gear shaft cracked and gaskets need replacement and a 16 hrs job and would cost approx $6000 to repair "but Toyota will cover 50%" even though I am out of 60,000 miles warranty. I did some research and found this is a manufacturer defect.
i walked in to dealer to see my car and the mechanic showed me the broken part and told me Toyota has since redesigned this part so it does not break and cause sudden oil leaks- once the new part is replaced I should not expect more similar problems- I am keeping my fingers crossed.
I called Toyota and they made a note of my problem but said I have to get the number of the Toyota regional manager from the dealer who said he cannot let me talk directly due to" business relationship with him". I told them its not fair for the customers to pay for the manufacturing faults of Toyota. Finally the "hidden" Toyota regional manager offered to settle for paying 2/3 rd for my car's repair. I am concerned about others driving the Avalon and a big cover-up by Toyota. they should be ashamed of themselves and refund the repair cost for us and recall the manufacturer defect part -that they are already aware of and since have modified in newer models
2009Jun 03
Avalon LX
- Automatic transmission
- 86,000 miles
TRAVELING DOWN I 70 AT SPEEDLIMIT
POP !!!
LIGHTS ON THE DASH OH YES THE OIL LIGHT WAS LAST TO GO ON
STOPPED ON THE OFF RAMP AS SOON AS I COULD
CALLED TRIPLE A TOWED TO JEFF WYLER IN SPRINGFIELD OHIO
PHENOMENAL PEOPLE AND SERVICE
EASY DIAGNOSIS FOR THEM
BLOWN ENGINE
DUE TO REAR OIL LINE RUPTURE
TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE
DEALT WITH TOYOTA OF AMERICA THEY WERE TERRIBLE
JEFF WYLER IN SPRINGFIELD AWESOME
INSURANCE //TOYOTA REPS ///OTHERS KNOW IT IS AN ISSUE
REPLACED ENGINE
AFTER SERVICE AT A TOYOTA DEALER
AND DEALING WITH TOYOTA OF AMERICA
A REALLY BAD TASTE
I HAVE KEPT THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS A LEASE
I LOVE THE CAR
I RESPECT JEFF WYLER GROUP
I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA OF AMERICA
I HOPE THAT NO ONE GETS HURT
IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH FORD UNTIL CARS ROLLED OVER
I AM OUT THE MONEY PLUS RENTALS,
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Sep 10
Avalon Limited 3.6L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 44,000 miles
like all avalons, air conditioning light flashing and smelled burnt oil. saw pool of oil in driveway and right side underneath engine soaked with oil. had car towed to
sloan toyota in jenkintown, pa. they fixed it quickly and well, as far as i know,
replaced v v t oil hose as well as serpentine belt and a few other parts. there was
no charge to me under drive train warranty. service was excellent and hopefully
i avoided a catastrophic problem. the parts manager told me the new part was an upgrade and should not happen again. i would suggest toyota owners of years 05
through 09 have v v t hose replaced before it breaks, even if you have to pay for it
yourself. bl
2009Sep 04
Avalon XL 3.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 77,000 miles
SAME AS EVERY BODY ELSE. SUDDEN LOSS OF ALL ENGINE OIL
Update from Sep 14, 2009: this leaks out enough oil on the road to be a serious hazard to any one on two wheels.
my trail of oil is still there after two weeks
2009Sep 04
Avalon XL 3.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 77,000 miles
I WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE RETURN LINE ON THE OIL PUMP SPLIT WIDE OPEN .THE ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT DID NOT LIGHT .A/C LIGHT STARTED BLINKING DUE TO OIL NO PULLYS.
THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFTY HAZARD ON TOYOTAS PART TO LET ENGINE OIL RUN OVER VERY HOT EXHAUST PIPE WITH THE VERY LIKELY HOOD OF STARTING A FIRE AROUND THE ENGINE. I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE TOYOTA CORP. DOSE NOT WARN OWNERS OF THE DANGER THEY ARE IN .THEY ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. A SIMPLE NOTICE IN THE MAIL IS ALL IT WOULD TAKE
Update from Sep 11, 2009: on you tube they show a 2006 avalon with this problem by the oil pump. Toyota used what looks like rubber hose and two clamps . instead of hard piping it all the way from point A to point B. the weak link is the rubber hose!
I read that in 08 they made a change and hard piped it all the way point A to B
Update from Sep 12, 2009: I WAS LOOKING AT THE REPAIR THE DEALER MADE THEY REPLACE METAL TUBE AND 3 INCHS OF HOSE WHERE OIL ENTERS BY OVER HEAD CAM THEY CALL IT BANK 1.THEN I JACKED THE CAR UP AND REMOVED FRONT PASSENGER TIRE TO LOOK AT OIL PUMP.THERE ARE MORE RUBBER HOSES BY PUMP,HOW ABOUT THOSE HOSES ARE THEY THE SAME POOR QUIALTY AS THE ONE THAT SPLIT WIDE OPEN.THE DEALER MADE REPAIR BUT THEY LEFT THE BOTTOM OF CAR SOAKED WITH OIL.I HAD TO CLEAN IT OFF MY SELF.I COULD GO TO HARDWARE STORE AND BY A BURST PROOF HOSE FOR MY WASHER OR TOILET WHY USE JUNK HOSE ON A 30,000$ CAR AND I DO HAVE TOYOTA EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY CHARGE THERE WARRANTY BACKER 212.00 $ NOT 500 OR 600 $
GENERAL MOTORS HAS BETTER DESIGN,THEY PUT OIL PUMP IN THE OIL PAN.
Update from Sep 15, 2009: avalon should move up to # 15
2009Aug 31
Avalon Limited 3.5L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 55,400 miles
I can't believe Toyota has not made a recall on this problem. It would have saved them big $$ in the long run, not to mention all the many quarts of oil that have leaked out into the environment. People have endured a lot of aggravation because of this ongoing problem that the manufacturer has done nothing to nip it in the bud. My local dealer is covering the repair plus a rental but I am still livid. Any time someone does this major of a repair to a car it leaves you open to other problems in the future that may not be covered by warranty. I am seriously thinking of getting rid of this car as soon as it's paid for. This car is my first Toyota and probably will be my last.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Aug 16
Avalon Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 60,745 miles
We were fortunate, we saw the oil leak in our tire treads as we pulled into a shopping area - looked under the car and saw a heavy flow of oil leaking. Checked the oil - nothing registered on the dip stick. Put 3 quarts of oil in - it held until I started the engine, then started flowing out.
Had it towed to shop - was the 4" section of the external oil delivery system pipe, which is actually a hose for those 4 inches between 8" or so of high pressure line on either side - seems pretty strange design.
Replaced that and life is good, but could well have been stranded on the side of the road in 100 degree weather, with a burned up engine!
2009Jul 30
Avalon Limited 3.5L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 47,000 miles
First symptom was the A/C inop with the blinking light. When arriving home 10 miles later noticed the engine noise was different (similar sound of a diesel engine). Shut it down and popped hood; I could smell the burning oil and see oil dripping on driveway. Like all the other complaints I never got an oil light. Called Toyota dude next day and he sent a tow truck and had it ready the day after that. All covered by warranty so no cost to me but a couple days without the car. I told service rep that I had read about numerous other Avalons with the exact same oil line ruptures. He stated he has seen this problem with a "few" other Avalons. They did use a better quality hose for the replacement so hopefully I am good to go now. If this had happened after 60,000 miles then it would be all out of my pocket. I would bet a 1000 bucks Toyota is not recalling these cars cause the vast majority of these cars will make it past 60,000 miles. Then Toyota can make big bucks on the repair costs. This is my first and last Toyota.
2009Jun 06
Avalon LX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 105,000 miles
Seems to be same problem as others reported. I was on a trip from Tx to Al (and return); when I reached Al my air conditioner stopped cooling (light blinking)! No other lights, temp gauge fine! On return trip, finally got AC to cool, but literally 2 mi from home, check engine light came on and a clicking noise started. Stopped car immediately, had towed to independent mechanic. He has replaced this HOSE and said this is an incredibly bad design!! The hose had a pin-hole leak. Looks like we have a problem with the timing, mechanic looking at it. May have other damage - don't know yet. Evidently the leaking oil made the AC belt slip because the AC seems to be okay. My confidence in Toyota is destroyed!!! (Especially discovering that this is becoming a known problem - shame on Toyota for not notifying owners!!!!)
2009Jul 26
Avalon Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 57,000 miles
My problem was the same as others. We were on our way home to Illinois from Mississippi in our 2006 Toyota Avalon and started smelling oil burning about 30 minutes into our trip. Pulled over and I noticed the right side of my car was drenched in oil. Checked the oil and it was about a quart low. So we decided to proceed and the burnt oil smell got worse. We pulled over at the first exit in Missouri and when we did eventually what ever was leaking finally had to much and a large portion of oil spilled on the ground. I checked the oil and it empty. I bought a couple of quarts of oil and drove 5 miles it to the nearby Toyota dealer which is in Blythesville, Arkansas. It is currently there getting looked at. So far I know I will be out of $90 just for the diagnostic check that HAVE to be done. I am currently in Mississippi waiting to hear the new of what it is going to cost me to get home. I will keep you posted on what transpire from this!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Jul 25
Avalon XLS 3.5L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 27,956 miles
Toyotas have been know for making reliable and dependable vehicles for years. It was a total shock to me. Problems like this dont happen to Toyotas. Especially one of their higher end model vehicle.
I was coming home from the airport in Las Vegas, NV, it was actually raining in the desert (at least in some parts). I have drove thought the rain and it started to clear out. I was driving on the surface streets after exiting the freeway. As I sat at a red light I noticed a small cloud of white smoke coming from the engine. The smoke appeared to be coming from the wheel area. I thought the brakes were hot from it being wet and that is why it was smoking. Another theory was it was the car next to me which was a very old car that had white smoke coming from its exhaust. I didnt think it was MY CAR! MY TOYOTA! Never in a million years would I think it was my car. I never had ANY PROBLEMS until today. I continued to drive on. Keep in mind no warning lights were indicated, the temperature was still in good standing, the power was there when I was accelerating, there was no smoke while driving, there was no smell, and it was a TOYOTA!! I noticed again more smoke started to build at the next street light. I then looked for a place to pull over and check it out for myself. As I was waiting at the light again, a guy in the next lane gets my attention and tells me my car is smoking form the engine. I COULD NOT BELIVE IT MY WORSE FEAR BECAME A REALITY! Once I pulled over I smelt burnt oil and open the hood and saw that the right side of the engine was completely wet with oil all the way to the back. I found the leak. (Well my uncle did) It was a hose. When the engine was turned on the oil would squirt out of it. I got a tow truck to tow it to Toyota. The service department was closed so they will not get a chance to look at it until Monday. I talked to a Toyota Service Writer early and informed him about the siatuon and he said there is an oil pressure line located in the right side of the engine and that should be the problem. He said it is covered under the Drive train Warranty. We will find out on Monday. This is a disappointment and a let down from Toyota. Class action lawsuits should be filed against Toyota Motor Corp. As I read in a pervious complaint There's a very real possibility my car could've caught fire, given the amount of oil on the bottom of car, its proximity to the exhaust system
2009Jul 13
Avalon XL V6
- Automatic transmission
- 46,200 miles
Near the completion of a 60 mile trip to Busch Garden we heard a slight ticking noise. No engine light came on and I parked the car in the parking lot. When we got out of the car there was a strong burnt rubber smell. Not to disappoint the grandchildren we went to the park. Upon returning to the car 7 hours later, I started the car and the oil indicator light came on for a second and then went off. Our daughter followed us to the nearest gas station. The light never came on again, although there was a strong odor when we parked. We checked the oil and there was no oil on the stick. After putting 4 quarts of oil in, my daughter started the car and as I looked under the car, oil gushed out when she pressed on the accelator. I immediately called the dealer authorized towing service and the car was towed back to our local dealer and my daughter gave us a ride home. Early the next morning Toyota called and notified us that an oil pipe on the engine had broken and we had lost all the oil. They were aware of this possible defect but took no action when the car was in for a 45,000 mile check up just 2 weeks prior. The engine required major engine repair including cam shaft, timing chain, and O rings. We were treated great by the dealer, were given a rental car for 2 days and all repair costs were covered, although I understand that Toyota was billed over $4,000 for this repair. The car now runs great, but thank God the engine is guaranteed for life by the dealer because there is always that small doubt that everything is as good as new.
2009Jul 09
Avalon XLS V6
- Automatic transmission
- 39,173 miles
My 2006 Avalon is the fourth Toyota I've owned and the 2nd Avalon (first was a 2000). My situation was very similar to other postings and I was only LUCKY, thanks to a generous and kind tow truck driver, this wasn't worse. I was on the Interstate, coming home around 9 PM - about a 240 mile drive, when we stopped at a drive-through to eat. While we waited, I smelled burning oil but thought it was the adjacent car. When I got back on the Interstate and up to speed ~70 MPH, the A/C light started blinking, then the A/C shut down. Shortly thereafter, the check engine light came on and the oil light started flickering. I immediately pulled into a gas station in a remote part of South Carolina and looked under the hood. The right side of the engine compartment was wet with oil. Under and behind the car was soaked with oil as well. I checked the dipstick and it was DRY, so I put a quart in to check the severity of the leak. As you may guess, it drained right onto the ground. I was stranded 150 MILES FROM HOME and the nearest dealer was about 30 miles away and already closed for the night. By a stroke of luck, a tow truck was passing through to fill up and the operator agreed to tow us home - 150 miles, three big guys sitting in the cramped cab, etc. for $1/mile:) I still can't believe it! The next morning the Toyota dealer told the problem was a ruptured bypass hose in the oil system. I'd seen the hose when I looked under the car the previous night, but wasn't sure this was the problem because I couldn't believe Toyota would use an unbraided or otherwise armored hose to transport oil (a flammable liquid) 1) so close to the ground, where ruptures from road debris, etc. are more likely and 2) so close to the hot exhaust system. There's a very real possibility my car could've caught fire, given the amount of oil on the bottom of car, its proximity to the exhaust system, and that I was operating at interstate speeds. Toyota needs to issue a recall on this immediately and should be ashamed to use such cheap parts in a vital and potentially dangerous system just to save a couple nickels.
2009Jun 24
Avalon Touring V6
- Automatic transmission
- 63,000 miles
Contact Toyota with your complaint!
Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc.
Customer Assistance Center
Department H200
19001 S. Western Ave.
Torrance, CA 90509
310-468-4000
Toll free: 1-800-331-4331
2009Jun 25
Avalon Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 98,000 miles
My story is much like the others. My wife came home from work without knowing anything was wrong. We took a short trip (luckily) in town and heard a strange noise. It would come and go. I did notice the oil light flicker once but it stayed off. When we arrived at our destination I got out and looked under the car. I saw the oil dripping all over the place. I first thought the filter had come loose but when I climbed under the car it was completely dry. The leak was coming from further back. I checked the dipstick and it was dry!!! I had a friend drive me home and picked up 6 more quarts of oil, filled the crankcase and drove it to my mechanic about 1 mile away. I turn it off and left it for him to check out. I found this website that night and called him the next day and told him this was a known problem on Avalons. (I also called the Toyota dealer and was told that since the car was out of warranty it wasn't covered.) My mechanic got the replacement part and fixed the car. He said the rubber hose didn't look that much different from the defective one. He couldn't understand why they didn't replace them with a wire braided high pressure hose. The total cost was under $300 and hopefully the engine wasn't hurt. I have been buying Toyotas for 20 years and have always been impressed with their quality and willingness to be up front and fix known issues. This incident has definitely caused me to rethink buying Toyota for my next vehicle.
2009Jun 15
Avalon XL V6
- Automatic transmission
- 26,470 miles
I drove home from my volunteer position (I'm a retired lady), drove into my driveway and turned into the garage and then noticed the odor of burning oil or something. Got out of car and saw a trail of oil drip marks all the way up and out my concrete driveway, which had just been pressure-washed two weeks before! I looked under the car while it was in the garage and saw drips coming from the engine area. Had no warning lights, bells, or whistles telling me my oil was leaking. I backed out of garage to put car in position to be towed. Upon checking oil, only the very tip of stick showed any sign of it. Tow truck driver said he had seen several 06 Avalons with this problem and even some Camrys. Dealer said everything was covered under warranty and well it should be with only 26,470 miles on it. Dealer paid for tow job and I was treated very well. At that time I didn't realize the extent of the problem or I would have questioned him about a recall notice. Car was towed in around 10 A.M. and was ready for me the same day by 4 P.M. He did mention that he would provide a loaner if car needed to be kept overnight.
I don't understand all of the parts listed on the no charge invoice I got but there were three different gaskets, a timing chain cover, a fipg oil pan, some kind of belt and a pipe sub assembly. (Maybe you guys know what all this is.) The thing that really gets to me is that I have lost confidence in this automobile. Paid a lot of money, expecting to drive it until the wheels fell off, and now feel uneasy as I have already planned a long trip in this hot weather. I noticed someone said it happened more than once and I just pray that in my case once was enough. I researched Toyota, found the name and address of the President of Toyota Sales USA and plan on sending him my opinion as to their negligence in not issuing a recall to fix this problem. There are probably thousands of people driving around in these Avalon 06 time bombs, not knowing they could have a catastrophic engine failure that may result in more than just a ruined engine. It might be the cause of a vehicle accident especially if it happens on the interstate. I feel extremely lucky that if this had to happen, it occurred in my own driveway. I should be sending Toyota a bill for cleanup in my garage and driveway!
2009Jun 13
Avalon XLS 3.5L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 51,733 miles
My husband and I had just left home on a Saturday morning in our 2006 Avalon for a two hour drive to a theme park. Five minutes from home, we stopped to pick up some things for the drive. On the walk into the store, my husband turned and noticed the trail of oil following us into the parking lot. My first reaction was, "it's not my car". Looking under the car there was a huge puddle accumulating under the front on the pavement and smoke was then coming from under the hood along with a smell of burned engine oil. When the hood was opened, oil had spewed all over the left side of the engine compartment. There had been no sensor warnings and no leak in the home garage floor. We started it and drove it less than a mile and parked it at a local garage (still no warnings) and called for a ride back home. We never checked the dipstick to see if any oil was remaining.
On Monday, I called the local dealership and they expected it would be covered under warranty (under 60K miles). They recommended towing and asked to have the tow driver bill them directly. Later that afternoon, the diagnosis was a ruptured "metal" (according to them) oil line. It was repaired the same day and the oil cleaned out of the engine compartment (still smells as still burning off though). The repair and tow costs were covered under warranty. The dealership, when asked, said they had seen this on Avalon's and Camry's but there was no factory recall.
I think we were lucky that we made the stop that morning and avoided being stranded further from home. I hope that the catastrophic leak will not result in future engine issues. I am accustomed to driving Toyotas upwards of 160K miles, 10 years with little more than routine maintenance costs and then trading or selling them.
2009Jun 01
Avalon XLS V6
- Automatic transmission
- 44,000 miles
same as the other ones.complete loss of engine oil. added oil & drove to dealer.
they have had the car since 06/01/09,replaced an oil line, engine was pinging when
they tested the car. toyota wants them to replace some engine part first, before
they will ok an engine replacement. unfortunately part is on back order till at least
june 25th. what a mess.
2009May 29
Avalon Limited 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 36,480 miles
This is a mirrior image of the already documented statements.
My wife was driving our 2006 Avalon to work and experienced a brief flickering of the AC button, She turned off the AC and it restarted without problems. She got to work without incident, drove home after work and then to her mothers house. after moving her car she noticed an OIL spot on the concrete. Called me, no further driving was done, I checked the oil stick!!!!!! I had to add 4 quarts of oil to the engine to fill to proper level. I cranked the car for 5-10 seconds, oil began shooting out of the base of the engine......Car has been towed to the dealership, we are keeping our fingers crossed. Hopefully no engine damage. Hopefully Toyota will back up the product they are selling. Results pending. NO ENGINE OR OIL LIGHT OR TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT AT ALL !!!!!!
2009May 28
Avalon 3.5L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 37,400 miles
Driving down the highway in rush hour traffic and AC light flutters and AC quits. A few miles down the road the engine oil light flashes and then goes out. I try to get across 5 lanes of bumper to bumper traffic and finally exit the highway pull off and left side of engine compartment covered in oil. Check dip stick and no oil. Put quart of oil in engine and no apparent leak, start engine and oil flying around everywhere. Towed vehicle to Toyota dealership and they confirmed that the oil line between top of engine and VVT broke on #1 bank. Car has 37,000 miles on it. Dealer cleaned up engine compartment and replaced oil line and timing chain cover. When I asked the service adviser about other engine damage (bearings, cam lobes, seals, rings, etc) they looked at me like I was stupid. They assured me that the engine was fine. I told them that if they were so confident they could provide extended warranty. They declined. I then spoke to the Service Manager and got nothing but more assurances. She stated that they have seen a lot of these oil lines break and have never seen an engine go bad as a result... I said prove it. When they conducted the repair they didn;t even change the oil filter....
I have always owned GM/Ford/Chrysler vehicles and thought that I would try a Toyota since everyone says the "ownership experience" is so great... NEVER AGAIN. My last two cars have been GM's (Buick with 165,000 when I sold it and a Chevy Impala with nearly 200,000 that my son still drives) No problems with either of them...
I'm sure my Dad rolled in his grave when I bought a Toyota, I'm also sure he's laughing his ass off now...
2009May 06
Avalon XLS V6
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
I was one of the fortunate ones with this problem. I went to work one day and my wife noticed a huge pool of oil sitting in the garage and followed a trail of oil down the driveway, out of the neighborhood to my workplace where my car sat in the parking lot leaking oil. I brought my car to the local toyota dealership where they told me that it would be a significant repair and would let me know. I then went online and found this site where I read everyone's complaint about the oil leaks. I contacted the dealership, talked to the manager and cited these complaints. My car was ready the next day and while I have over 50,000 miles on it there was no charge for the repair. If I didn't find this website and read everyone's complaints I really don't know what it would have cost me to get it repaired. For those of you who are reading these complaints and have not experienced the problem yet, contact your local Toyota dealership and have them replace the hose because what happens is the oil line had split. I was fortunate that I wasn't on a big trip when it happened.
2009May 21
Avalon Limited
- Automatic transmission
- 44,000 miles
Smelled oil. a/c light flickered. then check engine light came on then oil light flickered on and off. drove directly to coggin at the avenues in jacksonville florida. unable to fix car today but if they cannot get part in will give me loaner car. Did not mention any of the problems previous reported with avalon. stated I had 1 quart of oil left in engine. informed I would have to pay for oil change and replace ac belt.
I hope I have not damaged the engine. I will print off this site and take to dealer tomorrow if not treated right. I love my avalon but now I am wishing I would have stayed with Ford,
Update from May 23, 2009: I am still a happy avalon owner. coggin toyota replaced my vvti oil leak and I was back in my car next morning. Phew I was worried when I drove today but my engine sounds ok. Goodluck to everbody. I am passing the word.
2009May 10
Avalon
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
This is similar to many of the prior complaints. As I was entering my driveway, I saw blue smoke from the back of my car. There was oil on my driveway and garage. Mechanic told me Toyota used a cheap hose and it failed causing a loss of engine oil. He repaired the hose and was not sure if there was subsequent damage. I tried driving it for a couple of days but found a banging noise at lower speeds. I brought it back today and the mechanic gave me the bad news that the engine needed extensive repair, exceeding $3,500.
2009May 18
Avalon Limited 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 74,000 miles
My story is the same as everyone's...wife came home from work, she smelled something funny, I checked out the car to find a pool of oil in the garage. I am reporting this to Toyota today and will report back to this web site on what they tell me. I have had the local Toyota dealer here in Colorado Springs give me bad information before and and outrageous fee to fix my heater in my 4runner. Come to find out they never checked it and just wanted to replace it. I am curious on what line they will give me. Report back soon.
2009May 04
Avalon LE 3.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 88,000 miles
While driving on the highway the 2006 Avalon stalled, vehicle towed to dealership. After $500.00 for an inspection, dealer informed owner that the engine is seized and a bearing exploded, yes exploded and right through the valve cover. I pointed out to dealer that a service bulletin exists for the oil flow to the Variable Valve Timing that indicates severe failure if occurs at highway speed. Dealer ignored request for support and indicated repair is $13,000.00 in parts plus labor to rebuild. Gave me the option to find a used motor and have it shipped and they would exchange for an additional $2100.00.
Complained to Toyota customer call center and received case number 0905111933, informed by call center the the toyota Regional Parts representative denies any support for the failure. Now looking for legal advise as the car was misrepresented at the time of sale as a high quality "top of the line" product. The service bulletins were issued prior to the sale and the "Full Disclosure Policy" of the dealership never indicated any quality concerns.
2009May 04
Avalon XL
- Automatic transmission
- 31,000 miles
One day I'm driving and saw smoke coming from my car. I said no, this isn't happening, my service isn't due until 31,000 miles. I had just reached my 31,000 mile mark. I drove for two more days and my car was loud and started putting. The next thing I know, I hear a click click and my oil light comes on. I ran into the store that was across the street and bought some oil to put in the car. I drove it right back home and I saw the oil I just put in on the ground. I called the dealership and they had my car towed to them.
The service manager told me exactly what was happening to my car and that they were having problems with the Avalon engines and that they would take care of me. I was upset. I told them this is a Toyota. Toyota's aren't supposed to have these problems, especially at 31,000 miles. They gave me a rental and I've had it for over a week. Guess what? The brand new 2010 Camry rental they gave me makes a lot of noise when I start it up. What's going on with Toyota? I love my Avalon, but if it's going to be problematic for me, I'd rather get a Jaguar.
Update from Jun 16, 2009: The Toyota dealership had my car for almost a month. I've had it back for a little over a week and so far I haven't had any problems. They had to replace the oil hose, some valves and chains and other things. I basically got a lot of parts replaced in the engine. Good thing I have a warranty until 75,000 miles. I love my Avalon, but I think I'm turned off now and may want to trade it for something else. This car was too expensive to have had any engine problems so soon, not to mention it's a TOYOTA.
2009May 09
Avalon Touring V6
- Automatic transmission
- 32,000 miles
I went to attend a graduation for my nephew in Santa Barbara, CA over 100 miles away. Upon arrival I notice the car was running funny and had a smell. Upon checking the oil level there was none. My car left a trail of oil throughout the parking lot however there was not puddle under the car as all the oil was already gone. No warning, No light. Upon assessing my car looking under the hood and under the car a gentleman passing by said he knew exactly what was wrong cuz the same thing happened to him. We had to have the car towed to the nearest Toyota dealer in Golita. Of course it was Saturday and they did not have the part to fix the car so we had to leave it there and come back home to Rosemead (LA) without the car.
We now have to wait for the car to be fixed, hopefully that is all that is wrong and then drive back up to Golita to pick up the vehicle which will result in taking a day off from work to retrieve my car. I am also without a car from Sat - whenever the car is fixed. What a headache.
With so many complaints already made about this problem there should be a recall and we should all be reimbursed for the expenses and inconvenience. Especially when many have been for us being away from home some distance away.
2009Apr 30
Avalon 3.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 56,000 miles
When I took my car in for the same problem, they gave me a rental and low and behold, the same thing happened with this car. Engine light and skid light. I called the general manager and he said it would be okay to drive the weekend, come in on Monday and they will give me another rental. I was going to trade my car in and get another Toyota but after this experience I will be going in different direction.
2009May 01
Avalon LS 3.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 56,000 miles
I have had check engine light on since the first month of purchasing this lemon. I've gone for repair at least 5 times. I told them if they didn't fix it I was going to get a lawyer They did a temporary fix. I went to work Thursday evening, when I got off the check engine light came on, the skid light came on, the oil light kept flashing, and the maintenance light kept flashing. I heard a ticking noise and rattling noise. I made it to the dealer the next morning and they said oh that was 3 years ago. Not! They checked the car and they came back with a completely different attitude. All of my oil had leaked out, they said I was "still under warranty, don't worry we need to get a part for your motor, we have arranged for a rental car".
2009Apr 20
Avalon Limited 3.5L, V6
- Automatic transmission
- 82,000 miles
Well, you always think it'll happen to the other guy. Wrong. It just happened to me or shall I say my wife. I get a call from her saying that smoke is pouring out of the back of the vehicle while she's driving down the freeway. After reaching her employment parking lot she notices a pool of oil under the car. We had the vehicle towed 10 miles to our repair shop and the leaking hose on the top of the engine is spotted. The repair cost us around $350 including the towing but it could have been so much worse.
I feel for the folks who lost major engine components and were out of warranty (we were but the repair cost wasn't horrible). I contacted Toyota. They were apologetic and explained that a recall on the issue could come up in the future. If a recall does occur, we would be reimbursed for the out of pocket costs but I'm not holding my breath. So sad when a company with a once great reputation starts to cut corners. This type of defect and its potentially catastrophic implications is too big to sweep under the carpet.
2009Apr 19
Avalon Touring V6
- Automatic transmission
- 49,327 miles
While out of town, approximately 2 hrs from home, My car lost all of its oil in about 12 minutes. I first noticed the smell that I thought was really strong exhaust. After about 10 minutes I began to lose power and my oil light started flashing. I stopped and looked under the hood to find the entire right ( passenger) side of the engine compartment saturated with oil. I checked the dip stick and it showed no oil. I put 4 quarts of oil in before it showed on the dip stick. Someone else started the car and I observed oil pouring out of an oil tube connected to the rear head. We turned the engine off and called to have it towed to the nearest Toyota dealer. This was on Sunday, so I called the Dealership first, I was instructed by an automated system to call an emergency number. That number instructed me to leave detailed information and someone would call me back as soon as possible. After waiting about 2 hours I called Triple A. The emergency contact called me back at 10 am on Monday. What was the sense in having an emergency number???? They should just say "sorry we are closed". I called the service department at 7 am, they said they had just opened and knew my car was there and would contact me as soon as they knew something. I called them back at 11:00, to find out the repair had been made and they were cleaning my engine compartment. I picked up my car at about 1 pm. They replaced the oil tube, 2 gaskets, and the timing chain cover. Luckily.....my warranty covered the repair cost. When I asked the technician if they did any testing to check for engine damage they said they couldn't and 'IF" the engine light came on just bring it back. I hope the problem is fixed and I pray I don't have any other damage. I missed a day of work and was very stressed out. Like everyone else I don't expect this from a Toyota. I had a 13 year career at the Toyota plant in Georgetown, KY. Through one of my contacts in powertrain, I learned that an ECI (complete parts change) was implemented last year. I suggest that EVERYONE that has had this problem, print out these complaints and ask your local news stations to investigate it. ONLY through negative publicity will Toyota publicly acknowledge this problem and do something about it.
2009Feb 20
Avalon Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 49,000 miles
Well, it seems like a lot of people are having the same type of problem. Basically, my oil leaked out without warning. I ended up getting quite a bit of work done on it: cam bearings, oil tube and gaskets had to be replaced. I was out of my car for about a month, and Toyota didn't even give me a loaner. I was and still am up to a certain extent a big fan of Toyota cars, but they should have had a recall on it or at least admit that there is a problem, which Toyota still hasn't admitted. And only God knows how many more people have had the same problem. But as far as dependability, I don't think I will be taking my Avalon on any long trips anytime soon. And o yea, now I have to take it back in again to see what is going on with the sensor that tells you if there is something or someone behind you while you are backing your car. As soon as I put it in reverse, it continuously goes off for no reason, which is very annoying.
2009Apr 14
Avalon XLS V6
- Automatic transmission
- 48,000 miles
My Avalon has experienced complete oil loss after driving for 25 miles, the oil light flashed for a brief moment and the engine started to run as if it was being muffled. I had the car towed to the dealership and was told the following day that the oil loss was the result of a ruptured oil line which is currently on back order for 3 to 5 weeks due to the high demand for the replacement part. Fortunately, I have been given a rental for this time period. My concern at this point is whether there have been any engine damage due to the lack of oil.
2009Apr 05
Avalon XLS V6
- Automatic transmission
- 62,500 miles
I noticed a small amount of oil under the car so I backed it up a couple of feet and opened the hood to check. Oil was pouring out of the timing chain and oil transfer tube area so we shut it off FAST. I had it towed to a dealer to find out that serious damage had been done to our 2006 Avalon. Without even driving it any they said the Cam bearings, oil tube and gaskets would need to be replaced costing $3,500. What if I had been driving when this happened? I thought I was lucky till I heard that price.Why is this not a recall? Why didn't we receive some notice like all the repair shops did? My first foreign car...what a disappointment!
2009Mar 19
Avalon Limited
- Automatic transmission
- 86,000 miles
My 2006 Avalon completely lost oil with no warning signs. I don't know if the motor is damaged yet . I can't believe the service department at "Coggin Toyota". I was told the problem can take over 60 days to resolve, and that Toyota can not keep up with the demand for the part needed. In the meantime I am without transportation and still making payments on my car. Something must be done. Why is Toyota not making a recall for this problem?
2009Mar 18
Avalon Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
The oil line ruptured while on a 300 mile road trip "vacation". Engine completely ran out of oil and now a new engine is needed. Toyota is obviously aware of this issue but has not issued notices to owners or recalled defective part. I have to return to where the problem occurred (yes 300 miles) to recover the vehicle. Hopefully the "new engine" is defect free.
Update from Jul 6, 2009: Complete engine rebuild. Now 3 months later, A/C has run out of freon. Toyota service says not due to oil line failure, but while having this problem addressed, the mechanic found a Valve Cover is leaking!!! Replaced part again.
2009Mar 10
Avalon Limited
- Automatic transmission
- 80,000 miles
Oil line was back ordered and after a week, I was told it would take 60-90 days to get the part. None was available and had to be manufactured. Toyota replaced with a substitute line that had been used in other areas. Toyota needs to recall and reimburse owners that had to resort to using substitute part.
2009Mar 12
Avalon XLS 3.5L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 60,300 miles
APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AFTER WE HAD OUR CAR IN FOR ITS 60000 MILE SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE, MY WIFE CAME HOME FROM WORK AND SAID TO ME THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH HER CAR. SHE SAID THERE WAS A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A MUFFLED JACK HAMMER AND IT WAS INTERMITTENT. I SAID I WOULD CHECK IT. SHE JUST DROVE 27 MILES TO GET HOME AND THE NOISE STARTED JUST AS SHE LEFT, SO I WAS CONCERNED. I OPENED THE DOOR IN THE KITCHEN THAT LEADS TO THE GARAGE WHERE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND COULD SMELL THE ODER OF BURNING OIL. I STARTED THE ENGINE AND IT SOUNDED NORMAL AND QUICKLY SHUT IT DOWN. I INSPECTED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SAW OIL ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE ENGINE, PASSENGER SIDE AND BY THE CYLINDER HEAD FACING THE FIREWALL. I THEN CHECKED THE OIL DIP STICK AND IT WAS DRY. WENT OUT AND PICKED UP 4 QUARTS OF OIL, PUT IT IN, RAN THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS, SHUT IT DOWN, LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, AND OIL WAS DRIPPING AT A VERY RAPID RATE. I ASKED MY WIFE IF SHE CHECKED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR LOW OIL WARNING, SHE SAID THAT WAS THE FIRST THING SHE DID WHEN SHE HEARD THE ENGINE NOISE, BUT NO WARNING INDICATORS WENT ON, AND THEY DID NOT GO ON WHEN I RAN THE ENGINE. I CALLED THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPT. AND DESCRIBED THE CONDITION. THEY SAID BRING IT IN IN THE MORNING AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. I HAD IT TOWED IN, COST ME $150.00. I STOPPED BY IN THE AFTERNOON TO SEE HOW THEY WERE MAKING OUT.THE SERVICE WRITER TOOK ME INTO THE SHOP WHERE A TECHNICIAN DIRECTED MY ATTENTION TO A SHORT RUBBER HOSE ON TOP OF THE ENGINE WHILE HAVING SOMEONE START THE ENGINE SO I COULD SEE A STREAM OF OIL SQUIRTING OUT OF THIS HOSE. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD TAKE A FEW DAYS BECAUSE THEY HAD TO ORDER THE REPLACEMENT PART. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED A BULLETIN FROM TOYOTA REGARDING THIS TYPE OF FAILURE, AND BECAUSE I WAS SUCH A GOOD CUSTOMER THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS AS WELL AS A RENTAL CAR AS A COURTESY EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED BT 300 MILES. I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOW THE DEALERSHIP HANDLED THIS, BUT I AM SURE DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA, THEY KNOW THEY GOT A DEFECT IN THE FIELD, THAT COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF AN ENGINE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT IMPLEMENTED A RECALL. I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A COURTESY NEW ENGINE IF MINE SEIZED. AND I'AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY SHOW UP IN THE FUTURE AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT.
2009Mar 12
Avalon Limited 3.5L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 32,500 miles
Wife drove to work in the morning (12 miles). Upon leaving from work later in the afternoon she noticed an unusual odor coming through the air vents and heard a clicking sound in the engine. No engine service lights illuminated. She arrived home and I checked under the hood observing engine oil splattered around the right (passenger) side of the engine compartment. Looking under the car revealed that oil was dripping into puddles on my garage floor. I checked the oil dipstick - no oil visible. Wife called her office and learned there was puddle of oil in the parking lot where she had been parked.
I called Toyota dealer and arranged for a tow truck. The car was towed to Toyota last night and I spoke with the service rep this morning. I learned that this is not an uncommon problem in this engine, that the oil line has been redesigned and that it is backordered. The service rep advised the part could be available in a couple of days or a couple of weeks. He offered a rental which I will pick up this afternoon.
My concern now is what potential permanent damage may have occurred since the car was driven 12 miles home with what had to be very low oil level. When I expressed that to the rep, he advised that they would completely check the engine out to insure that there was no additional damage beyond the oil line.
2009Mar 01
Avalon 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 100,500 miles
Sunday March 1, 2009
The car dumped almost all of it's engine oil onto the carport at home. Monday morning, we had it towed. The local Toyota dealer said it was the third Avalon they'd seen do the same thing recently. Turns out some oil line ruptured. The part is on backorder, coming from Japan -- and I am without a car for a month waiting on the part. No loaner offered since the car is out of warranty; won't help pay for repairs for the same reason. Toyota customer service rep in California admits this is happening nationwide; started happening "a couple of months ago." I asked why they hadn't warned other Avalon owners and he said 'it is being discussed." Sooner or later Toyota will have to issue a recall but in the meantime those of us currently experiencing this problem are on our own. I don't know if my engine is blown or not -- the oil dumped in the carport after we returned from a 100 mile trip. So much was dumped, the tow truck operator put it in neutral to roll it out of the carport. Said he would not turn the engine on. Too dangerous for the engine. Toyota should be forced 1) to notify all Avalon owners of the potential threat and 2) they should be required to pay for repairs since they admit it is a defective part and 3) they should supply Avalon owners a loan car for the duration of the repair time. The mechanics tell me they've never seen anything like it. Why isn't the news media covering this?
2009Feb 21
Avalon Touring 3.5L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 27,800 miles
I heard a loud "whirring" noise that lasted for a minute or two then stopped. Shortly after it did, my engine oil light flashed on and off. I immediately pulled over at a convenience store and opened the hood. Oil had sprayed all over the engine compartment and was draining out under the car. I had the car towed 25 miles to the nearest dealer. With only 27,800 miles and less than 2 1/2 years in service, my car was under full warranty. I was told by the service adviser that the part to repair was on back order, and there were three other Avalons in the service department with the same problem awaiting repair. No repair date was promised, and I was provided a rental at no charge. This is not the type of reliability I expect from Toyota, especially their top-of-the-line model.
Update from Jul 9, 2009: I finally received my car back after 23 days; however, when I drove my car off the dealer lot, I noticed a clanging noise in the rear of the car. It turns out that a bushing pulled out of the rear sway bar somewhere in the towing or repair process. This was fixed at no charge under warranty; however, I think it is questionable that the service technician did not notice this on their 6 mile test drive of my car.
I am now having a nightmare in trying to get my towing expense reimbursed. The tow provider dispatched by AAA did not accept a check or credit cards, so I had to pay them in cash. They provided a generic receipt with the name and phone number of the tow company handwritten. The dealer sat on the reimbursement request for 5 weeks before telling me that I'd have to file the request directly with Toyota. Toyota sat on the reimbursement request for 11 weeks and kept telling me they were backlogged. My request for towing reimbursement was finally denied by Toyota since my receipt was not on "official company letterhead." Apparently Toyota is not familiar with the tow service providers that are available in rural Alabama.
This whole experience has soured me on Toyota. For years I heard raves about their bulletproof quality. The experience that I had with this repair and Toyota's "customer care" (an oxymoron for sure) has lost them a customer. I will likely be trading this car in another few months close to when the warranty expires. And at this point there is no way I would even consider another Toyota or Lexus product.
2009Jan 24
Avalon Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 51,000 miles
My wife was driving her Avalon home from the store (about 7 miles from our house) and it started making a humming noise but it was intermittent. She called me to meet her outside when she drove up because she felt like something was wrong. When I opened the hood in has no oil on the dipstick but oil was dripping all over the driveway. I lifted the car to make sure the drain plug and oil filter housing were still secure (they were) ,but there was oil still dripping from under the car and covering almost every part underneath the car. We called Toyota, but will have to wait till Monday for them to tow and look at it. Sounds like a lot of folks are experiencing this same problem. It will be interesting to see what Toyota does about this.
2009Jan 15
Avalon Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
My husband is in the military and we are in the process of relocating. We are currently, in a new area and I had to take my car to the closest dealership to my location because I found a huge amount of oil in the driveway. When checking the oil I realized an oil slick on the ground, I then proceeded to check the dipstick. The oil had began to spill in large volumes out of my Toyota Avalon. I immediately added oil so I could take it to the dealership. I made several calls before taking it to the dealership because I had recently had my car serviced at another Toyota dealership. When describing the problem the maintenance assistant instantly diagnosed the problem without looking at the Avalon. I called two other dealerships and they had the same response and told me that I needed to bring my vehicle in immediately. When I got to the dealership they confirmed the problem and at that time told me that the "pipe assembly" part is on National Backorder and that they weren't expecting the part until February 16, the date the vehicle was taken in was January 15th. Because my car is no longer under warranty, Toyota is taking little to no responsibility for their defective part that is causing undo hardship on Toyota�s owners. After talking to various Avalon dealers, I found that some owners had to have their engines replaced because of the defective part that Toyota is aware of that have not informed the public of this problem. I�ve been loyal customer and have maintained my car to Toyota�s standards by insuring a licensed Toyota technician performs the maintenance on my vehicle in accordance with the maintenance manual. I�ve spoke with Toyota�s regional headquarters management with my complaint and they have offered me a loaner for 10 days. On day ten I am required to return the vehicle and find another source of transportation until my vehicle is fixed. Since then I was informed that the part in due to come in on February 18. So...I could possibly be without a car for almost 30 days. In my opinion that is absurd when I am still paying on this vehicle. I have asked why this particular part isn't classified as a recall issue. Apparently, Toyota has been quietly fixing the problem under while the vehicles are under warranty so that consumers didn't find it to be a severe issue; until a required number of complaints are issued. Now that it is on National backorder I am hoping other measures will be taken to fix this problem. I am just glad that I identified the problem before it got worse and my daughter and I wasn't stranded on HWY 495 in Washington DC traffic, on the cold highway waiting for the tow truck to pick us up because the engine locked up. The reason why I�m submitting this complaint is that every dealership I spoke with knew of this defective part and problem, but yet the company hasn�t issued a recall.
2009Jan 06
Avalon Limited
- Automatic transmission
- 70,000 miles
Bought the car used on 12/26/08. It has been at the Toyota dealership waiting for parts since 1/06/09. Still have not been given an estimated time of repair. They at least gave me a loaner car til my car gets fixed. Big fall from a 2006 Avalon to a 2008 Hyundai Sonata.
Wife drove the car to a meeting on Monday 1/5/09. Called me on the way home and complained of burning smell and all dash board lights flashing. She got home and I tried to start car, would not start. In the am, car started no problem. Drove about 2 miles to Advanced auto parts to have battery checked. Notice smoke coming from car. Check oil, dip stick was dry. Added 2 qts of oil still dry.. Drove car home and called dealer to have wrecker to come and pick vehicle up. Noticed a significant amount of oil on the driveway. (couple of quarts). Called dealership to send wrecker to pick car up. They have had my new car longer than I have.
2008Jan 29
Avalon XLS V6
- Automatic transmission
- 38,000 miles
In January 2008, my 2006 Toyota Avalon suddenly sprang an oil leak. After getting the cat towed to the dealership, I was told it was a hole in the oil supply line. Several months later there was a second leak. This one was a slow leak only living a few dime sized spots on the driveway. I was told there was some type of defective clamp. In October 2008, I had my third leak. This one was also a slow leak. I was told this time it was a defective gasket. In December 2008, I had my fourth leak. Again, it seemed fairly minor with some small spots on the driveway. The dealer said the leak wasn't major and I could drive the car until the part came in as it was a defective gasket which should hold. Well, after a week the part evidently gave out with all the oil leaking out of my car and requiring it to be towed to the dealership again. I have now been informed the part is coming from Japan and won't get here until mid-February 2009 at the earliest. At least the dealership has covered all the repairs under the warranty and has provided me with a rental until the part comes in. All this doesn't instill me with much confidence and I am worried the dealer and Toyota will keep patching the problem until the warranty expires.
2009Jan 13
Avalon Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 64,000 miles
Toyotas, especially top of the line Toyotas are supposed to be bullet proof. The '06 Avalon is obviously not. The more research I do, the more I am convinced that Toyota has a huge problem with this car but simply will not acknowledge it. Had I not immediately gone to my dealer, the one quart of oil that was left in the engine would have leaked out and I would have fried the thing. Of course, it happened 4000 miles after the powertrain warranty expired!
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Oct 03
Avalon Touring 3.5L V6
This is what I wrote and I am planning to submit it to local media tomorrow:
As far back as I remember my family has owned and driven Toyota and Lexus vehicles. I currently drive a 1996 Toyota Avalon XLS that we bought new and it has been great. My father drives Lexus LX and he recently sold his LS400 that he has had since the early 90’s. We have always revered Toyota and Lexus as high quality vehicles, until recently.
My girlfriend Nicole had previously owned a 1996 Chevy Lumina with high mileage but it had some engine issues. The engine overheated and the head gasket blew. There were also some other engine issues while she owned it. The repairs weren’t cheap at all. We’ll just say she was ready for a newer, reliable vehicle.
On my recommendation my girlfriend just purchased a 2006 Toyota Avalon Touring for a great price used. This car was previously owned by a rental agency that maintained the vehicle very well, making sure the Avalon was brought into Toyota for maintenance, when required. Seeing the history of this car listed on Carfax and knowing the reputation that Toyota has, I told her to spend a little extra money and purchase the Avalon.
The 2006 Avalon was a very enjoyable ride giving us up to 30 MPG on the highway when we drove to New York City to visit family. Everything went well, we changed the oil with synthetic oil on a regular basis, we took good care of the car, since we wanted it to last as long as long as the many years I have owned my 1996 Avalon.
My girlfriend, who works for a non-profit organization, was driving home late at night after her shift ended. All of a sudden, all her warning lights came on and her car died and coasted to the side of the road. We had it towed to the mechanics and they said the engine spewed oil everywhere and the engine needed to be replaced since it ran without oil. The shop said it would cost over $6,000 to replace the engine with a used one. This obviously is a substantial amount of money.
I researched on the Internet; when I typed “Toyota Avalon leaked oil”, the first hit I got was entitled, “2006 Toyota Avalon complete loss of engine oil with no warning “
I clicked the link and there were over 50 complaints of people who completely lost their oil without warning. Some were lucky enough to spot the oil leaking, while others had to purchase a brand new engine.
I contacted two local dealerships, both Dorschel and Hoselton. Two different service representatives immediately knew the problem and acknowledged that they were aware of the defect. In addition an assistant manager said they get a few of these every month. This made me frustrated, since they knew about the problem and never contacted any of their customers. What if my girlfriend was injured or killed because of this failure?
This is complete negligence. Toyota knew about the problem and failed to fix or report the problem to its customers.
After doing a little more research I found out on that website that 59 of those complaints regarding the engine were all related to the engine loosing oil without warning. The average mileage of this problem would occur at ~56,929 miles. Since the Toyota Avalon had a 60,000 mile warranty on it and my girlfriends car was over 75,000 miles the dealership said we would have to pay for it out of pocket. Hoselton quoted the repairs of the car would cost over $9,300. Again, this is a substantial amount of money!
When we researched into purchasing the 2006 Toyota Avalon there was no way to anticipate this problem. Only 3 complaints were filled on this website as of December 2008, in less than a year that number has jumped up to over 50. If we would have known that this was going to be a problem, we would have replaced the hose (only about $70) or simply never bothered to purchase the vehicle.
Doron I.
Fairport, NY, USA
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