big time Avalon transmission failure

[mrbill5]

My wife was just given the really bad news that her
1998 Avalon with 69,000 miles needs a new transmission.
The old one started to get a little noisy about 300 miles
ago and then something "broke." The drivetrain sounds like all the brake pads are dragging. We were told not to drive it
as it could sieze.
We had the trans serviced at 30,000 and 60,000 miles.

Is there a history of Avalon transmission failures?
What recourse do we have with Toyota?

Any info would be appreciated.

mr bill

[cam2Xrunner]

There aren't too many trans problems with that year car. Esp if you had the fluid changed. That sucks. Toyota does stick to their product very well an they might just change it out for you. See if you can have the main service manager phone toyota to see what they can do. I have seen them replace engines even out of the warranty. But if that don't work go to www.car-part.com and look for a low mileage trans.

[cam2Xrunner]

Also maybe the trans is fine and you just really need some new brakes

[mrbill5]

We thought the brakes were bad. We just had it in for tire balancing 2 weeks before that and the service manager said that the brakes were noisy. We made an appointment for 2 weeks later to have the front pads, rotors changed out. 2 days later my wife said that the car has a major vibration and noisy front end.

We parked it at that time and took it in for the brake job. Even had a discount coupon which came in the mail the day before
for brake work. Took it in and got "the call."

I called the NHTSA and filed a claim that the sudden transmission failure was a safety defect. I will call the Toyota number monday and let them know about the failure events. My wife is upset in that we had a 84 VW Jetta and it had a tranmission go out at the 60,000 mile mark. We weren't expecting this sort of problems
with Toyota. And yes, I know that shit happens and sometime failures occur. I really hope Toyota steps up the plate and reimburses us ($3200 estimate including labor for a rebuilt transaxle.)

Many thanks to the folks for replying to my post.

mrbill5

[Rolla97]

have several different shops look @ it to make sure the tranny is the problem. A ton of rediculously stupid people tend to work @ auto repair shops.

[EKam]

Where did you get your car serviced?

I would go somewhere else like a transmission shop to confirm the problem.

30K miles between transmission fluid change seem like a lot, I do mine at 15k.

[mrbill5]

The service manager at our Toyota dealership is the one
that says the problem is in the transmission. I have never heard bad brakes sound like what her car sounds like and I was once upon a time a mechanic. The 30,000 miles between fluid changes is what is
recommened by both the service manual and the dealer.


I called Toyota this morning and filed a complaint that the trans failed prematurely. They are going with the info I gave them and contacting the dealership. Should have more info this thursday or so.

[EKam]

Keep us updated.

Unfortunately there are a lot of fishy Toyota dealership out there. I've even heard of a few that they would rather ignore problems they found on your car until it breaks, then they tell you how much it is to replace (instead of repairing) the part.

[jhbhatia]

How much powertrain warranty is on toyota's of 1998. I ask cus my es300 was 74K when its tranny failed, THANKFULLY, got the problem fixed thru lexi for FREE (minus some deductibles and miniscual other softcost into other parts mainly shop supplies not even totalling 40 bucks). Yeah, 30K mile service schedule is what toyota recommends..but did you do a drain&fill or tranny flush. I'm guessing drain&fill. Cus' if you did the flush, then this shouldn't have happened..but then again..toyota's too are sometimes plagued with lemons!

[mrbill5]

drivetrain warranty is 60,000 miles. time I believe
is 5 years. We are beyond both time and milage.

more to come.

mrbill5

[mrbill5]

I just checked the paperwork for 30,000 miles.
Fluid change and transmission conditioner added.
We haven't filed the paperwork for the 60,000 service yet.

mrbill5

[mrbill5]

at 60,000 miles they changed out the fluid and the pan gasket.

mr bill5

[mrbill5]

bad news
Toyota won't pay for the repair.
Good news is it will be done late today.

Is there any recourse I have like a letter to a vice president or president at Toyota or???????

mr bill5

[mrbill5]

Follow up on our transmission story. After getting the shaft from the local dealer, then the local rep we wrote letters of disgust to 2 Toyota VPs. We recieved a phone call 3 weeks later with Toyota agreeing to pay 1/2 of the $3200 bill. We were happy with that compromise. We also feel that the local rep should have made that offer.

mr bill

[Hatch]

I dont see how the local repare shop is at all responsible? They didnt make the car, they didnt drive the car, hell all they did was change the fluid. And you are lucky that Toyota did that for you, most manufacturers would have said forget it and made you pay to fix it.