Tough Luck Avalon?

[Rich_P]

New guy here, thought I'd say hi and see if anyone else is having my kind of luck.

Just purchased a new 2009 carry-over Avalon Limited a couple of months ago. 400 miles on the odometer. Made a good deal and headed out the door proud as a peacock.

Within a week, the front windshield is cracked from a flying rock while meeting a truck. Not just a chip, but a nice long crack. Ok, I can deal with that, it's not my first cracked windshield.

Week #2, parked at my local Walmart for a quick trip in to by a card, come out and find someone's cart had blown across the lot into my right passenger door. (Now mind you, I'm a particular parker and had picked the perfect spot, but just my luck, some vehicles had moved and my spot was now wide open, not good on an extremely windy day)

Week #3, find oil spots under the engine on my nice concrete floor. Take car to dealer, they "find" loose connection by alternator somewhere, I didn't press for details, just happy they found it.

Take car to KC to see new grandson, 1800 mile round trip, enjoy time away.

Find new oil spots under car! Ok, back to dealer last Tuesday.

Get call in afternoon, I'm told they can't seem to figure out exactly where the oil is coming from. They are getting a technician to come from the factory to look it over, after sending them digital photos they want to see the car for themselves.

In meantime, they provide me with a Yaris to drive. Ouch.

Ok, get another call Wed, it sounds like they may be sitting on my car for up to a month!!! WHAT?

This morning I'm heading over to exchange the Yaris for a Camry.

Ok, am I the only one having a less-than-stellar new Toyota experience?

[Tom in Tacoma]

Ouch. Can't say that I've heard of anyone else having these kind of issues.

One thought struck me though - it might be in your best interest to research your state's 'Lemon Law' requirements. If the dealer is having a difficult time fixing issues and the want to keep it for a month - you might be entitled to a buy back or a replacement car. Check it out, and good luck!

[onefiend]

Could it be your Bank1 VVT-i oil-line that might be the cause of the leak? But your car is too new to be already having this problem. Good thing it's an 09 and it's under warranty.

[hghflyrjd1]

I also have the 2009 havent had any such issues..TAKE IT BACK BITCH BITCH BITCH untill they kick in with what ever u want.

[Rich_P]

Well, I just got home with a white 2010 Camry with 3300 miles on the odometer. Nice car, maybe they will trade. LOL.

I got a few personals out of my avalon while at the dealership, at least they are keeping it indoors while it waits.

[Rich_P]

So the Avalon goes into the dealer on June 22nd. The factory fella comes out of Kansas City on the 24th and looks everything over and determines that the right cylinder head needs to be changed out, the original one is defective.

I have the Camry to drive so I should be happy, right? Well, I'm leaving for this big fishing trip in AK on the 9th of July, and the car won't be done by then so it is agreed that the Camry will sit at the airport until I get back on the 20th, and my car will be waiting for me when I get to the dealer.

While in AK I read the local paper online to see what is happening back here at home and read that a huge hailstorm rolls through. I think to myself, I wonder if my Avalon is still inside at the dealership getting worked on or is it done and sitting outside. I don't even bother calling to ask, I already can feel the answer.....

Yep, get back from a great fishing trip in AK, go to the dealer to trade the Camry for the Avalon, and find that it is indeed peppered with hail.

This freaking car is possessed. It has 4200 miles on it, and I no longer feel any love for it, hell, I don't even like it.

I just don't like it..............

[Rich_P]

I think the oil leak has been fixed though. But I haven't driven it enough to really know.

[tjb101084]

Talk about bad luck man... GEEZ! Day 3 of my new avalon the window took a small chip which turned into a huge crack in about 3 hours of desert heat (119 degees). Got a new windshield but no other problems. Good luck and I hope it gets better. I love my car ALOT! You will too but you may need to replace it first

[Rich_P]

This belongs on "Ripley's Believe It Or Not".

Now my transmission is leaking.

To be continued.............

[grandpapa]

bring it back
sorry to hear all the trouble you have on your Avalon

[CWH5]

We sell and service tons of Avalons and have yet to replace a cyl head for an oil leak. Besides the obv Bank 1 VVTi oil line dissaster, i have seen a few leaking oil from the bank 2 VVTi oil line Banjo sealing washers at the block ( behind the Altnator) The first one was a pain to find where it was coming from with everything in place to run the veh.

Trans leaks, None are sticking in my head and Toyota trans leaks as a whole are verry rare these days unlike in the 90's-mid 2000's

As far as the rest go's, That suck's But i have seen much worse.
Try driving off the lot for the first time in your brand new whatever Toyota and having it Tbone destroid pulling onto the road, Seen this 7 times at my dealer, Then there are all the others with 30 day tags across the street at the body shop getting put back together with 10-15k in damage. WTF do you do with that piece of shit, You either take a huge loss and sell it as a CarFax Disaster or drive your brand new piece of shit with all those odd rattles and creaks and pops that no dealer is gona touch when they see that its been wrecked.

[Rich_P]

I will take the car in early next week and see what the problem is. I think when they put it back together they just did something wrong, it looks like it is coming from around the pan but then who knows, there are lots of hidden crevices when looking for oil leaks.

I've heard the stories of getting in wrecks leaving the dealership, that would suck!

Oh, we'll get this car spiffy yet.

[arabianobsession]

Defintely sounds like a lemon. Defective cylinder head, leaking transmission.....a new car is NOT ever supposed to do that. Not to mention it sounds plagued...cracked windshield and hail damage? Are they fixing that because they left it outside? Look into a new car!!!!!!!