Sent this to Toyota (Torrance, CA) and to the dealer service area.
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Toyota Corp. fax sent:
June 29, 2007
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Torrance, CA 90501
Reference: Toyota Avalon Complaint
Dear Toyota Representative:
This letter is a formal complaint as to the transmission anomalies which I am experiencing with my vehicle. It has about 1,700 miles.
Per the attached letter it was related that I was fortunate that a factory technician was on site Thursday. It was represented that new software would be downloaded and applied to my vehicle that would correct the problem. Unfortunately while I firmly believe the above steps occurred, the anomalies persist and now there is a new anomaly.
To wit, when I slow to a stop the engine RPM declines to 800 then increases to 900+ RPM and finally diminishes to 800 RPM. Rarely, does the engine RPM decline to the “normal” 700~ RPM.
All anomalies, documented herein this letter and the attachment, waste fuel, will lead to premature brake wear and are a safety hazard to the driver and other vehicles. Why is it a safety hazard? Because one must apply the brakes where in other vehicles there is no such urgent need during coasting or deceleration.
Please advise soonest what Toyota will do to correct these anomalies such that the vehicle operates properly?
Enclosed is additional documentation.
Yours truly,
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Dealer fax sent:
Reference: Toyota Avalon Limited
Dear Mr.:
This letter is to confirm the two voice mails that I left for you late this afternoon. As I related in my voice mails, the anomalies that I submitted to xxxxxx Wednesday evening (see attached) have been exacerbated as the issues persist and there is now a new issue.
It was related that I was fortunate that a factory technician was on site Thursday. It was represented that new software would be downloaded and applied to my vehicle that would correct the problem. It was further asserted that I would 100% satisfied.
Unfortunately while I firmly believe the above steps occurred, the anomalies persist and now there is a new anomaly.
To wit, when I slow to a stop the engine RPM declines to 800 then increases to 900+ RPM and finally diminishes to 800 RPM. Rarely, does the engine RPM decline to the “normal” 700~ RPM.
All anomalies, documented herein this letter and the attachment, waste fuel, will lead to premature brake wear and are a safety hazard to the driver and other vehicles. Why is it a safety hazard? Because one must apply the brakes where in other vehicles there is no such urgent need during coasting or deceleration.
Please advise soonest what Toyota will do to correct these anomalies such that the vehicle operates properly?
Yours truly,
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2007 Toyota Avalon Limited
Transmission anomalies
On a level stretch of road, take the car to 40 mph.
Then allow the car to coast to a stop.
At approximately 28 mph, the car’s transmission down shifts (?). At this same time, the RPM climbs and the car surges forward. Then it slows again.
Again at approximately 20 mph, the car’s transmission down shifts (?). At this same time, the RPM climbs (to 1,200 RPM) and the car surges forward. Then it slows again.
The increase in RPM uses fuel, which is wasteful to say the least.
If I am in traffic, I must apply the brakes which causes additional unwanted wear to the brake pads.
The surge (increase in speed) is hazardous as one must be mindful to control, the speed of the car as the speed does not continue to decline but in fact experiences multiple surges (higher speed) that need to be controlled with the brakes.
In the last three years, I have rented over sixty different cars, of varying manufactures, and not one has demonstrated this transmission anomaly.
I believe this is a defect in the transmission control system.
The people who run this site took down the pdf I posted on 6/22, the one mentioned in the previous post in this thread.
I'll repost it in this thread when I get to work on Monday.
Mike Murrell
UPdate - I discovered that you can open & save to your hard drive the TSB pdf posted in another thread I opened 6/22. When you try to open it in that thread, you're basically told it's gone. I'll try to reattach it here.
This problem IS NOT limited to the 07. I have a 06 Avalon and have complained to my local dealer. I had it checked and was advised that the technician "found no problem when checked the error log". I was told by the idiot at the service desk "they all do that...." can you imagine that a Toyota representative had the stupidity to use an excuse by which Toyota had used against the U.S. manufacturers t build its reputation and market share? Where has the quality gone? For What It's Worth, my 2000 Avalon had transmission problems
I indeed agree there exists a safety issue whereas the venicle tends to lurch as it shifts down whil coasting to a stop - as evidenced by the jump in the tach. My 06 has 11000 miles on it and didn't exhibit the symptoms until last fall after is was in for service (@6000 miles). I suspect some good dubee upgraded the software to the latest and greatest version. Beyond the lurching, I expereince shift shock.
I does was fuel as well. Fuel mileage went throught the floor. I used to get 23mpg city and up to 33mpg hwy (calculated) on long trips. Afterwards I got 17mpg city and 24mpg hwy. Colds temp and the ethanol has an affect but shouldn't be that drastic.
Somehow we need to get Toyota's attention with this one - maybe a bunch of letters to the US DOT Safety agency? My last conversation with the service rep included a comment that" had I wanted to drive a car like a dodge I would have bought one at thousands of $$$ in savings. The jerk just laughed.
I apologize for my post - I did a search and found Ted's posting and did not see the entire thread. I will contact my local dealer witht the TSB. thanks to all.
As of 7/13/07, 9:40am CST, The PDF form of the TSB is still available in my post above.
Print it and take it to your dealer. If the service writer won't help, demand to speak with the service mgr. If we won't help, go to the dealer's general mgr.
I suspect there are a lot of dealers who are acting dumb when people come in with a printed copy of the TSB.
I just got back from Penn Toyota. They did the "upgrade" Car shifts much better.
I just don't understand why when I called for an appointment everything was a secret. They would not say if there was a TSU, if there was they would not say they were equiped to do it and would not say if my car fell in the vin range.
The only response to all my questions was do you want to bring the car in or not!
"customer service"
The only response to all my questions was do you want to bring the car in or not!
"customer service"
Every 2005, 2006 and many 2007 Avalons are affected by this TSB. This is not a hit and miss thing. "ALL" of these Avalons have the problem this TSB fixes and now every Toyota dealer in the U. S. is going to get besieged by customers wanting this fix.
The dealers would love to push a button and make this go away, but it's not going to happen.
I finally got around to calling the dealer my wife bought her '06 Avalon from yesterday. They acted dumb as I suspetced they would. My expereince with them to date has been less than impressive.
I'm taking a "wait and see" attitude, not because I don't believe in the fix, but because I have little faith in the dealership I'm having to use.
After TSB 029-07 was applied the surging stopped.
But a harsh down shift at 28-30 mph occurred.
A second visit to dealer resulted in TSB 029-07 being reapplied.
That solved the hardh down shift and also changed the down shift point from 28-30 mph to 22-25 mph.
Everything shifts much better after the 2nd TSB was applied.
phileast
2007 Avalon Transmission issue, engine surges
Re: 2007 Avalon Transmission issue, engine surges
Linear Mode
