2007 Toyota Avalon

The dashboard melts/gets sticky when it is hot and humid outside. Once the dashboard is in the sticky state, it appears wet with melted/sticky plastic. When we look out the front windshield while driving, the sun reflects off of the extra shiny sticky dashboard and the experience of the entire front dashboard surface reflecting the sun is like looking directly into the sun. You cannot see out the front windshield because the glare is too severe because of the shiny dashboard top. Even with sunglasses on and visor down, it is impossible to see ahead of the car while driving because of the blinding glare. The glare off of the sticky dashboard and the reflection of the dashboard onto the inside of the windshield is very scary. The Toyota dealer said that they are aware of the issue and extended the warranty to replace the dashboard because of the problem, but they did NOT issue a recall. The extended warranty expired, ironically, this vehicle has been kept in a garage since it was bought in 2007 and only has 50,000 miles on it now...so we didn't know there was a problem until several years after their extended warranty expired in 2017. The dealer said that I would have to pay out of pocket to replace the dashboard and they would not pay for it. We called Toyota "Resolution Department" and they said the same thing. We asked them if they admit that it is a factory defect and it creates a dangerous driving situation, why would they not want to make it right?

2011: I NOTICED THE DASH FELT SOFT, NOT STICKY EXACTLY, BUT FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, PLIABLE. 2013: WHILE DRIVING ON VACATION I REALIZED MY VISIBILITY WAS TREMENDOUSLY IMPEDED BY THE INCREDIBLY OPAQUE GLARE IN MY WINDSHIELD FROM THE DASHBOARD. IT WAS SO BAD, I REALIZED I COULD MAKE OUT THE PATTERNED IMPRINT (DESIGNED TO RESEMBLE LEATHER GRAIN). THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE THIS GLARE AS LONG AS THE SUN IS OUT. IT SERIOUSLY IMPAIRS MY ABILITY TO SEE CLEARLY, IS OBVIOUSLY DISTRACTING, AND ADDED TO MY FATIGUE ON THE TRIP. A SAFETY ISSUE IF THERE EVER WAS ONE CAUSING DRIVER IMPAIRMENT DUE TO EYE STRAIN ADDING TO DRIVER FATIGUE. 2015: I NOTICED MY FIRST CRACK IN THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE AIRBAG. WITHIN A MONTH, I FOUND ANOTHER CRACK IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH. THIS IS A GARAGE KEPT SECOND CAR, USED FOR LONG TRIP COMFORT AND SUNDAY DRIVES. 2016: CALLED TOYOTA ABOUT PROGRESSING CRACKS IN DASH. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL BUT IT HAD ENDED 2 MONTHS EARLIER. SORRY BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. 2020: I AM WAITING FOR PIECES OF MY DASH TO FALL OFF. MY LATEST CRACK FOLLOWS THE INSTRUMENT COCKPIT TOP EDGE COMPLETELY ACROSS TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR CURVE. IT JUST SPLIT APART. THIS IS MY BABIED AND PROTECTED CAR, 2007 AVALON XLS WITH 64,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. MY FAMILY AND I HAVE OWNED TOYOTAS SINCE THE EARLY 80'S; COROLLA, TERCEL, CELICA, CAMRY, RAV4, AVALON. NOT ONE OF THEM EVER HAD A DASH PROBLEM. IN LOOKING AT COMPLAINTS HERE THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE ABOUT THE DASH. TOYOTA SHOULD STEP UP. WHO GETS TO DECIDE THAT ONE SAFETY ISSUE IS WORTH A RECALL BUT ANOTHER ISN'T? THE GLARE IS SO BAD THAT, MORE THAN ONCE, I HAVE BEEN NERVOUS ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE BRAKE LIGHTS WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. IS IT FAIR THAT THE ONLY SAFE WAY TO OPERATE MY TOYOTA IS ON A CLOUDY DAY OR AT NIGHT? I HOPE EVENTUALLY ENOUGH COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS WILL HELP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN THE DASHBOARD THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A STICKY SUBSTANCE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD DIMINISHED VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A WARRANTY FOR THE FAILURE HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK* *LN*JB

REAR WINDOW SHADE WENT UP AND NOW WON'T GO DOWN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER A FEW MONTHS AGO AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN.WHEN THEY TOLD ME THE COST OF REPAIRING/REPLACING, I OPTED TO JUST NOT USE IT. A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT WENT UP AGAIN AND I AM NOT ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING AT NIGHT, TOOK TO THE DEALER AGAIN TO SEE IF THEY COULD PUT IT DOWN AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD I NEED TO CHANGE THE MOTOR ( ALMOST $1000) SO I WAS NOT ABLE TO DO IT. I TOLD THEM I CANT SEE AT NIGHT AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I FEEL THEY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE YOUR REAR WINDOW.