2011 Toyota Avalon

I RAISED MY REAR SUNSHADE AND COULDN'T LOWER IT. IT WAS DURING THE DAY RUNNING ERRANDS AND VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE BACK WINDOW. I CHOSE NOT TO DRIVE MY CAR LATE EVENINGS AND NIGHT BECAUSE OF SAFETY AND VISIBILITY .I NEED MY CAR 24/7, I PAID FOR THE SHADE TO BE LOWERED BUT IT'S INOPERABLE. THIS SUMMER I KNOW I WILL NEED THE SUNSHADE.

REAR WINDOW SUNSHADE MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE IN THE DOWN POSITION. IT MUST REMAIN IN THE UP POSITION AT ALL TIMES. VISIBILITY IS ZERO AT NIGHT. IT STARTED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. THE LOUD NOISE IS WHILE IN REVERSE AND CONTINUES UNLESS YOU MANUALLY PLACE THE SHADE IN THE UP POSITION. THIS CONTINUES REGARDLESS OF IN MOTION OR STATIONARY, TURNING, STREET OR HIGHWAY

THE REAR SUNSHADE IS STUCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION WITHOUT BEING ACTIVATED AND DOES NOT GO DOWN WHEN THE CAR IN PUT IN REVERSE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL SITUATION AT NIGHT WHEN VISIBILITY IS POOR. THERE ARE A PLETHORA OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SUNSHADE ON THE INTERNET. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO REPAIR, THEY ONLY REPLACE THE DEVICE FOR $1000, AND THE DEFECTIVE SUNSHADE EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT COULD REPEAT THE HAZARDOUS SITUATION. TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE, HAZARDOUS PART AT NO COST. IT IS A THREAT TO SAFETY FOR ALL PASSENGERS. THE DEFECT OCCURRED RANDOMLY WITHOUT PROVOCATION UPON STARTUP WITH THE CAR PARKED. A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD, THEN THE SHADE WENT UP - UNRESPONSIVE TO THE ACTIVATING/DEACTIVATION CONTROL BUTTON. I HAD TO DRIVE IN THE SLOW LANE DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY.

THE REAR SUNSHADE IS BROKEN AND WON'T DOWN WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO. THE SHADE LIMITS MY VISIBILITY. IT'S SO BAD THAT I TRY NOT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT OR DURING FOG OR RAIN BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE AT ALL THEN. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT, MY WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THIS FIXED OR EVEN CHECKED OUT. I NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS.

VEHICLE SUNSHADE WILL NOT STAY RETRACTED. IT WILL SEAT AFTER LOTS OF NOISE AND GYRATIONS FROM THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. HOWEVER, ONCE REVERSE IS ENGAGED AGAIN, IT GRINDS SOME MORE UNTIL IT GETS SEATED. THERE IS NO WAY TO DISENGAGE: WORKS WHETHER YOU WANT IT TO OR NOT. OTHER THAN THE ANNOYANCE IS THAT LAST NIGHT IT STAYED UP ON A LONG TRIP IN RAINY, FOGGY WEATHER. WE COULD SEE NOTHING BEHIND US - COMPLETELY BLOCKED. ALSO, I AM HAVING SOME HEART ISSUES AND THE LOUD, ABRUPT NOISE IS NOT APPRECIATED EVERY TIME THE SUNSHADE GOES DOWN AND TRIES TO SEE (VERY LOUD!). COST $57.75 AT THE DEALER TO DISABLE THIS DEVICE IN THE DOWN POSITION (SEE ATTACHED RECEIPT). THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL - I NOTE ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON SEVERAL MODEL YEARS OF THE AVALON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR ERRONEOUSLY DISPLAYED DUPLICATE IMAGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.