Build Quality New Avensis

[Merlin 01]

Build quality new Avensis

This is a warning to anyone thinking of buying a new shape Avensis.

I bought the car because I liked the equipment, looks, and because I owed 2 x of the old shape Avensis cars that were great !!

Keeping it short, I have experienced the following.

2010 T4 saloon, 3 x weeks spent in a bodyshop having the rear shelf cut out and a new one welded in, due to the Toyota regional engineer finding spot weld failure!! Dealer tried 4 x times to fix the cracking ticking noise.

New front door cards fitted due to rattles, headrest went faulty, dashboard rattle from the centre consol, both front window rattles from top of the doors 2 x visits, doors not fitted correctly, external crome trim had to have riiveting re-done.

Toyota customer service said " that's what the warranty is for"

After getting the dealership senior director involved they replaced the car after a year of pain, so into another T4 saloon 2011.

First 3 x weeks ok, as I do high mileage the door cards have just started to rattle but not as bad as the last car, Speakers vibrate when the sound system is turned up, tensioner on the drive belt failed had to have all new parts fitted and a new drive belt, and now the same noise is just starting to be heard from the rear on this one.

12k miles on the clock.....

I have been told I am un lucky and there is no build issues with the new shape Avensis, and there is no weld failure issues with the saloon model.

The last shape was solid.

I am now taking legal advice to try and walk away from the Toyota finance arrangement and the brand....

Any other saloon owners having these issues?

[Phoenix999]

2009 T4 Tourer.... completed recall with the accelerator issue but otherwise it ran perfectly with no problems at all

2011 T4 Saloon.... still very new but so far it is very good

I have a friend who has owned C class and now E class Mercedes and he is impressed with the built quality, another friend who drives a Jaguar is also impressed

I can only think that you are indeed unlucky

[Jamesbelfast]

Toyota customer service said " that's what the warranty is for"

Have they not learned or have they forgotten that quality is about getting it right first time and every time thereafter.

Sorry looks very much like another retrograde step for Toyota.

[headhurts]

2010 T4 Tourer, new drivers seat fitted due to slight click from somewhere.

Small buzzing from vent which has been rectified.

Overall I am quite pleased with the car.

[Red diesel]

Build quality new Avensis

This is a warning to anyone thinking of buying a new shape Avensis.

I bought the car because I liked the equipment, looks, and because I owed 2 x of the old shape Avensis cars that were great !!

Keeping it short, I have experienced the following.

2010 T4 saloon, 3 x weeks spent in a bodyshop having the rear shelf cut out and a new one welded in, due to the Toyota regional engineer finding spot weld failure!! Dealer tried 4 x times to fix the cracking ticking noise.

New front door cards fitted due to rattles, headrest went faulty, dashboard rattle from the centre consol, both front window rattles from top of the doors 2 x visits, doors not fitted correctly, external crome trim had to have riiveting re-done.

Toyota customer service said " that's what the warranty is for"

After getting the dealership senior director involved they replaced the car after a year of pain, so into another T4 saloon 2011.

First 3 x weeks ok, as I do high mileage the door cards have just started to rattle but not as bad as the last car, speakers vibrate when the sound system is turned up, tensioner on the drive belt failed had to have all new parts fitted and a new drive belt, and now the same noise is just starting to be heard from the rear on this one.

12k miles on the clock.....

I have been told I am un lucky and there is no build issues with the new shape Avensis, and there is no weld failure issues with the saloon model.

The last shape was solid.

I am now taking legal advice to try and walk away from the Toyota finance arrangement and the brand....

Any other saloon owners having these issues?

Excellent idea about the legal advice, if it was me... id talk to someone that specialises in contract law - solicitors often specialise

in various areas. So its a bit pointless imo talking to a Solicitor whose expertise is (for example) property matters.

Hope you get sorted - theres nothing more irratating than having a bothersome car - ive seen other people go through heartache over

troublesome vehicles.

Red diesel

[Jas16]

I would say you are unlucky, but to get two cars...makes me think. I have a 2006 D4D h/back, so not the same model. My experience has been really good for the past 13months and 10k miles. Apart from the usual rattles with the rear parcel shelf, the only other issues I had are that the exhaust started to rattle, (after driving over cobbled roads in Brussels) and the plastic under the bonnet seems to vibrate against the heat shield.

The car was brought second-hand, it was an ex-lease vehicle from HSBC and had done 75k, but touchwood, all good so far, and my local dealer is really useful and helpful. Saying that I havent used them for any serious work as yet

Maybe you should try the lottery, with the odds you have of getting two cars, which have faults, you might make something...

[Nightstalker]

My 09 Avensis Tourer is just a stop gap but I do have a few issues where MR T recons there is nothing wrong/or cannot replicate it...

1. Rattle from rear parcel shelf - MR T say nothing they can do about that.

2. Drivers seat seems lose at times, when I come to a halt the seat seems to move a little (admittently this only happens every now and then) MR T could not replicate fault... strange, as when I sit in the seat and hold on to the steering wheel and pull I can get the seat to move...

3. No matter what I do I cannot get the door locking mechanism to stop to auto close when you hit 15mph... Its not the fact that they lock when in motion, its the fact that when you stop and get out the car the rear doors dont auto unlock - what happens in an accident??? MR Ts gonna take a look at this on Friday...

Although a nice enough car, these niggly bits do not confide one with great confidence... I had a T3 avensis back in 03 and that was way better quality than the newer range... seems to me that Toyota have taken on the Microsoft philosophy of get the product out now and we'll fix it later :-(

The vensis is as stated just a stop gap to a new landcruiser in a few years... cant wait :-)

[headhurts]

My 09 Avensis Tourer is just a stop gap but I do have a few issues where MR T recons there is nothing wrong/or cannot replicate it...

1. Rattle from rear parcel shelf - MR T say nothing they can do about that.

2. Drivers seat seems lose at times, when I come to a halt the seat seems to move a little (admittently this only happens every now and then) MR T could not replicate fault... strange, as when I sit in the seat and hold on to the steering wheel and pull I can get the seat to move...

3. No matter what I do I cannot get the door locking mechanism to stop to auto close when you hit 15mph... Its not the fact that they lock when in motion, its the fact that when you stop and get out the car the rear doors dont auto unlock - what happens in an accident??? MR Ts gonna take a look at this on Friday...

Although a nice enough car, these niggly bits do not confide one with great confidence... I had a T3 avensis back in 03 and that was way better quality than the newer range... seems to me that Toyota have taken on the Microsoft philosophy of get the product out now and we'll fix it later :-(

The vensis is as stated just a stop gap to a new landcruiser in a few years... cant wait :-)

Funny thing about the seat that is exactly the issue I had you could ocassionally feel movement/click, they were going to repair seat but I insisted on a new one.

They ended up fitting a brand new seat and base with electrics.

[cabcurtains]

I'm now in an 11 plate Avensis and i am impressed with the quality, it feels so strong. I have just come out of a Hyundai IX-35 and that seemed flimsy in comparison. The Avensis is so quiet, i really like it.

[petemc]

Hi Merlin, my 2010 TSpirit tourer had been tn the body shop for six weeks before Toyota technical sent the information to find the broken spot welds in the tailgate. After repair (over 2 weeks more) the noise in the rear was gone, but so many other faults to long to list. when I contacted customer relations, you will be suprised to hear the told me "thats what the warranty is for" have asked a motoring magazine for help but they seem cool?

Pete.

[Parts-King]

The Avensis, has for most been a fantastic car, with very few complaints, of course that does not help the OP, but in terms of general build quality, it has been good

Parkers just awarded the Tourer 2.0 D their best cost of motoring car in the family estate catagory, which looks at owning the car and its costs over 30K. It includes depreciation, running costs etc

http://www.parkersnewcarawards.co.uk

Kingo

[petemc]

Hi Merlin, have you read the press release for the MK4 avensis, page 8 Body rigidity.

http://media.toyota.co.uk/wp-content/files_mf/1323772928New_Avensis_2011_UK.pdf.

[petemc]

I can not open the link for some reason, just do a search for avensis spot welds and you will find it. Its as below.

Body rigidity

Strategic use of high-tensile steel in the bodyshell brings the advantages of light weight and high structural rigidity. Extra spot welding points have been added to the rear door and boot/tailgate openings, which further increase overall rigidity and steering

stability.

will the below link work?

http://media.toyota.co.uk/wp-content/files_mf/1323772928New_Avensis_2011_UK.pdf

[Merlin 01]

The Avensis, has for most been a fantastic car, with very few complaints, of course that does not help the OP, but in terms of general build quality, it has been good

Parkers just awarded the Tourer 2.0 D their best cost of motoring car in the family estate catagory, which looks at owning the car and its costs over 30K. It includes depreciation, running costs etc

http://www.parkersnewcarawards.co.uk

Kingo

MR trader I don’t agree that spot weld failures are the making of a fantastic car, Toyota obviously have some flaw in the spot weld process or with the robots in the factory!!!!!!!!!!

[Merlin 01]

Pete sounds like you have experienced the same as me very interesting ?

MR trader spot weld failures are not the making of a fantastic car, Toyota obviously have some flaw in the spot weld process or robots in the factory !!!!!!!!!!

I can’t open the link?

Well the current situation is still not very good at all, Toyota finance will not back up my rejection and I can’t afford the litigation costs if I loose in court, so I agreed for the car to go back to the factory. I was then told that the car can’t go back to the factory because I didn’t act upon their request straight away, so I now have to go through the body shop option again.

I am now in a situation where my car still hasn’t been repaired, I have had numerous heated calls to the case team manager at customer relations, and the next stage now is that the field engineer is meeting me at the dealership on Monday 16^th so I can discuss my concerns, at this stage they are giving me a hire car and my car will be stripped down again, technical teams will once again visit the car from the factory and then decide on how the car will be repaired.

Nobody at Toyota will acknowledge that I have been through this before with my previous car and that I didn’t want to accept this again, I was told “ I should draw a line in the sand and move on” and “ I should comply with the warranty repairs” is it acceptable to experience this twice? They have no compassion or empathy to my situation, even the MD is not interested in replying to my concerns and experience.

A certain car magazine has shown an interest in my story, lets see what happens?

[petemc]

Hi Greg, I can open the link which i posted in the second of my posts with the link listed. I complained about the problem @ the 30K servive that had got louder to a point where I had to ask. To be told by the dealership that it could be spot welds as it sounded like a problem "they had, had before"!

From there it all went wronge, because they were looking for the problem like the one found in the saloon. But when the correct repair to the tailgate (information supplied to the dealership by Toyota) was carried out the problem went. But still not happy with the way my tourer has been left. I contacted Toyota CR today to ask why that had not got back to me as promised from last week, see what happens.

I have had enough of being fobbed off by Toyota, I have contacted a motoring Mag "AE" not sure they are interested. I will try a few other avenues but may have to think legal! if so will let you know. If you need me to help or speak/contact anyone let me know.

Good luck, we may need it.

Pete.

[Red diesel]

Hi chaps

Sorry to hear about all your troubles with the spot welds.

To my mind in this situation Toyota should be falling over themselves to look after you - especially seeing as this is

Merlin 01s 2nd car with this exact issue.

Nothing really more to add only to restate my view that if your going legal - to go to a good contract law solicitor - simply because

there is a contract there between you and your dealer and imo between the dealer and Toyota.

Just my opinion though

Incidentally this talk of a "correct repair" on the tailgate is a tad worrying - is this implying that this is something Toyota have faced before (but

perhaps would prefer not divulge???). After all how can you have a "correct repair unless at somepoint the repair has had to be done", im talking now about the tailgate - i realise that there are approved repair methods for (as an example) attaching a new rear quarter following an accident.

Just as a general question folks - what would be the pitfalls of ringing or writing to Toyota asking for a meeting - or perhaps intially having a meeting with the bosses of the dealerships where the cars were bought. I know they could say no (which in my view would say rather a lot for Toyota and their dealers attitude towards their customer) but what other pitfalls would there be that i am unaware off

Red diesel

[Merlin 01]

Hi Peter, I tried again and now I can open it, thanks for this very interesting, looks like they know about these issues and are making modifications?

I will take this to the Meeting with the Toyota field engineer on Monday!!

If I knew I could win hands down I would take them to court !!

Will post an update after the meeting on Monday.....

Thanks for the info

Greg

[PriusAvensis]

Hi all. Sorry to hear of all your problems. I am now on my 10th Toyota. All fab cars. Drive a 2012 Avensis with 10k already and no problem with build quality. My wife always wanted to drive a Badge and I got her Audi, BMW and Saab over the years and all caused problems, many problems in the first year. The BMW was the worst and the dealer there was soooooo BAD as there is limited dealers in Ireland.

I had a 2.0 diesel model like yours also and had no such problem.

A year ago convinced my wife to go Toyota and she went for a new Prius. What an amazing car. I have hear so many bad stories about other manufacturers and am very surprised Toyota are not trying to satisfy you.

Best of luck.

[petemc]

Hi Greg, what was the out come of your meeting last Monday? any good news on your vehicle.

[Merlin 01]

Hello all...

Well to end the on going story, Toyota are aware of this issue and it's weld splatter in between the panels in the rear shelf, this can now be fixed by prising these panels apart and flicking the splatter out, a team from the factory solved this issue and i understand that other owners cars have now been fixed in this manner, including Nick's in the other post, my car was fixed straight away but they kept it for a few more days to test it. The noise has gone and the car is once again nice and quiet, I have come to an agreement with Toyota on a goodwill offering due to my whole experience, I am happy so far but I will see how I get on before I say my faith in the brand and the car has been restored.

[M3rcyUK]

On 12/4/2011 at 8:55 PM, Merlin 01 said:

Build quality new Avensis

This is a warning to anyone thinking of buying a new shape Avensis.

I bought the car because I liked the equipment, looks, and because I owed 2 x of the old shape Avensis cars that were great !!

Keeping it short, I have experienced the following.

2010 T4 saloon, 3 x weeks spent in a bodyshop having the rear shelf cut out and a new one welded in, due to the Toyota regional engineer finding spot weld failure!! Dealer tried 4 x times to fix the cracking ticking noise.

New front door cards fitted due to rattles, headrest went faulty, dashboard rattle from the centre consol, both front window rattles from top of the doors 2 x visits, doors not fitted correctly, external crome trim had to have riiveting re-done.

Toyota customer service said " that's what the warranty is for"

After getting the dealership senior director involved they replaced the car after a year of pain, so into another T4 saloon 2011.

First 3 x weeks ok, as I do high mileage the door cards have just started to rattle but not as bad as the last car, speakers vibrate when the sound system is turned up, tensioner on the drive belt failed had to have all new parts fitted and a new drive belt, and now the same noise is just starting to be heard from the rear on this one.

12k miles on the clock.....

I have been told I am un lucky and there is no build issues with the new shape Avensis, and there is no weld failure issues with the saloon model.

The last shape was solid.

I am now taking legal advice to try and walk away from the Toyota finance arrangement and the brand....

Any other saloon owners having these issues?

I've just bought a 2009 T4 2.0 D4D Manual. She's covered 199,000 miles. Still drives like new.