I own a 2000 Toyota Avalon. I purchased the car new and it now has 94,000 miles on it. The car has been regularly serviced and has never been in an accident. Recently I have had a problem with the steering wheel locking while I am driving. The first time it happened I was driving approximately 20 mph and was turning right into a parking lot. The wheel locked, I stopped the car and tried turned the wheel right and left to unlock it and it would not unlock. I put the car in reverse backed up a few feet and then pulled forward while trying to turn the steering wheel and then it unlocked. I thought this was a freak occurrence. The same thing happened about one month later during another right hand turn into a parking lot and then again two weeks later while backing out of a parking space. All three times the car has been moving and the engine running. I asked a local repair shop about repairing the vehicle and they have called several Toyota dealers and no one has ever heard of this problem. I called Toyota customer service and they have no record of this problem. I am now afraid to drive the car!

- Louisville, KY, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Avalon. While driving 10 mph in rainy weather conditions, the steering wheel locked completely without assistance. The unexpected failure caused steering difficulty and the contact crashed into a parked vehicle on the street. The police was called to the scene and a report was filed. There were no injuries; however, both vehicles sustained minor damages. Suddenly, the vehicle began to steer normally and was driven to her residence. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that the failure was related to the steering column. The vehicle is currently being repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 124,000.

- Richmond, VA, USA

: the contact stated the steering wheel locked up for 20 seconds, while the vehicle was being driven nearly causing an accident. The contact was able to correct the steering by maneuvering the steering wheel. The service dealer was not able to duplicate the issue.

- San Jose, CA, USA

I started my 2000 Toyota Avalon LX and found the steering wheel to be locked. The key easily started the car and I was able to shift easily into any gear, and drive or go forward. But the steering remained locked. I had to have the car towed to the dealer and they replaced the ignition cylnder housing and bracket assy. Steering. No explation was given as to why the locking happened. The tow truck driver said he had never seen such a thing in his 20 years of towing cars.

- Annandale, VA, USA

The consumer was involved in an accident and the air bags did not deploy. There was no indication that the air bags would not deploy. The manufacturer was called and the consumer is waiting for a reply. The dealer had not been contacted yet. The driver sustained bruises to her sternum, abdomen and left side from the seat belt. The cruise control was on when all of a sudden a hail storm hit and instantly changed the road into ice. The consumer swerved from the outer lane across the highway and into the median where the vehicle struck two vehicles. The traction control did not activate and the steering had become inoperative. The traction control was non-existent on all 4 wheels.

- Oregon City, OR, USA

Problems with consumer getting locked in vehicle as well as brake problems. The problem had been present since the vehicle was purchased. The steering wheel would not turn, neither would the key turn the ignition. The brake problem remained unresolved. On another occasion the consumer tried to slow down to make a turn and the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. The only way the vehicle wold stop, was to turn the key and the shut the motor off. The vehicle lost power when backing out of a parking space, the ignition problem was intermittent and the brake problem was intermittent.

- Oceanside, CA, USA

2000 Toyota Avalon XLS steering wheel vibrations. Nar 07/10/2003. The consumers vehicle pulled to the left and the steering wheel vibrated and became stiff on frequent occasions. Please take immediate action in resolving matters. The dealer rotated and balanced the tires, and performed several alignments, but the problem continued.

- Clifton, NJ, USA