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1996 Toyota Avalon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Toyota Avalon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →
109Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
80
1995109
1996125
1997178
199892
1999
Compare all Avalon years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
19Visibility
12Service Brakes, Hydraulic
10Steering
10Vehicle Speed Control
10
All reported categories
Electrical System
7Exterior Lighting
7Air Bags
5Tires
5Equipment
4Seat Belts
4Suspension
4Power Train
3Structure
3Unknown Or Other
3Engine
2Seats
2Child Seat
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Air
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 109 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports

Steering complaints

10 reports
Clear category filter
85,290 miles · May 23, 2008
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT HE LOST POWER STEERING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE ON THE INCIDENT DATE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS THERE FOR 14 DAYS. THE AXLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR $984.51. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,290 AND THE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT HE LOST POWER STEERING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE ON THE INCIDENT DATE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS THERE FOR 14 DAYS. THE AXLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR $984.51. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,290 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,300. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF UPDATED 07/29/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10228732

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2002
Steering

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016507

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2001
Steering

RACK AND PINION STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #882610

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2001
Steering

POWER STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. TOYOTA WON'T OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE THIS DEFECT, ALTHOUGH THEY WILL PRIVATELY TELL YOU THAT THEY SEE ALL THE TIME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #742129

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2001
Steering

RACK AND PINION AND POWER STEERING PUMP IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, PARTS ON BACK ORDER. CJ

NHTSA ODI #559607

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2000
Steering

POWER STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, HAD BEEN LEAKING WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. BUT , THEN DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A TSB ON THAT PROBLEM. VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, AND DEALER KNEW WHAT PROBLEM WAS. DEALER OFFERED TO PAY FOR PART, BUT CONSUMER FELT DEALER SHOULD ALSO PAY FOR LABO…

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POWER STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, HAD BEEN LEAKING WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. BUT , THEN DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A TSB ON THAT PROBLEM. VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, AND DEALER KNEW WHAT PROBLEM WAS. DEALER OFFERED TO PAY FOR PART, BUT CONSUMER FELT DEALER SHOULD ALSO PAY FOR LABOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #877135

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2000
Steering

RAPID POWER STEERING FLUID LOSS --SEEMS COMMON IN AVALONS. NO PARTS AVAILABLE BECAUSE ON BACK ORDER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717465

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 1997
Steering

STEERING SYSTEM IS TOO SENSITIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE ON WINDY DAYS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808954

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1997
Steering

POWER STEERING BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #602824

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 1997
Steering

STEERING SYSTEM IS TOO SENSITIVE CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE DURING WINDY CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ODI #546602

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

DP02004 · Engine Seizure

Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

No summary supplied.

EA97015 · Turn Signal Failures

Opened Jul 22, 1997 · Closed Sep 21, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

There is no summary currently available

PE97018 · Turn Signal Failures

Opened Apr 29, 1997 · Closed Jul 22, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

CONSUMERS ALLEGE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONS FAIL WHILE DRIVING.TOYOTA DEALERS HAVE REPLACED TURN SIGNAL SWITCHES, BUT IN ONE INSTANCE THE NEW SWITCH STILL FAILED INTERMITTENTLY.DEALER MECHANICS INSTRUCTED THE OWNER TO TURN THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH ON/OFF TO RESET THE SWITCH.THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH IS CONNECTED IN-LINE WITH THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, THUS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH CAN RESULT A LOSS OF POWER TO THE TURN SIGNAL, WITH A RESULTANT FAILURE OF THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH TO FUNCTION.