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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

Structure complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000
Structure

BOTH REAR DOOR HANDLE MECHANISMS HAVE FAILED. IF IT WERE ONE IT MAY BE CONSIDERED A FLUKE, BUT SINCE BOTH HAVE FAILED I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT THE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK IS NOT ON BUT IT MAY BE SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO THE PROBLEM. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT IF …

Read full complaint

BOTH REAR DOOR HANDLE MECHANISMS HAVE FAILED. IF IT WERE ONE IT MAY BE CONSIDERED A FLUKE, BUT SINCE BOTH HAVE FAILED I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT THE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK IS NOT ON BUT IT MAY BE SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO THE PROBLEM. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT IF THERE IS A FIRE IN THE CAR OR A NEED FOR AN IMMEDIATE EVACUATION OF THE CAR, THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK SEAT CANNOT GET OUT.

NHTSA ODI #727148

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 1996
Structure

ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK DESIGN REQUIRES OPERATOR TO UNLOCK DOOR BEFORE PULLING HANDLE, WHICH COULD BE DIFFICULT TO DO IN STRESSFUL SITUATIONS.

NHTSA ODI #509183

Mileage unknown · May 10, 1996
Structure

EXTENSIVE WIND NOISE INSIDE VEHICLE. *SD

NHTSA ODI #504348

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.