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1998 Toyota Avalon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Toyota Avalon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →
178Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
80
1995109
1996125
1997178
199892
1999173
2000134
2001
Compare all Avalon years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
19Suspension
19Visibility
19Equipment
17Air Bags
16
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
16Tires
14Power Train
11Service Brakes, Hydraulic
11Engine And Engine Cooling
9Steering
9Structure
7Seat Belts
6Unknown Or Other
6Fuel System, Gasoline
5Seats
5Exterior Lighting
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Service Brakes, Air
2Child Seat
1Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Interior Lighting
1Wheels
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

51 reports with mileage · 127 unknown

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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports1 fire reports20 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

11 reports
Clear category filter
45,920 miles · Nov 10, 2009
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, WHILE IN REVERSE OR MOVING FORWARD A LOUD METAL NOISE IS PRESENT IN THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER STATED THAT BRAKE FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE AND THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE BAFFLE WAS LOO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, WHILE IN REVERSE OR MOVING FORWARD A LOUD METAL NOISE IS PRESENT IN THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER STATED THAT BRAKE FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE AND THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE BAFFLE WAS LOOSE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FUEL TANK HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,950 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,920.

NHTSA ODI #10291777

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATED THE ROTORS WERE WORN, WHICH CAUSED A HEAVY VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10002595

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

COMPLETE HYDRAULIC BRAKE FAILURE AT 16,800 MILES, CAUSED CAR TO GO THROUGH RED LIGHT. LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID. ROTOR FROZE AND BRAKE LINE FAILED AT ROTOR HOUSING. CAR DEALER HAD INSTALLED ALL NEW ROTORS AND PADS AT 9,200 MILES. MR

NHTSA ODI #768181

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

A FAILURE OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE CAUSED THE LOSS OF ALL BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE RESERVOIR DOES NOT HAVE A SEPARATION THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED ALL THE BRAKE FLUID FROM BEING LOST. MOST MASTER CYLINDERS HAVE A PARTITION IN THEM, SO AT LEAST THE FRONT OR BACK BRAKES WOULD STILL BE FUNCTIONAL. I BELIEVE THAT T…

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A FAILURE OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE CAUSED THE LOSS OF ALL BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE RESERVOIR DOES NOT HAVE A SEPARATION THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED ALL THE BRAKE FLUID FROM BEING LOST. MOST MASTER CYLINDERS HAVE A PARTITION IN THEM, SO AT LEAST THE FRONT OR BACK BRAKES WOULD STILL BE FUNCTIONAL. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR FUNCTION THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I COULD HAVE HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD. AS IT WAS I HAD JUST PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND WAS UNLOADING PASSENGERS WHEN THE BRAKE LINE FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #767666

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PEDAL DRIFTS TOWARD FLOOR AT RED LIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751930

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE THE ENGINE IS IDLING DURING A STOP AND PRESSURE IS INCREASED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL DECENDS TO THE FLOOR. *CJ

NHTSA ODI #557569

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WENT TO DEALER 3 OUT OF 5 PEOPLE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM. SYSTEM WAS INSPECTED 2 WEEKS PRIOR BY NYS INSPECTION. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #735678

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PROBLEM STARTED AT 7000 MILES. BRAKES AND THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 14000 MILES AND 19000 MILES. ALSO, ABS BRAKE LIGHT WAS COMING ON/OFF, AND BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #860220

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES MAKE NOISE DUE TO PADS MADE OUT OF ASBESTOS. YH

NHTSA ODI #609234

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES SQUEAKING. YH

NHTSA ODI #608763

Official recalls

1

98V278000 · Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module

Oct 19, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR HVAC FAN SPEED CONTROLS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN SMOOTHLY AND COULD STALL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.

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

1

DP02004 · Engine Seizure

Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002

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

No summary supplied.