Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
1325–50K
1050–75K
975–100K
9100–150K
7150K+
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
What owners actually said
178 reports
Mileage unknown · May 31, 2001
Steering
PURCHASED USED 1998 IN 1999-WHILE DRIVING CAR TURNS OFF AND STEERING WHEELS BECOME TOO HARD TO STEER. SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 WHEN THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT ANY SYMPTONS. HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALER MANY TIMES THEY SAY THEY FIXED IT YET IT KEEPS REOCCURING. COULD KILL OR HAVE MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD, I…
Read full complaint
PURCHASED USED 1998 IN 1999-WHILE DRIVING CAR TURNS OFF AND STEERING WHEELS BECOME TOO HARD TO STEER. SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 WHEN THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT ANY SYMPTONS. HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALER MANY TIMES THEY SAY THEY FIXED IT YET IT KEEPS REOCCURING. COULD KILL OR HAVE MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD, I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED BECAUSE I'M A REALTOR AND I HAVE CLIENTS IN MY CAR ALL THE TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #746186
Mileage unknown · May 9, 2001
Steering
WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL IT HAS HARD RESISTANCE UNTIL WARMED UP. DEALER HAS PARTS ON BACK ORDER, AND IT WILL TAKE 30 DAYS. A RUSH ORDER HAS BEEN PLACED. VEHICLE IS GOING TO GET WORSE OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #887830
Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2001
Steering
STEERING WHEEL IS INOPERABLE DUE TO A FAULTY STEERING YOKE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PART WAS ON BACKORDER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #885668
Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2001
Suspension
PREMATURE WEARING OF FRONT STRUTS EVENTUALLY CAUSED TIRES TO PREMATURELY WEAROUT. ALSO, VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO LEFT OR RIGHT WHICH WAS ALSO A RESULT OF PROBLEM WITH FRONT STRUTS. *AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #878816
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2001
Suspension
FRONT STRUT BRACKET FAILURE CAUSING FRONT SUSPENSION NOISE, POOR RIDE, AND UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. PREVIOUS TSB'S WERE NOTED BY OWNER. PROBLEM FIXED BY DEALER UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURE AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE FOR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY OVER $500 IF NOT COV…
Read full complaint
FRONT STRUT BRACKET FAILURE CAUSING FRONT SUSPENSION NOISE, POOR RIDE, AND UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. PREVIOUS TSB'S WERE NOTED BY OWNER. PROBLEM FIXED BY DEALER UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURE AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE FOR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY OVER $500 IF NOT COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY. DO TO NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE IN TOYOTA CARS, WOULD THINK THIS IS LIKELY MANUFACTURING OR ENGINEERING DEFECT AND DUTY OF TOYOTA TO FIX.
NHTSA ODI #738718
Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2000
Suspension
NOISE AND THUMP IS COMING FROM SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING OVER WASHBOARD TYPE BUMPS, DEALER REPLACED A LOOSE HEADLINER, HOWEVER THE THUMP AND NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #785129
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 · Oct 11, 2000
SeatsCrashInjury
MY CAR WAS STOPPED AND THEN HIT DIRECTLY IN THE BACK BY A VEHICLE GOING APPROX. 45 MILES PER HOUR. ON IMPACT, THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT FULLY RECLINED RESULTING IN INJURY TO OCCUPANT AND IF THERE WAS AN OCCUPANT ON THAT SIDE IN THE REAR SEAT, THAT OCCUPANT WOULD HAVE HAD CRUSHED LEGS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM…
Read full complaint
MY CAR WAS STOPPED AND THEN HIT DIRECTLY IN THE BACK BY A VEHICLE GOING APPROX. 45 MILES PER HOUR. ON IMPACT, THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT FULLY RECLINED RESULTING IN INJURY TO OCCUPANT AND IF THERE WAS AN OCCUPANT ON THAT SIDE IN THE REAR SEAT, THAT OCCUPANT WOULD HAVE HAD CRUSHED LEGS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. OCCUPANT SUFFERS BACK MUSCLE INJURY FROM DEFECT. BIGGER INJURIES COULD HAVE RESULTED IF SOMEONE ELSE WAS IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #734051
Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2000
Tires
RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. WHILE REQUESTING REPAIR, DEALER INDICATED STEEL BELTS WERE BEGINNING TO PROTRUDE THROUGH CARCASS. UPON VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE UNDAMAGED LEFT REAR TIRE, OBSERVED THE SAME PHENOMENON. ALL TIRES HAD ONLY AN ESTIMATED 5 - 10 THOUSAND MILES TREAD REMAINING. THESE TIRES WERE ROTATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MANU…
Read full complaint
RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. WHILE REQUESTING REPAIR, DEALER INDICATED STEEL BELTS WERE BEGINNING TO PROTRUDE THROUGH CARCASS. UPON VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE UNDAMAGED LEFT REAR TIRE, OBSERVED THE SAME PHENOMENON. ALL TIRES HAD ONLY AN ESTIMATED 5 - 10 THOUSAND MILES TREAD REMAINING. THESE TIRES WERE ROTATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATION AND MAINTAINED AT 32 PSI PRESSURE. CAR IS IN EXCELLENT MECHANICAL CONDITION WITH NO FRONT END DAMAGE NOR ALIGNMENT ANOMALIES. AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECTS NOTED ON BOTH REAR TIRES CHOSE TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/65R15 )
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.
1998 Toyota Avalon Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration