Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
925–50K
750–75K
375–100K
4100–150K
6150K+
34 reports with mileage · 58 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.
Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
92 reports
35,385 miles · Oct 12, 2004
Air BagsCrash
THE AVALON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND WAS STRUCK ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS ONLY A FEW INCHES AWAY FROM ONE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE CAR SPUN OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE GRASS VERGE BUT FORTUNATELY THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET IT BACK UNDER CONTROL. I HAVE CONTACTED …
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THE AVALON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND WAS STRUCK ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS ONLY A FEW INCHES AWAY FROM ONE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE CAR SPUN OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE GRASS VERGE BUT FORTUNATELY THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET IT BACK UNDER CONTROL. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA MANY TIMES OVER THE WEEKS SINCE THE ACCIDENT, ASKING IF THIS WAS NORMAL OR WAS THERE AN AIRBAG FAILURE. TOYOTA HAVE BEEN DODGING THE QUESTION AND "REFERRING ME TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT". THEY SAID THEY WOULD 'INSPECT IT', DURING A TWO WEEK STAY AT THEIR DEALERSHIP BUT THEY DIDN'T. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAGS, PARTICULARLY THE SIDE ONES DID NOT DEPLOY. IS THERE A FAULT IN THE SYSTEM, OR IF THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED TO OPERATE UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES , THEN WHY FIT THEM? *NM
NHTSA ODI #10095597
73,000 miles · Oct 1, 2004
Air Bags
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLES AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *AK *TC
NHTSA ODI #10090039
12,000 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10062981
17,000 miles · Mar 17, 2004
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION BEGAN TO KNOCK. THE DRIVER WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD STRUT. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT WILL COST 500.00 FOR REPAIR. *NM TOYOTA SERVICE SAID THAT IF STRUT WEREN'T REPAIRED, ENGINE WILL FALL OFF FROM THE FRAME. ALSO, STRUT PROBLEM IS COMMON FOR …
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WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION BEGAN TO KNOCK. THE DRIVER WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD STRUT. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT WILL COST 500.00 FOR REPAIR. *NM TOYOTA SERVICE SAID THAT IF STRUT WEREN'T REPAIRED, ENGINE WILL FALL OFF FROM THE FRAME. ALSO, STRUT PROBLEM IS COMMON FOR THIS MODEL. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10057390
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2004
Suspension
MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON (52,000 MILES) DEVELOPED EXCESSIVE FRONT-END NOISE AND VIBRATION. THIS PROBLEM REQUIRED SERVICING OF FRONT END SUSPENSION SYSTEM.I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN SEPT 1999. I HAVE DISCOVERD THAT TOYOTA MOTOR ISSUED A TSB UPDATE (SU002-99 DATED SEPT 3, 1999) ADVISING TOYOTA DEALERS OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH MODE…
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MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON (52,000 MILES) DEVELOPED EXCESSIVE FRONT-END NOISE AND VIBRATION. THIS PROBLEM REQUIRED SERVICING OF FRONT END SUSPENSION SYSTEM.I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN SEPT 1999. I HAVE DISCOVERD THAT TOYOTA MOTOR ISSUED A TSB UPDATE (SU002-99 DATED SEPT 3, 1999) ADVISING TOYOTA DEALERS OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH MODELS 1997-1999 TOYOTA AVALON. THE TSB ALSO STATED THAT TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM THES SUSPENSION SUPPORT HAS BEEN CHANGED. MY COMPLAINT: I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURED ON MY VEHICLE, IT CAUSED A SAFETY CONCERN AND REQUIRED REPAIRS COSTING ME $298. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FILED FOR REIMBURSEMENT APPROVAL WITH TOYOTA MOTOR WHO ONLY AUTHORIZED REIMBURSEMENT OF SMALL COST OF PARTS. I APPEALED TO TOYOTA MOTOR ABOUT THIS SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. TOYOTA ADVISED ME THAT THEIR DECISION WAS FINAL. I CONTACTED CALIFORNIA STATE CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY WHO ADVISED ME TO CONTACT NHTSA.
NHTSA ODI #10054638
Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2004
Tires
WITH AT LEAST 50% OF THE TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRES (42,488 MILES) THE VEHICLE STARTED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED BACK AND FORTH. UPON EXAMINATION, THE FRONT TIRES WERE SWOLLEN IN THE TREAD PORTION OF THE TIRE. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10046520
39,500 miles · Dec 17, 2003
Suspension
AT 39,00 MI. MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON MAKES ALOT OF NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE, VIBRATES AT ANY SPEED ON LESS THAN SMOOTH ROAD, VIBRATES ON FREEWAY AT 70 MPH.LOUD CLUNKING NOISES. CAR DEALER REPLACED FRONT STRUTS AND ALIGNED FRONT TO NO AVAIL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10050674
34,200 miles · Dec 10, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT 25-30 MPH. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER TO KEEP DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL LIGHT MIGHT GO OFF ON IT'S OWN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR 4 WEEKS, COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE AT THAT TIME, AND IT SHOWED THAT CHARCOAL CANISTER VACUUM SWITCHING VALVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA PAID FOR PART UNDER …
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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT 25-30 MPH. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER TO KEEP DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL LIGHT MIGHT GO OFF ON IT'S OWN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR 4 WEEKS, COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE AT THAT TIME, AND IT SHOWED THAT CHARCOAL CANISTER VACUUM SWITCHING VALVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA PAID FOR PART UNDER GOOD WILL PROGRAM.*AK *PH
NHTSA ODI #10047971
50,000 miles · Nov 4, 2003
Suspension
THE STRUT CAPS KEEP REPEATEDLY BREAKING AND THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE PLACEMENT OF THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10045406
50,000 miles · Aug 7, 2003
SeatsInjury
THE DRIVER HEATER SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED THE CONSUMER. *JB THE FIRST SEAT GRID WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WORK. THE REPLACEMENT BURNED THE CONSUMER WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING AND NEVER CAME ON AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FAILED PART AGAIN. *PH *JB
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.
1999 Toyota Avalon Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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