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2000 Toyota Avalon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Toyota Avalon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

82 reports with mileage · 91 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.

  • Steering. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 26 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

43 crash reports2 fire reports24 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

18 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2018
Engine And Engine Cooling

GOOD AFTERNOON ,MY NAME IS [XXX] AND SOME TIME AGO .I WAS CONTACTED BY THE OFFICE OF [XXX] CONCERNING THE FACTORY DEFECT THAT MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS AND MAY HAVE EVEN KILLED DRIVERS THROUGH THE EXPOSURE OF CARBON MONOXIDE.TOYOTA EXECUTIVE CONTINUES TO DENY THIS CLAIM HOPING I WILL GO AWAY.I AM AWAITING YOUR R…

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GOOD AFTERNOON ,MY NAME IS [XXX] AND SOME TIME AGO .I WAS CONTACTED BY THE OFFICE OF [XXX] CONCERNING THE FACTORY DEFECT THAT MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS AND MAY HAVE EVEN KILLED DRIVERS THROUGH THE EXPOSURE OF CARBON MONOXIDE.TOYOTA EXECUTIVE CONTINUES TO DENY THIS CLAIM HOPING I WILL GO AWAY.I AM AWAITING YOUR RESPONSE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE PROMISED INSPECTION OF MY CAR.MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN POISONED BY THE CARBON MONOXIDE SEEPING INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTS.TROTTER FORD TOYOTA IN PINE BLUFF,ARKANSAS SAID THE CAR HAD CARBON MONOXIDE GOING ALL OVER THE CAR AND THAT THE CAR WAS DANGEROUS.I CONTACTED TOYOTA EXECUTIVE CEO [XXX] OFFICE .HE SENT A MAN DOWN TO INSPECT MY CAR .THE PERSON ASSIGNED TO THE CAR TRIED TO BASH ME AND IN THE PROCESS ADMITTED SEVERAL DANGEROUS COMPONENTS TO THIS CAR.I AM ASKING TO SPEAK BEFORE CONGRESS ON THIS MATTER .I DON'T CARE HOW OLD THIS CAR IS I DONT DESERVE TO BE POISONED TO DEATH BY CARBON MONOXIDE. *BF *JS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *PM *TR

NHTSA ODI #11064008

100,000 miles · Mar 5, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FORTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AFTER TWENTY MINUTES, THE VEHICLE BEGUN TO PERFORM NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FORTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AFTER TWENTY MINUTES, THE VEHICLE BEGUN TO PERFORM NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10450373

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THEY INFORMED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10419972

125,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

OUR 2000 TOYOTA AVALON 6 CYLINDER ENGINE SHUT DOWN DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER (CHAMPION TOYOTA) WHERE THEY TOLD US THE ENGINE IS DEAD DUE TO THE YEARS OF OIL SLUDGE. NO ONE TOLD US THAT THE 2000-2002 AVLON WAS IN A QUIET RECALL CALLED CSP TO "FIX" THOSE ENGINES. THE FIGURE FOR A NEW ENGINE IS…

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OUR 2000 TOYOTA AVALON 6 CYLINDER ENGINE SHUT DOWN DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER (CHAMPION TOYOTA) WHERE THEY TOLD US THE ENGINE IS DEAD DUE TO THE YEARS OF OIL SLUDGE. NO ONE TOLD US THAT THE 2000-2002 AVLON WAS IN A QUIET RECALL CALLED CSP TO "FIX" THOSE ENGINES. THE FIGURE FOR A NEW ENGINE IS $9000, WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO A AUTO SHOP NEAR THE HOUSE WHERE THE OIL SLUDGE WAS CLEANED. WE GOT THE CAR BACK. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, THE CAR BROKE DOWN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY INTERSECTION LATE AT NIGHT. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME AS IT WAS VERY LATE. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO CHARLES MAUND TOYOTA WHO SOLD US THE CAR (CAR PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY THE OWNER CHARLES MAUND. WE BOUGHT IT WITH 7000 MILES ON IT IN 2000T. THE MECHANICS THERE CLEANED THE SLUDGE AND TRY TO TEST DRIVE, ONLY TO HAVE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AGAIN..THEY TOOK IT APART AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAS BEEN DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR DUE TO THE SLUDGE PROBLEM. WE DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB AND HAS THEM TO MAKE GOOD ON THE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE CSP AND WERE NOT ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT DURING THE TIME LIMIT PLACED ON THE CSP BY TOYOTA CORP. THE PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AND WELL DOCUMENTED. WE HAVE REGULARLY CHANGED THE OIL, THOUGH NOT ALWAYS WITH TOYOTA DEALER AS WE HAVE MOVED. THE ENGINE BREAKDOWN COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENTS HAD WE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COAST TO A NARROW SHOULDER BY THE CORNER OF 2222/360 HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE. WE WANT TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT MR. CHARLES MAUND MAY HAVE RECEIVED THE CSP NOTICE AS HE WAS THE "ORIGINAL OWNER" BUT FAIL TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO US. WE HAVE PURCHASED 2 VEHICLES FROM CHARLES MAUND AND WERE REGULAR MAINTENANCE CUSTOMERS SO THEY HAVE OUR RECORDS AND WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE OIL SLUDGE 6 CYLINDER AVALONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315745

63,000 miles · Jun 13, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. IN THE MORNINGS, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER, THE CONTACT MAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. IN THE MORNINGS, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER, THE CONTACT MAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE SHE EXCEEDED HER WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #10230934

86,496 miles · Jan 3, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A TOYOTA AVALON 2000 WITH <87000; 4 WEEKS AGO THE CAR EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE THAT WAS DETERMINED TO BE AS A RESULT OF LOW OIL VOLUME MOST LIKELY DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP. I HAVE REGULARLY MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE, AND HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO AVOID TAKING BLAME, BUT AFTER TWO INDEPE…

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I OWN A TOYOTA AVALON 2000 WITH <87000; 4 WEEKS AGO THE CAR EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE THAT WAS DETERMINED TO BE AS A RESULT OF LOW OIL VOLUME MOST LIKELY DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP. I HAVE REGULARLY MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE, AND HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO AVOID TAKING BLAME, BUT AFTER TWO INDEPENDENT ADJUSTED VIEWED THE CAR, THE DEALERSHIP HAS PUT ME IN A LOANER VEHICLE. I AM AWAITING A RETURN CALL FROM THE REGIONAL MANAGER, BUT THEY ARE TAKING A LONG TIME TO RESPOND; THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR 4 WEEKS. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND FOUND TOYOTA REPORTED OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS AND HAS COVERED COSTS OF REPAIRS. I AM, HOWEVER, HAVING GREAT DIFFICULTY GETTING SOMETHING DONE WITH MY CAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10177712

88,677 miles · Aug 14, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

THE CONSUMER PAID FOR REPAIRS OF TIMING BELT, ALTERNATOR BELT, POWER STEERING BELT, HUB AND WHEEL BEARING, AND O-RING ON 2000 TOYOTA AVALON XLS. CONSUMER VIN NOT INCLUDED IN REAR HUB ASSEMBLY RECALL. *KB THE CONSUMER HAD THE LEFT REAR AXLE BEARING REPLACED PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE REPAIR FACILITY INDICATED T…

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THE CONSUMER PAID FOR REPAIRS OF TIMING BELT, ALTERNATOR BELT, POWER STEERING BELT, HUB AND WHEEL BEARING, AND O-RING ON 2000 TOYOTA AVALON XLS. CONSUMER VIN NOT INCLUDED IN REAR HUB ASSEMBLY RECALL. *KB THE CONSUMER HAD THE LEFT REAR AXLE BEARING REPLACED PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE REPAIR FACILITY INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HONOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS OF THE DATES LISTED ON THE RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165840

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND VSC AND VSC OFF LIGHT WENT ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INDICATED THAT A VALVE IN THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND THE CANISTER ITSELF NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE COMPONENTS ARE PART OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND THE VSC IS PART OF THE SAME CIRCUIT HENCE BOTH SETS OF WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON. DEALER INDICATED THAT IF YOU T…

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ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND VSC AND VSC OFF LIGHT WENT ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INDICATED THAT A VALVE IN THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND THE CANISTER ITSELF NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE COMPONENTS ARE PART OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND THE VSC IS PART OF THE SAME CIRCUIT HENCE BOTH SETS OF WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON. DEALER INDICATED THAT IF YOU TOP OFF THE TANK THE EXTRA GAS SPILLS OVER INTO THE CANISTER AND CAN OVERWHELM THE VALVE CAUSING EXCESSIVE USAGE AND POSSIBLE SHORTING. I INDICATED THAT I HAVE NEVER TOPPED OFF THE TANK IN THIS CAR, DEALER HAD NO OTHER EXPLANATION. PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE TOYOTA $1800 EXTRA CARE GOLD EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND COST TO REPLACE CANISTER WAS $285.00, AND $31.00 FOR VALVE, PLUS $285.00 LABOR. NOTE:78K MILES ON VEHICLE, SAME EXACT PROBLEM ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS: 6/11/03 NEW VALVE, VACUUM SWI INSTALLED, TOTAL CHARGE $152.11 52,587 MILEAGE 10/16/03 DIAGNOSIS & CLEAN SENSOR REINSTALL CODE, TOTAL CHARGE $130.50 56,694 MILEAGE 6/24/04 DIAGNOSIS & REINSTALL CODE, TOTAL CHARGE $43.50 60,252 MILEAGE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10148261

30,000 miles · Jan 16, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

I TOOK MY AVALON IN BECAUSE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE UPON ENGINE START. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE BUILDUP CAUSED BY THE IMPROPER MAINTAINANCE AND THAT THEY WOULD CLEAN OUT THE ENGINE AND THAT SHOULD HELP. BUT THE FACT IS THE CAR NOW PINGS SO LOUD YOU CAN NOT HEAR THE RADIO. NO IT IS NOT THE GAS. THEY …

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I TOOK MY AVALON IN BECAUSE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE UPON ENGINE START. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE BUILDUP CAUSED BY THE IMPROPER MAINTAINANCE AND THAT THEY WOULD CLEAN OUT THE ENGINE AND THAT SHOULD HELP. BUT THE FACT IS THE CAR NOW PINGS SO LOUD YOU CAN NOT HEAR THE RADIO. NO IT IS NOT THE GAS. THEY BLAMED THE SLUDGE PROBLEM ON MY MAINTENANCE. I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT THE CAR UP TO DATE ON THE OIL CHANGES. THE MILES AT THAT TIME WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000. I HAVE HEARD MANY TOYOTA'S HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MILES I HAVE NOW ARE 50,000. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10147865

70,000 miles · May 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS RELEASED VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. ONCE VEHICLE STOPS ONLY THEN CAN IT BE RESTARTED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10067149

Official recalls

2

10V345000 · Steering

Jul 29, 2010

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000-2004 AVALON VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER CASTING OF THE STEERING LOCK BAR, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A MINUTE CRACK MAY DEVELOP ON THE SURFACE OF THE LOCK BAR. SUCH A CRACK MAY EXPAND OVER A LONG PERIOD OF REPEATED LOCK AND UNLOCK OPERATIONS, AND EVENTUALLY THE LOCK BAR COULD BREAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SHOULD THE STEERING LOCK BAR BREAK, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK AND THE DRIVER WOULD LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING INTERLOCK DEVICE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

00V154000 · Suspension:rear

Jun 5, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT, THE REAR AXLE MAY NOT HAVE ADEQUATE STRENGTH IN SOME AREAS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AFTER EXTENDED USE OF THE VEHICLE, THE REAR AXLE SHAFTS COULD FAIL OR BREAK.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE REAR AXLE HUB ASSEMBLIES.

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.