Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
110–25K
1225–50K
1450–75K
1675–100K
22100–150K
7150K+
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
What owners actually said
173 reports
Mileage unknown · May 4, 2003
Tires
ON 5/3/2003, MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A HIGH SPEED BLOWOUT (@75 MPH) DRIVING A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. SHE CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE TIRE WAS ONE OF 4 PURCHASED 9/11/2002, AND HAD ABOUT 10000 MILES ON IT. THE TIRE IS A GOODYEAR INTEGRITY 205/65R15. THE TIRE TREAD WITH ROAD SURFACE CASING INTACT ENTIRELY SEPAR…
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ON 5/3/2003, MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A HIGH SPEED BLOWOUT (@75 MPH) DRIVING A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. SHE CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE TIRE WAS ONE OF 4 PURCHASED 9/11/2002, AND HAD ABOUT 10000 MILES ON IT. THE TIRE IS A GOODYEAR INTEGRITY 205/65R15. THE TIRE TREAD WITH ROAD SURFACE CASING INTACT ENTIRELY SEPARATED FROM THE SIDE WALLS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRIOR DAMAGE SUCH AS NAILS OR CUTS. THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE EXAMINED BY THE DEALER AND WERE FOUND TO BE PROPERLY INFLATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE AT NO CHARGE. MY CONCERN IS WHETHER THESE TIRES ARE SAFE OR NOT. THE DEALER KEPT THE TIRE. PLEASE ADVISE. WE HAVE A HIGH SPEED BLOW OUT WITH NO APPARENT EXPLANATION. IS THERE A PAST HISTORY? *JB
NHTSA ODI #10016987
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2003
Air Bags
CONSUMER HAD A CONCERN ABOUT THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO HER HEIGHT AND WEIGHT. *TS *JB
NHTSA ODI #566946
Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE WOULD CUT OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING 40 TO 65 MPH. DEALER TEST DROVE VEHICLE FOR 125 MILES HOWEVER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG THE VEHICLE. *TT *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10009774
58,000 miles · Mar 12, 2003
Seat BeltsCrashInjury
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES.
NHTSA ODI #10011499
58,000 miles · Mar 12, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10011498
28,000 miles · Feb 21, 2003
Visibility
THE WINDOWS WERE BLOTCHED WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10008985
40,000 miles · Feb 11, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CHANGED ENGINE OIL AS DIRECTED BY TOYOTA DEALER ON MY NEW 2000 TOYOTA AVALON (EVERY 3,000 MILES). WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM EXHAUST IN LATE 2001. TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA SERVICE DEPT. WAS ACCUSED OF NOT KEEPING UP ROUTINE MAINTENANCE (OIL CHANGES) ON THE VEHICLE, AS SLUDGE HAD BUILT UP UNDER VALVE COVER AND IN ENGINE. WA…
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CHANGED ENGINE OIL AS DIRECTED BY TOYOTA DEALER ON MY NEW 2000 TOYOTA AVALON (EVERY 3,000 MILES). WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM EXHAUST IN LATE 2001. TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA SERVICE DEPT. WAS ACCUSED OF NOT KEEPING UP ROUTINE MAINTENANCE (OIL CHANGES) ON THE VEHICLE, AS SLUDGE HAD BUILT UP UNDER VALVE COVER AND IN ENGINE. WAS TOTALLY LIVID AT THIS UNTRUE ACCUSATION. WAS TOLD I NEEDED $4,000 TO REPAIR. I HAD TO TRADE THE VEHICLE IN ON A NEW TOYOTA VEHICLE -- STARTING AT $4,000 IN THE RED. FOR EXAMPLE, NEW VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY $26,000. TO THAT TOYOTA ADDED THE $4,000 TO IT. I NOW OWE $30,000 ON A VEHICLE WORTH MUCH MUCH LESS. I'M ENRAGED AND WANT A $4,000 CREDIT BACK TO MY BALANCE ON MY NEW VEHICLE AFTER LEARNING OF THE OBVIOUS RELEVATION THAT TOYOTA IS TO BLAME FOR A FAULTY ENGINE PROBLEM ON MANY OF ITS VEHICLES. I WORK FOR A LAW FIRM AND WILL STOP AT NOTHING SHORT OF THIS OUTCOME. THANK YOU.
NHTSA ODI #10005687
Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2003
Unknown Or Other
NO DESCRIPTION AVAILABLE. *JG *JB
NHTSA ODI #10006295
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2003
Service Brakes, Air
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST 99% OF THE BRAKES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. TS
NHTSA ODI #10004362
Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2002
Power TrainCrash
WAS IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC APPROACHING TOLL, WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, FORWARD. HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. STOPPED AND CHECKED VEHICLE AND GOT BACK IN VEHICLE. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND INFORMED A TOYOTA INSPECTOR WILL CHECK VEHICLE OUT. VEHICLE INSPECTED …
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WAS IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC APPROACHING TOLL, WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, FORWARD. HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. STOPPED AND CHECKED VEHICLE AND GOT BACK IN VEHICLE. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND INFORMED A TOYOTA INSPECTOR WILL CHECK VEHICLE OUT. VEHICLE INSPECTED AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. TS
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.
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