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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

173 reports
93,000 miles · Apr 21, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL-THE DRIVER OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE INVOLUNTARILY ACCELERATED RESULTING IN A CRASH THAT DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE APPEARED ON THE SCENE AND THE DRIVER WAS REPORTED INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION BY AN INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WA…

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TL-THE DRIVER OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE INVOLUNTARILY ACCELERATED RESULTING IN A CRASH THAT DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE APPEARED ON THE SCENE AND THE DRIVER WAS REPORTED INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION BY AN INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000. SM.

NHTSA ODI #10326843

24,000 miles · Mar 16, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE 5 MPH DURING NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF SHE ACCIDENTLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR OR THE BRAKES. TWO PASSENGERS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE WERE INJURED ONE WAS CUT FROM THE GLASS FROM T…

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TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE 5 MPH DURING NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF SHE ACCIDENTLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR OR THE BRAKES. TWO PASSENGERS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE WERE INJURED ONE WAS CUT FROM THE GLASS FROM THE WINDOW. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT 'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 24,000. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A VIN#.

NHTSA ODI #10320151

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2010
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

2000 TOYOTA AVALON DRIVEN BY MY WIFE QUOTE "SUDDENLY TOOK OFF" RESULTING IN A WRECK. CAR WAS TOTALED WITH NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. EARLY MORNING WITH HEAVY RAINS, APPROX. 35 MILES PER HOUR SPEED, BREAKING, WHEN CAR TOOK OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10318422

20,000 miles · Mar 3, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

2000 AVALON ACCELERATED UNINTENDED WHILE TRAVELING DOWN LAFAYETTE AVENUE IN HAWTHORNE, NJ DRIVER DID ALL SHE COULD TO CONTROL CAR AND TO AVOID PEOPLE AND PROPERTY. THE ONLY WAY SHE COULD STOP THE CAR WAS TO DRIVE INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. CAUSING SEVERE INJURY TO HERSELF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10316123

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

116,513 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

2000 TOYOTA AVALON CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED WHILE CAR WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL. COULD NOT DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL.CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. CONDITION WAS VERIFIED BY TEACH WHEN SERVICED BY DEALER. CLEANED AND SERVICED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND RESET. CLEAN AND SERVICED IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315659

12,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. UNEXPECTEDLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INCREASE EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH GREAT FORCE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A STUMP TO AVOID ENTERING INTO A RIVER. THE SPEED RATE INCREASED TO 35 MPH. THE AIR …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. UNEXPECTEDLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INCREASE EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH GREAT FORCE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A STUMP TO AVOID ENTERING INTO A RIVER. THE SPEED RATE INCREASED TO 35 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #10315551

40,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ONTO AN ENTRANCE RAMP, PROCEEDING TO A YIELD TRAFFIC SIGNAL. UNEXPECTEDLY, THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO TRAVEL UNCONTROLLABLY ACROSS AN INTERSECTION. AN OPPOSING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE REAR PANEL N…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ONTO AN ENTRANCE RAMP, PROCEEDING TO A YIELD TRAFFIC SIGNAL. UNEXPECTEDLY, THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO TRAVEL UNCONTROLLABLY ACROSS AN INTERSECTION. AN OPPOSING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE REAR PANEL NEAR THE TIRE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A SEVERE INJURY TO HIS BACK. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER AND REPAIRED FOR BODY DAMAGES. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10315541

14,254 miles · Feb 28, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, ONE TIME ONLY, RESULTING IN SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE. I WAS AT ENTRANCE TO CAR WASH SPEAKING TO THE ATTENDANT WHEN THE CAR TOOK OFF AT HIGH SPEED. MY CAR WAS STOPPED BY HITTING THE REAR END OF A JEEP AT THE END OF THE CAR WASH. THE REASON WAS INEXPLICABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314973

114,000 miles · Feb 24, 2010
SteeringCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING L…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 114000.

NHTSA ODI #10313952

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.