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2001 Toyota Avalon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota Avalon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →
134Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
178
199892
1999173
2000134
2001116
2002293
2003205
2004
Compare all Avalon years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Vehicle Speed Control
24Air Bags
21Electrical System
14Engine And Engine Cooling
14Service Brakes, Hydraulic
11
All reported categories
Visibility
11Power Train
9Steering
9Tires
9Suspension
8Fuel System, Gasoline
5Structure
5Unknown Or Other
5Equipment
4Seat Belts
4Wheels
4Service Brakes, Electric
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Back Over Prevention
1Engine
1Fuel System, Other
1Interior Lighting
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

69 reports with mileage · 65 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

34 crash reports1 fire reports19 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

14 reports
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39,000 miles · Oct 3, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE OIL GELLING. MY 2001 AVALON XLS HAS 42,000 MILES AND IS IN THE SHOP FOR EXTENSIVE REPAIRS DUE TO OIL GELLING. I CHANGED THE OIL REGULARLY AND THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN ABSENT A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER AND THIS IS MY 4TH TOYOTA CAR. DEPENDABILITY IS THE NO. 1 PRIORITY FOR M…

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ENGINE OIL GELLING. MY 2001 AVALON XLS HAS 42,000 MILES AND IS IN THE SHOP FOR EXTENSIVE REPAIRS DUE TO OIL GELLING. I CHANGED THE OIL REGULARLY AND THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN ABSENT A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER AND THIS IS MY 4TH TOYOTA CAR. DEPENDABILITY IS THE NO. 1 PRIORITY FOR ME. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, BECAUSE I MUST DEPEND ON MY VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS IN THE SHOP I DECIDED TO TRADE IT IN FOR A 2004 LEXUS. IMAGINE MY DISGUST WHEN THE DEALER DISCOUNTED THE VALUE OF THE TRADE-IN BECAUSE OF OIL GELLING. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10041174

31,000 miles · Jul 31, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND TWO TOYOTA DEALERS (ROCKLAND TOYOTA AND PAUL MILLER TOYOTA) ARE NOT ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLE. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA MANUAL, I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING THIS CAR. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10030533

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE IN THIS CAR, THE TOYOTA V6 1MZ 3.0L HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #763251

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other

WHEN FILL ING UP WITH FUEL INDICATOR LIGHTS COME UP ON DASHBOARD. THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FUEL. *AK CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER THREE TIMES BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON GAS, THEN THEY DISCOVERED THE FLEXHOSE HAD COME OFF THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. *YH

NHTSA ODI #892799

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.

01V072000 · Structure:frame And Members

Mar 5, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY HAS NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY WELDED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FAILURE OF THE ASSEMBLY FOLLOWING LONG-TERM USAGE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FRONT SUB FRAME, IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 9, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.