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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.

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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

Power Train complaints

9 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2002
Power Train

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A STRONG VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING WHICH HAS CAUSED THE TIRES AND ROTORS TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED VEHICLE WITH AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS ATTEMPTED TO GET ALIGNMENT CORRECTED 6X WITH NO SUCCESS. TS

NHTSA ODI #10001232

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2002
Power Train

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS AN "STRONG" VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS CAUSING TIRES AND ROTORS TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. DEALER DIAGNOSED BAD ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN REPAIRED 6X TO NO AVAIL. TS

NHTSA ODI #10001213

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2002
Power TrainInjury

WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THE ENGINE RUNNING THE CONSUMER STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE, SUDDENLY THE GEAR JUMPED INTO REVERSE CAUSING THE OPEN DOOR TO KNOCK THE DRIVER OVER, AS A RESULT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL RAN OVER THE RIGHT LEG OF THE DRIVER, THE DRIVER HAS HAD FOUR LEG OPERATIONS. NLM

NHTSA ODI #567983

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2002
Power TrainInjury

CONSUMER STATES IF VEHICLE IS IN PARK IT SLIPS INTO REVERSE. *MR THE CONSUMER STEPPED OUT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARDS. DRIVER TRIED TO GET IN THE VEHICLE TO STOP IT, BUT THE DOOR KNOCKED HIM DOWN, THE DRIVERS RIGHT LEG WAS UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL DRUG THE LEG…

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CONSUMER STATES IF VEHICLE IS IN PARK IT SLIPS INTO REVERSE. *MR THE CONSUMER STEPPED OUT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARDS. DRIVER TRIED TO GET IN THE VEHICLE TO STOP IT, BUT THE DOOR KNOCKED HIM DOWN, THE DRIVERS RIGHT LEG WAS UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL DRUG THE LEG, THE DRIVER HAS HAD 4 OPERATION ON THE RIGHT LEG *YH

NHTSA ODI #8020297

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2002
Power TrainInjury

PARKING LEVER SLIPPED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE, MOTOR RUNNING AS PERSON WAS GETTING OUT OF CAR THE CAR WENT INTO REVERSE THE OPEN DOOR KNOCKED THE PERSON DOWN AND HER LEG WENT UNDER THE TIRE WHICH DRAGGED THE LEG. THE INJURED PARTY WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 3 WEEKS AND HAS HAD 4 OPERATIONS ON THE LEG. NLM

NHTSA ODI #767717

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2002
Power Train

NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8008140

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2001
Power TrainWheels

ODOMETER IS GIVING A FALSE READING. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED FOR A 15 INCH WHEEL, AND VEHICLE HAS A 16 INCH WHEEL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED SPEEDOMETER WAS OKAY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #896925

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2001
Power TrainStructureSuspension

WHEN DRIVING WITH 4 AVERAGE SIZE ADULTS IN THE AVALON (2 FRONT/2 REAR) - THE REAR BOTTOMS OUT (AXLES/SUSPENSION) AND THE FRONT SCRAPS WHEN GOING UP DRIVEWAYS, OVER SPEEDBUMPS, LEAVING DRIVEWAYS, ETC. THE FRONT BUMPER/PAINT, MIDDLE UNDERSIDE, AND/OR THE REAR BUMPER/PAINT SCRAP SEVERELY ALONG THE GROUND AND/OR BUMP IN THE ROAD. EV…

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WHEN DRIVING WITH 4 AVERAGE SIZE ADULTS IN THE AVALON (2 FRONT/2 REAR) - THE REAR BOTTOMS OUT (AXLES/SUSPENSION) AND THE FRONT SCRAPS WHEN GOING UP DRIVEWAYS, OVER SPEEDBUMPS, LEAVING DRIVEWAYS, ETC. THE FRONT BUMPER/PAINT, MIDDLE UNDERSIDE, AND/OR THE REAR BUMPER/PAINT SCRAP SEVERELY ALONG THE GROUND AND/OR BUMP IN THE ROAD. EVERYTHING CAN BE FELT WHEN DRIVING AND THERE IS A LOT OF SCRAPING ALONG THE GROUND. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE AXLES/STRUTS/SUSPENSION - THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THE CAR JUST HAS A SOFT RIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES SQUEAKING/RUBBING NOISES - AGAIN THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND JUST LUBRICATED IT. THE FRONT PAINT IS CHIPPING AFTER A FEW MONTHS DESPITE IT BEING CHIP RESISTANT PAINT. THE CHIPS LOOK LIKE THE EDGES ARE READY TO FLAKE. THE FUEL TANK NOZZLE IS JAMBED AGAINST THE LEFT SIDE OF THE GAS DOOR OPENING, THUS REQUIRING A PERSON'S HAND TO SCRAP AGAINST THE CAR TO OPEN THE FUEL TANK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #749337

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2000
Power Train

THE CAR MAKES A JERKY MOVE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A SLOW ROLLING SPEED (10 MPH).*AK

NHTSA ODI #737688

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.