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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

Steering complaints

9 reports
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200,000 miles · Apr 6, 2017
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AFTER THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CUTS TO THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AFTER THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CUTS TO THE BODY, INJURIES TO THE NECK, BOTH KNEES, AND THE LEFT ANKLE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #10970903

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2013
Steering

TOYOTA KEEPS SENDING ME SAFETY RECALL NOTICES, BUT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HERE IN THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS(USVI) REFUSES TO DO THE WORK. THEY KEEP SAYING MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN THEIR SYSTEM, AND THEY WON'T PUT IT IN THEIR SYSTEM. HOW DO I SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10501910

67,000 miles · Nov 16, 2011
SteeringFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND HE BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY CAME APART AND TWO OF THE BELTS WERE DISENGAGED AS A RESULT.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND HE BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY CAME APART AND TWO OF THE BELTS WERE DISENGAGED AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #10436056

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2011
Air BagsSteeringCrash

3/30/11 COMING OUT OF A RIGHT HAND TURN, IT LOOKED LIKE THE STEERING LOCKED INTO A POSITION WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER. THE CAR SLID AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS CRUSHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT WORK. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL FROM INTE…

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3/30/11 COMING OUT OF A RIGHT HAND TURN, IT LOOKED LIKE THE STEERING LOCKED INTO A POSITION WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER. THE CAR SLID AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS CRUSHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT WORK. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL FROM INTERNAL INJURIES. THE CAR HAS BEEN PRESERVED AT A STORAGE FACILITY IN TEXAS SINCE SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. IT IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. NOT SURE WHETHER THE GAS PEDAL STUCK OR NOT. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A BLACK BOX IN THESE CARS WHICH COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO ANSWERS. THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPAIR IN JANUARY 2011. I HAVE COPIES OF THE REPAIR BILL. PLEASE SEE THAT NO OTHERS ARE HURT. UPDATED 10/31/11 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10429748

140,000 miles · Jan 19, 2011
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL, ABS AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CONCLUDED THAT THE STEERING POSITIONING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE CONTACT D…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL, ABS AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CONCLUDED THAT THE STEERING POSITIONING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 173,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10377899

110,000 miles · Oct 25, 2010
SteeringCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA AVALON ON THE FREEWAY. A CAR CUT ME OFF SO I SWERVED TO AVOID IT. AFTER THAT, I COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING IN MY CAR. I HEADED TOWARD A WALL AND TRIED TO TURN AWAY FROM IT, BUT THE STEERING DID NOT RESPOND EVEN THOUGH I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I CRASHED HEAD FIRST INTO THE WALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362253

132,500 miles · Aug 27, 2010
Steering

2001 TOYOTA AVALON WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTAL AREA AND TURING RIGHT FROM ONE STREET TO ANOTHER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL. I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO AVOID RUNNING INTO A RESIDENTAIL WALL. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES, I MOVED THE TRANSMISSION FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND THEN REVERSE. …

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2001 TOYOTA AVALON WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTAL AREA AND TURING RIGHT FROM ONE STREET TO ANOTHER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL. I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO AVOID RUNNING INTO A RESIDENTAIL WALL. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES, I MOVED THE TRANSMISSION FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND THEN REVERSE. THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. I DROVE THE TWO BLOCKS TO MY HOME AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352399

81,740 miles · Aug 27, 2007
Electrical SystemSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. ON AUGUST 26, 2007, THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED, EVEN WHILE DRIVING. HE JIGGLED THE WHEEL AND IT UNLOCKED. HE STATED THAT THE INTERLOCK FAILS TO RELEASE. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE PURCHASE DATE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. ON AUGUST 26, 2007, THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED, EVEN WHILE DRIVING. HE JIGGLED THE WHEEL AND IT UNLOCKED. HE STATED THAT THE INTERLOCK FAILS TO RELEASE. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE PURCHASE DATE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,740. UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER BRACKET

NHTSA ODI #10200895

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2000
Steering

STEERING FEEDBACK BECOMES TOO LIGHT AND UNSTABLE AT HIGHT SPEED (65MPH). ON THE SECOND VISIT TO THE DEALER, THE TECHNICIAN WHO TEST DROVE THE CAR ADMITTED THIS CARS STEERING FEELS LOOSER. DEALER ADJUSTED THE ALIGNMENT WITH NO POSITIVE CHANGES TO THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737687

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.