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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

Visibility complaints

11 reports
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16,276 miles · May 16, 2005
Electrical SystemEquipmentFuel System, Other

2001 TOYOTA AVALON EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, AND WINDOWS. *MR THERE WAS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH NOISE THAT SEEMED TO ORIGINATE FROM THE FRONT END. THE NOISE WAS INTERMITTENT AND NOTICEABLE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED, WHEN MAKING TURNS OR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE CALIPER SLI…

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2001 TOYOTA AVALON EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, AND WINDOWS. *MR THERE WAS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH NOISE THAT SEEMED TO ORIGINATE FROM THE FRONT END. THE NOISE WAS INTERMITTENT AND NOTICEABLE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED, WHEN MAKING TURNS OR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE CALIPER SLIDE WAS STICKING ONTO THE LEFT FRONT SIDE. THE BRAKE ROTORS SHOWED SIGNS OF GLAZE, THERE WAS A WOBBLY FEELING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEATED SEAT WAS INTERMITTENT, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT, THE DRIVERS WINDOWS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN, THE STRIPPING ON THE BUMPER WAS COMING OFF, THE STEERING WOULD SHAKE AT TIMES, THE FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATED, THE RADIO BUTTONS WERE FADING, THE CASSETTE WAS INOPERATIVE, THERE WAS BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VENT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING, THE WIPER BLADE(S) WERE NOISY, THE WINDSHIELD HAD "MILLION" OF DOTS ALL OVER IT, AND THE FRONT PANEL WAS LIT FOR THE BACK LIGHTS AND THERE WAS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF AIR/HEAT THAT WOULD BLOW ON THE DRIVERS FEET. THE ROTORS WERE MACHINED AND THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE FRONT STRUTS WERE CRACKED AND CAUSED THE FRONT END NOISE. THE RADIO,STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND THE FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10122602

36,000 miles · Sep 21, 2004
Unknown Or OtherVisibility

BOTH VISORS (L&R) HAVE BROKEN. WHEN THE VISOR IS LATCHED OUT OF THE WAY THERE IS UNDUE STRESS ON THE HINGE AND ANCHOR CAUSING THE HINGE ASSEMBLY TO BREAK APART . THIS STRESS ALSO CAUSES THE ANCHOR THAT TO HOLDS THE VISOR AT REST TO RIP OUT. THIS IS CLEARLY IS A DESGIN FLAW AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY TOYOTA. I WAS TOLD OUT OF WARR…

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BOTH VISORS (L&R) HAVE BROKEN. WHEN THE VISOR IS LATCHED OUT OF THE WAY THERE IS UNDUE STRESS ON THE HINGE AND ANCHOR CAUSING THE HINGE ASSEMBLY TO BREAK APART . THIS STRESS ALSO CAUSES THE ANCHOR THAT TO HOLDS THE VISOR AT REST TO RIP OUT. THIS IS CLEARLY IS A DESGIN FLAW AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY TOYOTA. I WAS TOLD OUT OF WARRANTY AT 39,000 MILES, SORRY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10091397

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2004
StructureVisibility

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A DISTRACTING LIGHT THAT INTERFERES WITH MY NIGHT OPERATION OF THE CAR. AT NIGHT, AWAY FROM LIGHTS, I SEE THE 140 FROM THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE E FROM THE FUEL GAGE, REFLECTED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE IMAGE IS UPSIDE DOWN AND THE LIGHT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT IS DEAD AHEAD IN THE FIELD OF TRAVEL. I HAVE ADJU…

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I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A DISTRACTING LIGHT THAT INTERFERES WITH MY NIGHT OPERATION OF THE CAR. AT NIGHT, AWAY FROM LIGHTS, I SEE THE 140 FROM THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE E FROM THE FUEL GAGE, REFLECTED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE IMAGE IS UPSIDE DOWN AND THE LIGHT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT IS DEAD AHEAD IN THE FIELD OF TRAVEL. I HAVE ADJUSTED MY SEAT SO I AM AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, THE TOP OF MY HEAD IS ABOUT 1" FROM THE CEILING. I'VE CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALER. THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT SEE THE REFLECTION, BUT IF IT IS THERE, THEY REPORT "THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE". *JB

NHTSA ODI #10063828

42,000 miles · Feb 20, 2004
Electrical SystemVisibility

THE SENSOR THAT CAUSES THE REAR WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER TO TURN OFF MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE BACK GLASS TO OVERHEAT AND SHATTER. I HAVE A MR2 WHICH WAS NOT LISTED IN THE VARIOUS MODELS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10058558

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2002
Visibility

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A DISTRACTING LIGHT THAT INTERFERES WITH MY NIGHT OPERATION OF THE CAR. AT NIGHT, AWAY FROM LIGHTS, I SEE THE 140 FROM THE SPEEDOMETER AND E FROM THE FUEL GAGE, REFLECTED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE IMAGE IS UPSIDE DOWN AND THE LIGHT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT IS DEAD AHEAD IN THE FIELD OF TRAVEL. IVE ADJ…

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I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A DISTRACTING LIGHT THAT INTERFERES WITH MY NIGHT OPERATION OF THE CAR. AT NIGHT, AWAY FROM LIGHTS, I SEE THE 140 FROM THE SPEEDOMETER AND E FROM THE FUEL GAGE, REFLECTED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE IMAGE IS UPSIDE DOWN AND THE LIGHT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT IS DEAD AHEAD IN THE FIELD OF TRAVEL. IVE ADJUSTED MY SEAT SO IM AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, THE TOP OF MY HEAD IS ABOUT 2 FROM THE CEILING. I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALER THAT ATTEMPTED TO SERVICE THIS, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TOYOTA OFFICES (CASE # 200110160534). THEY REPORT "THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE".*AK

NHTSA ODI #757318

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2001
Visibility

DURING NIGHT DRIVING A PORTION OF THE SPEEDOMETER REFLECTS OFF WINDSHIELD, CREATING A DISTRACTION. TOYOTA CLAIMS MY VIN REPRESENTS THE VEHICLES THAT WERE CORRECTED DURING PRODUCTION, BUT THE REFLECTION STILL EXISTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #753624

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2001
Visibility

THIS IS AS MUCH A QUESTION AS AN ACTUAL REPORT. DRIVER'S SIDEVIEW MIRROR HAS TREMENDOUS BLIND SPOT - CONVERSELY - A SMALL VIEWING AREA. TYPICALLY A CONSCIENTIOUS DRIVER, I HAVE CUT OFF 2 OR MORE DRIVERS THAT JUST WEREN'T VISIBLE TO ME. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE REVIEWED. PERHAPS THIS IS MY OWN PROBLEM, BUT I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PRO…

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THIS IS AS MUCH A QUESTION AS AN ACTUAL REPORT. DRIVER'S SIDEVIEW MIRROR HAS TREMENDOUS BLIND SPOT - CONVERSELY - A SMALL VIEWING AREA. TYPICALLY A CONSCIENTIOUS DRIVER, I HAVE CUT OFF 2 OR MORE DRIVERS THAT JUST WEREN'T VISIBLE TO ME. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE REVIEWED. PERHAPS THIS IS MY OWN PROBLEM, BUT I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH A CAR IN THE PAST. MY BELIEF IS THAT THE SIDEVIEW MIRROR SHOULD BE MORE CONCAVE - OR AT LEAST PROVIDE A LARGER VIEWING AREA.*AK

NHTSA ODI #752161

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2001
Visibility

AT NIGHT THERE IS A GLARE ON WINDSHIELD FROM INSTRUMENT PANEL. HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #892770

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2001
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT DASHBOARD LIGHT WILL REFLECT ON WINDSHIELD GLASS, AND WILL INTERFERE WITH DRIVER'S VISION IN DARK. *AK THE REFLECTION ON TO WINDSHIELD WAS DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. THE DASBOARD DOES NOT EXTEND FAR ENOUGH TO BLOCK THE REFLECTION FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *YH

NHTSA ODI #878526

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2000
Visibility

WHILE TRAVELING DURNING RAIN WINDSHIELD GIVES OFF POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #874807

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.