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

What owners actually said

134 reports

57,000 miles · Sep 2, 2003

Tires

THIS TIRE COMPLETELY SHREDDED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10037024

40,000 miles · Aug 15, 2003

Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE SKID CONTROL LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. *AK THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL TANK CAP WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES, AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE TH…

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NHTSA ODI #10029662

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 · May 7, 2003

Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A PICKUP TRUCK AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND PASSENGER IN PICKUP TRUCK SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS BADLY DAMAGED. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10017579

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2003

Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL HIT A PICKUP TRUCK, AND THEN HIT A TREE. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER IN THE PICKUP TRUCK SUSTAINED INJURIES AS WELL AS THE CONSUMER.*AK *JB *TS

NHTSA ODI #10015300

35,000 miles · Apr 1, 2003

Electrical System

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TRUNK OPENS, NOT FULLY, JUST AJAR, BY ITSELF. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY (6) TIMES IN (2) YEARS. THE TRUNK IS NOT OPEN SUFFICIENTLY FOR THE TRUNK OPEN LIGHT TO GO ON. THIS HAS HAPPEN APPROXIMATELY (3) TIMES ON THE ROAD AND (3) TIMES PARKED. WHILE ON THE ROAD IT WILL BE ANOTHER DRIVER WHO WILL SIGNAL THAT IT IS AJAR OR IN ONE CASE IT WAS A GAS STATION ATTENDANT (STILL ATTENDANT SERVICE IN NEW JERSEY!). ONE TIME THE TRUNK WAS FOUND AJAR IN THE MORNING AT A MOTEL STOP (NOTHING TAKEN), AND A COUPLE OF TIMES IT WAS FOUND OPEN WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. ON THIS AUTOMOBILE, 2001 TOYOTA AVALON, THE TRUNK OPENER IS ON THE DASH AND IS ELECTRONIC WHILE THE GAS CAP OPENER IS ON THE FLOOR AND IS MECHANICAL SO THERE CAN BE NO MISTAKING THE TWO. BECAUSE THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, I WILL LIST THE MOST RECENT DATE AS THE "INCIDENT DATE". THANK YOU.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10013772

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2003

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL WERE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, HIS FOOT SLIPPED AND DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10011429

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2003

Interior Lighting

THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED 6 TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10009236

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

Official recalls

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.