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2002 Toyota Avalon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 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

76 reports with mileage · 40 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

32 crash reports2 fire reports13 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

35 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 12/11/15 *BF UPDATED 12/15/15. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10787303

71,500 miles · Aug 11, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO ADJUST THE PRETENSIONERS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS RESET; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO ADJUST THE PRETENSIONERS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS RESET; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,500.

NHTSA ODI #10747804

59,067 miles · Apr 25, 2015
Air Bags

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON:DEALER - LABOR 59067 CHECKED ALL CONNECTIONS. CHECKED CODES. CLEARED CODES. AIR BAG WARNING "RED" LIGHT CAME BACK ON WITHIN A FEW DAYS DEALER OFFERED A REPAIR APPROXIMATE COST $2,000.00 I DID NOT ACCEPT DID NOT REPAIR AM DRIVING THE CAR SINCE WITH WARNING LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712856

48,000 miles · Feb 20, 2015
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 04/06/15*LJ UPDATED 11/3/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10689651

70,000 miles · Feb 3, 2015
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECU…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 4/7/15*CN

NHTSA ODI #10680860

162,000 miles · Jan 21, 2015
Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKES AGAIN BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKES AGAIN BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED STERNUM AND HEART BRUISES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA ODI #10676990

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2014
Air Bags

WITHOUT INCIDENT, ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN CAR STARTED AND CONTINUES TO BLINK WHILE CAR IS RUNNING. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 99,000 MILES ON MY 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. LOCAL MECHANIC TESTED WITH HIS EQUIPMENT AND FOUND A PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. HE REFERRED ME TO DEALER TO MAKE REPAIRS. CALLED DEALE…

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WITHOUT INCIDENT, ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN CAR STARTED AND CONTINUES TO BLINK WHILE CAR IS RUNNING. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 99,000 MILES ON MY 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. LOCAL MECHANIC TESTED WITH HIS EQUIPMENT AND FOUND A PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. HE REFERRED ME TO DEALER TO MAKE REPAIRS. CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO RE-CHECK AT COST OF MORE THAN $100 AND THEN WOULD CHARGE ME FOR ANY REPAIRS THAT WERE NEEDED, BUT COULD NOT QUOTE PRICE UNTIL THEY PERFORMED TEST. I THEN READ ABOUT RECALLS OF 2002 AVALON, BUT MY DEALER SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE MY MAKE AND MODEL HAD NOT BEEN RECALLED. I CANNOT JUSTIFY PAYING $100+ FOR A RE-TEST AND THEN HAVING TO PAY ANY AMOUNT DEALER CHARGES TO REPAIR A 12 YEAR OLD AUTO. I DO NOT TRUST THIS DEALER BECAUSE OF PAST DEALINGS WITH THEIR SALES AND SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. PLEASE ADVISE ME. I TRANSPORT MY ELDERLY AUNT ON OCCASION. IS IT SAFE FOR HER TO RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT? THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652462

161,370 miles · Sep 11, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE PROBLEM RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,370.

NHTSA ODI #10632589

160,000 miles · Sep 4, 2014
Air Bags

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON XL. THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD IS CONSTANTLY BLINKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP THAT TESTED IT AND SAID THAT THERE IS A SHORT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE SQUIB CIRCUIT. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT TO TRIGGER THIS. APPARENTLY THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FIXED VIA A RECALL BY TOY…

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I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON XL. THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD IS CONSTANTLY BLINKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP THAT TESTED IT AND SAID THAT THERE IS A SHORT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE SQUIB CIRCUIT. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT TO TRIGGER THIS. APPARENTLY THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FIXED VIA A RECALL BY TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10630731

159,500 miles · Aug 22, 2014
Air Bags

THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD BLINKS CONTINUOUSLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627547

Official recalls

1

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.

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.