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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.

About this comparison →
116Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
92
1999173
2000134
2001116
2002293
2003205
2004228
2005
Compare all Avalon years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
35Vehicle Speed Control
25Steering
18Service Brakes, Hydraulic
8Engine And Engine Cooling
7
All reported categories
Tires
7Electrical System
6Service Brakes
5Power Train
4Seat Belts
4Unknown Or Other
4Visibility
4Suspension
3Fuel/propulsion System
2Seats
2Structure
2Wheels
2Electronic Stability Control
1Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Engine
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes, Air
1Service Brakes, Electric
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2002
Fuel System, GasolineCrashFire

I HAD A FRONTAL CRASH THAT THE HOOD WAS PUSHED IN ABOUT 1 FOOT AND RIGHT HEAD LIGHT WAS OUT. IT WAS NOT THAT BIG OF CRASH, THE AIR BAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 5 MILES HOME. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE TO WAIT FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTOR TO COME FOR CLAIM INSPECTION. HOWEVER AFTER A…

Read full complaint

I HAD A FRONTAL CRASH THAT THE HOOD WAS PUSHED IN ABOUT 1 FOOT AND RIGHT HEAD LIGHT WAS OUT. IT WAS NOT THAT BIG OF CRASH, THE AIR BAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 5 MILES HOME. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE TO WAIT FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTOR TO COME FOR CLAIM INSPECTION. HOWEVER AFTER ABOUT 3 FULL DAYS, THE CAR IGNITED ITSELF AND BURNED THE WHOLE CAR. OF COURSE, I AM FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT IN THE CAR WHEN THE FIRE STARTED BUT IT IS QUITE UNRELIABLE FOR THE CAR TO JUST IGNITE BY ITSELF. SHOULDN'T THERE SOME KIND OF SAFTY FEATURE FOR A SLIGHTLY CRASHED CAR TO BE SAFE FROM CATCHING A FIRE OR THIS SAFTY FEATURE SIMPLY MALFUNCTIONED???

NHTSA ODI #10000068

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.