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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

Structure complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
77,861 miles · Jan 5, 2015
Structure

WHEN I WANTED TO EXIT THE CAR FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT WORK. I HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND USE THE OUTSIDE HANDLE TO EXIT THE CAR .I WAS THEN ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR. I HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ASSEMBLY REPLACED.THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN IN NOVEMBER…

Read full complaint

WHEN I WANTED TO EXIT THE CAR FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT WORK. I HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND USE THE OUTSIDE HANDLE TO EXIT THE CAR .I WAS THEN ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR. I HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ASSEMBLY REPLACED.THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN IN NOVEMBER 2014. THE INSIDE DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT LET ME EXIT THE CAR AND I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE AGAIN. THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE CABLE SNAPPED. I HAD TO HAVE THE CABLE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A 5 YEAR PERIOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670199

122,000 miles · Feb 22, 2010
Service Brakes, ElectricSteeringStructureCrash

WHILE DRIVING ON THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE (ROUTE 90) MY TOYOTA AVALON SUDDENLY TURNED TO THE LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) AND STRUCK THE HIGHWAY MEDIAN. I HAD NO CONTROL OF MY AVALON AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO TURNING THE WHEEL AND TO BRAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312681

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.