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2003 Toyota Avalon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Avalon years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Toyota Avalon are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

138 reports with mileage · 155 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 184 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

49 crash reports2 fire reports20 injury reports

Structure complaints

7 reports
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125,000 miles · Jan 2, 2015
Air BagsStructureCrash

WENT OFF ROAD TO MISS DEER, AIR BAG, RECENTLY TO TOYOTA FOR RECALL ON AIR BAGS, DID NOT INFLATE OR DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10669556

123,000 miles · Jun 2, 2014
Air BagsEngineStructureCrashInjury

I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHERE MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE CAME OFF OF A LEDGE IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AT WHICH POINT I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO BARRIER IN PLACE ON THAT SIDE. I CHOSE TO DIRECT MY VEHICLE TOWARD THE MUD PIT ON THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD. I CORRECTED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OFF OF …

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I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHERE MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE CAME OFF OF A LEDGE IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AT WHICH POINT I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO BARRIER IN PLACE ON THAT SIDE. I CHOSE TO DIRECT MY VEHICLE TOWARD THE MUD PIT ON THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD. I CORRECTED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OFF OF THE ROAD AND NOSE DIVE THROUGH THE FIRST MUD/DIRT EMBANKMENT. I EXPECTED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY ON BOTH SIDE AND FRONT TAKING THE SPEED AND FORCE OF THE COLLISION WITH THE FIRST EMBANKMENT AND THE YAW OF THE VEHICLE IN THE AIR. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE STILL AT THIS TIME AT WHICH POINT I HAD NOW LANDED REAR BUMPER FIRST AND A BIT SIDEWAYS ON A 2ND EMBANKMENT. THIS THEN LAUNCHES THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AIRBORNE FINALLY COMING TO REST IN A MUD AND GRAVEL DRIVE WAY OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO LIVES OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL OF IT'S TRANSMISSION FLUID ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THROUGH SOME OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT DAMAGED BUT AFTER FURTHER RESEARCHED I HAD DETERMINED THAT THE IMPACT SENSORS ARE ACTUALLY LOCATED IN THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE. 2 WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT WHICH WERE MYSELF, THE DRIVER, AND MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PASSENGER WHO WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT BUT NOT PROPERLY. SHE HAD THE LAP PORTION OF THE BELT ON BUT THE SHOULDER PORTION BEHIND HER. SHE IS A 20 YEAR OLD ADULT FEMALE.I AM A 19 YEAR OLD MALE AND HAD MINE ON PROPERLY. SHE HIT HER HEAD TWICE ON MY HEADREST. I WAS THROWN INTO THE SIDE OF MY DOOR AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL, THEN BACK AGAINST THE DOOR RESULTING IN BRUISED RIBS. IF THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAG SYSTEM WERE TO HAVE DEPLOYED PROPERLY THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A BARRIER BETWEEN ME AND THE DOOR WHICH CAUSED MY BRUISED RIBS ON MY LEFT SIDE. THERE IS A KNOWN AIRBAG RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR WHICH TOYOTA WHICH I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF A SOLUTION FOR AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595701

136,272 miles · Jan 3, 2013
StructureVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

9/17/2010 ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I ENTERED A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND STOPPED WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED GOING THRU A FENCE AND HITTING A STONE WALL WHEN THE CAR STOPPED. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY REPAIRED THE CAR AFTER A TOYOTA REP. EXAMINED THE CAR. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM [XXX] FROM TOYOTA DATED 10/25/2…

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9/17/2010 ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I ENTERED A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND STOPPED WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED GOING THRU A FENCE AND HITTING A STONE WALL WHEN THE CAR STOPPED. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY REPAIRED THE CAR AFTER A TOYOTA REP. EXAMINED THE CAR. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM [XXX] FROM TOYOTA DATED 10/25/2010 THAT STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY TYPE OF MANUFACTURE DESIGN OR DEFECT. DAYTONA TOYOTA DID AN AOH RECALL ON THE CAR DURING THAT TIME. MY BACK AND NECK WAS STRAINED AND I HAD CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS, HEAT THERAPY AND MASSAGES FOR TWO MONTHS PAID BY MY INSURANCE. 11/05/2012 ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I ENTERED A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND STOPPED WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED OVER THE CURB HITTING A STOP SIGN. THE SIGN RIPPED THE LEFT OUTSIDE MIRROR OFF THE DOOR, SCRAPED AND BENT THE FRONT AND BACK DOORS ON DRIVERS SIDE. THE CAR NOW SITS IN MY GARAGE WRECKED BECAUSE I WILL NOT TURN IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT ON MY INSURANCE BECAUSE MY PREMIUM WENT UP AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT. I WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN BECAUSE THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG AND IT IS A BLESSING THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE SIDEWALK NOR A CAR ON THE STREET WHEN MY CAR ACCELERATED. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG NOR DO THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO CUSTOMERS WHO TRUSTED THEIR VEHICLES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490915

7,000 miles · Dec 10, 2003
Structure

WHILE DRIVING 100 MILES OR MORE INSTRUMENT PANEL GLASS GETS HOT. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A FIRE. THE DEALER INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT RECOMMENDED TO KEEP DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *SC…

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WHILE DRIVING 100 MILES OR MORE INSTRUMENT PANEL GLASS GETS HOT. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A FIRE. THE DEALER INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT RECOMMENDED TO KEEP DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10046615

100 miles · Nov 12, 2003
StructureVisibility

THERE WAS FLUTTERING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO WEAK SPRINGS IN THE SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY. *AK THE AIR DAM (WIND DEFLECTOR PART OF THE MOON ROOF) FLUTTERED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND CAUSED A SHOCK WAVE/EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE IN THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10040463

8,500 miles · Oct 6, 2003
Structure

THE PAINT SEEMS TO BE CHIPPING VERY EASILY ON MY NEW AVALON WITH THE DESERT SAND MICA COLOR. YOU WOULD THINK I DROVE BEHIND GRAVEL TRUCKS THE WHOLE TIME I'VE HAD IT. AND I'VE ONLY HAD IT FOR 6 MONTHS, AND 8500 MILES. LOOKING AT IT YOU'D THINK IT HAD A LOT MORE MILES ON IT. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10041328

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureVehicle Speed Control

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE DRIVE POSITION, IT CAN'T BE SEEN FROM 40MPH AND UP. IN ORDER TO SET THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE ATTENTION OFF OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THEY'RE UNABLE TO VIEW THE SPEEDOMETER DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE DASHBOARD DESIGN. TS THE BRAKES NEEDED EXCESSIVE EFFORT IN ORDE…

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WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE DRIVE POSITION, IT CAN'T BE SEEN FROM 40MPH AND UP. IN ORDER TO SET THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE ATTENTION OFF OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THEY'RE UNABLE TO VIEW THE SPEEDOMETER DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE DASHBOARD DESIGN. TS THE BRAKES NEEDED EXCESSIVE EFFORT IN ORDER TO STOP. UPON THE SECOND APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES, THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISENGAGED. SCC

NHTSA ODI #10001386

Official recalls

2

15V043000 · Air Bags:frontal

Jan 28, 2015

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29, 2004, 2003-2004 Avalon vehicles manufactured June 5, 2002, to December 20, 2004, and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured January 18, 2002, to April 27, 2004. Due to electrical noise, a component in the air bag control module may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Inadvertent deployment of the air bags or the seat belt pretensioners increases the risk of an injury or crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began on August 24, 2015. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. GM issued an interim notification to owners on March 27, 2015. The recall began on August 24, 2015. Pontiac owners may call 1-800-620-7668. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 13V-029 and 14V-147. Vehicles that had a noise filter installed as the remedy for one of those campaigns need to have the air bag control module replaced under this campaign.

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.