IllustrationSTEPPED ON BRAKE AND CAR ACCELERATES INTO VERY HIGH SPEED. *JB
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Avalon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
210–25K
1425–50K
2250–75K
3475–100K
31100–150K
16150K+
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
What owners actually said
293 reportsMY MOTHER-IN-LAW WHO ALWAYS WORE HER SEAT BELT WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND SOMEHOW RAN OFF THE ROAD HIT A LITTLE CHERRY TREE AND WAS THROWN FROM HER CAR & KILLED HER. THE SIDE NOR THE FRONT AIR BAGS WENT OFF. AND APPARENTLY THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TOO. THE HIGHWAY PARTROL CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED.*AK
WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP IT. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT D…
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WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP IT. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL THE LAST TIME, THE CONSUMER HIT A WALL AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
CONSUMER PLACED HANDS BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS TO RETRIEVE A PAIR OF KEYS. WHILE PULLING UP THE KEYS FROM THE SIDE OF THE SEAT WAS A METAL PART STICKING OUT FROM THE SIDE. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER'S RIGHT HAND FINGERS WERE CUT AND BLEEDING. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM FOUR TIMES, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED INTO A FENCE. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLI…
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WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED INTO A FENCE. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GARAGE. NO REPORT OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT OR INJURIES. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THEN PULLED FORWARD WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A 4-5 INCH CURB IN THE BACK OF THE GARAGE CRUSHING EVERY…
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WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GARAGE. NO REPORT OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT OR INJURIES. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THEN PULLED FORWARD WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A 4-5 INCH CURB IN THE BACK OF THE GARAGE CRUSHING EVERYTHING. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO USE THE BRAKES BUT THEY DIDN'T RESPOND AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. *SC *JB
VEHICLE'S ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER IS OFF. *MR EXTRA EQUIPMENT WAS ADDED BY THE MANUFACTURER (16 INCH TIRES AS OPPOSED TO STANDARD 15 INCH TIRES) WHICH RESULTED IN THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A FIX, REFUND OR REPURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB
WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COLLIDED WITH A HOUSE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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
Official recalls
215V043000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.