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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

293 reports
185,000 miles · Sep 21, 2016
Air Bags

THE RECALL REMEDY FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN 15V043000 IS A FAILURE. AN IDENTICAL SYMPTOM TO THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM HAS RECURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS (INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF THE SRS SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT). PRIOR TO THE RECALL, WE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE ERROR CODE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP FOLLOWING ILLUMINATION OF THIS WARNING LAMP. HOW…

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THE RECALL REMEDY FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN 15V043000 IS A FAILURE. AN IDENTICAL SYMPTOM TO THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM HAS RECURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS (INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF THE SRS SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT). PRIOR TO THE RECALL, WE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE ERROR CODE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP FOLLOWING ILLUMINATION OF THIS WARNING LAMP. HOWEVER, NO ERROR CODES WERE STORED. NOW, THE DEALERSHIP (LOU FUSZ, ST. LOUIS) CLAIMS THAT THEY MUST CHARGE US TO ATTEMPT TO READ ANY STORED CODES. OBVIOUSLY, TOYOTA ENGINEERS DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AFTER HAVING A FIRST RECALL THAT FAILED FOLLOWED BY A SECOND RECALL AND NOW RECURRENCE OF IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS.

NHTSA ODI #10908447

129,000 miles · Jul 18, 2016
Unknown Or Other

TOYOTA INFORMED ME OF SAFETY RECALL 15V-043. IT REQUIRES REPLACING TWO CIRCUIT BOARDS. THE CONDITION IS THAT THE CAR CAN DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. TODAY, AFTER WAITING 90 DAYS THE PARTS STILL HAVE NOT ARRIVED. TOYOTA DEALER (JOSEPH AIRPORT TOYOTA) IS UNABLE TO TELL ME WHEN THEY WI…

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TOYOTA INFORMED ME OF SAFETY RECALL 15V-043. IT REQUIRES REPLACING TWO CIRCUIT BOARDS. THE CONDITION IS THAT THE CAR CAN DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. TODAY, AFTER WAITING 90 DAYS THE PARTS STILL HAVE NOT ARRIVED. TOYOTA DEALER (JOSEPH AIRPORT TOYOTA) IS UNABLE TO TELL ME WHEN THEY WILL ARRIVE. TOYOTA CORPORATION IS UNABLE TO TELL ME WHERE I AM ON THE WAITING LIST. MY LOCAL DEALER TRIES TO HELP BUT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND SHE NOW REFUSES TO DRIVE IT. SHE IS AFRAID IN IT. WE NEED TO GET THIS FIXED QUICK. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE? A COMPANY LIKE TOYOTA SHOULD SURELY HAVE SOME INFORMATION THEY COULD PROVIDE REGARDING THIS PART. IT DOES NOT TAKE THREE MONTHS TO MAKE THESE PARTS!

NHTSA ODI #10885552

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 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 EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 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 EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10873022

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2016
Air Bags

THE SRS SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHT FLASHES WHILE DRIVING, STATES THAT THEY FIXED IT BUT STILL AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHT FLASHES WHILE DRIVE, IT WAS A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10871308

Mileage unknown · May 27, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10871264

131,000 miles · May 27, 2016
Visibility/wiper

WINDOW WIPER MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ON MARCH 30 , 2016, THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART AND MADE US PAY$342.00 DEALER HAS REPEATEDLY DELAYED AND FINALLY TOLD US TO CALL TOYOTA.WE DID. TOYOTA SAID THEY STOPPED MAKING THE PART BUT HAD TO START AGAIN BECAUSE SO MANY WIPER MOTORS FAILED. NOW THEY ARE OUT OF THEM AGAIN AND DON'T …

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WINDOW WIPER MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ON MARCH 30 , 2016, THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART AND MADE US PAY$342.00 DEALER HAS REPEATEDLY DELAYED AND FINALLY TOLD US TO CALL TOYOTA.WE DID. TOYOTA SAID THEY STOPPED MAKING THE PART BUT HAD TO START AGAIN BECAUSE SO MANY WIPER MOTORS FAILED. NOW THEY ARE OUT OF THEM AGAIN AND DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL GET THEM IN. MY DAUGHTER IS DRIVING THIS CAR WITH NO WINDSHIELD WIPER SERVICE AND HAS A CHILD TO DRIVE TO SCHOOL. TOYOTA SUGGESTED WE RENT A CAR BUT WOULD NOT HELP PAY FOR IT. THEY SAID THEY ONLY HELP SPECIAL CUSTOMERS WITH RENTALS BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO QUALIFY. WE HAVE A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND JAY (WHO WOULDN'T GIVE HIS LAST NAME)AT TOYOTA WAS FLIPPANT AND SAID WE HAD AN OLD CAR. HIS NUMBER IS 18003314331 EXR [XXX] CASE NUMBER [XXX]1 IN NAME OF [XXX] AND HE WAS NOT ONLY NO HELP BUT NASTY AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN TO GET THIS PART OR A DELIVERY DATE AND ACCORDING TO [XXX], MANY OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP US SO WE CAN GET TOYOTA TO TAKE SOME ACTION [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10871255

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG ON MAY 2 2016. I WENT TO WALKER JONES SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN WAYCROSS, GA ON MAY 3. I WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART AND HAVE ONLY RECEIVED ONE REPLACEMENT PART. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN TOYOTA SENT THEM THE PART. I CALLED AGAIN ON …

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TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG ON MAY 2 2016. I WENT TO WALKER JONES SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN WAYCROSS, GA ON MAY 3. I WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART AND HAVE ONLY RECEIVED ONE REPLACEMENT PART. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN TOYOTA SENT THEM THE PART. I CALLED AGAIN ON MAY 16 AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. I WANT MY VEHICLE REPAIRED SO I CAN SAFELY USE IT. WHY ARE THE PARTS NOT AVAILABLE??? THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. WHEN THESE NOTICES ARE SENT OUT WHY DO WE HAVE TO GET THE RUNAROUND ABOUT THE PARTS?

NHTSA ODI #10870756

93,000 miles · May 12, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA AIRBAGS: HAVING RECEIVED TAKATA RECALL NOTICES, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR ACTION. HE SAID MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TAKATA AIRBAGS. ACCORDING TO NHTSA SITE, IT DOES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY 2003 TOYOTA AVALON MODELS SOLD WITH SOME OTHER AIRBAGS THAN TAKATA. IF I DO INDEED HAVE TAKATA AIRBAGS, PLE…

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TAKATA AIRBAGS: HAVING RECEIVED TAKATA RECALL NOTICES, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR ACTION. HE SAID MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TAKATA AIRBAGS. ACCORDING TO NHTSA SITE, IT DOES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY 2003 TOYOTA AVALON MODELS SOLD WITH SOME OTHER AIRBAGS THAN TAKATA. IF I DO INDEED HAVE TAKATA AIRBAGS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10864629

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10864004

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10854333

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.