2004 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT RECENTLY ILLUMINATED. *JB
2004 Toyota Avalon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Avalon years
Owner complaints for the 2004 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
114 reports with mileage · 91 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 127 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 28 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 →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
127 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:14V147000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:14V147000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. 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.
2004 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM/ ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS AN ISSUE. THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT. HOWEVER, WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, SHE WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB
RECALL ON 2004 AVALON ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SECOND RECALL ON SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. THANKS *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DISTRACTED AT 70 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SRS WARNING LIGHT PREVIOUSLY ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND MOUTH INJURIES THAT …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DISTRACTED AT 70 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SRS WARNING LIGHT PREVIOUSLY ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND MOUTH INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 03/31/15*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURED EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURED 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. UPDATED 01/23/15*LJ UPDATED 01/26/15*JB
MY COMPLAINT HAS TO DO WITH THE AIR BAG RECALL. THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS REPLACED COMPONENTS OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE CONSULTANT CLAIMS TO HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA TECH PERSONNEL IN CA AND WAS TOLD, BASICALLY, "THERE'S NOTHING ELSE WE CAN DO UNDER THE RECALL." IF THE PROBLE…
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MY COMPLAINT HAS TO DO WITH THE AIR BAG RECALL. THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS REPLACED COMPONENTS OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE CONSULTANT CLAIMS TO HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA TECH PERSONNEL IN CA AND WAS TOLD, BASICALLY, "THERE'S NOTHING ELSE WE CAN DO UNDER THE RECALL." IF THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, I.E. THE WARNING LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND, APPARENTLY, THERE IS STILL THE RISK OF A MALFUNCTION, I FAIL TO SEE WHY FURTHER ACTION CANNOT BE TAKEN. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ AND HEARD THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION CAN BE FATAL. *TR
I TOOK MY CAR TO HERRIN-GEAR TOYOTA SCION ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 AT 6100 I-55 NORTH IN JACKSON, MS TO FIX THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. ON THE DRIVE HOME I NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE THEM ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1…
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I TOOK MY CAR TO HERRIN-GEAR TOYOTA SCION ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 AT 6100 I-55 NORTH IN JACKSON, MS TO FIX THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. ON THE DRIVE HOME I NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE THEM ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014. I WAS TOLD BY [XXX] , ADVISOR IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THAT THE PART THEY HAD PUT ON WEDNESDAY WAS DEFECTIVE AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER IT AND IT WOULD BE A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE THE PART CAME IN. SO, IN THE MEANTIME, I AM STILL DRIVING MY CAR WITH THE AIRBAG ISSUE STILL NOT REPAIRED AND I DON'T KNOW DEFINITELY WHEN IT WILL BE FIXED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I TOOK MY CAR TO HALEY TOYOTA ON HULL STREET IN RICHMOND VIRGINIA FOR THE AIR BAG RECALL....THEY SO CALL FIXED THE AIR BAG ISSUE AND THEN SAID WHEN THEY PUT THE CAR BACK TOGETHER THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. AFTER SOME RESEARCH THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS THE PROBL…
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I TOOK MY CAR TO HALEY TOYOTA ON HULL STREET IN RICHMOND VIRGINIA FOR THE AIR BAG RECALL....THEY SO CALL FIXED THE AIR BAG ISSUE AND THEN SAID WHEN THEY PUT THE CAR BACK TOGETHER THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. AFTER SOME RESEARCH THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. MY AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NEVER ON PRIOR TO ME BRINGING THEM MY CAR. THEY ARE TRYING TO CHARGE ME $1400.00 FOR REPAIRS. THE RECALL WAS FOR THE AIR BAG AND IF THE LIGHT STAYS ON THEN THEY NEED TO FIX IT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY SAID THE ONLY THING THEY CAN DO IS TO OFFER ME $500.00 TOWARD THE REPAIR BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY UP FRONT AND SEND IN THE DOCUMENTATION AND THEN I WOULD ONLY BE REIMBURSED THE $500. I DON'T FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THEM ANYTHING BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE MECHANIC DID SOMETHING FOR THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO STAY ON. HE SAID THAT MAYBE SOME WIRES GOT CROSSED OR CONNECTORS GOT MOIST AND TRY TO PUT IT ON ME. I BROUGHT THE CAR FROM THAT DEALERSHIP AND HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO THE CAR SINCE I GOT IT BUT KEEP UP THE MAINTENANCE. THE RECALL IS FOR THE AIR BAG AND IF THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON THEY NEED TO FIX IT. THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR TWO WEEKS NOW. I NEED HELP GETTING THIS RESOLVED. *TR
Official recalls
315V043000 · 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.
11V539000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Nov 9, 2011
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
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.
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