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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.

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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.

27 crash reports0 fire reports13 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2016
Air BagsSeat Belts

I TRIED TWICE TO GET A SAFETY RECALL FIXED BY KOONS TOYOTA TYSONS CORNER AFTER RECEIVING A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON MY TOYOTA AVALON (RECALL 15V-043). TWICE THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO INSPECT THE CAR TO SEE IF IT NEEDED A REMEDY TO THE RECALL AND ONLY AFTER AN INSPECTION WOULD THEY ORDER PA…

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I TRIED TWICE TO GET A SAFETY RECALL FIXED BY KOONS TOYOTA TYSONS CORNER AFTER RECEIVING A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON MY TOYOTA AVALON (RECALL 15V-043). TWICE THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO INSPECT THE CAR TO SEE IF IT NEEDED A REMEDY TO THE RECALL AND ONLY AFTER AN INSPECTION WOULD THEY ORDER PARTS. I BROUGHT IT IN THE FIRST TIME, THEY SAID IT DID NEED THE RECALL AND THEY WOULD ORDER THE PARTS. THEY NEVER DID. WHEN I TRIED TO SCHEDULE IT AGAIN, THEY TOLD ME THE SAME STORY THAT I HAD TO BRING IT IN FOR AN INSPECTION AND THEN THEY WOULD DECIDE IF THEY COULD ORDER THE PARTS. IT IS RIDICULOUS TO GO THROUGH SUCH TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND SO THEREFORE THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED YET.

NHTSA ODI #10897761

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2016
Air BagsSeat Belts

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA YEARS AGO. I CALLED THEM A NUMBER OF TIMES AND THEY STILL DON'T HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PART. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY RECEIVED IT BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD FROM THEM. TOYOTA IS RISKING MY LIFE AND THOSE OF MY PASSENGERS.

NHTSA ODI #10860693

130,000 miles · Apr 16, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

DASH LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON SHOWING AIR BAGS ICON AND WE HAVE A RECALL DATED IN OCTOBER 2015 AND STATED THAT THE SUB-WIRE HARNESS WAS INSTALLED AND THE THE SRS ECU WAS NOT REPLACED. EVERY TIME I CALL MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP I FIND OUT THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT SENT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. I USE [XXX] IN SYLACAUGA, AL 35150: PHONE […

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DASH LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON SHOWING AIR BAGS ICON AND WE HAVE A RECALL DATED IN OCTOBER 2015 AND STATED THAT THE SUB-WIRE HARNESS WAS INSTALLED AND THE THE SRS ECU WAS NOT REPLACED. EVERY TIME I CALL MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP I FIND OUT THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT SENT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. I USE [XXX] IN SYLACAUGA, AL 35150: PHONE [XXX]. GETTING WORRIED THAT THE AIR BAGS MIGHT DEPLOY ON US AND CAUSE US TO WRECK. TOYOTA IS DRAGGING FEET! MY PHONE IS [XXX] AND CAR IS IN WIFE'S NAME [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10859873

65,000 miles · Feb 17, 2016
Air BagsSeat Belts

TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT IN MARCH 2015. MY CAR'S AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE TOYOTA DEALER RECOMMENDS THE ECU BE REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH TOYOTA AND MY CALL HAS BEEN ESCALATED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY STILL ARE NOT FIXING MY C…

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TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT IN MARCH 2015. MY CAR'S AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE TOYOTA DEALER RECOMMENDS THE ECU BE REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH TOYOTA AND MY CALL HAS BEEN ESCALATED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY STILL ARE NOT FIXING MY CAR. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THERE IS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYING ACCIDENTALLY. I DO NOT FEEL THAT TOYOTA IS TAKING MY SAFETY OR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY SERIOUSLY. THE RECALL I RECEIVED CLEARLY STATES THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM "REPLACEMENT OF THE SRS ECU IS NOW ALSO REQUIRED FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL TO BE COMPLETE," IT JUST SEEMS THAT THEY WON'T. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A CAR IN WHICH I AM NOT CONFIDENT. PLEASE MAKE TOYOTA EXECUTE THIS RECALL IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER.

NHTSA ODI #10836656

136,000 miles · Feb 4, 2016
Air BagsSeat Belts

2004 TOYOTA AVALON -RECEIVE A NOTICE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM(SRS) ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU). THE ORIGINAL "FIX" FOR THIS PROBLEM (DEEMED AN "URGENT SAFETY RECALL" BY TOYOTA) WAS ANNOUNCED IN MAR, 2014. IT WAS LATER FOUND THAT THIS "FIX" DID NOT DO THE JOB.A 2ND RECALL (DATED JAN 27TH, 2015)WAS I…

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2004 TOYOTA AVALON -RECEIVE A NOTICE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM(SRS) ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU). THE ORIGINAL "FIX" FOR THIS PROBLEM (DEEMED AN "URGENT SAFETY RECALL" BY TOYOTA) WAS ANNOUNCED IN MAR, 2014. IT WAS LATER FOUND THAT THIS "FIX" DID NOT DO THE JOB.A 2ND RECALL (DATED JAN 27TH, 2015)WAS ISSUED. TO DATE, THE RECALL HAS A STATUS OF "REMEDY NOT AVAILABLE". I CONSIDER THIS TO BE REPREHENSIBLE!! THE RECALL ID IS 15V043. I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND I GET THE SAME RESPONSE.... "WE WILL CONTACT YOU WHEN A REMEDY IS AVAILABLE."

NHTSA ODI #10824335

120,000 miles · Feb 23, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

RECALL ON 2004 AVALON ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SECOND RECALL ON SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. THANKS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10690097

70,000 miles · Dec 5, 2014
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10662336

Official recalls

3

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.