IllustrationSTEERING BECAME VERY STIFF. *TR
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
200–25K
2025–50K
2550–75K
1575–100K
26100–150K
8150K+
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
Steering complaints
28 reportsMY 2004 TOYOTA AVALON XLS HAD A PROBLEM. I WAS TRYING TO GO TO MY OFFICE IN THE MORNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY TIGHT & HARD TO TURN. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR ROAD POTHOLES INVOLVED IN THIS CASE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, THE TOYOTA MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERI…
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MY 2004 TOYOTA AVALON XLS HAD A PROBLEM. I WAS TRYING TO GO TO MY OFFICE IN THE MORNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY TIGHT & HARD TO TURN. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR ROAD POTHOLES INVOLVED IN THIS CASE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, THE TOYOTA MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS BOUND UP/TWISTED. IT IS VERY SHOCKING TO ME THAT SUCH A REPUTABLE TOYOTA CAR HAD THIS LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM. IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TURN MY VEHICLE AND WOULD HAVE WENT OFF THE ROAD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 14 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. THERE WERE NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,289. UPDA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 14 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. THERE WERE NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,289. UPDATED 01/03/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART HAD NO GREASE FITTING. UPDATED 12/12/07.
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON WITH A CURRENT ODOMETER READING OF 36,080 MILES, WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT T 25 MPH UNDER NORMAL DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING , BUT THE STEERING WAS VERY STIFF AND HARD TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER ST…
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TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON WITH A CURRENT ODOMETER READING OF 36,080 MILES, WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT T 25 MPH UNDER NORMAL DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING , BUT THE STEERING WAS VERY STIFF AND HARD TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING CAME AND WENT. THE FLUID HAD BEEN CHECKED, AND WAS AT THE CORRECT LEVELS. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH LOST POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. AFTER INSPECTION THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 1/23/200…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH LOST POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. AFTER INSPECTION THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 1/23/2006 - AT NOT TIME PRIOR TO OR AFTER FAILURE DID THE VEHICLE EXHIBIT ANY EXTERNAL FLUID LOSS. *NM
TOYOTA AVALON XLS 2004 PROBLEM SEEING THE TRUNK WHEN BACKING UP FOR VISUAL IDEA OF HOW CLOSE TO WHAT BEHIND ME. *BF SIX DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION AND ALL THE DASH LIGHTS STAYED LIT. THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 35 MILES PER HOUR THE CONSUMER HIT A CURB WHICH CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO GO FLAT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE STRUT ARM, KNUCKLE STEERING, BUSHINGS AND BEARINGS ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER HEARD A BRUSHING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASIONS AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK WHEN THE A/C WAS RUNNING THE VEHICLE WOULD DIE AS WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED, THE TRUNK GASKET LEAKED, NOISES WERE HEARD …
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WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER HEARD A BRUSHING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASIONS AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK WHEN THE A/C WAS RUNNING THE VEHICLE WOULD DIE AS WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED, THE TRUNK GASKET LEAKED, NOISES WERE HEARD WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT (STEERING FELT TIGHT), THE TRUNK BOTTOM WOULD NOT OPEN, THE WIPERS WOULD HIT THE HOOD, THERE WAS A SCRAPING WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT, THE DRIVER DOOR WAS LEAKING WATER, AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT TURN RIGHT. *SC *JB
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.