IllustrationI 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.
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
What owners actually said
205 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SRS AND ECU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SRS AND ECU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,664. UPDATED 05/26/16*LJ *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
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
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER CO…
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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY UPDATES ON THE REMEDY SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2016. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/29/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW UPDATES ON THE AIR BAG. HOWEVER, THE ECU WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/05/16.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. 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 PART NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE C…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 03/18/16*LJ UPDATED 6/6/18*JB
TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT IN MARCH 2015. 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 STAT…
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TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT IN MARCH 2015. 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 OVER 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.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 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 CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 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 CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/29/16*LJ UPDATED 05/04/16.*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.