2001 Toyota Avalon problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (21) · Steering (8) · Air Bags (8)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Avalon model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
69 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Steering 2010-07-29 · campaign 10V345000 · 372,593 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (125)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Structure:body 2024-12-03 · T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. this type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa
Structure:body 2024-07-12 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Showing the 6 most recent of 125 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-09-15 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“ this car involve accident air bag none deploy , right side , rear side, left side were damage serious but air bag none deploy , and now the light airbag to be open on the screen i petition into office to request for our car to be recall airbag , this is car run was 92k mile this air bag none open any chair or it can open any time itself …”
2023-09-14 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“the contact stated that the son owns a 2001 toyota avalon. while the son was driving approximately 5 mph, a second vehicle crashed into the front of the vehicle. during the crash, the air bags did not deploy. the contact indicated that after the crash the air bag light activated and remained illuminated. no injuries were reported. a police report w…”
2023-09-14 · Air Bags · 92,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owns a 2001 toyota avalon. the contact stated that while her son was driving at low speeds in a parking area, he was involved in a collision with the rear passenger side of the vehicle. the air bags did not deploy. a police report was filed, but no injuries were reported. the air bag warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was not ta…”
2023-09-11 · Back Over Prevention: Warnings · 💥 crash“i petition into usa to request company toyota avalon to should be recall airbag , because in the time our car was involve accident airbag to did not open , after some day the light airbag appear , it is mean airbag none good , all picture our car were damage i submitted into dmv our car toyota avalon 2001 vin [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] i cont…”
2020-08-03 · Unknown Or Other · 62,000 mi“i have replaced o2 sensors twice to get rid of the check engine light for codes that have popped you p1135 & p1155. took car to two different mechanics and toyota dealership and no one could figure out why the light is still on. all sensors have been replaced with denso parts. this seems like a recall if not even the toyota dealer could fix the pro…”
2020-06-23 · Air Bags · 99,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owned a 2001 toyota avalon. the contact stated that while her brother was stopped at a sign, a vehicle crashed into another vehicle causing that vehicle to crash into the contact's vehicle from the rear. the air bags failed to deploy. a police report was filed. the contact stated that the driver sustained cracked ribs, neck and back…”
2018-08-16 · Unknown Or Other“we went to get our truck inspected at an independent garage and he said he couldn't inspect it because the frame was to rusted. we contacted our toyota dealer over the telephone and explained to them what happened and said it was under recall which we had just found out. they then told us their is nothing they could do. we told them we would have…”
2017-07-18 · Tires · 190,000 mi“on 4/21/14, i purchased 2 crosswind tires(20560r16) the seller gave me, in writing, tread wear warranty of 50,000 miles. however, i have only driven approx. 19,000 miles and 90% of treads are gone. i have contacted the seller, he told me to contact the manufacturer. the manufacturer refused to honor their warranty. i even contacted my credit card …”
2017-07-17 · Wheels“on 4/21/14, i purchased 2 crosswind tires. the seller gave me, in writing, tread wear warranty of 50,000 miles. however, i have only driven approx. 19,000 miles and 90% of treads are gone. i have contacted the seller, he told me to contact the manufacturer. the manufacturer refused to honor their warranty. i even contacted my credit card co. to he…”
2017-04-06 · Steering · 200,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owned a 2001 toyota avalon. while driving 45 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver without warning. as a result, the contact crashed into an embankment after the vehicle rolled over three times. the air bags failed to deploy. a police report was filed. the contact sustained bruises and cuts to the body, injuries to th…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.