2002 Toyota Avalon problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (21) · Vehicle Speed Control (20) · Steering (13)
🧭 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
76 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 (109)
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 109 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-02-10 · Power Train“airbag is pushing out of the passenger side dashboard and also on drivers side wheel. there is now a quarter inch gap where we can see behind it on the passenger side. there were very loud popping noises. there is a recall for this exact car model but for the following year, 2003-2005 (4?) but not for 2002. the 2002 model is affected and should be …”
2023-04-17 · Service Brakes“bosch abs anti skid, anti lock brake moduled failed. no brakes. toyota us has no replacements parts available. bosch no longer produces. called toyota customer service three times. got to the management end and senior advisor told me, warranty expired, norhing we can do. i said, there are a bunch of 2000 to 2004 toyota avalons/lexus 300 vehicles ou…”
2021-06-10 · Unknown Or Other“headlights failed to operate correctly, resulting in taking the car to fix problem , service advisor told me that this veh vin number shows this car should not havve automatly controled headlights, the car is being serviced at cedar rapids toyota , steve lemke is the servvice advisior…”
2020-10-03 · Air Bags · 140,082 mi“the 2003-2004 model avalon's have a recall for the airbags when exposed to certain frequencies and noises. my 2002 avalon has the same issue and toyota needs to include this model year as well. i've had no problems out of this car ever, but as soon as it hit 140,000 miles the air bags light came on. after doing a little research i seen that others …”
2020-02-02 · Air Bags · 192,000 mi · 💥 crash“i was in a car accident where i lost control of the vehicle due to slippery roads. i was exiting i5 on to highway 7 in tacoma washington. the vehicle wouldn't stop, slid and hit a cement wall on highway 7. upon impact i hit my head on windshield and none of the air bags came out upon impact. i received injuries due to this disorder.…”
2019-03-26 · Vehicle Speed Control · 213,830 mi · 💥 crash“i was driving on a highway when the car accelerated by itself, brakes did not work. the car put itself in the middle of two lanes, then accelerated turn half ,i think, crashed (the front of the car)with a small hill some how did not stop and ended up somehow turning back and crashed again this time the back of the car crashed against the hill and…”
2019-03-25 · Unknown Or Other · 115,000 mi“while at the store i found i can turn the car off and remove the key and get ou while the car is still in gear. if you are not paying attention the vehicle can roll away, causing personal and property damage and possible loss of life.…”
2018-06-29 · Vehicle Speed Control · 18,000 mi“air bag flashes vsc off and engine failure lit.low miles. tuned replacing spark plugs. no improvement.…”
2018-04-16 · Vehicle Speed Control · 💥 crash“moving my car from a to b put it in reverse it just took off by it self. it was going so fast i could not stop it even pressing the breaks it still went fast on it on. i started screaming why this car going so fast and why i can't stop it. it stopped when it hit the carport and to sienna van under the carport.which my vans are damage very bad. i ca…”
2017-11-26 · Air Bags“airbag on with error code b0113 ( short inside squib hr circuit to +b ) and can not erase code. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.