2004 Toyota Avalon problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (105) · Vehicle Speed Control (23) · Steering (21)
🧭 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
114 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:frontal 2015-01-28 · campaign 15V043000 · 1,006,849 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: Inadvertent deployment of the air bags or the seat belt pretensioners increases the risk of an injury or crash.
Fix: 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
Engine And Engine Cooling 2011-11-09 · campaign 11V539000 · 420,326 vehicles
Defect: 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 INSUFFICIEN
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
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 (126)
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 126 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-03-12 · Power Train“car makes a very, very loud screeching sound when started with a/c or heating on (but more commonly with a/c). the sound will sometimes die down or stop once a/c is turned off, but not always. puddles can trigger the sound as well. sound can be heard mainly upon inital startup but can occur after car is in motion.…”
2021-02-17 · Suspension · 106,500 mi“i've noticed that sometimes i smell something burning, electrical, coolant or something. my mechanics finds no leaks, but i checked once and the coolant reservoir was empty, find no leaks. somehow, the passenger side rear mud flap came off and the trunk lid doesn't line up. it always looks like it's partially opened. when driving i hear and feel…”
2019-07-18 · Electrical System · 208,000 mi“the ecu itself is not working, which they are supposed to never stop working. well ours stopped working and the licensed mechanic will not work on it if it is recalled. we are literally waiting on toyota to fix our car. they have not done so. the hole ecu not just part of it.…”
2019-03-16 · Steering · 284,000 mi“air bag dashboard light occasionally flickers and begins to glow for a few seconds. seems to occur more frequently in wet weather. my steering wheel will lock when i turn left or right while driving. reversed backwards a little bit and wiggled the steering wheel, it wouldn't budge then i went forward and wiggled and it finally loosened. this ha…”
2018-12-28 · Electrical System · 110,000 mi“(1) air bag dashboard light occasionally flickers and begins to glow for a few seconds this seems to occur more frequently in wet weather.. (2) when moving and making a right turn, the door locks click open and the interior light goes on for a few seconds, this happens daily.…”
2018-09-05 · Steering · 140,822 mi“my steering wheel will lock when i turn left or right while driving ..this morning i was just starting my car and was turning left and my steering wheel locked and i went up the sidewalk and almost hit the fence and i couldn't move it i reversed backwards a little bit and wiggle the steering wheel and it wouldn't budge then i went forward and wiggl…”
2018-08-08 · Steering · 122,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota avalon. while driving various speeds, the steering wheel seized and the air bag warning indicator illuminated. the contact stated that extra strength was needed to steer the vehicle and the failure occurred periodically. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or rep…”
2017-11-28 · Air Bags“#15v043 the airbag indicator light blinking, never stops, whether driving or parked. i purchased this car used, in maryland, where it passed their inspection and will pass my inspection in pennsylvania, but does concern me. i sold my 1999 toyota avalon xl to my granddaughter and never had this problem. according to the car fax this vehicle never g…”
2017-08-03 · Air Bags · 61,000 mi“i received notice for this recall in 2015. nhtsa recall number: 15v043 recall date: january 27, 2015 manufacturer recall number: esg nothing has been done in 2.5 years. …”
2017-08-02 · Vehicle Speed Control · 72,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owned a 2004 toyota avalon. while the vehicle was stationary and being shifted into park, the contact depressed the brake pedal. the contact heard the engine rev and the vehicle accelerated independently, causing the contact to crash into a fence. there were no injuries. a police report was filed. the vehicle was towed from the scen…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.