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1996 Toyota Avalon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Toyota Avalon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →
109Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
80
1995109
1996125
1997178
199892
1999
Compare all Avalon years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
19Visibility
12Service Brakes, Hydraulic
10Steering
10Vehicle Speed Control
10
All reported categories
Electrical System
7Exterior Lighting
7Air Bags
5Tires
5Equipment
4Seat Belts
4Suspension
4Power Train
3Structure
3Unknown Or Other
3Engine
2Seats
2Child Seat
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Air
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 109 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 32 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL AND DROVE HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS EJECTED THROUGH THE SUN ROOF AND SUSTAINED A SEVERE HEAD CONCUSSION. SHE ALSO LOST COMPLETE VISION IN ONE EYE, ACUTE MEMORY LOSS, AND IS UNABLE TO PERFORM…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 32 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL AND DROVE HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS EJECTED THROUGH THE SUN ROOF AND SUSTAINED A SEVERE HEAD CONCUSSION. SHE ALSO LOST COMPLETE VISION IN ONE EYE, ACUTE MEMORY LOSS, AND IS UNABLE TO PERFORM CERTAIN FUNCTIONS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT CANNOT REMEMBER ANY OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION DUE TO HER MEMORY LOSS.

NHTSA ODI #10199371

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2004
Air BagsCrash

FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AND INVESTIGATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10063675

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1998
Air Bags

CANNOT FIND DEALER TO INSTALL AIR BAG CUT OFF SWITCH.

NHTSA ODI #539089

Mileage unknown · May 16, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING SPEEDS OF 15 MPH. CONSUMER FEELS AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT DEPLOY IN COLLISIONS UNDER 30MPH.

NHTSA ODI #517265

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1996
Air BagsCrashInjury

DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONTAL COLLISION; REARENDED ANOTHER VAN AT STANDSTILL; SPEED UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #982548

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

3

DP02004 · Engine Seizure

Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

No summary supplied.

EA97015 · Turn Signal Failures

Opened Jul 22, 1997 · Closed Sep 21, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

There is no summary currently available

PE97018 · Turn Signal Failures

Opened Apr 29, 1997 · Closed Jul 22, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

CONSUMERS ALLEGE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONS FAIL WHILE DRIVING.TOYOTA DEALERS HAVE REPLACED TURN SIGNAL SWITCHES, BUT IN ONE INSTANCE THE NEW SWITCH STILL FAILED INTERMITTENTLY.DEALER MECHANICS INSTRUCTED THE OWNER TO TURN THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH ON/OFF TO RESET THE SWITCH.THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH IS CONNECTED IN-LINE WITH THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, THUS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH CAN RESULT A LOSS OF POWER TO THE TURN SIGNAL, WITH A RESULTANT FAILURE OF THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH TO FUNCTION.