Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
925–50K
750–75K
375–100K
4100–150K
6150K+
34 reports with mileage · 58 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 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
92 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE DEVELOPED SLUDGE AT 18,000 MILES AND DEALER SAYS THE ENGINE WILL SEIZE UP SOON. REGULAR OIL CHANGES WERE PERFORMED AND PROVED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER SAYS SLUDGE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY AND I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE ENGINE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN MY ENGINE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA. …
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ENGINE DEVELOPED SLUDGE AT 18,000 MILES AND DEALER SAYS THE ENGINE WILL SEIZE UP SOON. REGULAR OIL CHANGES WERE PERFORMED AND PROVED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER SAYS SLUDGE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY AND I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE ENGINE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN MY ENGINE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA. I AM AFFRAID OF ENGINE SEIZURE WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #750645
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2001
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING WOULD EXPERIENCE VIBRATION ON ENTIRE VEHICLE. WOULD FEEL LIKE THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE. HIGHER THE SPEED STRONGER IS VIBRATION, AND COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED BY DEALER .*AK
NHTSA ODI #883568
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES WOULD PERIODICALLY GO OUT. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX BRAKES ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED TO PERSIST. DEFECT CAN INVOLVE CONSUMER IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #883178
Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2001
Power TrainSuspension
VIBRATION IN FRONT END, FELT IN STEERING AND GETTING WORSE. TOYOTA MECHANIC SUSPECTS CV JOINT FAILING.FACTORY REP SAYS IT'S A DESIGN FLAW; THEY ALL DO IT. NEW AVALONS ARE REDESIGNED TO CORRECT FLAW. REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #741894
Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
THE FRONT BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE, DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL. NLM
NHTSA ODI #559912
Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control
WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE WILL REV UP TO 5500 RPMS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD OR IN REVERSE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. CONSUMER MUST QUICKLY APPLY BRAKES, AND CHANGE GEAR IN ORDER TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM MOVING. TOYOTA CANNOT DUPLICATE DEFECT. THERFORE, CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. IN MEANTIME, CONSUMER IS DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE.…
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WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE WILL REV UP TO 5500 RPMS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD OR IN REVERSE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. CONSUMER MUST QUICKLY APPLY BRAKES, AND CHANGE GEAR IN ORDER TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM MOVING. TOYOTA CANNOT DUPLICATE DEFECT. THERFORE, CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. IN MEANTIME, CONSUMER IS DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #879680
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2001
Air BagsCrash
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 15-20MPH IN DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS, WHILE TURNING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 45-50MPH HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HEAD ON. FRONT & SIDE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. HOOD AND BUMPER WERE SEVERLY DAMAGED. TOYOTA WAS SENDING AN INSPECTOR TO DETERMINE A REASON FOR NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #879037
Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #730151
Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
Structure
WATER WOULD ENTER TRUNK AREA WHENEVER IT RAIND OR VEHICLE WAS BEING WASHED AFTER TRUNK LID WAS CLOSED. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC COUILD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM OR RESOLVE IT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #868358
Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *AK CONSUMER HAS NOT DRIVEN VEHICLE SINCE 3,791 MILES, THE REPAIRS COMPLETED TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT REMEDY BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WENT TO TOYOTA ARBITRATIO…
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WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *AK CONSUMER HAS NOT DRIVEN VEHICLE SINCE 3,791 MILES, THE REPAIRS COMPLETED TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT REMEDY BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER WENT TO TOYOTA ARBITRATION BOARD FOR ASSISTANCE AND IS NOT RECEIVING HELP REGARDING FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM. ( MELODY TOYOTA 222 E.SAN BRUNO AVE. SAN BRUNO, CA. 94066. BOTH DEALERS SERVICE CENTERS RECEIPT ENCLOSED IN DOCUMENTATION). *YH
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR HVAC FAN SPEED CONTROLS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN SMOOTHLY AND COULD STALL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.
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
1
DP02004 · Engine Seizure
Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
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