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2000 Toyota Avalon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Toyota Avalon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

82 reports with mileage · 91 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.

  • Steering. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 26 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

43 crash reports2 fire reports24 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

11 reports
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125,000 miles · Aug 1, 2015
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

THIS IS AN INTERMITEND PROBLEM AND IT HAPPENS WHEN STARTING ON THE CAR. TO TURN THE CAR ON I HAVE TO TAKE THE STEERING WHEEL AND FORCEFULLY TURN IT LEFT AND RIGHT. MOVE ALSO THE SHIFTER TO NEUTRAL. I ALSO TRY TO PRESS THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. MECHANICS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS ALSO CHECKED…

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THIS IS AN INTERMITEND PROBLEM AND IT HAPPENS WHEN STARTING ON THE CAR. TO TURN THE CAR ON I HAVE TO TAKE THE STEERING WHEEL AND FORCEFULLY TURN IT LEFT AND RIGHT. MOVE ALSO THE SHIFTER TO NEUTRAL. I ALSO TRY TO PRESS THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. MECHANICS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS ALSO CHECKED BY A TOYOTA DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT IDENTIFIED. THE BATTERY AND THE CABLES ARE WORKING PROPERLY. NOW IT IS HAPPENING VERY OFTEN AND CREATING A SECURITY AND SAFETY ISSUE. I CHECKED THE RECALLS FOR THIS CAR ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SITUATION I DID NOT FIND AN ANSWER ALTHOUGH I HAVE READ LOTS OF RELATED COMPLAINS. I AM PLANNING TO CHANGE THE IGNITION OR THE STARTER BUT PROBABLY IS A TRY AND ERROR SOLUTION.

NHTSA ODI #10745542

65,089 miles · Feb 8, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine

TOYOTA AVALON 2000 "CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT COMES ON. I TAKE IT TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIR 9/1/12 . THIS LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN ON 10/9/12. TOYOTA DEALER AGAIN REPAIRS. LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN 12/14/12. TOYOTA DEALER REPAIRS AGAIN. LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN 01/18/13. TOYOTA DEALER REPAIRS AGAIN. 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' COMES ON AGAIN 1/25/13. T…

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TOYOTA AVALON 2000 "CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT COMES ON. I TAKE IT TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIR 9/1/12 . THIS LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN ON 10/9/12. TOYOTA DEALER AGAIN REPAIRS. LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN 12/14/12. TOYOTA DEALER REPAIRS AGAIN. LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN 01/18/13. TOYOTA DEALER REPAIRS AGAIN. 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' COMES ON AGAIN 1/25/13. TOYOTA DEALER WANTS TO REPAIR. I REFUSE. I INFORM TOYOTA DEALER AND TOYOTA CORP. AND REQUEST A REFUND OF ALL MONEY ($824.47) CHARGED. NO REFUND AS OF 2/8/13. ON 8/18/12, THE DRIVER FRONT WINDOW WON'T ROLL. TOYOTA DEALER REPAIRS IT AT A COST OF $274.24. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496926

149,000 miles · Nov 14, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKER WHEN DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON. DRIVING AT NIGHT IS DANGEROUS, BECAUSE LIGHTS ACTUALLY FLICKER TO THE POINT OF BEING OFF FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365652

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior LightingInterior Lighting

INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AT NIGHT AND FOR ONCOMING DRIVERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335590

120,000 miles · Jan 27, 2010
Air BagsElectrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON. LOOKED THIS UP IN THE MANUAL AND IT SAID TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER - WHICH I DID. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEAL SAID THAT THEY RAN A CHECK AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEIR EXPLANATION WAS THAT A LED LIGHT IN THE DASH WAS MALFUNCTIONING. MY H…

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THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON. LOOKED THIS UP IN THE MANUAL AND IT SAID TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER - WHICH I DID. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEAL SAID THAT THEY RAN A CHECK AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEIR EXPLANATION WAS THAT A LED LIGHT IN THE DASH WAS MALFUNCTIONING. MY HORN WAS NOT WORKING EITHER - SO THEY WIGGLED THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD AND SAID THAT IT WOULD BE FINE. THE HORN LASTED UNTIL I WAS OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY. THIS FALL I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO A LOCAL GARAGE TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED. AND ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD CHECK ON MY HORN, SINCE IT DIDN'T WORK. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS ODD FOR A HORN TO GO OUT - BUT THEY WOULD REPLACE IT IF NEEDED. BEFORE THEY DID ANYTHING TO THE HORN THEY CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT NOT ONLY DID I NOT HAVE A HORN BUT - I DIDN'T HAVE THE DRIVER AIR BAG OR CRUISE CONTROL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT A SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN IS BROKEN. IT IS CALLED THE CABLE HUB ASSEMBLY. PRESENTLY I CAN NOT GET A CLEAN INSPECTION ON MY CAR - BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD ISSUE. USED PARTS ARE NOT SAFE TO USE AND NEW PARTS MUST BE ORDERED FROM TOYOTA - AND ARE COSTLY. THE LABOR FOR INSTALLATION IS COSTLY AS WELL. *CN

NHTSA ODI #10302624

102,029 miles · Jan 9, 2006
Electrical System

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING IN A RIGHT HAND TURN. TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER HOUSING ASSEMBLY AND CHARGED CONSUMER $464.13. I HAVE POSESSION OF FAILED PART WHICH CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES LOOSE LOCKING PIN. VEHICLE IS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON WITH 102029 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10147209

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2004
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesService Brakes, Hydraulic

PROBLEMS WITH CONSUMER GETTING LOCKED IN VEHICLE AS WELL AS BRAKE PROBLEMS. *MR THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN, NEITHER WOULD THE KEY TURN THE IGNITION. THE BRAKE PROBLEM REMAINED UNRESOLVED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE CONSUMER TRIED TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN…

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PROBLEMS WITH CONSUMER GETTING LOCKED IN VEHICLE AS WELL AS BRAKE PROBLEMS. *MR THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN, NEITHER WOULD THE KEY TURN THE IGNITION. THE BRAKE PROBLEM REMAINED UNRESOLVED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE CONSUMER TRIED TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE ONLY WAY THE VEHICLE WOLD STOP, WAS TO TURN THE KEY AND THE SHUT THE MOTOR OFF. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE IGNITION PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND THE BRAKE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10076020

76,000 miles · Jun 9, 2003
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10022636

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2002
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

WHILE TRYING TO TURN KEY IN IGNITION SWITCH OFF DOORS AND WINDOWS WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT BRAKES FEEL SPONGY, ALSO WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES ACCELERATE BY ITSELF.*SLC

NHTSA ODI #8003124

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2000
Electrical SystemEquipment

DEALER STATES THAT EVEN THOUGH THE INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THE VSC SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING THAT THE SYSTEM IS STILL WORKING AS DESIGNED. I HAVE HAD 4 VISITS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM INCLUDING A FACTORY TECHNICIAN. DEALER STATES I HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #738407

Official recalls

2

10V345000 · Steering

Jul 29, 2010

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

00V154000 · Suspension:rear

Jun 5, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT, THE REAR AXLE MAY NOT HAVE ADEQUATE STRENGTH IN SOME AREAS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AFTER EXTENDED USE OF THE VEHICLE, THE REAR AXLE SHAFTS COULD FAIL OR BREAK.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE REAR AXLE HUB ASSEMBLIES.

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.