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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

Service Brakes complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2015
Air BagsSeat BeltsService Brakes

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CENTER BRAKE SENSOR, AIR BAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY, AND DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEE…

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CENTER BRAKE SENSOR, AIR BAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY, AND DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 02/10/16*LJ UPDATED 05/04/18*JB *TR

NHTSA ODI #10808877

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

88,500 miles · Apr 24, 2014
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A RETAIL STORE. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH ENGINE AT HIGHEST RPM.... FRONT END HITTING CONCRETE WALL . POLICE AND EMT'S CALLED AND REPORT GIVEN. RELATIVELY MINOR HEAD AND CHEST INJURIES TO 88 YEAR OLD DRIVER. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP.WHERE IT WAS DISCOV…

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WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A RETAIL STORE. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH ENGINE AT HIGHEST RPM.... FRONT END HITTING CONCRETE WALL . POLICE AND EMT'S CALLED AND REPORT GIVEN. RELATIVELY MINOR HEAD AND CHEST INJURIES TO 88 YEAR OLD DRIVER. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP.WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STEEL CABLE FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHERE IT IS LOCATED JUST INSIDE THE FIRE WALL WAS STUCK IN THE FULL ACCELERATE POSITION. THE LOCATION OF THIS CABLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RESULTING CRASH. THERE WERE NO CARPET PADS OR OTHER SUCH ITEMS WHICH COULD HAVE INTERFERED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ( AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED IN PAST HIGH SPEED TOYOTA CRASHES).FURTHER, THE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND MOVING TOWARDS THE BRAKE AT THE TIME OF ACCELERATION BUT THE DISTANCE TRAVELED WAS ONLY ABOUT 10 FEET BEFORE THE CRASH! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584676

40,000 miles · May 31, 2013
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE FRONT SIDE OF HIS FOOT BECAME PARTIALLY STUCK BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE HIS FOOT. THE DEALER INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOT A REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE FRONT SIDE OF HIS FOOT BECAME PARTIALLY STUCK BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE HIS FOOT. THE DEALER INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOT A REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10514533

93,500 miles · May 30, 2012
EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING BETWEEN 10-15 MPH IN AN OPEN PARKING LOT, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED (RPMS BETWEEN 7-8). APPLIED BRAKES TO NO AVAIL. WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT TO PARK, THE CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. DID MANAGE TO GET CAR IN PARK AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. MOST HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE. VERY FORTUNATE AND BLESSED NO OTHER PERSONS, VEHICLE OR B…

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DRIVING BETWEEN 10-15 MPH IN AN OPEN PARKING LOT, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED (RPMS BETWEEN 7-8). APPLIED BRAKES TO NO AVAIL. WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT TO PARK, THE CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. DID MANAGE TO GET CAR IN PARK AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. MOST HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE. VERY FORTUNATE AND BLESSED NO OTHER PERSONS, VEHICLE OR BUILDING WAS IN OUR PATH. WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT IDLED NORMAL AND EXHIBITED NO OTHER ACCELERATIONS WHEN DRIVING. BROUGHT CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER. DIAGNOSTICS PERFORMED AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. DEALER CONTACTED TOYOTA CORP. AND NOTIFIED US NOTHING WOULD BE DONE UNLESS WE CONTACTED CORPORATE PERSONALLY TO REPORT THE INCIDENT. AS OF THIS DATE, WE NOW HAVE A CASE NUMBER ASSIGNED FROM CORPORATE AND THE CAR IS BACK AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460079

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.