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2001 Toyota Avalon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota Avalon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →
134Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
178
199892
1999173
2000134
2001116
2002293
2003205
2004
Compare all Avalon years →

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

What owners reported most

Vehicle Speed Control
24Air Bags
21Electrical System
14Engine And Engine Cooling
14Service Brakes, Hydraulic
11
All reported categories
Visibility
11Power Train
9Steering
9Tires
9Suspension
8Fuel System, Gasoline
5Structure
5Unknown Or Other
5Equipment
4Seat Belts
4Wheels
4Service Brakes, Electric
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Back Over Prevention
1Engine
1Fuel System, Other
1Interior Lighting
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

69 reports with mileage · 65 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

34 crash reports1 fire reports19 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

14 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2002
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON 9/13/02 AT 65MPH, THERE WAS A TOTAL FAILURE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR A SPLIT SECOND. I DISREGARDED IT THINKING THAT IT WAS MY IMAGINATION. HOWEVER, THE VERY NEXT DAY THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THE CAR WAS DEAD MAKING THE CAR INOPERATIVE. CAUSE: DISINTEGRATION OF NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMIN…

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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON 9/13/02 AT 65MPH, THERE WAS A TOTAL FAILURE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR A SPLIT SECOND. I DISREGARDED IT THINKING THAT IT WAS MY IMAGINATION. HOWEVER, THE VERY NEXT DAY THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THE CAR WAS DEAD MAKING THE CAR INOPERATIVE. CAUSE: DISINTEGRATION OF NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE TERMINAL END WHICH CAUSED THE NEGATIVE CABLE TO DISCONNECT FROM ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS A SAFETY RELATED FUNCTION IN THAT IT COMPLETELY DISABLES THE VEHICLE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #767692

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2002
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

LIGHTS ON VSC STAY ON ALL THE TIME. AUTO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 6 TIMES. KEPT HAVING ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WINDOWS GO UP AND DOWN ALL THE TIME BY THEMSELVES. BATTERY FAILED. DEALER REPLACED STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. TRUNK OPENS BY ITSELF. DEALER FOUND LATCH NOT HOLDING SECURELY ON LATCH LOCK…

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LIGHTS ON VSC STAY ON ALL THE TIME. AUTO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 6 TIMES. KEPT HAVING ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WINDOWS GO UP AND DOWN ALL THE TIME BY THEMSELVES. BATTERY FAILED. DEALER REPLACED STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. TRUNK OPENS BY ITSELF. DEALER FOUND LATCH NOT HOLDING SECURELY ON LATCH LOCK BAR. *AK *TT

NHTSA ODI #8008249

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2002
Electrical System

DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE ATTEMPTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO CORRECT PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED. HEADLIGHT FAILURE IS THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT TODATE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING AT THE SAME TIME ALONG THE HIGHWAY, AND WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE PROMPTLY AND WITHOUT …

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DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE ATTEMPTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO CORRECT PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED. HEADLIGHT FAILURE IS THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT TODATE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING AT THE SAME TIME ALONG THE HIGHWAY, AND WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE PROMPTLY AND WITHOUT INCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #757426

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2001
Electrical SystemEquipment

MULTIPLE FAILURE OF INSTRUMENT PANEL AND INFORMATION PANEL LIGHTING. DEALER UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED -- BUT NO RESPONSE TO DATE.

NHTSA ODI #755636

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.

01V072000 · Structure:frame And Members

Mar 5, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY HAS NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY WELDED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FAILURE OF THE ASSEMBLY FOLLOWING LONG-TERM USAGE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FRONT SUB FRAME, IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 9, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.