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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.

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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

Structure complaints

5 reports
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16,276 miles · May 16, 2005
Electrical SystemEquipmentFuel System, Other

2001 TOYOTA AVALON EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, AND WINDOWS. *MR THERE WAS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH NOISE THAT SEEMED TO ORIGINATE FROM THE FRONT END. THE NOISE WAS INTERMITTENT AND NOTICEABLE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED, WHEN MAKING TURNS OR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE CALIPER SLI…

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2001 TOYOTA AVALON EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, AND WINDOWS. *MR THERE WAS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH NOISE THAT SEEMED TO ORIGINATE FROM THE FRONT END. THE NOISE WAS INTERMITTENT AND NOTICEABLE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS WARMED, WHEN MAKING TURNS OR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE CALIPER SLIDE WAS STICKING ONTO THE LEFT FRONT SIDE. THE BRAKE ROTORS SHOWED SIGNS OF GLAZE, THERE WAS A WOBBLY FEELING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEATED SEAT WAS INTERMITTENT, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT, THE DRIVERS WINDOWS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN, THE STRIPPING ON THE BUMPER WAS COMING OFF, THE STEERING WOULD SHAKE AT TIMES, THE FUEL GAUGE FLUCTUATED, THE RADIO BUTTONS WERE FADING, THE CASSETTE WAS INOPERATIVE, THERE WAS BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VENT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING, THE WIPER BLADE(S) WERE NOISY, THE WINDSHIELD HAD "MILLION" OF DOTS ALL OVER IT, AND THE FRONT PANEL WAS LIT FOR THE BACK LIGHTS AND THERE WAS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF AIR/HEAT THAT WOULD BLOW ON THE DRIVERS FEET. THE ROTORS WERE MACHINED AND THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE FRONT STRUTS WERE CRACKED AND CAUSED THE FRONT END NOISE. THE RADIO,STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND THE FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10122602

40,000 miles · May 11, 2004
Structure

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01V072000 CONCERNING SUB FRAME FAILURE: AT ANY SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A DIP THE BOTTOM HITS THE GROUND. THIS HAS CAUSED UNNECESSARY WEAR TO THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE UNDER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS MODEL/MAKE, AND YEAR IS ON RECALL, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO V…

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CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01V072000 CONCERNING SUB FRAME FAILURE: AT ANY SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS A DIP THE BOTTOM HITS THE GROUND. THIS HAS CAUSED UNNECESSARY WEAR TO THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE UNDER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS MODEL/MAKE, AND YEAR IS ON RECALL, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10073469

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2004
StructureVisibility

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A DISTRACTING LIGHT THAT INTERFERES WITH MY NIGHT OPERATION OF THE CAR. AT NIGHT, AWAY FROM LIGHTS, I SEE THE 140 FROM THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE E FROM THE FUEL GAGE, REFLECTED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE IMAGE IS UPSIDE DOWN AND THE LIGHT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT IS DEAD AHEAD IN THE FIELD OF TRAVEL. I HAVE ADJU…

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I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A DISTRACTING LIGHT THAT INTERFERES WITH MY NIGHT OPERATION OF THE CAR. AT NIGHT, AWAY FROM LIGHTS, I SEE THE 140 FROM THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE E FROM THE FUEL GAGE, REFLECTED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE IMAGE IS UPSIDE DOWN AND THE LIGHT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT IS DEAD AHEAD IN THE FIELD OF TRAVEL. I HAVE ADJUSTED MY SEAT SO I AM AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, THE TOP OF MY HEAD IS ABOUT 1" FROM THE CEILING. I'VE CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALER. THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT SEE THE REFLECTION, BUT IF IT IS THERE, THEY REPORT "THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE". *JB

NHTSA ODI #10063828

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2002
Structure

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL (01V-072), BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE PART. *YH

NHTSA ODI #564271

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2001
Power TrainStructureSuspension

WHEN DRIVING WITH 4 AVERAGE SIZE ADULTS IN THE AVALON (2 FRONT/2 REAR) - THE REAR BOTTOMS OUT (AXLES/SUSPENSION) AND THE FRONT SCRAPS WHEN GOING UP DRIVEWAYS, OVER SPEEDBUMPS, LEAVING DRIVEWAYS, ETC. THE FRONT BUMPER/PAINT, MIDDLE UNDERSIDE, AND/OR THE REAR BUMPER/PAINT SCRAP SEVERELY ALONG THE GROUND AND/OR BUMP IN THE ROAD. EV…

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WHEN DRIVING WITH 4 AVERAGE SIZE ADULTS IN THE AVALON (2 FRONT/2 REAR) - THE REAR BOTTOMS OUT (AXLES/SUSPENSION) AND THE FRONT SCRAPS WHEN GOING UP DRIVEWAYS, OVER SPEEDBUMPS, LEAVING DRIVEWAYS, ETC. THE FRONT BUMPER/PAINT, MIDDLE UNDERSIDE, AND/OR THE REAR BUMPER/PAINT SCRAP SEVERELY ALONG THE GROUND AND/OR BUMP IN THE ROAD. EVERYTHING CAN BE FELT WHEN DRIVING AND THERE IS A LOT OF SCRAPING ALONG THE GROUND. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE AXLES/STRUTS/SUSPENSION - THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THE CAR JUST HAS A SOFT RIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES SQUEAKING/RUBBING NOISES - AGAIN THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND JUST LUBRICATED IT. THE FRONT PAINT IS CHIPPING AFTER A FEW MONTHS DESPITE IT BEING CHIP RESISTANT PAINT. THE CHIPS LOOK LIKE THE EDGES ARE READY TO FLAKE. THE FUEL TANK NOZZLE IS JAMBED AGAINST THE LEFT SIDE OF THE GAS DOOR OPENING, THUS REQUIRING A PERSON'S HAND TO SCRAP AGAINST THE CAR TO OPEN THE FUEL TANK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #749337

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.