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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 →

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

What owners actually said

134 reports
40,000 miles · Dec 16, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATOR PEDAL SOMETIMES REQUIRES EXTRA FORCE TO MOVE CAUSING LURCHING OF VEHICLE. 40K MILES. TOYOTA AVALON XL.

NHTSA ODI #10000125

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2002
Seat Belts

LEFT (OUTBOARD) REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONING. THE MOUNTING POINT IS SELF-ACTIVATING AND CAUSING THE BELT TO OVERTENSION RENDERING THE BELT UNUSABLE AND UNSAFE. DT

NHTSA ODI #770609

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A DOOR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ODI #8021602

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2002
Power TrainInjury

WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THE ENGINE RUNNING THE CONSUMER STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE, SUDDENLY THE GEAR JUMPED INTO REVERSE CAUSING THE OPEN DOOR TO KNOCK THE DRIVER OVER, AS A RESULT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL RAN OVER THE RIGHT LEG OF THE DRIVER, THE DRIVER HAS HAD FOUR LEG OPERATIONS. NLM

NHTSA ODI #567983

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2002
Power TrainInjury

CONSUMER STATES IF VEHICLE IS IN PARK IT SLIPS INTO REVERSE. *MR THE CONSUMER STEPPED OUT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARDS. DRIVER TRIED TO GET IN THE VEHICLE TO STOP IT, BUT THE DOOR KNOCKED HIM DOWN, THE DRIVERS RIGHT LEG WAS UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL DRUG THE LEG…

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CONSUMER STATES IF VEHICLE IS IN PARK IT SLIPS INTO REVERSE. *MR THE CONSUMER STEPPED OUT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARDS. DRIVER TRIED TO GET IN THE VEHICLE TO STOP IT, BUT THE DOOR KNOCKED HIM DOWN, THE DRIVERS RIGHT LEG WAS UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL DRUG THE LEG, THE DRIVER HAS HAD 4 OPERATION ON THE RIGHT LEG *YH

NHTSA ODI #8020297

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2002
Power TrainInjury

PARKING LEVER SLIPPED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE, MOTOR RUNNING AS PERSON WAS GETTING OUT OF CAR THE CAR WENT INTO REVERSE THE OPEN DOOR KNOCKED THE PERSON DOWN AND HER LEG WENT UNDER THE TIRE WHICH DRAGGED THE LEG. THE INJURED PARTY WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 3 WEEKS AND HAS HAD 4 OPERATIONS ON THE LEG. NLM

NHTSA ODI #767717

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 · Sep 6, 2002
SuspensionTiresWheels

THERE IS CONSTANT VIBRATION AT 60-75 MPH, AND VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT, SELDOM TO THE RIGHT. DEALER REPLACED TIRES AND RIMS, IT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK TWO TIRES SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR AND WERE REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING THE LUG NUTS CAPS FELL OFF AND WERE REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8018063

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE STOPPING VEHICLE BRAKE PEDA LWENT TO THE FLOOR, BRAKES STARTED PULSATING , AND THEY DIDN'T HOLD. HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016210

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2002
Air Bags

AIRBAG SENSORS WERE KNOCKED COMPLETELY OFF AND NEITHER AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED, THE OTHER PERSON WAS DRIVING A 1992 OLDER MODEL CAR AND HIS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED RIGHT AWAY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #764011

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.