← New search

2002 Toyota Avalon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 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

76 reports with mileage · 40 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

32 crash reports2 fire reports13 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
48,000 miles · Feb 20, 2015
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIF…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 04/06/15*LJ UPDATED 11/3/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10689651

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2008
Seat BeltsSeatsSteering

I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED CAR FROM IRA TOYOTA AND SINCE I'VE OWNED IT 4 THINGS HAVE NEVER WORKED: 1. THE SEAT BELTS ALWAYS STICK AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND STILL DO NOT WORK. 2. THE DRIVER'S SEAT DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD AND BACK. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT MORE THAN TWICE AND STILL WILL NOT FIX IT. 3. …

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED CAR FROM IRA TOYOTA AND SINCE I'VE OWNED IT 4 THINGS HAVE NEVER WORKED: 1. THE SEAT BELTS ALWAYS STICK AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND STILL DO NOT WORK. 2. THE DRIVER'S SEAT DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD AND BACK. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT MORE THAN TWICE AND STILL WILL NOT FIX IT. 3. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT TURN SMOOTHLY AND THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHY. 4. THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY TURNS TO THE LEFT, EVEN AFTER ALL NEW, SUPERIOR WHEELS AND TIRES, NEW STRUTS AND TWO FRONT END ALIGNMENTS. THE DEALER: IRA TOYOTA COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248748

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2005
Seat Belts

DT: THE CONTACT STATES HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE BUCKLING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE SEAT BELT CONSUMER NOTICED THE BRACKET WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE BOLT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE SERVICE DEALER. T CONSUMER ASKED IF THERE COULD BE SOMETHING DONE TO PREVENT THE BOLT FROM COMING OFF, THE SERVICE DEAL…

Read full complaint

DT: THE CONTACT STATES HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE BUCKLING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE SEAT BELT CONSUMER NOTICED THE BRACKET WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE BOLT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE SERVICE DEALER. T CONSUMER ASKED IF THERE COULD BE SOMETHING DONE TO PREVENT THE BOLT FROM COMING OFF, THE SERVICE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT IF THE BOLT WAS INSTALLED CORRECTLY AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. CONSUMER FELT THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE BOLT COULD COME OFF FROM THE SEAT BELT BRACKET, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BE UNSAFE. IT SHOULD PERIODICALLY CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SEAT BELT BOLT WAS STILL IN PLACE. THE CONSUMER DID NOT WISH TO PROVIDE THE VIN NUMBER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10129409

6,808 miles · Feb 19, 2004
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT WON'T FIX IT. *AK THE DRIVER'S DOOR PANEL WAS DAMAGED FROM THE SEAT BELT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT TOYOTA REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10051938

Official recalls

1

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.

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.