WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN LIKE IT GET STUCK CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.I WAS DRIVING A CITY STREET WHEN I NOTICE A FEW DAYS AGO. JUST SEEING THE RECALL NOTICE.HOW LONG DOES THE CONSUMER HAVE TO GET ASSISTANCE WITH RECALL.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Avalon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Steering complaints
18 reports1)STEERING-WHEN TRYING TO GO STRAIGHT CAR WILL TILT TO THE LEFT, HAVE TO KEEP WHEEL AT WEIRD ANGLE TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE. 2)ACCELERATOR STICKS ACCELERATOR SEEMS STIFF AND STICKY AND CAUSES CAR TO LURCH WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP -WAS MAKING LEFT TURN THROUGH INTERSECTION ON A CITY STREET FEBRUARY 4TH AND ACCELERATOR STUCK…
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1)STEERING-WHEN TRYING TO GO STRAIGHT CAR WILL TILT TO THE LEFT, HAVE TO KEEP WHEEL AT WEIRD ANGLE TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE. 2)ACCELERATOR STICKS ACCELERATOR SEEMS STIFF AND STICKY AND CAUSES CAR TO LURCH WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP -WAS MAKING LEFT TURN THROUGH INTERSECTION ON A CITY STREET FEBRUARY 4TH AND ACCELERATOR STUCK UNTIL IT WAS PUMPED, INCREASING MY SPEED. WAS TERRIFYING. 3)RUST RIDDEN ROTERS AND BREAK ANTI-RUST COVERS NOT WORKING AT ALL 4)VISIBILITY-WINDSHIELD'S SEAL SEEMS DEFECTIVE-VIN NUMBER NOT VISIBLE DUE TO CONDENSATION BUILDING IN LOWER CORNER, WINDSHIELD FOGS UP PROFUSELY AND STAYS THAT WAY EVEN WITH DEFROSTER MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF FRONT WINDSHIELD 5)HEATER-BLOWS COOLED AIR (NOT ROOM TEMP) INSTEAD OF WARM WHEN TURNED ON, SEEMS LIKE COMPUTER ERROR IN THERMOSTATE/TEMPERATURE GAGE 6)SIDE WINDOWS SHAKE/STUDDER WHEN ROLLED UP OR DOWN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 215,000. UPDATED 6/27/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN FLASHED RANDOMLY EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ST…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN FLASHED RANDOMLY EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN PIN AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOX NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE STILL RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHERE THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE STEERING FAILURE HOWEVER AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140000. UPDATED 05/22/14 MA UPDATED 8/8/2017*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V345000 (STEERING) WAS PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN AND MADE A LOUD CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V345000 (STEERING) WAS PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN AND MADE A LOUD CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,995.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER OFF ROAD, CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS REPORTED INJURED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER OFF ROAD, CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS REPORTED INJURED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V345000 (STEERING) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER BROUGHT IN FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 143,000. UPDATED 03/31/11*BF THE CONSUMER STATED TO DATE, HE/SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED A REPORT FROM TOYOTA. UPDATED 06/20/11
I'VE HAD MY 2002 TOYOTA AVALON SINCE IT HAD ABOUT 25,500 MILES. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 77500. FROM THE START OF OWNING THE CAR, THE TIRES WERE WORN AS IF THE CAR WAS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY. WE HAD IT ALIGNED AT A REPUTABLE COMPANY, PURCHASED TOP OF THE LINE MICHELIN TIRES. THEY WORE INCORRECTLY JUST AS THE FIRST ONES ON THE CAR WHEN WE …
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I'VE HAD MY 2002 TOYOTA AVALON SINCE IT HAD ABOUT 25,500 MILES. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 77500. FROM THE START OF OWNING THE CAR, THE TIRES WERE WORN AS IF THE CAR WAS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY. WE HAD IT ALIGNED AT A REPUTABLE COMPANY, PURCHASED TOP OF THE LINE MICHELIN TIRES. THEY WORE INCORRECTLY JUST AS THE FIRST ONES ON THE CAR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT IN SPITE OF PROPERTY ROTATING OF THEM, ETC. LAST NOV OR SO, WE REPLACED THE TIRES AGAIN WHICH SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER THAN THEY DID. AGAIN, THE TIRES ARE WEARING IMPROPERLY. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR ALIGNED NO LESS THAN ONCE PER YEAR. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE STEERING. IF YOU BARELY MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL IT "OVERCORRECTS". I'VE LEARNED TO DRIVE IT CAREFULLY WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT EVERY PERSON WHO HAS DRIVEN IS ASTOUNDED AT THEIR FIRST EXPERIENCE. I'VE SENDING THIS NOW BECAUSE I RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND TELEPHONED THE DEALER TO ASK IF THIS IS WHY IT IS RECALLED. HE SAID IT ISN'T. THEREFORE, I THINK SOMEONE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THESE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. OTHER THAN THESE ITEMS, THE CAR HAS BEEN A GREAT VEHICLE. *TR
2002 TOYOTA AVALON WAS REPAIRED DUE TO RECALL ON STEERING COLUMN. AFTER REPAIR, I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF IGNITION WHILE CAR WAS IN DRIVE MODE. WHICH SAFETY DEFECT IS WORSE? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V345000 (STEERING) BUT WHEN HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, HE WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED EXPECTANCY DATE. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V345000 (STEERING) BUT WHEN HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, HE WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED EXPECTANCY DATE. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE BUT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH IF THE FAILURE EXISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND COULD NOT PROVIDE A DATE OF AVAILABILITY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V345000 (STEERING) AND CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE RECALL PARTS WERE NOT READILY AVAILABLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE PART …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V345000 (STEERING) AND CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE RECALL PARTS WERE NOT READILY AVAILABLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHILE WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO ARRIVE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Official recalls
110V345000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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