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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.

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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

Tires complaints

7 reports
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25,000 miles · Oct 5, 2010
SteeringTires

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

NHTSA ODI #10359243

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2005
TiresCrash

2002 TOYOTA AVALON LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE CONSUMER STRUCK A CONCRETE BARRIER WALL CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FENDER AND MIRROR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10146499

31,000 miles · Jun 3, 2005
TiresWheels

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. PART OF TIRE BECAME SHREDDED WHERE RIM WAS SPLIT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO REPAIR VEHICLE DUE TO LACK OF PERSONNEL. HAD TIRE REPLACED AT COSCO, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK CONSUMER RETURNED THE TIRE TO COSTCO WHERE THEY DISCO…

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WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. PART OF TIRE BECAME SHREDDED WHERE RIM WAS SPLIT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO REPAIR VEHICLE DUE TO LACK OF PERSONNEL. HAD TIRE REPLACED AT COSCO, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK CONSUMER RETURNED THE TIRE TO COSTCO WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THE ALLOY RIM HAD A SMALL HOLE THAT CAUSED THE TIRE TO LOSE AIR PRESSURE. THE TIRE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM MAINTAINING PROPER AIR PRESSURE EVER SINCE. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT HONOR WARRANTY AND CHARGED CONSUMER $375.89 TO REPLACE ALLOY RIM. *TT *NM

NHTSA ODI #10119126

16,000 miles · May 1, 2003
TiresCrash

THE VEHICLES DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10017948

14,000 miles · Apr 8, 2003
Tires

WHILE DRIVING ON NJ TURNPIKE AT 60 MPH A TIRE BLEWOUT DAMAGING THE RIM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TIRE AND THE RIM. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10015027

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2003
Tires

THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10011423

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2002
Tires

MICHELIN ENERGY DOT B97REWTX31, P205/60R16, XXE MVX4. ORIGINAL TIRES ON TOYOTA, AVALON, 2002 TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE TIRE THAT BLEWOUT HAD TREAD SEPARATION ABOUT 1-2 INCHES UP THE SIDEWALL AND IT APPEARS THE BLOWOUT OCCURRED IN THE SIDEWALL. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #8011430

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.