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2003 Toyota Avalon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Avalon years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Toyota Avalon are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

138 reports with mileage · 155 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 184 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

49 crash reports2 fire reports20 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

184 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/27/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10794297

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE C…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10786922

174,500 miles · Oct 26, 2015
Air Bags

MY AVALON IS PART OF NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 15V043 -- THE SECOND RECALL CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THE FIRST WAS A TOTAL FAILURE. THE SECOND RECALL REMEDY IS APPARENTLY "IN PROCESS" -- WHERE IT HAS BEEN SINCE MY VEHICLE FIRST FAILED IN 2011. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO INTERMITTENTLY ACTIVATE WHILE DRIVING, SUGGESTING THAT THE AIRBAG MAY…

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MY AVALON IS PART OF NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 15V043 -- THE SECOND RECALL CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THE FIRST WAS A TOTAL FAILURE. THE SECOND RECALL REMEDY IS APPARENTLY "IN PROCESS" -- WHERE IT HAS BEEN SINCE MY VEHICLE FIRST FAILED IN 2011. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO INTERMITTENTLY ACTIVATE WHILE DRIVING, SUGGESTING THAT THE AIRBAG MAY NOT INFLATE IN A CRASH. WHY IS NHTSA SUCH A SPINELESS WEAKLING? NHTSA, FULFILL YOUR MANDATE TO PROTECT MY FAMILY! YOU ARE THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY. THEREFORE, STOP PANDERING TO TOYOTA AND FORCE A REMEDY NOW. PERHAPS TOYOTA DOESN'T HAVE THE ENGINEERING RESOURCES TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM IN FOUR YEARS TIME?

NHTSA ODI #10786201

125,000 miles · Oct 26, 2015
Air BagsSeat Belts

WE HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW FROM TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. IT HAS AN OUTSTANDING AIR BAG RECALL DATED JANUARY 27, 2015. WE KEEP GETTING TOLD WE WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE BUT THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS. I TALKED TO THEIR SERVICE DEPT AGAIN ON FRIDAY, OCT 23RD AND THEY TOLD ME THEY STILL HAVE …

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WE HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW FROM TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. IT HAS AN OUTSTANDING AIR BAG RECALL DATED JANUARY 27, 2015. WE KEEP GETTING TOLD WE WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE BUT THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS. I TALKED TO THEIR SERVICE DEPT AGAIN ON FRIDAY, OCT 23RD AND THEY TOLD ME THEY STILL HAVE NO INFO ON PARTS AVAILABILITY FOR THIS REPAIR. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO GET THIS MOVING?

NHTSA ODI #10785987

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V147000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MAD…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V147000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10783649

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2015
Air BagsCrash

2003 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *SMD ON NOVEMBER 16, 2013 WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IN THE 4TH LANE, ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE CONSUMER'S LANE 100 YARDS AWAY FROM HIM, SUDDENLY STOPPED. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, SO THE CONSUMER SWITCHED TO THE 3RD LANE LEFT OF HIM. WHEN HE GO…

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2003 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *SMD ON NOVEMBER 16, 2013 WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IN THE 4TH LANE, ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE CONSUMER'S LANE 100 YARDS AWAY FROM HIM, SUDDENLY STOPPED. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, SO THE CONSUMER SWITCHED TO THE 3RD LANE LEFT OF HIM. WHEN HE GOT WITHIN SIX CAR LENGTHS OF THE STOPPED VEHICLE IN THE RIGHT LANE, HE WAS SUDDENLY SIDE SWIPED BY AN AUTOMOBILE WANTING TO MOVE INTO HIS LANE. THE CONTACT TO HIS VEHICLE CAUSED THE FRONTAL AIR BAG TO DEPLOY IN AN ALARMING AND STRANGE WAY. THE DRIVER AIR BAG BARELY MADE ITSELF OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN, THEN SLOWLY CONTINUED TO INFLATE AND BLOCKED HIS VISION. IN A PANIC MODE TO GET THE PARTIALLY FILLED AIR BAG OUT OF HIS FACE, THE CONSUMER APPARENTLY TURNED THE STEERING LIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, WHICH CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL TO HIT AND THEN SKIDDED OFF THE BACK DRIVER SIDE WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE THAT ORIGINALLY STOPPED 100 YARDS IN FRONT OF HIM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED; ESPECIALLY IN THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY DID. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS RECEIVED FIVE LETTERS REGARDING THE AIR BAG. HE WAS INFORMED BY TOYOTA, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM HEADQUARTERS. UPDATED 08/04/16.*JB UPDATED 02/16/17.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10805775

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATE 01/13/16 MA UPDATED 01/16/16. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10780564

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2015
Air Bags

2003 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM / ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT RECALL. *SMD

NHTSA ODI #10765678

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS), HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS), HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10780103

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10780061

Official recalls

2

15V043000 · Air Bags:frontal

Jan 28, 2015

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29, 2004, 2003-2004 Avalon vehicles manufactured June 5, 2002, to December 20, 2004, and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured January 18, 2002, to April 27, 2004. Due to electrical noise, a component in the air bag control module may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Inadvertent deployment of the air bags or the seat belt pretensioners increases the risk of an injury or crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began on August 24, 2015. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. GM issued an interim notification to owners on March 27, 2015. The recall began on August 24, 2015. Pontiac owners may call 1-800-620-7668. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 13V-029 and 14V-147. Vehicles that had a noise filter installed as the remedy for one of those campaigns need to have the air bag control module replaced under this campaign.

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.