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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

293 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED 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…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED 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.

NHTSA ODI #10658535

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAG) HOWEVER, THE PART 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 EXPERI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAG) HOWEVER, THE PART 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.

NHTSA ODI #10654786

103,000 miles · Nov 8, 2014
Air Bags

WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO MANN TOYOTA IN PRESTONSBURG, KY FOR A RECALL REPAIR TO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM IS MUCH WORSE NOW AFTER THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS COMING ON MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY NOW. NOW THEY ARE SAYING WE HAVE TO PAY THEM TO GET A SCAN ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653558

120,000 miles · Nov 7, 2014
Air Bags

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THE SAME WEEK THE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA NOTIFYING ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE SRS BECAUSE THE SRS CIRCUITS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO INTERNAL SHORTING. THE ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY CREATE AN ABNORMAL CURRENT FLOW AND INCREASED HEAT WHICH CAN DAMAGE…

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AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THE SAME WEEK THE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA NOTIFYING ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE SRS BECAUSE THE SRS CIRCUITS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO INTERNAL SHORTING. THE ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY CREATE AN ABNORMAL CURRENT FLOW AND INCREASED HEAT WHICH CAN DAMAGE THE CIRCUITS. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE RECALL ADDRESSED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY PERFORMED THE FIX THAT WAS REQUIRED BY TOYOTA. THE WORK THAT THE DEALER PERFORMED DID NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO FLASH. I WAS TOLD THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING BECAUSE OF A SHORT. I CAN NOT FIGURE OUT HOW THIS SHORT IN THE SRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653450

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO STATE WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT E…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO STATE WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10653015

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2014
Air Bags

I RECEIVED OVER THE SUMMER OF 2014 A RECALL FOR MY 2003 TOYOTA AVALON REGARDING THE SRS (AIRBAG) WARNING LIGHT AND TO HANG TIGHT BECAUSE A 'FIX' WAS COMING SOON. OCTOBER 22, 2014 I RECEIVED A 2ND LETTER FROM TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A. INDICATING THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS IN AND TO CONTACT MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE A…

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I RECEIVED OVER THE SUMMER OF 2014 A RECALL FOR MY 2003 TOYOTA AVALON REGARDING THE SRS (AIRBAG) WARNING LIGHT AND TO HANG TIGHT BECAUSE A 'FIX' WAS COMING SOON. OCTOBER 22, 2014 I RECEIVED A 2ND LETTER FROM TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A. INDICATING THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS IN AND TO CONTACT MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. I CALLED WALKER TOYOTA (937.433.4950) LOCATED AT 8457 SPRINGBORO PIKE, MIAMISBURG, OH 45342 ON OCTOBER 23, 2014 AND ATTEMPTED TO SCHEDULE MY CAR FOR REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PART BUT WOULD CONTACT ME SOON. ON NOVEMBER 3, 2014 THE SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE NIGHT DROP AT WALKER TOYOTA WITH THE HOPE THE PART WOULD BE INSTALLED ON NOV. 4, 2014. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM BOB (SERVICE MGR.) THAT THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON BASED ON THE CAR COMPUTER AND BECAUSE THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED AN 'EMERGENCY' I HAVE TO WAIT 10 DAYS FOR A PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. I NOW HAVE A CAR THAT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE FOR FEAR OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING. I WAS ASSURED BY BOB THAT THIS HAS 'NEVER' HAPPENED TO HIS KNOWLEDGE. WOW.....THAT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT. I THEN ASKED FOR A RENTAL CAR WITH A DISCOUNT BASED ON THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT WALKER TOYOTA CANNOT GIVE A PRICE BREAK ON A RENTAL. KEEP IN MIND I'M A SCHOOL SECRETARY MAKING $32,000.00 A YEAR. $35 X 10 DAYS IS $350.00. I CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THAT. I AM NOW RESORTING TO BEGGING RIDES TO AND FROM WORK UNTIL THIS CAR IS SCHEDULED FOR A REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652475

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND DID PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND DID PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10652338

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE RECALL PART 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 A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE RECALL PART 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.

NHTSA ODI #10651174

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2014
Air Bags

RECALL CASE #[XXX] I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY TOYOTA AVALON 2003 IN JUNE OF 2014 . YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER HAS FAILED OVER AND OVER TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER! I HAVE SPOKEN WITH [XXX], AND NONE OF THEM SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND THAT I NEEDED TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR NONE EVEN WOULD GET A SUPERVISOR ON THE PHONE. THE…

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RECALL CASE #[XXX] I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY TOYOTA AVALON 2003 IN JUNE OF 2014 . YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER HAS FAILED OVER AND OVER TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER! I HAVE SPOKEN WITH [XXX], AND NONE OF THEM SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND THAT I NEEDED TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR NONE EVEN WOULD GET A SUPERVISOR ON THE PHONE. THE DEALERSHIP NEAR ME TOYOTA OF COOL SPRINGS AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SUPERVISOR THERE NAMED [XXX] TOLD ME EVEN AFTER 4 MONTHS THEY STILL WERE UNABLE TO SCHEDULE ANY SERVICE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS IN FOR THIS RECALL. I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN OCTOBER STATING THAT THE REMEDY WAS FOUND AND PARTS WERE DELIVERED TO ALL DEALERSHIPS.THE REMEDY RECALL NOTICE ALSO STATED THAT THE SERVICE SHOULD BE DONE IMMEDIATELY. THEY TOLD ME AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE SOONEST THEY CAN SCHEDULE ANYTHING IS SIX WEEKS FROM NOW IN DECEMBER. THAT IS NOT OK AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED FOR A SAFETY RECALL THAT STATES IT SHOULD BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651168

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V147000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10650757

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.