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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 · Mar 31, 2016
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 WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF TH…

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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 WERE 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 #10852715

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2016
Air Bags

I HAD GONE TO WALKER AUTO GROUP LOCATED AT 8457 SPRINGBORO PIKE, MIAMISBURG, OH 45342-4503 BOTH ON 2/2/2015 AND AGAIN ON 4/7/2015 TO PERFORM THE E0G RECALL REPAIR ON THE SIR SUB HARNESS. BOTH TIMES THEY ADVISED THEY DID NOT HAVE TO PART AND WOULD CONTACT ME WHEN IT WAS IN. IT IS NOW 3/12/2016 AND NO CALL OR CONTACT IN REGARDS …

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I HAD GONE TO WALKER AUTO GROUP LOCATED AT 8457 SPRINGBORO PIKE, MIAMISBURG, OH 45342-4503 BOTH ON 2/2/2015 AND AGAIN ON 4/7/2015 TO PERFORM THE E0G RECALL REPAIR ON THE SIR SUB HARNESS. BOTH TIMES THEY ADVISED THEY DID NOT HAVE TO PART AND WOULD CONTACT ME WHEN IT WAS IN. IT IS NOW 3/12/2016 AND NO CALL OR CONTACT IN REGARDS TO THIS RECALL REPAIR. MY AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH AND PER THE NOTIFICATION I HAD RECEIVED TO GET THIS ADDRESSED IT ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT IF I THOUGHT THIS MATTER HAD NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IN A TIMELY FASHION. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR AND THIS ISSUE IS STILL A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10846310

90,500 miles · Mar 2, 2016
Air Bags

OVER ONE (1) YEAR AGO I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE ON THIS VEHICLE STATING THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. OVER A YEAR LATER AND "REMEDY NOT AVAILABLE" IS THE RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA. IT APPEARS THAT THE REMEDY IS TO DELAY, DELAY, DELAY SO AS MANY OF THESE CARS AS POSSIBLE ARE RETIRED AND DO N…

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OVER ONE (1) YEAR AGO I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE ON THIS VEHICLE STATING THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. OVER A YEAR LATER AND "REMEDY NOT AVAILABLE" IS THE RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA. IT APPEARS THAT THE REMEDY IS TO DELAY, DELAY, DELAY SO AS MANY OF THESE CARS AS POSSIBLE ARE RETIRED AND DO NOT REQUIRE REPAIR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW THIS RECALL PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE RESOLVED IN A TIMELY MANNER.

NHTSA ODI #10839340

118,000 miles · Mar 1, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER OFF AND ON. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER OFF AND ON. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI #10839254

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2016
Air BagsElectrical System

WE OWN A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WE RECEIVED THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THIS VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2014. THE RED AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE DASH HAS BEEN ON, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. SINCE THIS INVOLVES THE VERY SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF MY FAMI…

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WE OWN A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WE RECEIVED THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THIS VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2014. THE RED AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE DASH HAS BEEN ON, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. SINCE THIS INVOLVES THE VERY SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF MY FAMILY, WE CALLED THE LOCAL WEST COVINA DEALER, AT LEAST FOUR (4) TIMES AND MADE AT LEAST ONE (1) DRIVE-IN VISIT, TO GET THIS MATTER RESOLVED. EACH TIME WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO ' SRS ECU ' REPLACEMENT PART AVAILABLE. ON OUR LAST ATTEMPT TO REACH OUT TO THEM, WE LEFT A MESSAGE FOR THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE WEST COVINA TOYOTA LOCATION AND WAS NOT EVEN GIVEN THE COURTESY OF A RETURN PHONE CALL. WE ARE THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED! SINCE THIS PLACES OUR FAMILY AT GREAT RISK OF HARM AND ENDANGERS THEIR WELL-BEING, OUT OF DESPERATION, WE ARE REACHING OUT TO YOU. IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER TWO (2) YEARS SINCE RECEIPT OF THE INITIAL SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. SURELY, THIS IS SUFFICIENT TIME TO BE ABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM! PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT VIA EMAIL AT EITHER [XXX] TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER. OR, YOU MAY REACH OUT TO US BY PHONE AT [XXX](H) OR [XXX] (C). IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOUR ASSISTANCE WILL PROVIDE THE IMPETUS NEEDED TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. SINCERELY YOURS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR

NHTSA ODI #10838831

113,500 miles · Feb 24, 2016
Air Bags

REC'D BOTH NOTIFICATIONS LAST YEAR, BUT THIS EXCEEDS REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WAITING FOR A FIX. ONE DAY LAST SPRING (2015) I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LITE STAYED ON LONGER THAN USUAL. ALSO, MY SEAT BELT TIGHTENED UP ON ME BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN. I ALSO SMELLED HOT WIRES …

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REC'D BOTH NOTIFICATIONS LAST YEAR, BUT THIS EXCEEDS REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WAITING FOR A FIX. ONE DAY LAST SPRING (2015) I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LITE STAYED ON LONGER THAN USUAL. ALSO, MY SEAT BELT TIGHTENED UP ON ME BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN. I ALSO SMELLED HOT WIRES ANOTHER TIME. I CALLED TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD THE PART IS UNAVAILABLE, THOUGH I EXPLAINED MY ISSUES. I REQUESTED THE AIRBAG BE DISCONNECTED WHICH THEY REFUSED TO DO. I CALLED TOYOTA AGAIN ON 2/22/16. THEY SAID THE PART IS IN, BUT THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP (TOYOTA) STATES THEY WON'T REPLACE IT IN MY VEHICLE UNLESS THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. DOES THAT MEAN I WILL HAVE FAIR WARNING? DOES THAT MEAN I WILL HAVE TO DRIVE A DANGEROUS VEHICLE ABOUT 50+ MILES TO THE NEAREST DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THAT TIME? THIS IS NUTS! I AM ANGRY! I WILL BE CALLING THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION NEXT, WHICH TRAFFIC SAFETY REFERRED ME TO. I STILL OWE $4,400 ON MY CAR AND WILL BE UNABLE TO TRADE IT IN WITHOUT THE RECALL BEING COMPLETED.

NHTSA ODI #10838018

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DIST…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10837955

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS). 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…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS). 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 #10837814

80,000 miles · Feb 19, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART OR REMEDY FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART OR REMEDY FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10837152

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2016
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 HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. TH…

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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 HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 04/20/16*LJ CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER TOLD HER PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE UPDATED 05/30/18*JB

NHTSA ODI #10837021

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.