Toyota Avalon Complaints (2003)

293 consumer complaints on file.

#11732589April 20, 2026
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
March 13, 2026, I was on a road trip from CA to AZ and while driving around 75-80mph (speed limit), something in the driver's side seat belt or the shoulder holster exploded, the belt tightened, and something metal or plastic flew off. Shortly after (within 30 seconds or so), the passenger's side seat belt did something similar where something in the seat belt mechanism exploded and another part went flying. There was an electrical buzzing noise. I was looking for a place to pull over when the air bags went off. There was no bump in the road or a dip and I did not hit anything. I don't remember the order the air bags exploded but it was one after the other. The driver's side air bag exploding left a red abrasion on my left hand. The vehicle was brought to a nearby dealership (Anderson Toyota) where they said they could not verify what the issue was. The safety of myself and others on the road were at risk as the explosions were very loud and the air bags occluded my view while traveling at a high speed. The vehicle has been inspected by a 3rd party representative from Bosch (Apr 2nd) as sent by Toyota corporate and Toyota has not given me any updates. Calling them several times they have failed to return calls, and after a call today, they said the case was filed as closed without my prior notice. I do not recall warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11523134May 22, 2023
AIR BAGS
I was driving back home, out of no where my car went out of control, went left, then right, hit something and flipped over twice to end in a hill against the traffic with 4 flat tires. The air bag did not deployed. I did hit the windshield. The car was total.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11500232January 4, 2023
STEERING
Purchased car used 11/2020 Jan 14 2021 had 2 open recalls steering casting defect and wire harness filter to deflect noise from ecm . I lost control of communication of operations. 12/2022 steering lock bar The past 2 years uncovered everything on my own. Learned somebody died in 2003 Avalon in Texas about steering locking up. Plan to talk to class action lawyers over airbag and steering. And arrange my own lawyer with settlement lawyers to make this repair and all tsb to be performed. I will never buy a car unless I can find all tsb problems associated with that car. I hope recalls can be opened especially when you guys in government state safety ,compliance and emissions do not expire. Recall
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11442744December 5, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
turn off the lights inside panel. The level of heat all the way up, the same with the gasoline level. The internal lights blink. Loss of power.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11419230June 1, 2021
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the vehicle started smoking and the engine stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the engine needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11418364May 24, 2021
SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? 1- AUG 2020- MEGA MOTERS- PURCHASSED AUTO- CARFAX AND AUTO GURO- RECOMMENDED THIS VEHISCAL AND SALES PITCH INCLUDED THESE COMPANIES- HE SAID HE DOES GOOD BUSINESS- HE SAID HE WILL FIX ALL ISSUES IF THE ISSUE WAS WITH-IN 30 DAYS- CAR DROVE FINE- HE PUT AN INSPECTION STICKER- IT DID NOT SMOKE THEN BECAUSE HE HAD A HELPER WHO STARTED THE CAR AND PLACED INSPECTION STICKER READIN 10;2021? BUT IT WAS AUGUST 2020? THE HELPER DROVE IT TO THE FRONT OF THE DEALERSHIP- AFTER I PAID 7000.00 AND THUS DID NOT SEE START UP SMOKE AT THE DEALERSHIP 2. AT START UP - TOOK MY TWO SISTERS FOR A TEST DRIVE- GREY SMOKE- SAME DAY- AS PURCHASSED - SHOCK ISSUES-SUSPENTION AND DEALER- MY SISTER WAS DRIVING AS i CALLED TO TELL HIM i LOVED THE CAR AND IT SEEMED TO RUN FINE- EXCEPT FOR THE SMOKE ANDRED OIL LIGHT AND THE SHOCKS- SUSPENTION- UNCOMFORTABLE SCRAPING SOUND- I WILL FIX- AS HE SAID HE FORGOT TO PUT THE NEW OIL CAP ON OIL AND SENSOR- HE SAID HE WOULD PLACE THE TIRE SHOCKS TO FIX SUSPENTION. 2- I LIVE FAIRLY CLOSE- AND ONLY DRIVE SHORT DISTANCE- LIGHT OF OIL CAME ON- BUT GAGES READ NORMAL- MILES WERE AT 9800, DROVE FINE- JUST WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOUD SCRAP SOUND ON ANY DIPS ON ROAD AND THE SMOKE- AT START UP - AND DEALER AT MEGA MORTOR- SAID- TO BRING IT IN HE FORGOT TO PUT A SENSOR AND THE SHOCKS HE HAS THEM AT THE SHOP AND THE NEW OIL CAP- 2 RETURNED THE FOLLOWING MORNING- NO ONE WAS AT THE SHOP- I CALLED HIM HE SAID HE WOULD BE THERE AT 10 AM- - THE CAR SMOKED AT START INCREASED- - HE WAS NOT THERE AT 1030AM- CALLED HIM HE SAID HE COULD NOT FIX IT AS HE WAS BUSY- HE ASKED ME TO COME IN THE NEXT DAY- i CALLED NO ANSWER- CALLED AGAIN- AND HE SAID HE NEEDED ME TO BRING IT SATURDAY MORNING- AND HE WILL FIX- HE WAS RUDE AND SAID HE WAS BUSY- IT WAS SEPTEMBER- AND THE CAR IS HAZARD- IT STOPPED ON MY WAY INTO HIS SHOP AND GOT IT HOME- I GOT COVID 10-2020 TO 4/2020- LONGHAUL-
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11194433April 7, 2019
STEERING
CAR'S STEERING STOPS TURNING WHILE DRIVING IN THE INITIAL 5 MINUTES OF DRIVE, IT OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN WEATHER IS HUMID ( RAINING). THE EPISODE OCCURS WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE STEERING AND RECOVERS AFTER I FORCIBLY TURN THE STIFF STEERING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11182815February 27, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KENDALL TOYOTA (10943 S DIXIE HWY, MIAMI, FL 33156) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE BATTERY WAS ALSO REPLACED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE ODOR COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11174487February 5, 2019
ENGINE
THE AUTO SURGES FORWARD AS I'M TRYING TO STOP EITHER AT A STOP LIGHT OR PARKING SPOT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 OR 4 TIMES AND MY MECHANIC SAID THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WOULD BE FOR IT TO HAPPEN WHILE HE WAS DRIVING IT. THERE'S NO PATTERN TO WHEN IT HAPPENS BUT IT'S SCARY AND I'M AFRAID TO LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT. IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AS I WAS COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE ENTERING A 2 LANE HIGHWAY. THE OTHER TIMES IT HAPPENED WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND APPLYING THE BRAKES TO STOP. I NOW PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHEN IT HAPPENS AND THE ENGINE IS RACING AWAY. PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE ISN'T ENOUGH TO COME TO A COMPETE STOP. I'VE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING WITH NO HONEST ANSWER FOR CORRECTING IT. MOSTLY TRAIL AND ERROR. TOYOTA HAS TO KNOW THE ANSWER BUT THERE'S NO SERVICE BULLETINS FROM THEM. I'M AFRAID THAT IT'S GOING TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR BODILY INJURY TO ME OR MY WIFE. NHTSB HAS GOT TO LOOK INTO THIS ASAP. P.S. MY CAR HAS 71000 MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164181December 31, 2018
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BEECHMONT TOYOTA (8667 BEECHMONT AVE, CINCINNATI, OH 45255, (513) 388-3800) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,807.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11118623August 8, 2018
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RICE TOYOTA (2630 BATTLEGROUND AVE, NC GREENSBORO, NC 27408, (336) 387-6004), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1808082730. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 244,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11090483April 27, 2018
POWER TRAIN
I DROVE INTO A PARKING SPOT, PUT MY CAR INTO PARK & RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. THE CAR ROLLED BACK AS IF IT WAS IN REVERSE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES, SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO DRIVE & DROVE BACK UP INTO THE SPACE. I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO PARK, RELEASED THE BRAKES, ONLY TO HAVE THE CAR ROLL BACK AGAIN. I PULLED BACK UP INTO THE PARKING SPOT, SHIFTED BACK INTO PARK & THIS TIME PUT ON PARKING BRAKES. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR & WENT INTO THE STORE. WHEN I CAME BACK, MY CAR WOULD NOT START. NOT ONLY WOULD IT NOT START, IT WOULD NOT MAKE ANY SORT OF NOISE (WHICH IS HOW I KNEW IT WASN'T THE BATTERY). I CALLED FOR A TOW & THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO START IN GEAR NEUTRAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11074553February 23, 2018
AIR BAGS, SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (PUEBLO TOYOTA, 2220 U S 50 W, PUEBLO, CO 81008) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,457.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11058295January 3, 2018
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR WAS IDLING IN PARK, PLACED SHIFT INTO REVERSE, CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD WITH MOTOR RACING INTO A BENCH, DESTROYING IT. JAMMED SHIFT BACK INTO PARK SHUT OFF MOTOR. RESTARTED CAR. PLACE SHIFT IN REV AND BACKED OFF BENCH. CAR WORKED PROPERLY. HAD CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11022375September 8, 2017
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG INDICATOR AND SEAT BELT NOT ON INDICATORS KEEP COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS THESE INDICATOR COMES ON WHEN THEY DO THE TEST DRIVE. SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS REPRODUCIBLE BY THE DEALERSHIP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11003097July 5, 2017
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE DRIVE GEAR IN AN EFFORT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD ON ITS OWN A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THREE OTHER VEHICLES. M&M TIRE COMPANY OF GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 0458794831. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10990458May 18, 2017
AIR BAGS
I HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER A YEAR FOR THIS TO BE REMEDIED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984855May 11, 2017
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN OVER A CURB. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT WROTE TO THE CONTACT, STATING THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RECALL RELATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10948467January 30, 2017
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING AND OBSCURED THE DRIVER'S VISION. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10917828October 21, 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 EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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