2002 Toyota AVALON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
116 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
91,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 76 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 116 complaints (24.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 26 | 22.4% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 16.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 28 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 |
| Steering | 18 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Tires | 5 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
Air Bags: 28; Vehicle Speed Control: 20; Steering: 18; Electrical System: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Tires: 5; Air Bags:Side/Window: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 19 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 19
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 40 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 27 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2002: 7; 2003: 10; 2004: 7; 2005: 7; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 6; 2009: 6; 2010: 27; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 7; 2015: 10; 2016: 3; 2017: 5; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10068210 · 2004-05-03 (May 3, 2004)
I PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT COMCAST CABLE. AS I WAS BACKING UP I BUMPED INTO A UTILITY POLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LOT. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PUT TO CAR INTO DRIVE. WHEN I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD STRIKING A PARKED VEHICLE AND THE BUILDING. THE DISTANCE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 10 TO 15 FEET. MY WIFE AND I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND COMING FRON UNDER THE BODY OF THE CAR. I ONFORMED MY INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE FACT THAT SOME TOYOTA MODELS WERE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. HE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068210 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071754 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE BRAKES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE PARKING BRAKES HAD BEEN ADJUSTED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE SERVICE DEALER HAD NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE REAR BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE WORE OUT BEFORE THE FRONT BRAKES. THE CONSUMER HAD SPOKEN TO TWO OTHER AVALANCHE OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, BOTH OF WHICH, STATED THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AROUND 25-31K MILES. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009147 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
WHEN A LEFT TURN WAS MADE, AND CONSUMER STRAIGHTENED THE WHEEL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TURN TO THE LEFT. *JB THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY WANDERED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, CHANGED LANES WITHOUT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, AND WORSENED WHEN TRAVELING FARTHER IN DISTANCE. THE DEALER THOUGHT IT WAS A TIRE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE WANDERING, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, AND AN EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO RECIEVE THEIR MONEY BACK FOR THE VEHICLE. S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011421 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD NOISE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011421 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10404334 · 2011-06-03 (June 3, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A DAMAGED WIRE CONNECTOR UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS REPAIRED YET, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 104,281 miles reported. Look up ODI 10404334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10550051 · 2013-10-29 (October 29, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING HOME ON 9/24/13 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I DROVE RIGHT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SYSTEM WAS BELOW THRESHOLD ( CODE P0420). THIS REPAIR COST ME $2,541.27. I WAS TOLD THIS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH MY AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHING. AFTER PAYING FOR THIS REPAIR MY AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH, EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THE DIAGNOSTIC DID NOT SHOW A CODE. I WAS PREVIOUSLY TOLD THE CODE FOR THE AIR BAG WAS B0113. SINCE PURCHASING THIS 2002 AVALON I HAVE HAD TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 191,187 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216748 · 2008-02-02 (February 2, 2008)
SHIFT CABLE WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO PUT TRANSMISSION IN FIRST OR 2ND GEAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 118,177 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216748 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310491 · 2010-02-15 (February 15, 2010)
(02/19/2008) WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA AVALON JUST BEFORE 9 AM SE IN THE L LANE ON RTE.2 (CT) AT 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THERE WAS AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE L LANE SO I PUT ON MY SIGNAL, PUSHED ON MY BRAKES AND PROCEEDED INTO THE R LANE. INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN, MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED UP. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DEPITS HAVING BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES AND BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS SWERVING FROM LANE TO LANE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ATTEMPTING TO AVOID THE OTHER VEHICLES. AFTER ABOUT A MILE, I WAS ABLE TO STEER…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10341326 · 2010-07-03 (July 3, 2010)
2002 TOYOTA AVALON XLS WITH ABOUT 84,000 MILES PERIODICALLY STALLS WHEN BRAKING AND TURNING 90 DEGREES AT LOW SPEED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL NEAR OUR HOUSE. IT'S AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE ENGINE STALLS AND POWER STEERING BECOMES INOPERATIVE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL CAR UNTIL IT IS STOPPED AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED. ALL PERIODIC SERVICES ARE ACCOMPLISHED BY TOYOTA IN ACCORDANCE WITH VEHICLE SERVICE GUIDE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576889 · 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN FLASHED RANDOMLY EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN PIN AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BOX NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE STILL RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHERE THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. THE ME…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10852442 · 2016-03-30 (March 30, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE FUEL CAP AND FUEL LINE HOSE WERE REPLACED AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO DAYS AFTER EACH REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. MOST RECENT, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10852442 at NHTSA ↗