1998 Toyota AVALON: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
122 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
72,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 122 complaints (9.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 18 | 14.8% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 6.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 10 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 8 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Tires | 6 |
| Suspension | 5 |
| Suspension:Front | 4 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 10; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 8; Air Bags:Frontal: 7; Electrical System: 6; Tires: 6; Suspension: 5; Suspension:Front: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 7
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 71 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 17 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2000: 17; 2001: 17; 2002: 21; 2003: 16; 2004: 13; 2005: 6; 2006: 1; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2009: 4; 2010: 8; 2011: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000658 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)
WHILE MY USUAL MECHANIC WAS PERFORMING PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT 64,500 MILES, HE DISCOVERED A LARGE, BENT BOLT IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID PAN WHICH WAS NOT THERE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS LAST SERVICED AT 39,000 MILES. HE DID NOT NOTE ANY METAL SHAVINGS, ETC. AND THE CAR RUNS FINE. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE THE BOLT CAME FROM. HOWEVER, THIS IS AN OBVIOUS CONCERN AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TOYOTA HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT AND WHETHER IT IS LIKELY TO CAUSE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002595 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THE ROTORS WERE WORN, WHICH CAUSED A HEAVY VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002595 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003537 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
PREMATURE FAILURE OF LEFT FRONT STRUT AT 63000 MILES ALONG WITH BOTH STRUT SUPPORTS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003537 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006208 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
THE HEAT DEFROSTER BLOWER HAD CUT COMPLETELY OFF AND DID NOT TURN BACK ON. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022637 · 2003-06-09 (June 9, 2003)
VEHICLE'S KEY GETS INTERMITTENTLY STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN. RELATED RECALL 98E035000, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023789 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
THE ENTIRE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WENT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE SYSTEM FAN REMAINED OFF NO MATTER WHAT SETTINGS I CHOSE. AFTER NOT RUNNING THE CAR FOR A WHILE, THE SYSTEM WOULD WORK AGAIN, ONLY THEN TO SHUT ITSELF OFF WITHIN A TIME PERIOD OF SECONDS TO AS MUCH AS A WHOLE DAY. I HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED BY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, WHO CHARGED ME APPROXIMATELY $1500. THOUGH THE COST OF REPAIR WAS VERY HIGH, I DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, SINCE I COULD NOT USE THE CAR IN THAT UNSAFE AND UNSATISFACTORY CONDITIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025256 · 2003-07-01 (July 1, 2003)
LOUD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. WAS INFORMED BY TOYOTA THAT FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. THEY KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT ARE UNWILLING TO HELP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026477 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL APART WHILE OPENING THE DOOR WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE BEING USED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026477 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
98V278000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
Reported: 1998-10-19 (October 19, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR HVAC FAN SPEED CONTROLS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN SMOOTHLY AND COULD STALL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.
NHTSA campaign record ↗