1999 Toyota AVALON: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
77 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
53,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 77 complaints (15.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 20.8% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.3% |
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 | 12 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Suspension | 4 |
| Suspension:Front | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Air Bags: 11; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 5; Electrical System: 4; Suspension: 4; Suspension:Front: 4; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 6
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 43 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 | 10 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
2000: 10; 2001: 9; 2002: 10; 2003: 12; 2004: 6; 2005: 5; 2006: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 9; 2011: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 2
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10005663 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON INDICATING A MALFUNCTION. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM EXISTS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012260 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
THE CONSUMER HAD AN AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH INSTALLED BY AUTHORIZED COMPANY. THE SWITCH HAS NOT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY SINCE INSTALLATION. THE INSTALLER ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOUR TIMES SINCE INSTALLATION BUT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014637 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
THE DRIVER HEATER SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED THE CONSUMER. *JB THE FIRST SEAT GRID WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WORK. THE REPLACEMENT BURNED THE CONSUMER WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING AND NEVER CAME ON AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FAILED PART AGAIN. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016316 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY. ONCE THERE, THE DEALER STATES THERE IS NO CODE STORED IN THE COMPUTER AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. ONCE THE CAR IS RESTARTED, THE LIGHT IS OFF, BUT COMES ON AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. I AM WORRIED OF AN AIR BAG FAILURE DUE TO THIS INDICATOR LIGHT, BUT THE DEALER CAN'T HELP BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF STORED CODES. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016318 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES A CRUNCHING NOISE WHEN EXPANDED OR CONTRACTED. DEALER STATED THAT THEY "THINK" IT MIGHT BE THE STRUT MOUNTS. VERY COSTLY ESTIMATE TO TRY SOMETHING THAT MIGHT WORK. I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS AND WANTED TO REGISTER MINE ALONG WITH THE OTHERS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017449 · 2003-04-23 (April 23, 2003)
THE VEHICLES AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017449 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018730 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)
WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN TRAVELING ~ 20 MPH, A '89 HEAVY AUTO TRAVELING @ 48 MPH IMPACTED PASSENGER SIDE OF CONSUMERS VEHICLE, SLAMMING CONSUMERS VEHICLE INTO A '94 HEAVY AUTO STOPPED AT LIGHT, TOTALING ALL THREE AUTOS. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS ON CONSUMERS 1999 TOYOTA AVALON DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE LEG/HIP/BACK, AND CHEST INJURIES. TOYOTA OFFICIALS SAY THE AIR BAGS WERE IN NORMAL FUNCTIONING CONDITION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 32,576 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020372 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)
NAR 05/21/2003 *MR THE AIR BAG FLASHED REPEATEDLY FOR 60 MILES. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETECT ANY PROBLEM CODES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020372 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 ↗