2001 Toyota AVALON: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
134 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 69 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 134 complaints (15.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 29 | 21.6% |
| Steering behavior | 20 | 14.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 3.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.2% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.2% |
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 | 21 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Tires | 7 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 21; Air Bags: 15; Electrical System: 9; Steering: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Tires: 7; Visibility:Windshield: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 8
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 65 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 | 5 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 24 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 18 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
2000: 5; 2001: 17; 2002: 24; 2003: 14; 2004: 14; 2005: 6; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 18; 2011: 5; 2012: 1; 2013: 5; 2014: 5; 2015: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2020: 2; 2023: 4
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 20 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000125 · 2002-12-16 (December 16, 2002)
ACCELERATOR PEDAL SOMETIMES REQUIRES EXTRA FORCE TO MOVE CAUSING LURCHING OF VEHICLE. 40K MILES. TOYOTA AVALON XL.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001213 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS AN "STRONG" VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS CAUSING TIRES AND ROTORS TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. DEALER DIAGNOSED BAD ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN REPAIRED 6X TO NO AVAIL. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001213 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001232 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A STRONG VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING WHICH HAS CAUSED THE TIRES AND ROTORS TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED VEHICLE WITH AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS ATTEMPTED TO GET ALIGNMENT CORRECTED 6X WITH NO SUCCESS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009236 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED 6 TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011429 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL WERE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, HIS FOOT SLIPPED AND DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011429 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013772 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
TRUNK OPENS, NOT FULLY, JUST AJAR, BY ITSELF. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY (6) TIMES IN (2) YEARS. THE TRUNK IS NOT OPEN SUFFICIENTLY FOR THE TRUNK OPEN LIGHT TO GO ON. THIS HAS HAPPEN APPROXIMATELY (3) TIMES ON THE ROAD AND (3) TIMES PARKED. WHILE ON THE ROAD IT WILL BE ANOTHER DRIVER WHO WILL SIGNAL THAT IT IS AJAR OR IN ONE CASE IT WAS A GAS STATION ATTENDANT (STILL ATTENDANT SERVICE IN NEW JERSEY!). ONE TIME THE TRUNK WAS FOUND AJAR IN THE MORNING AT A MOTEL STOP (NOTHING TAKEN), AND A COUPLE OF TIMES IT WAS FOUND OPEN WHILE PARKED IN T…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013772 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015300 · 2003-04-11 (April 11, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL HIT A PICKUP TRUCK, AND THEN HIT A TREE. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER IN THE PICKUP TRUCK SUSTAINED INJURIES AS WELL AS THE CONSUMER.*AK *JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017579 · 2003-05-07 (May 7, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A PICKUP TRUCK AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND PASSENGER IN PICKUP TRUCK SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS BADLY DAMAGED. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017579 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
01V072000 · Structure:Frame And Members
Reported: 2001-03-05 (March 5, 2001)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY HAS NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY WELDED.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FAILURE OF THE ASSEMBLY FOLLOWING LONG-TERM USAGE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FRONT SUB FRAME, IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 9, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA campaign record ↗10V345000 · Steering
Reported: 2010-07-29 (July 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗