2002 Toyota AVALON: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000020 · 2002-12-11 (December 11, 2002)
WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON A DOWNGRADE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES UP TO 20 MPH. IT SEEMS AS IF YOU ARE GOING OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT AT ALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000068 · 2002-12-12 (December 12, 2002)
I HAD A FRONTAL CRASH THAT THE HOOD WAS PUSHED IN ABOUT 1 FOOT AND RIGHT HEAD LIGHT WAS OUT. IT WAS NOT THAT BIG OF CRASH, THE AIR BAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 5 MILES HOME. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE TO WAIT FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTOR TO COME FOR CLAIM INSPECTION. HOWEVER AFTER ABOUT 3 FULL DAYS, THE CAR IGNITED ITSELF AND BURNED THE WHOLE CAR. OF COURSE, I AM FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT IN THE CAR WHEN THE FIRE STARTED BUT IT IS QUITE UNRELIABLE FOR THE CAR TO JUST IGNITE BY ITSELF. SHOULDN'T TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002050 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EMITS A STRONG SULFUR ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAS CHANGED THE TYPE OF GAS USED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002050 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 10011422 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
THE REAR VIEW MIRROR VIBRATED, WHICH CAUSED THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR TO CRACK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011423 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011423 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015027 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING ON NJ TURNPIKE AT 60 MPH A TIRE BLEWOUT DAMAGING THE RIM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TIRE AND THE RIM. *AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015027 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.
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 ↗