RoadVitals

1998 Toyota Avalon Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Nov 10, 2009
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 178 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Toyota Avalon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesFuel system
Filed Nov 10, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, WHILE IN REVERSE OR MOVING FORWARD A LOUD METAL NOISE IS PRESENT IN THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER STATED THAT BRAKE FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE AND THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE BAFFLE WAS LOOSE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FUEL TANK HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,950 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,920.

NHTSA ID
10291777
Incident
Oct 8, 2009
Mileage
45,920 mi
BrakesVisibility
Filed Aug 22, 2005

ON A 98 TOYOTA AVALON XLS: THE A/C AND HEATING SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY OCCASIONALLY. THE FRONT AND REAR DEFOGGERS FAIL ALSO. WHEN THE SHUT DOWN OCCURS, THE AIR VENTS EMIT VERY HOT AIR, EVEN THOUGH THE THERMOSTAT IS SET FOR A/C. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT STARTED RAINING AND THE DEFOGGERS FAILED TO OPERATE. IT APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL WIRING DEFECT FOR WHICH I HAVE APPEALED TO TOYOTA TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY,BUT WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS

NHTSA ID
10133740
Incident
Apr 1, 2004
Mileage
75,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 3, 2005

SEVERE RUSTING ON REAR BRAKE ROTORS ON A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON EFFECTIVELY REDUCING THE BRAKING POWER OF THE CAR. JOHN SUMMERS A DISTRICT PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER REPRESENTATIVE OF TOYOTA STATED THAT BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS IS REDUCED, HOWEVER, HE STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL. HE ENCOURGED ME TO FILE THIS REPORT WITH YOUR OFFICE

NHTSA ID
10119607
Incident
Apr 21, 2005
Mileage
101,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 13, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THE ROTORS WERE WORN, WHICH CAUSED A HEAVY VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING.*JB

NHTSA ID
10002595
Incident
Nov 15, 2002
Brakes
Filed Oct 7, 2002

COMPLETE HYDRAULIC BRAKE FAILURE AT 16,800 MILES, CAUSED CAR TO GO THROUGH RED LIGHT. LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID. ROTOR FROZE AND BRAKE LINE FAILED AT ROTOR HOUSING. CAR DEALER HAD INSTALLED ALL NEW ROTORS AND PADS AT 9,200 MILES. MR

NHTSA ID
768181
Incident
Oct 2, 2002
Brakes
Filed Sep 24, 2002

A FAILURE OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE CAUSED THE LOSS OF ALL BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE RESERVOIR DOES NOT HAVE A SEPARATION THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED ALL THE BRAKE FLUID FROM BEING LOST. MOST MASTER CYLINDERS HAVE A PARTITION IN THEM, SO AT LEAST THE FRONT OR BACK BRAKES WOULD STILL BE FUNCTIONAL. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR FUNCTION THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I COULD HAVE HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD. AS IT WAS I HAD JUST PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND WAS UNLOADING PASSENGERS WHEN THE BRAKE LINE FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID
767666
Incident
Aug 28, 2002
Brakes
Filed Sep 8, 2001

BRAKE PEDAL DRIFTS TOWARD FLOOR AT RED LIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID
751930
Incident
Aug 10, 2001
Brakes
Filed Nov 27, 2000

WHILE THE ENGINE IS IDLING DURING A STOP AND PRESSURE IS INCREASED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL DECENDS TO THE FLOOR. *CJ

NHTSA ID
557569
Brakes
Filed Nov 3, 2000

WENT TO DEALER 3 OUT OF 5 PEOPLE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM. SYSTEM WAS INSPECTED 2 WEEKS PRIOR BY NYS INSPECTION. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
735678
Brakes
Filed Apr 12, 2000

BRAKE PROBLEM STARTED AT 7000 MILES. BRAKES AND THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 14000 MILES AND 19000 MILES. ALSO, ABS BRAKE LIGHT WAS COMING ON/OFF, AND BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING. *AK

NHTSA ID
860220
Incident
Jul 11, 1998
BrakesInterior & seats
Filed Sep 8, 1999

FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHT, DOOR AJAR LIGHT, AND INTERIOR LIGHT.

NHTSA ID
609452
Brakes
Filed Feb 1, 1999

BRAKES MAKE NOISE DUE TO PADS MADE OUT OF ASBESTOS. YH

NHTSA ID
609234
BrakesElectricalTransmission
Filed Feb 1, 1999

BRAKES SQUEAKING. YH

NHTSA ID
608763
BrakesHeating & air conditioning
Filed Feb 1, 1999

A/C SYSTEM BLOWER MOTOR FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
606374
Incident
Jul 20, 1998

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .