RoadVitals

1998 Toyota Avalon Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
9
Latest Feb 1, 2007
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.
5%
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.
1
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 the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 9 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 engine

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

Engine
Filed Feb 1, 2007

TOYOTA AVALON 1998 STALLING WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TOYOTA AVALON 1998 STALLING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. JANUARY 29, 2007 NEARLY INVOLVED IN A BROAD-SIDE ACCIDENT WHEN CAR STALLED BEGINNING TO ENTER ROADWAY, ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAD TO SWERVE AROUND NARROWING AVOIDING A COLLISION. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH AVALONS AND CAMRYS THAT IS WELL-DOCUMENTED BY OTHER OWNERS ON THE INTERNET. DEALERSHIP REPLACED AIR FUEL SENSOR ON JANUARY 19, 2007, CAR STALLED AGAIN THE VERY NEXT DAY ON HIGHWAY. THE CAR IS NOW BACK IN THE SHOP AS OF JANUARY 31, 2007, WITH DEALER UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INCIDENTS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS THAT SEEM TO BE ESCALATING. UNSAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE AS IT WILL CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR WITHOUT WARNING. CAR HAS LESS THAN 40,00 MILES ON IT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10181365
Incident
Jan 30, 2007
Engine
Filed Jan 26, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1998 TOYOTA AVALON AT 45 MPH, THE OIL LIGHT TURNED ON, AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10180800
Incident
Jan 25, 2007
Mileage
121,900 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 31, 2003

SLUDGE IN ENGINE CAUSING SMOKE TO COME FROM BACK OF CAR. *PH

NHTSA ID
10030507
Incident
Jul 27, 2003
Mileage
86,466 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 15, 2002

THE ENGINE CONTAINED SLUDGE AND WAS CLOGGED, CONSUMER STATED THAT HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE TOYOTA DEALER IN AN ATTEMPT TO THE REPAIR PROBLEM AND OBTAIN FULL REIMBURSEMENT FROM MANUFACTURER FOR ALL COSTS INCLUDING POSSIBLE AUTO RENTAL EXPENSES WHILE REPAIRS ARE BEING MADE. *YH

NHTSA ID
785953
Incident
Apr 12, 2002
Engine
Filed Jul 9, 2001

WAS TOLD THAT BURNING OIL AND SMOKING WAS DUE TO SLUDGE IN VALVE COVER, INDICATED THAT I HAD NOT HAD OIL CHANGES, AND I HAVE OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES. I KEPT NO RECEIPTS OF PURCHASES OF OIL FILTERS AND OIL. MAY NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID
748173
Heating & air conditioningEngine
Filed Jun 1, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY AIR CONDITIONER WOULD GO DEAD, AND DASHBOARD TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD FLASH ON /OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN INFORMED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
889533
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed Feb 1, 1999

COMPUTER FAILURE CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COMES ON AND GOES OFF REPEATEDLY. YH

NHTSA ID
609041
Engine
Filed Nov 24, 1998

ENGINE SURGES AND DROPS RPMS RAPIDLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN ENGAGING CRUISE OR WHEN LETTING FOOT OFF OF GAS PEDAL.

NHTSA ID
542677
Engine
Filed Nov 14, 1998
Crash reported

UNINTENDED ACCERLERATION. UPON BACKING OUT OF GARAGE. DAMAGED DRIVERS DOOR AND FRONT QUARTER PANEL OF AUTO. DRIVER DOORS IMPACTED SIDE OF GARAGE. THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE RACING. ENGINE WAS WARM PRIOR TO ACCIDENT

NHTSA ID
700592
Incident
Nov 12, 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

Visibility19Suspension19Electrical18Airbags16Driver assistance16Tires & wheels14Brakes14Heating & air conditioning14Interior & seats10Transmission10Steering9

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .