RoadVitals

2004 Toyota Avalon Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
205
Latest Aug 5, 2024
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
27
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jul 6, 2004

What this page shows

Our database holds 205 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Toyota Avalon. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 205 · page 1 of 9

Driver assistanceSuspension
Filed Aug 5, 2024

Ella tuvo realmente la culpa

NHTSA ID
11606428
Incident
Jul 4, 2024
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 12, 2021

CAR MAKES A VERY, VERY LOUD SCREECHING SOUND WHEN STARTED WITH A/C OR HEATING ON (BUT MORE COMMONLY WITH A/C). THE SOUND WILL SOMETIMES DIE DOWN OR STOP ONCE A/C IS TURNED OFF, BUT NOT ALWAYS. PUDDLES CAN TRIGGER THE SOUND AS WELL. SOUND CAN BE HEARD MAINLY UPON INITAL STARTUP BUT CAN OCCUR AFTER CAR IS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID
11402624
Incident
May 1, 2020
Body & structureEngineSuspension
Filed Feb 17, 2021

I'VE NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, ELECTRICAL, COOLANT OR SOMETHING. MY MECHANICS FINDS NO LEAKS, BUT I CHECKED ONCE AND THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY, FIND NO LEAKS. SOMEHOW, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR MUD FLAP CAME OFF AND THE TRUNK LID DOESN'T LINE UP. IT ALWAYS LOOKS LIKE IT'S PARTIALLY OPENED. WHEN DRIVING I HEAR AND FEEL RATTLING SOUNDS THAT SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION OR BODY PANELS. MORE LIKE THE SUSPENSION. THE PERSON I BOUGHT IT FROM HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY AND HAD TIMING CHAIN, O2 SENSOR, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES CHECKED AND FIXED OR REPLACED. THEY ALSO HAD IT COMPLETELY CHECKED OUT AND ANYTHING WRONG WAS FIXED. IT ALSO GETS VERY POOR GAS MILEAGE. THE STEERING ALSO DOESN'T FEEL QUITE RIGHT, CAN'T REALLY EXPLAIN THAT VERY WELL, OTHER THAN IT'S NO QUITE RIGHT. ALSO, FOR SOME REASON THE BATTERY WOULDN'T START THE CAR ONE DAY AND WE CHECKED THE BATTERY AND THE CELLS WERE DRY.

NHTSA ID
11396567
Incident
Nov 19, 2020
Mileage
106,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 18, 2019

THE ECU ITSELF IS NOT WORKING, WHICH THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO NEVER STOP WORKING. WELL OURS STOPPED WORKING AND THE LICENSED MECHANIC WILL NOT WORK ON IT IF IT IS RECALLED. WE ARE LITERALLY WAITING ON TOYOTA TO FIX OUR CAR. THEY HAVE NOT DONE SO. THE HOLE ECU NOT JUST PART OF IT.

NHTSA ID
11233048
Incident
Aug 2, 2018
Mileage
208,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Mar 16, 2019

AIR BAG DASHBOARD LIGHT OCCASIONALLY FLICKERS AND BEGINS TO GLOW FOR A FEW SECONDS. SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY IN WET WEATHER. MY STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK WHEN I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. REVERSED BACKWARDS A LITTLE BIT AND WIGGLED THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULDN'T BUDGE THEN I WENT FORWARD AND WIGGLED AND IT FINALLY LOOSENED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES AND USUALLY IN WET WEATHER. MY CAR IS LISTED IN THE AIR BAG RECALL OF 2015; HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF WHAT TO DO NEXT AND IT HAS NOW BEEN MORE THAN 3 YEARS SINCE FIRST NOTIFICATION.

NHTSA ID
11187211
Incident
Feb 6, 2019
Mileage
284,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Dec 28, 2018

(1) AIR BAG DASHBOARD LIGHT OCCASIONALLY FLICKERS AND BEGINS TO GLOW FOR A FEW SECONDS THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY IN WET WEATHER.. (2) WHEN MOVING AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE DOOR LOCKS CLICK OPEN AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT GOES ON FOR A FEW SECONDS, THIS HAPPENS DAILY.

NHTSA ID
11163851
Incident
Nov 21, 2018
Mileage
110,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 5, 2018

MY STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK WHEN I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING ..THIS MORNING I WAS JUST STARTING MY CAR AND WAS TURNING LEFT AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WENT UP THE SIDEWALK AND ALMOST HIT THE FENCE AND I COULDN'T MOVE IT I REVERSED BACKWARDS A LITTLE BIT AND WIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WOULDN'T BUDGE THEN I WENT FORWARD AND WIGGLED AND IT FINALLY LOOSENED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW USUALLY IN THE MORNING. AND MY MILEAGE IS 140,822

NHTSA ID
11124569
Incident
Sep 5, 2018
Mileage
140,822 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Aug 8, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXTRA STRENGTH WAS NEEDED TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000.

NHTSA ID
11118539
Incident
Aug 7, 2014
Mileage
122,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 4, 2018

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID
11076166
Incident
Feb 10, 2017
Airbags
Filed Nov 28, 2017

#15V043 THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT BLINKING, NEVER STOPS, WHETHER DRIVING OR PARKED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED, IN MARYLAND, WHERE IT PASSED THEIR INSPECTION AND WILL PASS MY INSPECTION IN PENNSYLVANIA, BUT DOES CONCERN ME. I SOLD MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON XL TO MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE CAR FAX THIS VEHICLE NEVER GOT A RECALL, BUT GOT THE RECALL # FROM THE INTERNET. SEEMS THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THE TOYOTA AVALON HAS, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID
11051007
Incident
Nov 25, 2017
Airbags
Filed Aug 3, 2017

I RECEIVED NOTICE FOR THIS RECALL IN 2015. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 15V043 RECALL DATE: JANUARY 27, 2015 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: ESG NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE IN 2.5 YEARS.

NHTSA ID
11012539
Incident
Jan 1, 2015
Mileage
61,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 2, 2017
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND BEING SHIFTED INTO PARK, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT HEARD THE ENGINE REV AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A FENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH SLOANE TOYOTA OF GLENSIDE (503 N EASTON RD, GLENSIDE, PA 19038) WHO DOCUMENTED THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID
11012254
Incident
Jul 21, 2017
Mileage
72,000 mi
Filed Jul 26, 2017

MY CAR KEYS CAN BE REMOVED WITHOUT PUTTING THE CAR IN P.THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING SPACE AND ROLLED BACK.

NHTSA ID
11010817
Incident
Jun 8, 2017
Mileage
61,700 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Apr 1, 2017

HAVE BEEN CALLING DEALERSHIP SINCE MARCH 31ST, 2015. THEY TOLD ME ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE PARTS, I WAS ON A LIST. GAVE UP ON CONTACTING THEM.THEIR DEALERSHIP IS LOCATED IN JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT? THEIR PHONE NUMBER IS 608-754-7754. THE NOTICE SAID IT WAS URGENT, HOW URGENT CAN IT BE IF IT STILL IS NOT FIXED???

NHTSA ID
10969944
Incident
Mar 31, 2015
Airbags
Filed Dec 6, 2016

NHTSA RECALL 15V-043 (1-27-15). ON 7/16 I RECEIVED AN URGENT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE VIA MAIL. RUSSEL TOYOTA 410-788-8400 SAID THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THE PART COMES IN. ON 12/6/16 I CALL MR. ALLEN, SERVICE MANAGER WHO SAID THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AND THEY WOULD CALL ME IN 2-3 MONTHS. ONE QUESTION: WHY IS TOYOTA ALLOWED TO MAKE ME DRIVE MY CAR WITH THIS UNSAFE CONDITION FOR MORE THAN 2 YEARS BEFORE THEY THINK ABOUT OBTAINING THE PARTS NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS?

NHTSA ID
10930129
Incident
Dec 6, 2016
Mileage
118,721 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 7, 2016

TOOK CAR TO DON MCGILL 3TIMES ,TOOK IT TO JOE MYERS TODAY AND THE SRS LIGHT IS STILL ON ,THEY SAY THEY COMPLETED THE RECALL ,BUT I NEED A DR SIDE AIR BAG IT HAS A DTC B0116 I'M GOING TO CHECK CONNECTIONS . IT'S MY MOMS CAR AND I WANT TO BE SURE IT'S WORKING.AND SAFE NO SHRAPMETAL.

NHTSA ID
10904483
Incident
Sep 6, 2016
Mileage
70,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 26, 2016
Crash reported2 injuries reported

NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN MY 2004 AVALON XLS WHEN A DRIVER STATED SHE DID NOT SEE ME/MY CAR AND TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME LEAVING ME 2 SECONDS TO BRAKE.THIS WAS ON A CITYN STREET AND SHE WAS TURNING FROM STOPPED POSITION INTO PRIVATE COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT. I WAS DRIVING IN LANE CLOSEST TO HER CAR TO REACH LIGHT ANOTHER 500 FEET AHEAD SO I COULD TURN SOUTH WHEN I GOT TO IT. MY CAR WAS TRAVELING 30-35MPH(5-10MPH UNDER POSTED SPEED LIMIT).I HAD JUST ENTERED THE ROADWAY 400 FT BEFORE HER TURN FROM 0MPH TO MAYBE 3MPH? IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR HIT HERS ON BAR BETWEEN THE FRONT AND BACK PASSENGER DOORS. IT CAUSED HER CAR TO RISE UP-I SAW THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF HER CAR; IT THEN ROLLED COMPLETELY OVER ONTO ITS ROOF OUT OF MY SIGHT. ALL WITNESS DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INCIDENT AND MY OWN DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED WERE EXACTLY THE SAME. SHE WAS FOUND AT FAULT AND WE BOTH WERE TRANSPORTED ON BACKBOARDS WITH C COLLARS TO CLOSEST HOSPITAL. I HAVE INJURED SPINE(CERVICAL, THORACIC, LUMBAR), BILATERAL INJURIES TO SHOULDERS, ELBOWS, WRISTS, HANDS, FINGERS, KNEES, FEMORAL BALL AND SOCKET JOINTS, MIGRAINES, INABILITY TO GET FULL NIGHT'S REST, MEMORY LOSS-SEARCH FOR WORDS & JUST PLAIN DON;T REMEMBER THINGS I MAY HAVE DONE-WHAT I HAD FOR BREAKFAST OR IF I EVEN ATE BREAKFAST; WHAT SOMEONE HAS TOLD ME; WHAT HAPPENED ON A TV SHOW OR MOVIE; EXPERIENCING FRUSTRATION, ANXIETY, FEAR OF DYING IN A CAR WRECK-PARAMEDIC TOLD ME IF I HAD NOT BEEN IN THE SIZE CAR I WAS IN THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN A PILE OF BROKEN BONES OR DEAD; THE AT-FAULT DRIVER WAS ALSO TAKEN TO HOSPITAL THE SAME WAY I WAS; HER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPOLY EITHER; IMPACTED HER CAR, A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. ANY PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION OF WHY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN EITHER OF OUR CARS?

NHTSA ID
10899035
Incident
Jun 24, 2016
Mileage
98,444 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Aug 22, 2016

I TRIED TWICE TO GET A SAFETY RECALL FIXED BY KOONS TOYOTA TYSONS CORNER AFTER RECEIVING A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON MY TOYOTA AVALON (RECALL 15V-043). TWICE THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO INSPECT THE CAR TO SEE IF IT NEEDED A REMEDY TO THE RECALL AND ONLY AFTER AN INSPECTION WOULD THEY ORDER PARTS. I BROUGHT IT IN THE FIRST TIME, THEY SAID IT DID NEED THE RECALL AND THEY WOULD ORDER THE PARTS. THEY NEVER DID. WHEN I TRIED TO SCHEDULE IT AGAIN, THEY TOLD ME THE SAME STORY THAT I HAD TO BRING IT IN FOR AN INSPECTION AND THEN THEY WOULD DECIDE IF THEY COULD ORDER THE PARTS. IT IS RIDICULOUS TO GO THROUGH SUCH TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND SO THEREFORE THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED YET.

NHTSA ID
10897761
Incident
Aug 22, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jul 5, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10882737
Incident
Jan 28, 2015
Airbags
Filed Jun 29, 2016

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND SPENT 2000 DOLLARS AT DON MCGILL TOYOTA TO HAVE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG REPLACED. ABOUT A 1000 MILES ( 3 MONTHS) LATER, THE LIGHT IS BACK ON WITH THE SAME CODE. DEALER SO FAR IS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT INADVERTENT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AS WELL AS LOSING THE USE OF MY CAR WHILE THE DEALER TRIES TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I THINK THEY ARE JUST THROWING EXPENSIVE PARTS AT IT HOPING SOMETHING WORKS,

NHTSA ID
10881415
Incident
Jun 20, 2016
Mileage
138,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 28, 2016

SINCE AT LEAST 2008 THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON AT RANDOM TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR INTO A DEALER IN 2008. THEY FAILED TO FIX IT. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN. THEY FAILED TO FIX IT. IN 20014 THERE WAS A RECALL. IT FAILED TO FIX IT. 2016 THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL. IT FAILED TO FIX THE ISSUE. TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE ISSUE OR IS INCOMPETENT.

NHTSA ID
10877172
Incident
Jan 1, 2008
AirbagsFuel system
Filed Jun 27, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW FUEL CAP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTICE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN 14V147000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE AIR BAG ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID
10876764
Incident
Jun 27, 2013
Airbags
Filed Jun 13, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION CONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10873860
Incident
Nov 5, 2014
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 12, 2016

I TOOK MY CAR TO GRESHAM TOYOTA FOR A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT ON JUNE 7 2016 AT 9:00AM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS SERVICE SHOULD NOT TAKE MORE THAN 4 HOURS. TO MAKE STORY SHORT, WHEN I CAME AT 6:00PM MY CAR WAS STILL NOT DONE AND THEY TOLD ME TO LEAVE IT OVER NIGHT. I AM A BUSY PERSON AND I NEED MY CAR AT ALL TIMES. SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO IT BECAUSE OF THEIR IMPROPER TIME MANAGEMENT. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONTACT THIS DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS RECALL IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ID
10873762
Incident
Jun 7, 2016
Airbags
Filed May 26, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10871025
Incident
Mar 1, 2014

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.

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