4% of complaints about the 2002 Toyota Avalon came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2002 vehicle — around the middle of the 230 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 9.0 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (32 complaints), typically at 11.9 yr or about 159,500 miles.
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.
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.
PICKED UP THE CAR ON 12/31/01 WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. BEGINNING 1/2/02, THE FRONT PASSENGER SRS WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON AN OFF INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK TO DEALER 1/3/02. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HAD BEEN INCORRECTLY ROUTED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER BUCKET SEAT AND HAD BECOME CRIMPED WHEN THE POWER SEAT WAS MOVED. THE DEALER IS MAKING THE REPAIRS WHICH INCLUDES REMOVAL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER BUCKET SEAT. I AM PLEASED WITH THEIR RESPONSE, BUT CONCERNED THAT SUCH A PROBLEM COULD OCCUR AND THAT THERE MAY VERY WELL BE MORE CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
AT ABOUT 35 MPH, I BROAD SIDED A CAR THAT RAN A STOP SIGN. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED TO THE POINT OF PUSHING THE RADIATOR INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE CRASH ALSO COLAPSED THE UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS OF THE UNIBODY FRAME ON THE FRONT END ($11,500 IN DAMAGE). THE FRONT AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE SENSORS WERE EVEN PUSHED BACK AND DISLOCATED. PASSENGER SUSTAINED THREE BROKEN BONES AND BRUISES. DRIVER HAS WHIPLASH. IF THERE IS EVER A CASE THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD DEPLOY, THIS IS ONE. *AK
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH YET THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM
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.