1995 Toyota Avalon

Routine

Owners filed 80 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the airbags. No safety recall has been issued.

Not among the Toyota Avalon years to avoid. Which Toyota Avalon years to avoid →

Most common 1995 Toyota Avalon problems

8 of the 80 complaints (10%) are about the airbags.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Steering › Rack and Pinion6
000
Air Bags › Frontal · airbags5
504
Structure › Body › Door · body and frame4
000
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing4
000
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration3
010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components · brakes3
000
Electrical System3
010
Air Bags · airbags3
100
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System2
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal · throttle and acceleration2
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 11, 2014IA

MY DAD'S OLD TOYOTA AVALON USED TO UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BETWEEN THE END OF 2005 AND 2007. I WOULD SAY THAT BY THE END OF 2007 IT WOULD HAPPEN EVERY TIME I DROVE ON THE INTERSTATE!! WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED I WOULD HIT THE BRAKES AND USUALLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE CAR WOULD DECELERATE (OBVIOUSLY CROSSING MY FINGERS AND PRAYING AT THIS MOMENT) HOWEVER THIS GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY I NEVER HIT ANYONE OR CRASHED. I BECAME SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND IT EVENTUALLY FELL APART ANYWAY... *TR

Electrical System
Filed Sep 30, 2010127,100 milesCA

1)WAS RECENTLY ABLE TO SHUT OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY WHILE STILL IN DRIVE. DID THIS INADVERTENTLY WHEN I FORGOT TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. FORTUNATELY VEHICLE DID NOT ROLL AWAY AS I WAS IN THE GARAGE AT HOME. 2) FAILURE ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN I TRY SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE IN DRIVE. THE KEY SIMPLY COMES OUT. KEY SHOULD NOT COME OUT IN DRIVE. 3) AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. HAD IT DIAGNOSED. AFTER AN HOUR AND A HALF, THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT NEEDS A NEW SHIFT SOLENOID ECU, WHICH THEY MUST ORDER. *TR

Steering › Column
Filed Dec 29, 2009133,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN DRIVING HE NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE BOLTS TIGHTENED ON THE STEERING SHAFT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107000.

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Feb 14, 200813,000 milesOH

1995 TOYOTA AVALON ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *KB A PASSERBY INFORMED THE CONSUMER A ROD MAY HAVE WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN OIL LEAK, WHICH THEN DRIPPED ON THE MUFFLER. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0043-91. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Jan 3, 2005UT

WHILE TRAVELING IN STOP AND GO FREEWAY TRAFFIC, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES (BOTH I AND MY WIFE THOUGHT THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP) BUT RATHER THAN STOPPING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED AND WE SLID INTO A STOPPED CAR. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO OPEN.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 15, 200499,500 milesTN

OIL SLUDGE IN ENGINE VALVE COVERS RESULTED IN OIL BEING PULLED INTO THE AIR INTAKE THROUGH THE PCV VALVE. THE BAFFLE SYSTEM ON BOTH COVERS WERE REMOVED TO REVEAL NEAR TOTAL BLOCKAGE OF BAKED SLUDGE. THE CAMSHAFT VALLEYS IN THE CYLINDER HEADS WERE COATED WITH UP TO 1/2 OF SLUDGE. THE THROTTLE BODY, AIR CHAMBER, AIR CHAMBER CONTROL VALVE, AND INTAKE PLENUM WERE COATED WITH OILY SLUDGE AS WELL. AIR INTAKE AND CAMSHAFT CHAMBERS REQUIRED MANY HOUR OF CLEANING.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jun 24, 2003AR

PARKED MY AVALON IN MY APARTMENT PARKING LOT FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR. WHEN I RETURNED THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD HAD MELTED COMPLETELY AROUND THE FUSE BOX AND STEERING WHEEL. ALL OF THE DASH AND SURROUNDING AREA WAS BURNED OR MELTED. ALSO I MIGHT MENTION THAT I AM AWARE OF NO CHANGES OF THE FUSES BY MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE, AND THE CAR HASN'T HAD ANY MAJOR REPAIRS (OUTSIDE OF FLUID CHANGES, TIRE ALIGNMENTS) SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. *JB

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Apr 28, 2003103,000 milesMI

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE IN TWO RESULTING IN PUNCTURED TIRE AND THE COST OF REPLACING BOTH SIDES WITH NEW STRUTS & SPRINGS. *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 25, 200397,244 milesLA

MY CAR JUST RECENTLY STARTED TO EMIT WHITE SMOKE WHEN WE WOULD START IT, AND THEN IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD OIL SLUDGE/GEL AND THAT I HAD BLOWN A ROD. THEY THEN TOLD ME ABOUT TOYOTA PAYING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT I THEN FOUND OUT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED THAT IT STARTED WITH THE 1997 MODEL. I THEN REQUESTED THAT THEY(TOYOTA) REVIEW THIS FURTHER AND THEY ASKED THAT I SUBMIT MY OIL CHANGE LOG AND DEALER DIAGNOSIS. AFTER THEY REVIEWED IT FURTHER THEY SAID IT WAS A LACK OF MAINTENANCE ON MY PART AND THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THAT THEY WOULD DO. I HAVE REALLY TAKEN CARE OF MY CAR AND AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CAR HAS BEEN GREAT UP TIL NOW. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING FURTHER THAT I SHOULD DO.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Feb 5, 2003MS

WHILE VEHICLE SAT IN DRIVE WAY, OIL SLUGGED IN THE ENGINE CAUSING THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. PH

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Dec 6, 200239,184 milesCA

CONSUMER STATED GLUE RAN DOWN ALL 4 DOORS. GLUE WAS COMING FROM DOOR PANELS INSIDE OF CAR. CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF GLUE FUMES. TS *TT

Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Filed Aug 11, 2002NM

SIX BOLTS ON THE DRIVETRAIN WHERE IT ENTERS THE ENGINE CAME LOOSE. ALL FELL OUT EXCEPT ABOUT TWO. MECHANIC WHO CHECKED IT SAID IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF IT FELL OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TOYOTA REPLACED IT FOR FREE, ONLY AFTER INTENSE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHO SHOULD PAY FOR REPAIR.*AK

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Aug 9, 2002CA

RIGHT SIDE STEERING RACK SEAL WAS LEAKING, DEALER REPLACED STEERING RACK. *SLC

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Jul 9, 2002GA

FROM 60,000 MILES TO THE PRESENT TEN STUDS BROKE OFF ON VARIOUS WHEELS. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Mar 18, 2002CA

WHILE DRIVING FOOT SLIPPED FROM BRAKES PEDAL TO GAS PEDAL ONLY TOUCHING GAS PEDAL LIGHTLY, AND VEHICLE SPED UNCONTROLLABLY IN REVERSE. VEHICLE STILL WAS ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Feb 8, 2002DC

FLUID LEAKS AT A FAST RATE COMPROMISING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO TURN; MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES IN THE MODELS BUILT BETWEEN 1995-1998; PLEASE CONTACT ME AT X64026. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module
Filed Oct 24, 2001RI

ABS WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A HIGH PITCH SQUEAL COMING FROM THE REAR SEAT AREA WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT ABS SENSOR FOR LEFT-REAR WHEEL FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NLM

Air BagsCrash
Filed Jul 25, 2001CA

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed May 21, 2001VA

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER DOOR LOCKS - ALLOWING DOORS TO BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE RESULTS IN INABILITY TO EXIT CAR THRU DOOR(S) AFFECTED; PROB REPORTED TO TOYOTA DEALER; THEY UNABLE TO RE-CREATE NOR REPAIR ; HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE; THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM ; HOW CAN I GET TOYOTA'S ATTENTION ?*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 28, 2001FL

TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE CLUNKING NOISES WHENEVER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. ALSO, HAVE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTOR. WHILE AT DEALERSHIP HAD INFORMED MECHANIC OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. WAS INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS SUPPOSE TO WORK LIKE THAT. THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING LOUDER & WORSE.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Dec 28, 2000NE

A CODE HAS BEN 'LOCKED' INTO COMPUTER THAT MAKES ABS SYSTEM INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS CHECKED, AND SAID THEY NEED NEW SENSORS. BUT, TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT SHOP AND IT VERIFIED THAT THE SENSORS WERE FINE. *AK

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Sep 20, 2000IL

THE RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING FLUID. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK DEALER REFUSED TO SHARE ANY COST OF REPAIR. *YH

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Jul 14, 2000GA

REAR POWER WINDOWS SPORADICALLY FAIL. CAR HAS 48,000 MILES. TECHNICIAN SAYS "REGULATOR CABLES" ARE DEFECTIVE.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed May 2, 2000TN

WHILE DRIVING EAST ON MAIN STREET TRAVELING AT 40MPH REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed Mar 7, 2000NC

THE FAULTY COMPUTER CHIP CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOT TO ILLUMINATE AND WARN THE CONSUMER OF ENGINE PROBLEM RESULTING IN A PREMATURELY BLOWN ENGINE. NLM

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Dec 5, 1999AL

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM BEGIN. HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LTS., INTERIOR LIGHTS. CAR HAS A CONTINUOUS CLICKING NOISE AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS BEING TURNED OFF/ON.BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MANY TIMES BY US . THE HEADLIGHTS WERE FIXED BY DEALER-THEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF. ALSO I HAVE HAD PROB. WITH W/FRONT PASS.POWER WINDOW NOT WORKING, DEALER SAID MOTOR WAS REPLACED ONE TIME,BUT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN-SERVICE DEPT. SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Nov 29, 1999TX

STEERING RACK BEGAN LEAKING; REPLACED RACK WITH OEM PART

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 5, 1999CA

LOOSE SUNVISOR CAN BLOCK FRONTVIEW AND LOOSE DASHBOARD CAN DAMAGE INTERNAL PART IN SIDE THE DASH BOARD

Steering
Filed Sep 30, 1999TX

POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING & REPLACED 3/99; POWER STEERING RACK LEAKING AND REPLACED 8/99

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Sep 25, 1999IN

1.IGNITION WHEN I PUT KEY IN IGN. IT WOULDN'T MOVE EVERY THING FROZE UP NOTHING WOULD MOVE.I COULDN'T TURN THE KEY ,STEERING WHEEL , BRAKE PEDAL OR GEAR SHIFT (IS THIS NORMAL?) 2. TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO WORK . CHECKED AND REPLACED FUSE ALTHOUGH THE FUSE WAS NOT BURNT OUT WE REPLACED IT ANY WAY AND TURN SIGNAL WORK AFTER THAT. 3. BATTERY CAR FAILED TO START SEVERAL TIMES EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ORIGINAL BATTERY IT IS STILL GOOD THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE CABLE HAD LOOSENED UP CAUSING BAD CONNECTION. IF WE HADNT KNOWN TO CHECK THESE THINGS WE WOULD HAVE PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Jul 7, 1999AL

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE IN THREE PLACES, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE STRUT, WHICH IN TURN, CUT A HOLE IN THE TIRE.. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFORMATION IN THIS MATTER.

Unknown or Other
Filed May 21, 1999TX

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

Vehicle Speed ControlFire
Filed Feb 23, 1999MI

THE THROTTLE ON THIS CAR STUCK ON FULL OPEN, A VERY DANGEROUS SITUTATION. THE CAUSE IS UNKOWN AT THIS TIME.

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Mar 31, 1998MD

STRONG ODOR FROM AIR CONDITIONER.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 10, 1998MS

ALL DOORS LOCK BY THEMSELVES.

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Jan 12, 1998PR

RACK AND PINION SEAL FAILED.

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Dec 24, 1997PR

RACK AND PINION FAILURE.

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Dec 23, 1997PR

RACK AND PINION FAILURE.

Power Train › Automatic TransmissionCrash
Filed Dec 5, 1997MA

WHILE PARKING WITH ENGINE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN VEHICLE BEING WEDGED BETWEEN A TREE AND A FENCE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Oct 15, 1997NY

BRAKES CONTINUALLY MAKE NOISE.

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Sep 29, 1997NY

IN JULY OF 95 OWNER HAD THE TURN SIGNAL FIXED BECAUSE THE TURN SIGNAL DID NOT WORK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHOLE TURN SIGNAL CONSOLE. NOW, SINCE THE DEALER REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL IT WORKS OFF AND ON. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 12, 1997TN

AFTER GOING UP A STEEP HILL ABOUT 5 OR 10 MPH THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND VEHICLE JUST TOOK OFF. DRIVER HAD TO HIT BRAKES REAL HARD TO STOP VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. ON 7/22/97 VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME HITTING A HOUSE. DEALER IN NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

Tires
Filed Sep 10, 1997GA

VEHICLE HAD THREE CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH RECAPS ON THE ROADWAY; ONE RESULTED IN $1000 DAMAGE. *AK

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Aug 22, 1997MD

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS, NO POWER AND NO WAY TO GET OUT. DEALER SAYS THE CAUSE OF THIS SHUTDOWN WAS THE BATTERY. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Aug 15, 1997CA

THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING SHIMMYING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND PULSATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THAT INCREASED AT HIGHER SPEEDS. REPLACED ROTORS AT EVERY 30,000 MILES. *AK

Suspension › Rear
Filed Jul 9, 1997IL

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH CAR HIT A SPEED BUMP AND THE REAR END MOVED. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed May 14, 1997AL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Apr 1, 1997TX

BRAKE NOISE/EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 26, 1997NM

DRIVING VEHICLE ON WET GROUND VEHICLE SPUN AROUND FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SEMI STRUCK L/FRONT SIDE SPUN 3/4 & WAS HIT BY 2ND SEMI R/R WHEEL, R/FRONT SIDE HIT, DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Feb 26, 1997NV

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT AIRBAGS PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD FOR SHORT PEOPLE.

Complaints 1-50 of 80, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20228000Routine
202121200Routine
202010301Fatalities reported
201971400Routine
201824200Routine
2017142010Fatalities reported
201623310Routine
201542200Routine
201496410Routine
2013137410Routine
201230410Routine
2011106100Routine
201046700Routine
200991710Routine
2008349640Above average
2007243614Fatalities reported
2006360742Fatalities reported
2005228731Fatalities reported
2004205302Fatalities reported
2003293221Fatalities reported
2002116120Routine
2001134213Fatalities reported
2000173220Routine
199992211Fatalities reported
1998178210Routine
1997125101Fatalities reported
1996109001Fatalities reported
1995 — this page80040Routine

Compare every Avalon year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.