Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1997 record →
EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING FROM MY 1997 AVALON. IT ONLY HAS 37,000+ MILES ON IT. THE DEALER TOLD ME I NEED TO REPLACE MY POWER STEERING ASSEMBY RACK WHICH WILL COST $1250. *AK
IT APPEARS THAT THE COMMON PROBLEM OF RACK AND PINION FAILURE HAS FINALLY OCCURRED ON MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND DEALER AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THE PART WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I ASKED THE QUESTION THAT IF YOU KNEW A PART WAS CERTAINLY GOING TO FAIL AFTER WARRANTY AND IT COST ROUGHLY $1000 WOULD YOU BUY THAT VEHICLE? I THINK THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATE FURTHER AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.*AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. OXYGEN SENSOR AND OTHER COMPONENTS HAD GONE BAD. CONSUMER WILL ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN A RAIN STORM WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE AUTO WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA DIRECT, THE CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS WIPER TRANSMISSION BROKEN AND THE SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE WIPER TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS EXPLAINED TO ACTUALLY BE A LINKAGE ASSEMBLY. THE REPAIR COST (INCLUDING TWO NEW WIPER INSERTS) WAS $295.05. THIS WAS $182.65 FOR PARTS (LINKAGE $171.77, WIPER INSERTS @ $5.44 EACH), LABOR-MECHANICAL - $88.04, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS - $4.40, SHOP SUPPLIES - $4.40, AND SALES TAX OF $15.56. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE AND NOT COVERED BY THE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE PURCHASED AT TIME AUTO WAS PURCHASED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ELECTRICAL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. WIPERS SHOULD NOT BE FAILING LIKE THIS ON A NEW OR RECENT MODEL AUTO. THESE WIPERS GAVE NO WARNING OF THE PROBLEM. THE STOPPAGE WAS SUDDEN AND ABRUPT AT A TIME WHEN THEY WERE MOST NEEDED.*AK
I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES BEFORE THEY ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THE STRUTS, AND ANOTHER TWO VISITS TO REPAIR THEM. THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THE STEERING, DESPITE ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE. *AK
UPPER AND LOWER TIE RODS SEVERED AT LOW SPEED (PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE). IF FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHER SPEED, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ENSUED.*AK
NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM RACK AND PINION STEERING BOOT, DEALER REPLACED ASSEMBLY, PARTS HAD TO BE BACK ORDERED BECAUSE OF FREQUENCY OF PROBLEM, ALSO RIGHT SRTUT MOUNT HAD TO BE REPLACED,AND BACK ORDERED .*AK
SEAL ON RACK STEERING WENT BAD AND STARTED LEAKING FLUID. DEALER REPLACED RACK, BUT CONSUMER WAITED A MONTH BEFORE PART WAS AVAILABLE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF WHEELS BOUNCING, COULD NOT TELL IF IT WAS THE FRONT END OR BACK END OR BOTH, WHEN VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING, BUT ON 10-23-00 THE PROBLEM INCREASED AND A RATTLING SOUND WAS EVIDENT, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT FRONT STRUTS WERE LEAKING AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND NOW VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB
TIRE FAILED OUTSIDE SIDEWALL NEAR JOINT BETWEEN TREAD AND SIDEWALL.TIRES NEAR END OF LIFE 6/32" IN CENTER A BIT LESS ON OUTSIDE.BUT STILL, NEVER HAD A TIRE COME APART LIKE THIS BEFORE,DANGER ON THE FREEWAY...WIFE DRIVING ALONE...I'M SHAKEN...NEW TIRES IMMEDIATELY...NOT BRIDGESTONE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P205/65/15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/65/15 )
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED DURNING A RAIN STORM, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AFTER NOTICING OIL SPOTS ON PAVEMENT HAD MECHANIC CHECK VEHICLE. FOUND RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED/ DRIVER'S SEAT BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO TENSIONER TIGHTENING UP WITH TOO MUCH FORCE/ TIRES WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO BAD SUSPENSION/VEHICLE HAD ROUGH RIDE, AND STRUTS WERE LEAKING. *AK
RACK AND PINION STARTED LEAKING FLUID AND WITHIN 2 WEEKS NO LONGER HELD ANY FLUID AND THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPLACED. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY FILED THE COMPLAINT, BUT OFFERED NO REMEDY AND WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE. FROM OTHER RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COSTLY PROBLEM ON MANY OF THE '97 AVALONS. *AK
STEERING RACK FAILED RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. *SLC
DEALER REPORTS THAT THE PART FAILS SO OFTEN THAT THE PARTS ARE BACK-ORDERED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD MAKE CLICKING NOISES. HAD NOT HIT ANY BUMPS OR HOLES WHEN IT DID THIS. FRONT TIRES FELT REAL LOOSE LIKE BOLTS AND NUTS WERE COMING OFF. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND BEEN INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH SUSPENSION. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
POWER STEERING RACK LEAKING AT 58,000 MILES. DEALER ESTIMATE TO REPAIR IS $1,370. CONTACTED TOYOTA - UNWILLING TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR AVALONS. CONFIRMED THIS WITH FORMER TOYOTA MECHANICS WHO SAID THEY SAW A LOT OF 1997 AVALONS AND CAMRYS WITH LEAKING STEERING RACKS. ALSO, NEED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS REPLACED, ANOTHER APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE PART IN 1997 AVALONS.
VEHICLE LEAKING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF POWER STEERING FLUID, PRIOR TO NOTICING THE LEAK THE CONSUMER WAS ACCELERATING FROM AN INTERSECTION AND VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT ALMOST CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL AND GO INTO A CENTER MEDIAN, DEALER STATES THE STEERING RACK IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND NEEDS REPLACED. *SLC
RACK AND PINION ASSEMBY BEGAN LEAKING FROM SEAL FAILURES ON THE INSIDE OF THE UNIT. *AK
VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION, MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENTEMENT/REPAIRS. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK
SUSPENSION OF MY CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT IS MOANING, GROANING, SQUEAZING, ETC. WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL, WHEN I DRIVE OVER A BUMP AND WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES. VERY SCARY SOUND, SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG.
THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT STRUTS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE 1995 AND THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST IN YEAR 2001. *AK
EXCESSIVE WEAR ON TIRES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 004550 TIRESIZE: P205/65R15)
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
FAILURE OF FRONT STRUTS ASSEMBLY AS EVIDENCED BY BOUNCING OF FRONT WHEELS AND RATTTLING. INSPECTION BY TOYOTA SERVICE DEALER FOUND STRUTS TO BE LEAKING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY ON BASIS OF TIME (3 YEARS) EVEN IF NOT BY MILEAGE, THEY WERE NOT AT FAULT. FOLLOWING MY PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT A FRIEND HAD ASIMILAR PROBLEM ON THEIR RENTED 1998 MODEL OF THE SAME CAR AND TURNED THE CAR IN AT THE END OF THE RENTAL INSTEAD OF PURCHASING IT.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE IS LEAKING STEERING FLUID DUE TO A BROKEN RACK AND PINION. PLEASE PROVIDE VIN AND ADDITONAL INFORMATION. *AK
RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED/ LEAKING OIL, AND FRONT STRUT SUPPORT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. VEHICLE WAS RATTLING CONSTANTLY FROM TIME OF PURCHASE. ALSO, HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS SOUND. ONLY AFTER BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED A SECOND TIME KNOCKING SOUND STOPPED. IN ADDITION, DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED WHEN MAKING TURNS. CONSUMER FELT UNSAFE IN VEHICLE. *AK
DEALER MECHANIC TOLD ME IN STRICT CONFIDENCE THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON. COST TO REPLACE TWO FRONT STRUTS IS $743.00. ACCORDING TO MECHANIC, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD RESULT IN TIRE FAILURE. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35-40 MPH OIL LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND OFF. ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR NOISES OR SMELL BEFORE ENGINE LOCKED UP.*AK CONSUMER HAD ASKED THE MECHANIC FOR THE OLD ENGINE BECAUSE IT NEEDED REPLACED, LATER THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE ORIGINAL ENGINE COULD NOT GO TO THE VEHICLE'S OWNER. *SLC
NOISE FROM FRONT END WHEN ROAD NOT SMOOTH OR SPEED BUMPS. FINALLY TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND WERE TOLD STRUT MOUNTS WORN, BUSHINGS BAD AT TOWERS. FEEL FOR STRUTS TO FAIL WITH THIS LOW A MILEAGE IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE HAVE 5 YR/60,000 PLATINUM EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY CLAIM IT IS "USUAL WEAR & TEAR". IS IT USUAL TO WEAR OUT IN 49,000 MILES. 85% PROBABLY LONG DIST. HIGHWAY MILES?
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE (4) SETS OF BRIDGESTONE AND FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY '97 AVALON DUE TO HYDROPLANEING, POOR WEAR QUALITY AND SUBSTANDARD PERFORMANCE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT FIRESTONE & BRIDGESTONE TIRES ON THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW. YET, I HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO $2000.00 AND ALOT OF MY TIME TO REPLACE TIRES THAT HAVEN'T HELD UP TO THE PERFORMANCE AND QUALITY "AS ADVERTISED"! ON 11/16/00, I SPENT AN ADDITIONAL $543.15 REPLACEMY LAST SET OF BRIDGESTONE TIRES WITH MICHILEN 205/60/15 TIRES. I ALSO HAVE A 1988 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER WITH 230,000 MILES ON IT. FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT NEW, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT BRIDGSTONE DESSERT DEULER'S ON IT. THE LAST SET OF B/S DESSERT DUELERS I PURCHASED FOR MY 4-RUNNER WERE SO POORLY BUILT, THAT I WENT THROUGH 8 (EIGHT) TIRES TO FIND FOUR GOOD ONES; BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL OUT OF ROUND AND HOPPING. ON 11/15/00, I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE MY 4-RUNNER TIRES WITH MICHELIN TIRES AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN A TRUE BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE TIRE DIEHARD UNTIL THESE MOST RECENT PROBLEMS. BUT I GOT TO THE POINT THAT I FELT THAT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND I WAS AT RISK DUE TO THE POOR QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE HAD ADVERTISED THEIR TIRES TO BE. I AM REQUESTING A FULL INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA AND THE BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE COMPANY. I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT MY CLAIM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AT (904) 223-9549 IF YOU HAVE FURHTER QUESTIONS OR I MAY ASSIST IN ANY WAY. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP. RESPECTFULLY, JOHN M. GRAVES. *AK
BRIDGESTONE PORTENZA TIRES (205-65-R15) EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE WEAR. *SLC
DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING RACK BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING. OWNER NOTICED NOISE WHILE STEERING, AND CHECKED POWER STEERING FLUID TO FIND THAT IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO EMPTY. THE DEALER DIDN'T CHARGE FOR LABOR, SO I ONLY PAID FOR THE RACK ($600.00). CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT A RECALL, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NONE, AND THAT I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE DEALER PAID FOR THE LABOR. I AGREE THAT I WAS FORTUNATE FOR THAT, BUT FEEL THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE WORN OUT .
FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CATCHES TOO FAST, AND CONSUMER CAN HARDLY MOVE AT ALL. *AK
I HAD TO ADD CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF POWER STEERING FLUID MONTHLY FOR PAST 3 MONTHS; DEALER SAYS RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR UNIT LEAKING; CAR OUT OF WARRANTY, COST TO REPLACE PART $1,500. I PAY PREMIUM PRICE FOR TOYOTA QUALITY, AND RACK & PINION SHOULD NOT GO BAD ON ANY CAR AT ONLY 63,000 MILES!!!! IF NECESSARY, I WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT TO GET REIMBURSED. *AK
STEERING: GEAR: RACK WAS LEAKING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED/REPAIRED AT CONSUMER'S COST. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY IS LEAKING STEERING FLUID ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS A WHOPPING 1,500 ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. *AK
BRAKES FEEL SOFT AND MUSHY, FRONT BRAKES APROX 9.5MM REMAIN AND REARS APROX 9MM REMAIN.TEST DROVE AND ADJUST PARK BRAKE. ADJUST BRAKE PEDAL HEIGHT PEDAL TO LOW, CHECKED AND RESET PEDAL TO SPECS, PER CUST REP AIR MANUAL. 6 INCHES FROM THE FLOOR
BRAKES HAVE A BANG NOISE.*ET
WHEN ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ENGAGES TOO QUICKLY AND STAYS ENGAGED TOO LONG, SEVERELY REDUCING POWER AVAILABLE TO PROPERLY MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. *AK
MCPHERSON STRUTS ARE LEAKING AND NO LONGER GIVES ANY SUSPENSION. WHEN A BUMP IS HIT FRONT SUSPENSION RATTLES AND SHAKES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
THE FRONT SUSPENSION BAR WAS BROKEN CAUSING THE VEHICLE VEERES TO THE LEFT WHILE ON HIGHWAY AND GOES OUT OF CONTROL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. YH
SLUDGE ENGINE
ON THE AVALON THE TURN SINGLES ARE ON THE SAME CIRCUIT AND GO THROUGA A RESISTOR IN THE EMERGENCY BLINKER SWITCH. THIS RESISTOR FAILED AND LEFT THE CAR WITHOUT TURN SINGLES OR EMERGENCY BLINKER LIGHTS. THIS CIRCUIT SHOULD BE REDESIGNED SO BOTH SYSTEMS ARE NOT INOP AT THE SAME TIME. *AK
STRUTS.
THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS BURNED OUT 5 TIMES, CAUSING THE TAIL LIGHTS TO BE INOPERATIVE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
PROBLEM MANIFESTS ITSELF BY RATTLES THAT APPARENTLY ARE ON RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE.
WIND WAS BLOWING WHEN THE TRUNK LID FELL ON TOP OF THE CONSUMER HITTING HER ON THE NECK. *AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1997 Toyota Avalon → · Every Avalon year → · How the figures are calculated →