Problems · NHTSA complaints

2000 Toyota Avalon problems

Owners filed 183 complaints about the 2000 Toyota Avalon with NHTSA between Dec 1999 and Apr 2025. The most-cited component is steering (34).

Complaints
183
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
44
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
30
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering34
  2. Air bags26
  3. Engine and engine cooling23
  4. Vehicle speed control20
  5. Visibility18
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic17
  7. Suspension14
  8. Electrical system11
  9. Tires9
  10. Power train8
  11. Service brakes5
  12. Engine4
  13. Exterior lighting4
  14. Wheels3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19991
200031
200118
200218
200321
20046
20055
20068
20078
20082
20096
201023
20113
20123
20133
20144
20158
20165
20171
20184
20192
20200
20211
20220
20231
20240
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

34 reports10 crashes1 related recall
“Two times the power steering locked/hard to turn momentarily while driving and turning. Check power steering fluid full and no leak, power steering belt is good. Stop driving the car for now. First incident happened on Dec. 15 and the second last Dec. 23.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 31, 2021SteeringODI 11445753

Air bags

26 reports16 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SPONTANEOUSLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A SUBARU FORESTER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED TEAM TOYOTA OF GLEN MILLS (1050 BALTIMORE PIKE, GLEN MILLS, PA 19342, (484) 407-0835) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,350. *JS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 19, 2019Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11256581

Engine and engine cooling

23 reports2 crashes
“GOOD AFTERNOON ,MY NAME IS [XXX] AND SOME TIME AGO .I WAS CONTACTED BY THE OFFICE OF [XXX] CONCERNING THE FACTORY DEFECT THAT MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS AND MAY HAVE EVEN KILLED DRIVERS THROUGH THE EXPOSURE OF CARBON MONOXIDE.TOYOTA EXECUTIVE CONTINUES TO DENY THIS CLAIM HOPING I WILL GO AWAY.I AM AWAITING YOUR RESPONSE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE PROMISED INSPECTION OF MY CAR.MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN POISONED BY THE CARBON MONOXIDE SEEPING INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTS.TROTTER FORD TOYOTA IN PINE BLUFF,ARKANSAS SAID THE CAR HAD CARBON MONOXIDE GOING ALL OVER THE CAR AND THAT THE CAR WAS DANGEROUS.I CONTACTED TOYOTA EXECUTIVE CEO [XXX] OFFICE .HE SENT A MAN DOWN TO INSPECT MY CAR .THE PERSON ASSIGNED TO THE CAR TRIED TO BASH ME AND IN THE PROCESS ADMITTED SEVERAL DANGEROUS COMPONENTS TO THIS CAR.I AM ASKING TO SPEAK BEFORE CONGRESS ON THIS MATTER .I DON'T CARE HOW OLD THIS CAR IS I DONT DESERVE TO BE POISONED TO DEATH BY CARBON MONOXIDE. *BF *JS [XXX] *PM *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 18, 2018Engine and engine coolingODI 11064008

Vehicle speed control

20 reports12 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. ...UPDATED 12/28/16 *BF TOYOTA FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PROPERLY SECURED AND UNDAMAGED WHEN INSPECTED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ALSO INSPECTED AND NO DAMAGE OR LEAKAGE WAS OBSERVED. THE BRAKE FLUID WAS PROPERLY FILLED TO THE RECOMMENDED LEVEL. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED IT FELT FIRM AND HELD PRESSURE. DURING THE TEST DRIVE, A STALL SPEED TEST WAS PERFORMED AND THE BRAKE SYSTEMS OVER POWERED THE THROTTLE SYSTEM HOLDING THE VEHICLE STATIONARY. HOWEVER, THERE WAS AN UNSECURED FLOOR MAT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ARE. UPDATED 01/04/17.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2016Vehicle speed controlODI 10872374

Visibility

18 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE HAD SHATTERED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR WINDOW HAD SHATTERED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,632.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 17, 2015VisibilityODI 10810871

Service brakes, hydraulic

17 reports5 crashes
“The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that the brake line was leaking brake fluid. The brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The contact stated that the subframe and rear axle were rusted. The contact had replaced the brakes. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 00V154000 (Suspension). The contact called the independent mechanic, who determined that a brake line replacement was needed. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 278,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 18, 2025Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, StructureODI 11655498
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.