2003 TOYOTA AVALON — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

351

Owner Complaints

68 Crashes 2 Fires 2 Deaths

2

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

3

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2003 TOYOTA AVALON

The 2003 TOYOTA AVALON has received a total of 351 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, STEERING. 3 technical service bulletins have been issued by Toyota Motor Corporation for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bags (180 complaints), Vehicle Speed Control (45 complaints), and Electrical System (18 complaints).

Recalls for the 2003 TOYOTA AVALON

NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2003 TOYOTA AVALON, potentially affecting up to 1,379,442 vehicles.

Recall 15V043000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

| 1,006,849 vehicles affected

Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29, 2004, 2003-2004 Avalon vehicles manufactured June 5, 2002, to December 20, 2004, and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured January 18, 2002, to April 27, 2004....

Consequence: Inadvertent deployment of the air bags or the seat belt pretensioners increases the risk of an injury or crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began on August 24, 2015. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331....

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Recall 10V345000 — STEERING

| 372,593 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING INTERLOCK DEVICE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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Owner Complaints for the 2003 TOYOTA AVALON

351 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Air Bags
Complaints: 180 14 Crashes 6 Injuries 1 Death
Vehicle Speed Control
Complaints: 45 33 Crashes 20 Injuries
Electrical System
Complaints: 18
Steering
Complaints: 18 2 Crashes 3 Injuries
Service Brakes Hydraulic
Complaints: 8 4 Crashes 2 Injuries
Engine
Complaints: 7 2 Crashes 1 Fire 3 Injuries
Suspension
Complaints: 6
Seat Belts
Complaints: 5
Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal
Complaints: 5 4 Crashes 1 Death
Service Brakes
Complaints: 4 1 Crash 1 Injury
Unknown Or Other
Complaints: 4 1 Fire
Engine And Engine Cooling
Complaints: 3
Fuelpropulsion System
Complaints: 3 1 Crash
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
Complaints: 3
Seats
Complaints: 3 1 Injury
Structure
Complaints: 3
Structurebody
Complaints: 3 3 Crashes 3 Injuries
Suspensionfront
Complaints: 3
Tires
Complaints: 3
Air Bagsfrontal
Complaints: 2 1 Crash
Engine And Engine Coolingengine
Complaints: 2
Fuel System Gasoline
Complaints: 2 1 Crash
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentshoses Linespiping And Fittings
Complaints: 2
Air Bagssidewindow
Complaints: 1 1 Crash 1 Injury
Electronic Stability Control Esc
Complaints: 1
Equipment
Complaints: 1
Exterior Lightingbrake Lights
Complaints: 1
Fuel System Other
Complaints: 1
Fuel System Otherstoragefuel Gauge System
Complaints: 1
Power Train
Complaints: 1
Power Trainautomatic Transmissiongear Position Indication Prndl
Complaints: 1
Power Traindriveline
Complaints: 1
Service Brakes Hydraulicpower Assist
Complaints: 1
Steeringcolumn
Complaints: 1 1 Crash
Structureframe And Members
Complaints: 1
Suspensionfrontshock Absorber
Complaints: 1
Suspensionrear
Complaints: 1
Traction Control System
Complaints: 1
Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control
Complaints: 1
Visibility
Complaints: 1
Visibilitywindshield
Complaints: 1
Visibilitywiper
Complaints: 1

Most Recent Complaints

#11523134 | AIR BAGS | | N/A miles Crash 1 Injury
I was driving back home, out of no where my car went out of control, went left, then right, hit something and flipped over twice to end in a hill against the traffic with 4 flat tires. The air bag did not deployed. I did hit the windshield. The car was total.
#11500232 | STEERING | | N/A miles
Purchased car used 11/2020 Jan 14 2021 had 2 open recalls steering casting defect and wire harness filter to deflect noise from ecm . I lost control of communication of operations. 12/2022 steering lock bar The past 2 years uncovered everything on my own. Learned somebody died in 2003 Avalon in Texas about steering locking up. Plan to talk to class action lawyers over airbag and steering. And arrange my own lawyer with settlement lawyers to make this repair and all tsb to be performed. I will never buy a car unless I can find all tsb problems associated with that car. I hope recalls can be opened especially when you guys in government state safety ,compliance and emissions do not expire. Recall
#11442744 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | N/A miles
turn off the lights inside panel. The level of heat all the way up, the same with the gasoline level. The internal lights blink. Loss of power.
#11419230 | ENGINE | | 96,000 miles Fire
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the vehicle started smoking and the engine stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the engine needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
#11418364 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | N/A miles
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? 1- AUG 2020- MEGA MOTERS- PURCHASSED AUTO- CARFAX AND AUTO GURO- RECOMMENDED THIS VEHISCAL AND SALES PITCH INCLUDED THESE COMPANIES- HE SAID HE DOES GOOD BUSINESS- HE SAID HE WILL FIX ALL ISSUES IF THE ISSUE WAS WITH-IN 30 DAYS- CAR DROVE FINE- HE PUT AN INSPECTION STICKER- IT DID NOT SMOKE THEN BECAUSE HE HAD A HELPER WHO STARTED THE CAR AND PLACED INSPECTION STICKER READIN 10;2021? BUT IT WAS AUGUST 2020? THE HELPER DROVE IT TO THE FRONT OF THE DEALERSHIP- AFTER I PAID 7000.00 AND THUS DID NOT SEE START UP SMOKE AT THE DEALERSHIP 2. AT START UP - TOOK MY TWO SISTERS FOR A TEST DRIVE- GREY SMOKE- SAME DAY- AS PURCHASSED - SHOCK ISSUES-SUSPENTION AND DEALER- MY SISTER WAS DRIVING AS i CALLED TO TELL HIM i LOVED THE CAR AND IT SEEMED TO RUN FINE- EXCEPT FOR THE SMOKE ANDRED OIL LIGHT AND THE SHOCKS- SUSPENTION- UNCOMFORTABLE SCRAPING SOUND- I WILL FIX- AS HE SAID HE FORGOT TO PUT THE NEW OIL CAP ON OIL AND SENSOR- HE SAID HE WOULD PLACE THE TIRE SHOCKS TO FIX SUSPENTION. 2- I LIVE FAIRLY CLOSE- AND ONLY DRIVE SHORT DISTANCE- LIGHT OF OIL CAME ON- BUT GAGES READ NORMAL- MILES WERE AT 9800, DROVE FINE- JUST WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOUD SCRAP SOUND ON ANY DIPS ON ROAD AND THE SMOKE- AT START UP - AND DEALER AT MEGA MORTOR- SAID- TO BRING IT IN HE FORGOT TO PUT A SENSOR AND THE SHOCKS HE HAS THEM AT THE SHOP AND THE NEW OIL CAP- 2 RETURNED THE FOLLOWING MORNING- NO ONE WAS AT THE SHOP- I CALLED HIM HE SAID HE WOULD BE THERE AT 10 AM- - THE CAR SMOKED AT START INCREASED- - HE WAS NOT THERE AT 1030AM- CALLED HIM HE SAID HE COULD NOT FIX IT AS HE WAS BUSY- HE ASKED ME TO COME IN THE NEXT DAY- i CALLED NO ANSWER- CALLED AGAIN- AND HE SAID HE NEEDED ME TO BRING IT SATURDAY MORNING- AND HE WILL FIX- HE WAS RUDE AND SAID HE WAS BUSY- IT WAS SEPTEMBER- AND THE CAR IS HAZARD- IT STOPPED ON MY WAY INTO HIS SHOP AND GOT IT HOME- I GOT COVID 10-2020 TO 4/2020- LONGHAUL-

View all Air Bags complaints →

Safety Rating for the 2003 TOYOTA AVALON

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 TOYOTA AVALON in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 TOYOTA AVALON

Toyota Motor Corporation has issued 3 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

5015 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

'04 AVALON ABS WITH EBD & BA & TRAC & VSC SYSTEM REPAIR MANUAL CORRECTION. 00400-RM106-1U1. *TT '03 AVALON. 00400-RM953-U1. *TT '02 AVALON. 00400-RM872-U1. *TT '00 AVALON. 00400-RM746-U1. *TT

004009531 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

REPAIR MANUAL CORRECTION. *SC

00603 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER ARM INSTALLATION TORQUE. *TT

NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 TOYOTA AVALON

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the TOYOTA AVALON

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Other TOYOTA Models

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