Model year record

2003 Toyota Avalon recalls & problems

The 2003 Toyota Avalon has 2 safety recalls and 293 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (184 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints293filed by owners

Crashes · fires49 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths28 · 1reported in complaints

2003 Toyota Avalon in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Air bagsJan 28, 2015

Frontal

Recall 15V0430001,006,849 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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. Due to electrical noise, a component in the air bag control module may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
Risk: Inadvertent deployment of the air bags or the seat belt pretensioners increases the risk of an injury or crash.
Fix: 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. GM issued an interim notification to owners on March 27, 2015. The recall began on August 24, 2015. Pontiac owners may call 1-800-620-7668. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 13V-029 and 14V-147. Vehicles that had a noise filter installed as the remedy for one of those campaigns need to have the air bag control module replaced under this campaign.

SteeringJul 29, 2010

Steering

Recall 10V345000372,593 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2003 Toyota Avalon 4-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2003 Toyota Avalon NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Avalon

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Air bagsFrontal; Side/window	184	16	0	8	99,250 mi
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal; Cruise control	51	37	0	20	58,180 mi
SteeringColumn	19	3	0	3	80,000 mi
Electrical system	18	0	0	0	75,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Power assist	11	4	0	2	31,000 mi
SuspensionFront; Front › Shock absorber	11	0	0	0	30,000 mi
StructureBody; Frame and members	7	3	0	3	65,750 mi
Engine	7	2	1	3	96,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl)	6	0	0	0	38,122 mi
Seat belts	6	0	0	1	112,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine	5	0	0	0	86,500 mi
Service brakes	4	1	0	1	45,000 mi

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bags1 injury
March 13, 2026, I was on a road trip from CA to AZ and while driving around 75-80mph (speed limit), something in the driver's side seat belt or the shoulder holster exploded, the belt tightened, and something metal or plastic flew off. Shortly after (within 30 seconds or so), the passenger's side seat belt did something similar where something in the seat belt mechanism exploded and another part went flying. There was an electrical buzzing noise. I was looking for a place to pull over when the air bags went off. There was no bump in the road or a dip and I did not hit anything. I don't remember the order the air bags exploded but it was one after the other. The driver's side air bag…
Mar 13, 2026
Air bagsCrash1 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.
May 19, 2023
Steering
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.…
Dec 7, 2022
Electrical system
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.
Dec 5, 2021
EngineFire
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.
Aug 12, 2020 · 96,000 miles
Suspension
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…
Aug 15, 2020
Steering
CAR'S STEERING STOPS TURNING WHILE DRIVING IN THE INITIAL 5 MINUTES OF DRIVE, IT OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN WEATHER IS HUMID ( RAINING). THE EPISODE OCCURS WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE STEERING AND RECOVERS AFTER I FORCIBLY TURN THE STIFF STEERING.
Mar 27, 2019 · 4 miles
Exterior lighting › Brake lights
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KENDALL TOYOTA (10943 S DIXIE HWY, MIAMI, FL 33156) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE BATTERY WAS ALSO REPLACED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE ODOR COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF…
Dec 20, 2018 · 25,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.