1998 Toyota Avalon Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the automatic climate control shutting down unexpectedly, leaving no heat, A/C, blower or defroster, and a separate group reports sudden unintended acceleration or a sticking throttle. Suspension noise and worn front strut mounts, ignition and electrical quirks, and airbag concerns make up most of the rest, with many complaints filed at moderate mileage but spread across the vehicle's whole life.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Climate control / HVAC shuts down, defroster quits

   • 23 complaints (13%)
   • median 56,852 mi at 6.7 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2016

   Owners describe the automatic climate control going dead without warning: fan, heat, A/C, defrost, vent controls and outside-temperature display all stop working, sometimes for minutes and sometimes for days, then returning on its own. Several mention the windshield fogging up when the defroster fails, and some say the dealer quoted several hundred to over a thousand dollars for the repair. Complaints reference a Toyota service bulletin covering the A/C amplifier for this symptom, and one owner says the dealer acknowledged the bulletin but would not cover the repair. Reported from roughly 20,000 to 87,000 miles, often on short trips after the system had been running a while.

   What to check: Run the climate control through heat, A/C and defrost and watch whether the fan and display cut out; ask whether the A/C amplifier or related wiring has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On a 98 Toyota Avalon xls: the A/C and heating system shuts down completely occasionally. The front and rear defoggers fail also. When the shut down occurs, the air vents emit very hot air, even though the thermostat is set for A/C. I almost had an accident when it started raining and the defoggers failed to operate. It appears to be an electrical wiring defect for which I have appealed to Toyota to take responsibility,but without any success”

   NHTSA complaint #10133740, filed 2005-08, 75,000 miles

   “The AC cuts out intermittently; sometimes it will restart after the car has been sitting a while. In addition to causing discomfort, this also is potentially dangerous since the front windshield will not defog. I took the vehicle to a Toyota dealer and was told that there is a TSB for this problem (ac00599) but there is no recall. The repair cost me over $1,000. There are several other complaint for this known problem and I feel that Toyota should reimburse me for my expenses. The dealer told me Toyota would not, however.”

   NHTSA complaint #10126206, filed 2005-06, 87,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden acceleration or throttle sticking

   • 17 complaints (10%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 11.3 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2018

   Complaints describe the car surging forward or accelerating hard on its own, often at low speed while parking, pulling into a space or after shifting out of reverse. Owners say the throttle felt stuck or the pedal had to be lifted by hand, and several report hitting curbs, walls or other vehicles. Dealers typically said the problem could not be reproduced or found no cause, according to the complaints. Reported from very low mileage up to about 183,000 miles, most often during low-speed parking or reversing maneuvers.

   What to check: Test low-speed maneuvering in a parking lot and check that the throttle pedal returns freely and the floor mats are properly secured; ask whether the throttle body or pedal assembly has been inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rapid acceleration when put in reverse.went out of garage at uncontrollable speed. Over rode brakes. I was trying to avoid hitting cars and houses. Stopped across street in neighbor,s yard. I heard a loud when it stopped. I apparently turned the ignition off,because it did,t hit anything.”

   NHTSA complaint #10293704, filed 2009-11, 66 miles

   “On or about september 19, 2005. I pulled into a parking spot aside of a shoe shop and applied my brake to stop. The 1998 Toyota Avalon which I was driving refused to stop and continued on into the side of the building at maybe 30 MPH. I was sure that I had applied extreme pressure to the brake but could not stop the car. I was so distraught that I assumed that my foot slid off the brake onto the accelerator. As I think back I am sure that I was on the brake and not on the accelerator. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10316950, filed 2010-03, 34,961 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Ignition key won't turn / electrical gremlins

   • 9 complaints (5%)
   • median 97,500 mi at 13.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2018

   Complaints describe the key refusing to turn in the ignition, sometimes for long stretches, and electrical trouble such as dimming lights, a stalling engine with a blank instrument panel, or the horn working only intermittently. Several owners report repeated dealer or independent shop attempts, including ignition switch and cylinder replacement, before the problem was resolved. A few mention the alarm or wiring-harness recall and say their vehicle was not covered. Reported from about 30,000 to 230,000 miles, with no clear pattern in weather or driving conditions.

   Recall 98V2780003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Try starting with every key the car comes with and check for a consistent ignition feel; ask whether the ignition switch, cylinder or alarm wiring has been serviced, and whether the theft-deterrent recall applies to the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Upon trying to start my car, my key wouldn't turn. I thought it could be a warn out key, so I tried my second master key and when it wouldn't turn either I tried my sub key which failed just as well. I kept trying with my two master keys, taking them out and putting them back in repeatedly. Until finally after about 30 minutes my ignition turned over. My car started at times easy and kind of easy for about 6 months following that. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10230027, filed 2008-06, 219,500 miles

   “Electrical system shut down in traffic at the light, alternator was tested. Battery light stay on, lights dimmed out, lost speed. Had to get pushed out the road at a busy intersection in atlanta georgia on cleveland avenue.. Bought a second alternator, same exact incident . Once headlights are turned on at night, car looses total power. I had to drive five blocks at night without lights on ralph david abernathy blvd, atlanta georgia, even the hazard lights drained a brand new battery purchased 12/02/2018.”

   NHTSA complaint #11155533, filed 2018-12, 131,000 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Front end clunk and strut mount noise

   • 7 complaints (4%)
   • median 79,850 mi at 7.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2006

   Owners report loud banging, clunking or rattling from the front of the car over small bumps and rough pavement, traced in several cases to worn front strut mounts or struts. Some mention uneven or excessive tire wear accompanying the noise, and a few say the dealer called it normal or declined assistance at relatively low mileage. Other complaints describe the car repeatedly going out of alignment. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 105,000 miles, often noted on rough or washboard road surfaces.

   What to check: Listen for clunks over speed bumps during a test drive and look at front tire wear patterns; ask whether the struts or strut mounts have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Thunking noise when going over rough pavement from area of front wheel on passengers side determined by independent mechanic to be a strut mount, which apparently is a problem known by Toyota. Car has only 55,000 miles on it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10105762, filed 2005-01, 54,700 miles

   “The front suspension rattles really loud when going over small washboard type bumps or any disturbances in the road. This is caused by a faulty strut mount.”

   NHTSA complaint #10151265, filed 2006-02, 105,000 miles

Buying note. On a car this old, the climate control unit, front suspension and ignition switch are the items owners most often end up paying to fix, so budget for them and confirm they work on a test drive. Ask for service records covering the A/C amplifier, struts and ignition, and have any airbag warning light diagnosed before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.