1998 Toyota Avalon Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 3%of 178 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 148,971miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the seats of the 1998 Toyota Avalon, 3% of the 178 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 148,971 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Front seat power motor/switch failure - went to adjust seat and it went forward and would not stop and I had an extremely difficult time exiting vehicle. I am a woman and was stranded and had to have someone smaller than me drive my vehicle. Also unable to go to work. Seat motor should not fail - this is a life and death safety hazard. Have to take to torrance Toyota where purchased vehicle for repair. Lost day's work at the court of appeal on spring street in los angeles.”
NHTSA complaint #10248532, filed 2008-11, 137,642 miles“- the contact has a 1998 Toyota Avalon. The contact was not driving his vehicle when he found a bearing nut laying in the back seat of his vehicle which came from the driver's seat. Due to the missing bearing, the driver's seat was not positioned properly on the track and he could hear metal grinding under the seat.”
NHTSA complaint #10179144, filed 2007-01, 160,300 miles“Have complained several times that driver's seat seems to go from one side to another as though it was loose. Dealer said seat not loose. Also dash and headlight went out when driving home one evening. Could't get them to go back on. After car was in driveway doe 5 minutes went out and tried and then they went on. Dealer said nothing could be found.”
NHTSA complaint #729860, filed 2000-09“My car was stopped and then hit directly in the back by a vehicle going approx. 45 miles per hour. On impact, the passenger front seat fully reclined resulting in injury to occupant and if there was an occupant on that side in the rear seat, that occupant would have had crushed legs. Toyota needs to know that this is a problem. Occupant suffers back muscle injury from defect. Bigger injuries could have resulted if someone else was in the rear passenger seat.”
NHTSA complaint #734051, filed 2000-10Related service bulletins
- 10132055Nov 4, 2013Beginning in 1998, Toyota introduced side airbags as optional equipment. Toyota does NOT recommend replacement of original seat covers with non-Toyota leather or other seat cover…
- 10042555Sep 6, 2011Toyota: information provided for replacing the seat covers for vehicles equipped with side airbags.
Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 | 2% |
| 2014 | 5 | 5% |
| 2013 | 5 | 4% |
| 2012 | 1 | 3% |
| 2011 | 3 | 3% |
| 2010 | 1 | 2% |
| 2009 | 2 | 2% |
| 2008 | 3 | 1% |
| 2007 | 3 | 1% |
| 2006 | 5 | 1% |
| 2005 | 3 | 1% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% |
| 2003 | 3 | 1% |
| 2002 | 2 | 2% |
| 2000 | 2 | 1% |
| 1999 | 2 | 2% |
| 1998 | 5 | 3% |
| 1997 | 3 | 2% |
| 1996 | 2 | 2% |
| 1995 | 2 | 3% |
Other parts of the 1998 Toyota Avalon
19 complaintsSuspension
19 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
19 complaintsEquipment
18 complaintsAir bags
16 complaintsVehicle speed control
16 complaintsTires
14 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
11 complaintsEngine cooling
9 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsOther or unknown
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Toyota Avalon
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology