1999 Toyota Avalon Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write in about airbag warning lights that come on or flash while driving, and about cruise control and unintended acceleration or surging complaints. Suspension noise and vibration, mainly from the struts and front end, are the next most common theme, and a number of reports describe these problems appearing at relatively low mileage.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on or flashing while driving

   • 21 complaints (23%)
   • median 56,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2014

   Complaints describe the SRS or airbag light coming on intermittently, sometimes flashing for a stretch of driving and sometimes staying lit for weeks. Owners often say the dealer found no stored trouble code or could not reproduce the light, and in some cases the airbag computer or sensors were replaced without ending the problem. Several owners also report airbags not deploying in a collision, and some say the dealer or manufacturer told them the system was functioning normally. Reported from roughly 28,000 to 90,000 miles in the sample, with some reports tied to rain or wet conditions.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag light has ever come on and whether any SRS codes were pulled or parts replaced; have the light and any stored codes checked before purchase, and confirm the original airbags and clock spring are intact.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Was driving sound on gregory rd and another car was traveling north she came into my lane at about 40 MPH and hit me head on my airbag new deployed and my seatbelt did not hold I have a bruise across my chest from steering wheel and bumps on my head.”

   NHTSA complaint #10586083, filed 2014-05, 189,675 miles

   “Air bag sensors went out on my 1999toyota Avalon as I was driving in heavy rain on the 101fwy near woodland hills, ca. The flashing airbag icon scared me and I wondered if the air bags would implode. My passenger checked in the owners manual and nothing there listed had occured previously to warrant the flashing signal or failure. I took the car to the dealer the next day they were open. The sensors were replaced. My car had 86,995 miles on it when this occurred. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10116206, filed 2005-04, 86,995 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration or surging, sometimes with cruise

   • 21 complaints (23%)
   • median 58,429 mi at 8.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2014

   Owners describe the car lurching forward or accelerating with the foot on the brake, sometimes while slowing at intersections or pulling out of a driveway, and in some cases cruise control engaging on its own or surging on inclines. Complaints mention having to press the brake very hard, shift to neutral, or shut the engine off to regain control. Dealers reportedly could not duplicate the problem, replaced the cruise control switch in one case, and in another suggested turning off traction control. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 12,000 to 90,000 miles in the sample, often during braking or low-speed maneuvering.

   What to check: During a test drive, try the cruise control on and off and gently brake from low speed at a stop; ask whether the throttle body, cruise switch, or pedal assembly has been serviced, and whether the previous owner ever noticed surging.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving my daughter to school about the 17th of december 2013, I attempted to brake the car to a stop. Instead the car lurched forward suddenly out of control and mounted the sidewalk. It traveled about 20 feet before I was able to brake it to a complete stop. There was no object or person in the path of the car and nobody was injured. This is the third such incident. The first was on june 3, 2006; the second was on 3 february 2010. All involved the car either being stopped or coming to a stop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10573687, filed 2014-03, 121,000 miles

   “I entered the freeway and suddenly my car accelerated and I had no control over it. I was scared to death. All I could do was steer. I stayed in the right lane and steered up the exit ramp. I pushed the car into neutral, stayed on the brake, and it coasted to a stop at the top of the ramp, just before it entered the intersection. I put it back into drive, and it took off again. I pushed it back into neutral and steered into an empty parking lot. I put it in drive again and it was fine. I drove around the parking lot. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10284440, filed 2009-09, 74,000 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Front strut and suspension noise or vibration

   • 13 complaints (14%)
   • median 39,700 mi at 4.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2006

   Complaints describe clunking, crunching, or knocking from the front and rear suspension, and vibration felt through the steering and floor at speed or over rough roads. Owners report strut and strut mount replacement, sometimes more than once, with the noise returning afterward. Some say the dealer could not reproduce the vibration, and one report describes a loose rear bearing attributed to worn bushings. Mostly reported between about 17,000 and 50,000 miles in the sample, often noticed over bumps or at highway speeds.

   What to check: Drive over broken pavement and at highway speed listening for clunks or vibration, and look at the strut mounts and rear bushings; ask for any strut or bushing replacement records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the passenger side suspension began to knock. The driver was told by the mechanic that the problem was a bad strut. The vehicle is out of warranty and it will cost 500.00 for repair. Toyota service said that if strut weren't repaired, engine will fall off from the frame. Also, strut problem is common for this model.”

   NHTSA complaint #10057390, filed 2004-03, 17,000 miles

   “Front suspension makes a crunching noise when expanded or contracted. Dealer stated that they think it might be the strut mounts. Very costly estimate to try something that might work. I've seen other complaints regarding this and wanted to register mine along with the others.”

   NHTSA complaint #10016318, filed 2003-04, 29,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Check engine light and fuel injector replacement

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the check engine light coming on, rough running, or a sudden loss of power, with the dealer diagnosing a bad fuel injector. In one report the dealer recommended replacing all six injectors, and in another a charcoal canister vacuum switching valve was replaced. One owner also reports a leaking evaporative canister tank. Reported from roughly 12,000 to 34,000 miles in the sample, sometimes soon after purchase.

   What to check: Ask whether the check engine light has been on and whether injectors, the canister, or the canister valve have been replaced; a pre-purchase scan for stored codes helps.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dt: 1999 Toyota Avalon. Had the evaporative canister system tank replaced on october 18,2005. The tank was leaking gas, and check engine light came on. Called the manufacturer, and they said there was not recall. Had not contacted my dealership, and I had not had any accidents. This has not happened before.”

   NHTSA complaint #10140155, filed 2005-10

   “Check engine light illuminated at 25-30 MPH. Dealer advised consumer to keep driving the vehicle until light might go off on it's own. Check engine light stayed on for 4 weeks, computer diagnostic was done at that time, and it showed that charcoal canister vacuum switching valve had to be replaced. Toyota paid for part under good will program.”

   NHTSA complaint #10047971, filed 2003-12, 34,200 miles

Buying note. On this model year, pay particular attention to the airbag warning light and to any history of surging or unintended acceleration, since complaints about both are frequent and repairs were often inconclusive. A test drive over rough roads and a check of service records for struts, brakes, and fuel injectors will tell you a lot about how well a specific car has been maintained.

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.