2000 Toyota Avalon Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the steering wheel locking while the car is moving, typically during low-speed turns, along with separate reports of unintended acceleration and of airbags that did not deploy in a crash. Many complaints come from vehicles well past 80,000 miles, and several reports tie the steering lock-up to a safety recall covering the steering lock bar on 2000-2004 Avalons.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration (cruise control and pedal)

   Mentioned in 15 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the car accelerating on its own, sometimes while cruise control was engaged or when it would not disengage, and in other cases when leaving a parking lot, car wash or driveway at low speed. Owners report brakes that would not stop the car and having to shift to neutral or shut off the ignition. Several say dealers found no problem or cleaned sensors and reset them. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 13,000 to 165,000 miles, often at low speeds or when cruise control was in use.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test the accelerator and cruise control on a test drive, and ask whether the throttle body, mass air flow sensor and accelerator cable have been serviced. Have a mechanic check the pedal and cable for sticking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My father was driving down the street in a residential subdivision in my 2000 Toyota Avalon when the car began to suddenly accelerate on its own. My father lost control as he was unable to brake. He ended up side swiping a tree then hitting a parked car head on pushing it onto someones front lawn. Luckily he was able to stop the car by putting it in neutral and turning the ignition off.”

   NHTSA complaint #10695106, filed 2015-03, 141,000 miles

   “Sudden acceleration, one time only, resulting in severe front end damage. I was at entrance to car wash speaking to the attendant when the car took off at high speed. My car was stopped by hitting the rear end of a jeep at the end of the car wash. The reason was inexplicable.”

   NHTSA complaint #10314973, filed 2010-02, 14,254 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Steering wheel locks up while driving

   • 20 complaints (12%)
   • median 109,450 mi at 9.8 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2018

   Owners describe the steering wheel suddenly locking, usually while making a right or left turn at low speed, so the car keeps going straight or drifts toward a curb or oncoming traffic. Some were able to free the wheel by restarting the ignition or forcing it, and several say the car hit a curb, parked vehicle or bridge. Complaints report dealers replacing the ignition lock housing, steering column or lock bracket, while a few dealers could not duplicate the problem. Mostly reported between roughly 24,000 and 170,000 miles, often during low-speed turns in city driving.

   Recall 10V3450001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the steering lock recall work was completed and whether the lock bar, bracket or column has been replaced. Before buying, turn the wheel through full left and right arcs and confirm it never catches or locks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2000 Toyota Avalon. I purchased the car new and it now has 94,000 miles on it. The car has been regularly serviced and has never been in an accident. Recently I have had a problem with the steering wheel locking while I am driving. The first time it happened I was driving approximately 20 MPH and was turning right into a parking lot. The wheel locked, I stopped the car and tried turned the wheel right and left to unlock it and it would not unlock. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10263310, filed 2009-03, 94,000 miles

   “Dear sir or madam, I am writing to you because there was an incident with my vehicle while driving on the freeway. My car is a 2000 Toyota Avalon xs, and the problem I experienced could have been life threatening. I drive about 25 miles to work daily through the freeway and yesterday while driving on the freeway my steering wheel locked itself while the car was on, for about 2 minutes I was unable to go in any other direction other than straight because it had locked itself. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10303314, filed 2010-01, 108,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Rear brake wear and brake pedal going to the floor

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor, in one case after brake fluid leaked from a line, and in others a pedal that went down during a parking maneuver. Some complaints report premature rear brake and rotor wear, while others note noise from replacement pads. Several say the dealer could not reproduce the problem. Generally reported under about 70,000 miles for pad and rotor wear, with pedal and line problems appearing from roughly 17,000 up to 278,000 miles.

   Recall 00V1540003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect brake lines and the rear axle area for rust, especially on cars from wet or snowy regions, and check brake fluid level and pedal feel. Ask for service records on rear pads and rotors.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I pulled in driveway with foot on brake proceeded to try to put vehicle in park. When I hit the button, my foot went to the floor and the car dashed forward, causing damage to the car and the garage door, frame and wall. My dealer said it couldn't happen and would not look at the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10021110, filed 2003-06, 42,500 miles

   “The first thing that happened was that the air bag light on the dash came on. Looked this up in the manual and it said to take the car in to the dealer - which I did. The local Toyota deal said that they ran a check and found nothing wrong with the car. Their explanation was that a LED light in the dash was malfunctioning. My horn was not working either - so they wiggled the wires under the hood and said that it would be fine. The horn lasted until I was out of their driveway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10302624, filed 2010-01, 120,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Check engine light and oil sludge concerns

   • 13 complaints (8%)
   • median 63,544 mi at 7.5 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2016

   Owners report the check engine light returning repeatedly despite multiple dealer and independent repairs, in some cases tied to the air fuel sensor. Other complaints describe engine damage attributed to oil sludge even with regular oil changes, and white exhaust smoke. Some owners say the dealer questioned their maintenance history. Reported from about 30,000 to 100,000 miles, sometimes after several years of repeated repair attempts.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for oil change records and look inside the oil filler cap for sludge or dark deposits. Have the car scanned to see whether the check engine light is currently set and what code it stores.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As soon as I start the car, 'check engine' light keeps coming in spite of several years of repairs and several hundred dollars spent at two Toyota dealers, and at several other garages. First time this happened was in 2005. Right now the light is on. The Toyota 2000 Avalon xl I have has serious manufacturing defects. In 2004 driver side window would not roll and cost me almost $600.00 the water pump, gasket, drive belts, engine cover and logo, etc have been changed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10837298, filed 2016-02, 30,000 miles

   “Toyota Avalon 2000 check engine' light comes on. I take it to Toyota dealer for repair 9/1/12 . This light comes on again on 10/9/12. Toyota dealer again repairs. Light comes on again 12/14/12. Toyota dealer repairs again. Light comes on again 01/18/13. Toyota dealer repairs again. 'check engine light' comes on again 1/25/13. Toyota dealer wants to repair. I refuse. I inform Toyota dealer and Toyota corp. And request a refund of all money ($824.47) charged. No refund as of 2/8/13. On 8/18/12, the driver front window won't roll. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10496926, filed 2013-02, 65,089 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy in a crash

   • 20 complaints (12%)
   • median 58,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2023

   Owners report front or side airbags failing to deploy in collisions that they describe as significant, including head-on and side impacts, with some noting seat belts that did not lock. In other reports the airbag warning light came on and stayed on, and dealers sometimes said the light or dash wiring was at fault. Complaints describe repeated dealer visits without a lasting fix. Reported at a wide range of mileages, from about 17,000 to 157,000 miles, in crash and warning-light situations.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning light comes on briefly at start-up and then goes out. Ask whether any airbag or seat belt pretensioner work has been done, and have the system scanned for stored fault codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dt: the consumer was involved in an accident and the air bags did not deploy. There was no indication that the air bags would not deploy. The manufacturer was called and the consumer is waiting for a reply. The dealer had not been contacted yet. The driver sustained bruises to her sternum, abdomen and left side from the seat belt. The cruise control was on when all of a sudden a hail storm hit and instantly changed the road into ice. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10124560, filed 2005-07, 88,000 miles

   “2005 Toyota Avalon was invovled in a crash. It hit the rear end of another car. The Avalon was going 55 MPH and the car it hit was going 35 MPH. Both cars were totalled. The Avalon's air bag failed to deploy. The driver of the Avalon had minor injuries.”

   NHTSA complaint #10190244, filed 2007-05, 75,000 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic inspect the steering lock system and confirm any steering lock recall work was done, since that is the most commonly reported issue on this model year. Also check brake lines and the rear axle for rust, and scan for stored engine and airbag codes before buying.

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.