2003 Toyota Avalon Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 2%of 293 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 112,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the seat belts of the 2003 Toyota Avalon, 2% of the 293 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 112,000 miles.
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.
“We have a 2003 Toyota Avalon which we purchased new from Toyota dealership. It has an outstanding air bag recall dated january 27, 2015. We keep getting told we will be notified when parts are available but this is getting ridiculous. I talked to their service dept again on friday, oct 23rd and they told me they still have no info on parts availability for this repair. What can you do to get this moving?”
NHTSA complaint #10785987, filed 2015-10, 125,000 miles“My wife was driving down the freeway when the seatbelt began tightening down on her to the point she felt she couldn't maintain her posture to drive safely and breath. She pulled off the road and released the seatbelt. She was unable to refasten the seatbelt/shoulder strap. She drove home without a seatbelt. This was in addition to occasional flashing of airbag warning light which has continued to occur since replacement of seatbelt mechanism.”
NHTSA complaint #10637320, filed 2014-09, 79,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11732589, filed 2026-04“The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that the seat belt warning light illuminated intermittently, while the vehicle was being driven. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10811505, filed 2015-12, 99,000 milesSeat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 13% |
| 2021 | 1 | 5% |
| 2018 | 1 | 4% |
| 2016 | 1 | 4% |
| 2015 | 1 | 2% |
| 2014 | 2 | 2% |
| 2013 | 4 | 3% |
| 2012 | 1 | 3% |
| 2011 | 2 | 2% |
| 2006 | 4 | 1% |
| 2005 | 2 | 1% |
| 2004 | 7 | 3% |
| 2003 | 6 | 2% |
| 2002 | 4 | 3% |
| 2001 | 4 | 3% |
| 2000 | 3 | 2% |
| 1999 | 4 | 4% |
| 1998 | 6 | 3% |
| 1997 | 5 | 4% |
| 1996 | 4 | 4% |
| 1995 | 5 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2003 Toyota Avalon
184 complaintsVehicle speed control
51 complaintsSteering
19 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsBrakes
15 complaintsSuspension
9 complaintsEngine
7 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Toyota Avalon
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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