2003 Toyota Avalon Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 2%of 293 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 38,122miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2003 Toyota Avalon, 2% of the 293 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 38,122 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.
“When I try to depress the accelerator of my 2003 Toyota Avalon, there are times when I feel resistance. If I press to overcome the resistance, it then races and does not return to normal position. It has happened multiple times over the past 4 years w/o any pattern. Nothing was done to correct it.”
NHTSA complaint #10317394, filed 2010-03, 38,122 miles“I drove into a parking spot, put my car into park & released my foot from the brake. The car rolled back as if it was in reverse. I applied the brakes, shifted the gear into drive & drove back up into the space. I put the car back into park, released the brakes, only to have the car roll back again. I pulled back up into the parking spot, shifted back into park & this time put on parking brakes. I got out of the car & went into the store. When I came back, my car would not start. Not only would it not start, it would not make any sort of noise (which is how I knew it wasn't the battery). …”
NHTSA complaint #11090483, filed 2018-04, 170,000 miles“The gas pedal on our 2003 Toyota Avalon began sticking when car was 5 years old. It was most noticeable when the car was stopped and we wanted to begin moving. It became hard to depress until a good bit of pressure, and then the car would lurch forward or backward very quickly. We tried lubricating the pedal mechanism but that didn't work. The dealer said they fixed it at our 100,000 mile check but it still stuck. The recent problem with Toyota gas pedals may have been around a lot longer than thought.”
NHTSA complaint #10303529, filed 2010-02, 90,000 miles“- the contact owns a 2003 Toyota Avalon. While driving 15 MPH into a parking lot the vehicle accelerated without warning and the driver lost control. The failure mileage was 16930. The vehicle was diagnosed for a second opinion, however, the dealer stated that the vehicle was operating normally. The current mileage was 17000. Updated 04/12/07.”
NHTSA complaint #10185492, filed 2007-03, 16,930 miles“Car accelerated on its own put on brakes and put in neutral has not done that again when I went to Toyota to report incident was brushed of have never felt safe in this car since.”
NHTSA complaint #10308286, filed 2010-02, 600 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10164330Jul 1, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections…
- 10109404Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic transmission/transaxle…
- 10109492Sep 30, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or…
- 10132084Oct 1, 2013The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL ?ON,? shifting issues, and/or…
- 10133836Feb 20, 2013This bulletin contains general vehicle pulling diagnosis and repair procedures along with specific information to help correct pulling complaints.
- 10016637Aug 1, 2005A541e transmission solenoid identification.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | 5% |
| 2019 | 11 | 15% |
| 2018 | 1 | 4% |
| 2016 | 2 | 9% |
| 2015 | 2 | 5% |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% |
| 2013 | 3 | 2% |
| 2012 | 1 | 3% |
| 2011 | 2 | 2% |
| 2010 | 2 | 4% |
| 2009 | 2 | 2% |
| 2008 | 13 | 4% |
| 2007 | 23 | 9% |
| 2006 | 52 | 14% |
| 2005 | 33 | 14% |
| 2004 | 4 | 2% |
| 2003 | 6 | 2% |
| 2002 | 4 | 3% |
| 2001 | 9 | 7% |
| 2000 | 8 | 5% |
| 1999 | 4 | 4% |
| 1998 | 11 | 6% |
| 1997 | 9 | 7% |
| 1996 | 3 | 3% |
| 1995 | 4 | 5% |
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 complaintsSeat belts
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