2002 Toyota Avalon problems
NHTSA has received 148 complaints about the 2002 Toyota Avalon, and 24% of them involve air bags. After that come cruise control (17%) and steering (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 148 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 24% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 44 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 22 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 94,000 miles 97 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 8 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 10 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 10 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 11 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 11 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 10 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 6 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 8 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 7 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 6 |
| 200k+ miles | 10 |
What the data shows
Among the 97 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 94,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 160,000 miles (21 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 44 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 22 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 94% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 19th most-complained-about out of 25 model years of the Toyota Avalon with enough data (52 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
At about 35 MPH, I broad sided a car that ran a stop sign. The entire front end of my vehicle was crushed to the point of pushing the radiator into the engine block. The crash also colapsed the upper and lower portions of the unibody frame on the front end ($11,500 in damage). The front airbags never deployed. The sensors were even pushed back and dislocated. Passenger sustained three broken bones and bruises. Driver has whiplash. If there is ever a case that airbags should deploy, this is one.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota avalon. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the driver of the vehicle crashed into a cement divider on the highway. The air bags did not deploy. The police reported to the scene and a report was filed. The driver of the vehicle and the contact, who was in the front passenger seat, was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The driver of the vehicle suffered a neck injury and the contact suffered a concussion and fractured vertebrae requiring surgery.
I was driving on a highway when the car accelerated by itself, brakes did not work. The car put itself in the middle of two lanes, then accelerated turn half ,I think, crashed (the front of the car)with a small hill some how did not stop and ended up somehow turning back and crashed again this time the back of the car crashed against the hill and stopped. The car suffered several breaks in and a transmision repair. This is my third toyota. It was perfect before the incident. It was very scary.
I bought my vehicle brand new and have had continuing trouble with what I believe to be the fuel system. Upon acceleration the car will periodically (daily) sound like it is running on diesel fuel or as if water is mixed with the gasoline. I have taken the car back to the dealer on 4 different occasions, and they have not been able to recreate the noise and, therefore, claim they cannot fix the problem.
The 2003-2004 model avalon's have a recall for the airbags when exposed to certain frequencies and noises. My 2002 avalon has the same issue and toyota needs to include this model year as well. I've had no problems out of this car ever, but as soon as it hit 140,000 miles the air bags light came on. After doing a little research I seen that others were having the same issue. Please include this model year in the recall because this car is very dependable and I've had no issues until now.