Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Toyota Avalon, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering40
- Suspension26
- Power train9
- Tires9
- Vehicle speed control8
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
- Seat belts5
- Air bags5
- Visibility4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 8 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 21 1997 Avalon vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 18 people died inside them, and 6 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Toyota Avalon failed the safety check 1.85% of the time — 15% more often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 160,699 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 10.8 L/100 km (about 22 mpg US), CO₂ 248 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 12.8 | 8.5 | 10.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1997 Toyota Avalon.
| 1997155 15 Sept 1997 | Brakes UNDER EXTREMELY LOW TEMPERATURE OPERATING CONDITIONS AND INFREQUENT BRAKE OPERATION THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT CONDENSED MOISTURE FROM A SURGE TANK MIGHT SEE… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MAINE, MICHIGAN,MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NOTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. A CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHERE ACCUMULATED MOISTURE CAN TEMPORARILY FREEZE IN THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE IF THE VEHICLE IS USED IN EXTREMELY COLD CLIMATES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Toyota told its dealers about the 1997 Toyota Avalon: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 628696 | SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT REGARDING VEHICLES EXPERIENCING ENGINE OIL GELLING OR SLUDGE. *TT |
| 628688 | SUBJECT REGARDING STEERING RACK END NOISE. *TT |
| 627195 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR TAPE SET. *YD |
| 619097 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING RETRO-FIT INTERNAL TRUNK RELEASE KITS. *TT |
| 613507 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING THE REMOVAL OF THE ABS SPEED SENSOR PRIOR TO REMOVAL OF THE REAR AXLE AND REAR SUSPENSION. *MR |
| 610084 | BRIEF INFORMATION ON FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE. *TT |
| 610072 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE. *TT |
| 609185 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT BRAKE GROAN NOISE, GRINDING NOISE, SQUEAK OR VIBRATION. *TT |
| 609184 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A SLIGHT SIDE-TO-SIDE MOVEMENT IN FRONT BUCKET SEATS DURING CORNERING. *TT |
| 607874 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE. *TT |
| 604947 | INFORMATION ON PROGRAMMING OEM WIRELESS DOOR LOCK REMOTE TRANSMITTERS. *TT |
| 604667 | SUBJECT REGARDING TOYOTA DINGHY TOWING GUIDE. *TT |
| 602531 | A GROAN OR CRUNCH NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR DIPS IN THE ROADWAY. *YC |
| 602516 | SUBJECT ON THE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR IMPROVEMENT. *YC |
| 602180 | INFORMATION ON IMPROVEMENT OF THE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR. *YC |
| 602177 | A GROAN OR CURNCH NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR DIPS IN THE ROADWAY. *YC |
| 601598 | INFORMATION ON VANITY MIRROR IMPROVEMENT. *YC |
| 53033 | EXCESSIVE AIR CONDITIONING EVAPORATOR ODOR IS ACCURING IN VARIOUS VEHICLES. *YC |
| 52241 | DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE CLEARANCE FOR BOSCH ABS. *JD |
| 52132 | AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD FOR CLEARING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) ON 1997 US PRODUCED CAMRYS AND AVALONS HAS BEEN ADOPTED FOR THE BOSCH ABS SYSTEM. *JD |
| 50700 | TROUBLESHOOTING FOR GLASS PRINTED ANTENNA. *TW |
| 10244113 | TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate. |
| 10214323 | TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions |
| 10207946 | POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Toyota.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well. |
| 10197476 | Replacement vin plates. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE SEIZURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation