Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Toyota Avalon, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension19
- Electrical system19
- Visibility19
- Equipment17
- Vehicle speed control16
- Air bags16
- Tires14
- Service brakes, hydraulic11
- Power train11
- Steering9
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 25 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 20 1998 Avalon vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 19 people died inside them, and 3 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 1998 Toyota Avalon failed the safety check 1.57% of the time — 8% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 150,416 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
1 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 10.9 L/100 km (about 22 mpg US), CO₂ 251 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 12.7 | 8.7 | 10.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.
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 1998 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 |
| 614977 | BRIEF INFORMATION PROGRAMMING THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTES. *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 |
| 610043 | INFORMATION INTRODUCING A PRODUCTION CHANGE MAKE FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER AMPLIFIER. *TT |
| 609184 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A SLIGHT SIDE-TO-SIDE MOVEMENT IN FRONT BUCKET SEATS DURING CORNERING. *TT |
| 609180 | INFORMATION ON SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT FOR AUTO A/C AMPLIFIER. *TT |
| 6088663 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTO A/C SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT. *TT |
| 607874 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE. *TT |
| 605180 | BRIEF INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT BRAKE NOISE. *TT |
| 605080 | INFORMATION ON THE SCANTOOL IMMOBILIZER KEY CODE UTILITY. *TT |
| 604992 | VEHICLES STARTING WITH VIN 4T1BF18*UX304231 MAY NEED REPLACEMENT OF THE DOOR OPENING WEATHERSTRIP. *TT |
| 604947 | INFORMATION ON PROGRAMMING OEM WIRELESS DOOR LOCK REMOTE TRANSMITTERS. *TT |
| 604941 | NEW FRONT BRAKE PAD KITS ARE AVAILABLE TO REDUCE FRONT BRAKE GROAN OR GRINDING NOISE ON VEHICLES WITHIN CERTAIN VIN RANGES. *TT |
| 604667 | SUBJECT REGARDING TOYOTA DINGHY TOWING GUIDE. *TT |
| 604651 | CONCERNS WITH FRONT BRAKES MAKING A GROAN OR GRINDING NOISE FOR VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE CERTAIN VIN RANGES. *TT |
| 604473 | CUPHOLDER PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT. *TT |
| 603192 | TRIP VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 4T1BF18B THROUGH WU231096 HAVE A DESIGN CHANGE TO THE TRIP METER RESET. *YC |
| 602516 | SUBJECT ON THE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR IMPROVEMENT. *YC |
| 602180 | INFORMATION ON IMPROVEMENT OF THE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR. *YC |
| 601598 | INFORMATION ON VANITY MIRROR IMPROVEMENT. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE SEIZURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation