Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Toyota Avalon, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags22
- Vehicle speed control20
- Suspension14
- Electrical system6
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Tires5
- Power train4
- Seat belts4
- Fuel system, gasoline4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 9 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 28 1999 Avalon vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 17 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 1999 Toyota Avalon failed the safety check 1.85% of the time — 5% more often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 144,359 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
1 1999 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 11.0 L/100 km (about 21 mpg US), CO₂ 253 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 8.8 | 11.0 |
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 1999 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 |
| 618292 | THIS BULLETIN INTRODUCES A NEW ACCESSORY ALLOY WHEEL FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES. *JB |
| 616071 | AN INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE SPEEDOMETER / TACHOMETER CONDITION. *TT |
| 614977 | BRIEF INFORMATION PROGRAMMING THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTES. *TT |
| 614961 | SUBJECT REGARDING PORT INSTALLED RS3000 TVIP TRUNK AND DOOR COURTESY CONNECTIONS. FOR CERTAIN 1999 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A PORT INSTALLED OPTION RS3000 (V3), THE LOCATIONS OF THE IRITN HARNESS CONNECTIONS WERE CHANGED TO IMPROVE THE INSTALLATION PROCESS.*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 |
| 612542 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE PORT INSTALLED RS3000 TVIP TRUNK AND DOOR COURTESY CONNECTIONS. *MJS |
| 610980 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A ROUGH IDLE, AND OR A MIL ON CONDITION IN WHICH A SINGLE CYLINDER MISFIRE CODE OR CODES ARE PRESENT. *TT |
| 610084 | BRIEF INFORMATION ON FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE. *TT |
| 610072 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE. *TT |
| 610062 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A ROUGH IDLE, AND OR A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON CONDITION IN WHICH A SINGLE CYLINDER MISFIRE CODE, OR CODES ARE PRESENT. *TT |
| 610053 | SOME CALIFORNIA EMISSION SPECIFICATION VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A ROUGH IDLE AND OR A MIL ON CONDITION IN WHICH A SINGLE CYLINDER MISFIRE CODE OR CODES ARE PRESENT. *TT |
| 609180 | INFORMATION ON SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT FOR AUTO A/C AMPLIFIER. *TT |
| 607874 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT NOISE. *TT |
| 606185 | REVISED INFORMATION REGARDING VEHICLES WITHIN CERTAIN VIN RANGES EXHIBITING A FALSE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0446. *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 |
| 604939 | SOME VEHICLES WITHIN CERTAIN VIN RANGES MAY EXHIBIT A FALSE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0446 FOR A VACUUM CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY SET. *TT |
| 604667 | SUBJECT REGARDING TOYOTA DINGHY TOWING GUIDE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE SEIZURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation