The 2002 Toyota Avalon has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 372,593 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 148 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STEERING10V3450002010-07-29372,593 affected
Defect
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000-2004 AVALON VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER CASTING OF THE STEERING LOCK BAR, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A MINUTE CRACK MAY DEVELOP ON THE SURFACE OF THE LOCK BAR. SUCH A CRACK MAY EXPAND OVER A LONG PERIOD OF REPEATED LOCK AND UNLOCK OPERATIONS, AND EVENTUALLY THE LOCK BAR…
Consequence
SHOULD THE STEERING LOCK BAR BREAK, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK AND THE DRIVER WOULD LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING INTERLOCK DEVICE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
28
6crashes4injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
20
15crashes7injuries
STEERING
18
3crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES
5
3crashes4injuries
TIRES
5
2crashes
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
4
3crashes2injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
1crashes
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
4
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
Total complaints148
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Airbag is pushing out of the passenger side dashboard and also on drivers side wheel. There is now a quarter inch gap where we can see behind it on the passenger side. There were very loud popping noises. There is a recall for this exact car model but for the following year, 2003-2005 (4?) but not…”
“Airbag is pushing out of the passenger side dashboard and also on drivers side wheel. There is now a quarter inch gap where we can see behind it on the passenger side. There were very loud popping noises. There is a recall for this exact car model but for the following year, 2003-2005 (4?) but not…”
“Bosch abs anti skid, anti lock brake moduled failed. No brakes. Toyota us has no replacements parts available. Bosch no longer produces. Called toyota customer service three times. Got to the management end and senior advisor told me, warranty expired, norhing we can do. I said, there are a bunch…”
“Headlights failed to operate correctly, resulting in taking the car to fix problem , service advisor told me that this veh vin number shows this car should not havve automatly controled headlights, the car is being serviced at cedar rapids toyota , steve lemke is the servvice advisior”
“Headlights failed to operate correctly, resulting in taking the car to fix problem , service advisor told me that this veh vin number shows this car should not havve automatly controled headlights, the car is being serviced at cedar rapids toyota , steve lemke is the servvice advisior”
“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…”
“I was in a car accident where I lost control of the vehicle due to slippery roads. I was exiting i5 on to highway 7 in tacoma washington. The vehicle wouldn't stop, slid and hit a cement wall on highway 7. Upon impact I hit my head on windshield and none of the air bags came out upon impact. I…”
“While at the store I found I can turn the car off and remove the key and get ou while the car is still in gear. If you are not paying attention the vehicle can roll away, causing personal and property damage and possible loss of life.”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Toyota Avalon as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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