2003 Toyota Avalon
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Decode a VIN2 recalls and 305 owner complaints on record for this model year.
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MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WHO ALWAYS WORE HER SEAT BELT WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND SOMEHOW RAN OFF THE ROAD HIT A LITTLE CHERRY TREE AND WAS THROWN FROM HER CAR & KILLED HER. THE SIDE NOR THE FRONT AIR BAGS WENT OFF. AND APPARENTLY THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TOO. THE HIGHWAY PARTROL CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED.*AK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, AND IT CRASHED INTO A PARKED FORD PICK UP TRUCK. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED ,AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SHOULDER INJURY DUE TO THE SEAT BELT. THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT STATED DUE TO THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SHE WAS HAVING HEARING PROBLEMS AND EXPERIENCED DISCOMFORT TO HER TEETH. THE PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT EXPERIENCED CHEST PAINS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY RECEIVED VEHICLE BACK BUT ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS INCIDENT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. UPDATE 5/3/07*TR THE CONSUMER STATED THEY HAD AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY RAPID ACCELERATION AND CAUSED OVER $13,500 IN DAMAGES. THE CONSUMER FURTHER STATED THEY ESCAPED THE ACCIDENT WITH MINOR BRUISES AND THEY HAVE RETRIEVED VIA WEBSITE 9 OTHER CASES WITH SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND SINCE REPORTED TO THE AGENCY. THE CONSUMER STATED WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION DONE DUE TO THE FACT THAT AN ARTICLE IN THE WASHINGTON POST STATED AN ALL WEATHER FLOOR MAT CAN TRAP THE THROTTLE PEDAL WHEN NOT PROPERLY SECURED AND CONSUMER IS WONDERING WHETHER THIS IS IN FACT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 03/26/15 *LJ UPDATED 9/20/2017*CN
I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHERE MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE CAME OFF OF A LEDGE IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AT WHICH POINT I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO BARRIER IN PLACE ON THAT SIDE. I CHOSE TO DIRECT MY VEHICLE TOWARD THE MUD PIT ON THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD. I CORRECTED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO OFF OF THE ROAD AND NOSE DIVE THROUGH THE FIRST MUD/DIRT EMBANKMENT. I EXPECTED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY ON BOTH SIDE AND FRONT TAKING THE SPEED AND FORCE OF THE COLLISION WITH THE FIRST EMBANKMENT AND THE YAW OF THE VEHICLE IN THE AIR. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE STILL AT THIS TIME AT WHICH POINT I HAD NOW LANDED REAR BUMPER FIRST AND A BIT SIDEWAYS ON A 2ND EMBANKMENT. THIS THEN LAUNCHES THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AIRBORNE FINALLY COMING TO REST IN A MUD AND GRAVEL DRIVE WAY OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO LIVES OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL OF IT'S TRANSMISSION FLUID ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THROUGH SOME OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT DAMAGED BUT AFTER FURTHER RESEARCHED I HAD DETERMINED THAT THE IMPACT SENSORS ARE ACTUALLY LOCATED IN THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE. 2 WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT WHICH WERE MYSELF, THE DRIVER, AND MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PASSENGER WHO WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT BUT NOT PROPERLY. SHE HAD THE LAP PORTION OF THE BELT ON BUT THE SHOULDER PORTION BEHIND HER. SHE IS A 20 YEAR OLD ADULT FEMALE.I AM A 19 YEAR OLD MALE AND HAD MINE ON PROPERLY. SHE HIT HER HEAD TWICE ON MY HEADREST. I WAS THROWN INTO THE SIDE OF MY DOOR AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL, THEN BACK AGAINST THE DOOR RESULTING IN BRUISED RIBS. IF THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAG SYSTEM WERE TO HAVE DEPLOYED PROPERLY THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A BARRIER BETWEEN ME AND THE DOOR WHICH CAUSED MY BRUISED RIBS ON MY LEFT SIDE. THERE IS A KNOWN AIRBAG RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR WHICH TOYOTA WHICH I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF A SOLUTION FOR AT THIS TIME. *TR
WHILE IN PARKING LOT, PLACED CAR IN REVERSE. THE CAR ACCELERATED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, JUMPING A CURB AND HITTING A 2 FOOT HIGH POLE IN NEXT PARKING LOT. BRAKING HAD NO EFFECT. ATTEMPT TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL FAILED. STEERING ALSO FAILED. CAR TOWED TO COLLISION CENTER SUBSEQUENTLY TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. CAR HIT WITH SUCH FORCE, IT WAS WRAPPED AROUND POLE AND RESTING ON TOP OF POLE. WRIST OF DRIVER HURT - HAD TO SEEK ATTENTION FROM EMTS AND GO TO EMERGENCY ROOM. UNDER ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALIST CARE CURRENTLY. PASSENGER IN BACK SEAT, 20 YR OLD, HAS NECK STRAIN AND HEADACHE CONCERNS.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED. THREE MONTHS AFTER THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT AND THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WERE INJURED. A LOCAL MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE CALIPERS DID NOT HAVE ANY SCREWS TO HOLD THEM IN PLACE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE SCREWS WERE NOT PROPERLY PLACED IN THE CALIPERS. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE BRAKES PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL GEAR THEN TO DRIVE AND ALTHOUGH HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER WERE BOTH INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,809.
ON AUGUST 30, 2006 MY 2003 TOYOTA AVALON ACCELERATED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR. MY VEHICLE SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED INTO MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE IN THE CAR AND RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES BUT THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE HOME AND THE CAR WHICH WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *CN
I was driving back home, out of no where my car went out of control, went left, then right, hit something and flipped over twice to end in a hill against the traffic with 4 flat tires. The air bag did not deployed. I did hit the windshield. The car was total.
75 N TRAVELING 65 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD SNAP UNDER CAR. CAR TRIED TO VEER TO LEFT SEVERAL TIMES PULLED BACK THOUGHT IT WAS UNDER CONTROL WHEN SPEED INCREASED CAR DARTED RIGHT HEAD ON INTO RETAINING WALL BOUNCED OFF DID 2 1/2 360 DEGREE SPINS HIT WALL AGAIN BROADSIDE AND FINALLY CAME TO STAND STILL. WHEN SPEED INCREASED AND CAR SHOT TO RIGHT ALL CONTROL WAS LOST. *TR
9/17/2010 ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I ENTERED A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND STOPPED WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED GOING THRU A FENCE AND HITTING A STONE WALL WHEN THE CAR STOPPED. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY REPAIRED THE CAR AFTER A TOYOTA REP. EXAMINED THE CAR. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM [XXX] FROM TOYOTA DATED 10/25/2010 THAT STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY TYPE OF MANUFACTURE DESIGN OR DEFECT. DAYTONA TOYOTA DID AN AOH RECALL ON THE CAR DURING THAT TIME. MY BACK AND NECK WAS STRAINED AND I HAD CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS, HEAT THERAPY AND MASSAGES FOR TWO MONTHS PAID BY MY INSURANCE. 11/05/2012 ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I ENTERED A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND STOPPED WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED OVER THE CURB HITTING A STOP SIGN. THE SIGN RIPPED THE LEFT OUTSIDE MIRROR OFF THE DOOR, SCRAPED AND BENT THE FRONT AND BACK DOORS ON DRIVERS SIDE. THE CAR NOW SITS IN MY GARAGE WRECKED BECAUSE I WILL NOT TURN IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT ON MY INSURANCE BECAUSE MY PREMIUM WENT UP AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT. I WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN BECAUSE THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG AND IT IS A BLESSING THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE SIDEWALK NOR A CAR ON THE STREET WHEN MY CAR ACCELERATED. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG NOR DO THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO CUSTOMERS WHO TRUSTED THEIR VEHICLES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2003 TOYOTA 4DR. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A FENCE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND CONTINUED ACCELERATING, PUSHING THAT VEHICLE ONTO SOMEONE'S LAWN. THE INCIDENT CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND PROPERTY. A PASSERBY WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED ACCORDINGLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON . IN AUG 2008 I WAS DRIVING AND INVOLVED IN A REARENDING ACCIDENT WHERE I HAD MY FOOT ON BRAKE AND FELT AS IF MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE . I HAD BRAKES TOTALLY CHECK AND DAMAGE TO MY CAR REPAIRED BUT AM WONDERING WHETHER MY CAN SUFFERED AN ACCELERATION ISSUE AS OTHER TOYOTA CARS HAVE. THE BRAKES WERE INSPECTED AND FOUND TO BE FINE I HAD OVER 1,000 DAMAGE DONE TO MY CAR AND UNKNOWN AMOUNT TO CAR I HIT . THE WOMAN IN CAR I HIT TOOK AMBULANCE IN TO HOSPITAL WITH NECK PAIN. *TR
2003, TOYOTA AVALON, BACKING UP, SUDDEN ACCELERATION, POLE STOPPED CAR, BRAKES DIDN'T STOP RACING ENGINE, PUT CAR IN DRIVE, SHOT FORWARD INTO GOLF COURSE, BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK, PUT CAR IN PARK, DIDN'T STOP CAR, HIT TREES, UTILITY POLE, TRIED TO STEER, LITTLE OR NO RESPONSE, TURNED KEY OFF, CAR FINALLY STOPPED, CAR TOTALED, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, SEAT BELT ON, BUT IMPACT MADE HEAD HIT LEFT SIDE OF WINDSHIELD, RECEIVED CONCUSSION, OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAY. REPORTED TO TOYOTA, THEY WANTED CAR, WE REFUSED TO LET THEM HAVE IT. TOYOTA SENT INSPECTOR HE REFUSED TO OPEN HOOD, OR PUT AUTO ON HOIST TO EXAMINE, REFUSED TO EXAMINE, JUST TOOK PICTURES. THEN TOYOTA ATTORNEY SENT LETTER SAYING THEY COULDN'T SEE FROM THEIR EXAMINATION THAT THE CAR FAILED. HAD 3 WITTINESS THAT TOYOTA INSPECTOR REFUSED TO INSPECT CAR. MY AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE TOTALED AUTO AND SETTLED, THEY TOOK AUTO. *JB
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29, 2004, 2003-2004 Avalon vehicles manufactured June 5, 2002, to December 20, 2004, and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured January 18, 2002, to April 27, 2004. Due to electrical noise, a component in the air bag control module may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.
Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began on August 24, 2015. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. GM issued an interim notification to owners on March 27, 2015. The recall began on August 24, 2015. Pontiac owners may call 1-800-620-7668. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 13V-029 and 14V-147. Vehicles that had a noise filter installed as the remedy for one of those campaigns need to have the air bag control module replaced under this campaign.
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 COULD BREAK.
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.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.