"How reliable is the 2003 Toyota Avalon?"

"Based on 351 NHTSA complaints, the 2003 Toyota Avalon has a median complaint mileage of 80000 miles. The most common issue is AIR BAGS."

"What are common problems with the 2003 Toyota Avalon?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2003 Toyota Avalon is AIR BAGS, accounting for a significant portion of the 351 total complaints filed."

2003 Toyota Avalon: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 351 complaints

351

Total Complaints

80,000mi

Median Mileage

AIR BAGS

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

34,977 25th Percentile

80,000 Median Mileage

119,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS

180

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

STEERING

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

ENGINE

SUSPENSION

SEAT BELTS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

SERVICE BRAKES

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"CONSUMER STATED AFTER APPLYING FORCE TO BREAK PEDAL TO MAKE A STOP VEHICLE WENT INTO EXTENDED STOPPING. TS ON OTHER OCCASIONS, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP AFTER APPLYING FORCE TO BREAK PEDAL. DEALERSHIP FOUND BRAKE LINES WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT"

"WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE DRIVE POSITION, IT CAN'T BE SEEN FROM 40MPH AND UP. IN ORDER TO SET THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE ATTENTION OFF OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THEY'RE UNABLE TO VIEW THE SPEEDOMETER DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE DASHBOARD DESIGN. TS THE BRAKES N..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

AIR BAGS 180 complaints

25th: 78,500 mi Median: 103,000 mi 75th: 138,000 mi

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 45 complaints

25th: 33,915 mi Median: 59,090 mi 75th: 87,250 mi

STEERING 18 complaints

25th: 69,257 mi Median: 80,000 mi 75th: 94,500 mi

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18 complaints

25th: 60,000 mi Median: 75,000 mi 75th: 105,000 mi

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 8 complaints

25th: 51,561 mi Median: 73,500 mi 75th: 102,716 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 53 FL: 46 TX: 22 NY: 20 VA: 17 GA: 14 MO: 13 NC: 13 OH: 13 AZ: 11

Who Files Complaints?

15.4%

Original Owners

84.6%

Second+ Owners

Toyota Avalon — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1995	92	99,500	STEERING:RACK AND PINION	8
1996	121	117,417	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	11
1997	155	99,000	STEERING:RACK AND PINION	17
1998	205	72,000	EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER	29
1999	113	56,000	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	22
2000	220	88,500	STEERING	52
2001	168	58,500	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	43
2002	148	94,000	AIR BAGS	44
2004	252	70,000	AIR BAGS	36
2005	303	48,000	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	50
2006	449	45,000	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	73
2007	311	46,000	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	63
2008	417	52,000	EXTERIOR LIGHTING	31
2009	110	44,101	EXTERIOR LIGHTING	12
2010	51	12,050	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	6
2011	130	27,250	STEERING	20
2012	35	35,000	AIR BAGS	11
2013	186	15,071	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	21
2014	123	13,625	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	8
2015	63	40,000	SERVICE BRAKES	13
2016	33	29,000	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	6
2018	31	10,500	AIR BAGS	12
2019	90	5,233	FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	6
2021	28	2,500	AIR BAGS	2

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28