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Check by VIN to confirm the
exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (1)
Steering
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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.
Canadian recalls (1)
Show 1 Canadian recall
Steering
2010-07-29 · campaign 2010-253
On certain vehicles, a minute crack may develop on the surface of the steering lock bar, which is a component of the steering interlock system. Such a crack may expand over a period of repeated lock and unlock operations, and eventually the lock bar could break. If this occurs, the interlock system may become difficult to unlock when stationary. If the vehicle is steered to the right while in motion with sufficient lateral acceleration, a broken and loose lock bar may move toward the steering shaft. If the engagement hole in the shaft happens to line up at the specific time the broken lock bar has moved, this could cause the steering wheel lock bar to engage, resulting in a sudden loss of steering control. Correction: Dealers will replace the steering interlock device.
Owner complaints (116)
Owners filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Toyota Avalon (32 crashes, 2 fires, 16 injuries reported). Among 28 model years of this model, it ranks #12 for the most complaints (median 106).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Air bags | 35 | |
| Vehicle speed control | 25 | |
| Steering | 18 | |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 8 | |
| Tires | 7 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | |
| Electrical system | 6 | |
| Service brakes | 5 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Toyota Avalon.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2002 Toyota Avalon 4-DR. w/SAB | – | – | – | – |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2002 Toyota Avalon version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Avalon 3.0 L Automatic 4-spd | 19 | 27 | 22 | $3,050 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.