← All vehicles

2003 Toyota Avalon: Recalls, Complaints & Safety Ratings

2Safety recalls
305Owner complaints
NHTSA overall
Quick answer

The 2003 Toyota Avalon has 2 NHTSA safety recall campaigns and 305 owner complaints on file. Check a specific VIN to confirm whether recalls apply, whether repairs were completed, and what to verify before you buy.

2003 Toyota Avalon safety record graphic showing 2 recalls, 305 owner complaints.
Check the exact car

Run a full report for this Avalon

2003 Toyota Avalon pages show model-level safety data. A Carchieve VIN report checks the exact car before you buy.

Safety record reviewed June 2026 · sourced from NHTSA

The 2003 Toyota Avalon has 2 safety recall campaigns and 305 owner complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Below is the public model-level safety record. To see whether a specific Avalon had applicable recalls repaired and what its decoded VIN says, run that car's VIN.

Safety recalls

1

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Campaign 15V043000 · 28/01/2015

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.

RiskInadvertent deployment of the air bags or the seat belt pretensioners increases the risk of an injury or crash.
RemedyToyota 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.
2

STEERING

Campaign 10V345000 · 29/07/2010

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.

RiskSHOULD 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.
RemedyDEALERS 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.

What owners complain about

The systems 2003 Toyota Avalon owners report most often to federal regulators:

Air Bags184
Vehicle Speed Control54
Steering19
Electrical System18
Service Brakes16
Hydraulic11

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Toyota Avalon have any recalls?

Yes. The 2003 Toyota Avalon has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns associated with this model year. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer when the exact VIN is affected. Check your specific VIN to confirm applicability and completion.

What problems do 2003 Toyota Avalon owners report?

Owners have filed 305 complaints with the NHTSA for the 2003 Toyota Avalon, most often about the air bags, vehicle speed control, steering.

How do I check a specific Avalon's history?

Enter the 17-character VIN into Carchieve. You get the recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings shown here for that exact vehicle, plus full decoded specifications and a guided title and odometer check.

Check a specific 2003 Toyota Avalon

This page covers the model. For one exact car, run its 17-character VIN to confirm recalls, decoded specifications and buyer checks.

Get Full Report