19 of the
205 complaints about the 1998 Toyota Avalon are about the
electrical system — 9% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
64,000 miles.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC AT THE LIGHT, ALTERNATOR WAS TESTED. BATTERY LIGHT STAY ON, LIGHTS DIMMED OUT, LOST SPEED. HAD TO GET PUSHED OUT THE ROAD AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN ATLANTA GEORGIA ON CLEVELAND AVENUE.. BOUGHT A SECOND ALTERNATOR, SAME EXACT INCIDENT . ONCE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON AT NIGHT, CAR LOOSES TOTAL POWER. I HAD TO DRIVE FIVE BLOCKS AT NIGHT WITHOUT LIGHTS ON RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY BLVD, ATLANTA GEORGIA, EVEN THE HAZARD LIGHTS DRAINED A BRAND NEW BATTERY PURCHASED 12/02/2018.
NHTSA complaint #11155533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesDover, DE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V278000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.....UPDATED 02/06/17 *BF CONSUMER STATED HAS NO DEFROSTER FOR THE FRONT WINDOW. UPDATED 7/2/18*JB
NHTSA complaint #10920585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lithonia, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEEL LOCKED THEN THE CAR WILL NOT START, ALARM SYSTEM LIGHT WON'T BLINK AND I'M HEARING A WINEING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #10894942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 64,000 milesBolton, MS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON START UP, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION NOR WOULD THE VEHICLE START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO ALSO REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND PROVIDED A NEW KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
NHTSA complaint #10587509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 230,000 milesJacksonville Beach, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THE LIGHTING WENT BLANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.
NHTSA complaint #10554671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 34,961 milesFullerton, CACrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 19, 2005. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT ASIDE OF A SHOE SHOP AND APPLIED MY BRAKE TO STOP. THE 1998 TOYOTA AVALON WHICH I WAS DRIVING REFUSED TO STOP AND CONTINUED ON INTO THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING AT MAYBE 30 MPH. I WAS SURE THAT I HAD APPLIED EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE BUT COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. I WAS SO DISTRAUGHT THAT I ASSUMED THAT MY FOOT SLID OFF THE BRAKE ONTO THE ACCELERATOR. AS I THINK BACK I AM SURE THAT I WAS ON THE BRAKE AND NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IF I WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR I WOULD HAVE HAD A JOLT FORWARD WITH EXTREME ACCELERATION. IT WAS LIKE I WAS IN A SLOW MOTION DREAM WORLD AND THE AVALON WAS UNDER ITS OWN CONTROL. I REPORTED IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AS BEING MY FAULT SINCE I HAD NO OTHER REASONABLE EXPLANATION. I AM NOW SURE THAT THE AVALON WAS UNDER ITS OWN CONTROL AND NOT MINE. UPDATED 03/24/10
NHTSA complaint #10316950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 219,500 milesMemphis, TN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
UPON TRYING TO START MY CAR, MY KEY WOULDN'T TURN. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE A WARN OUT KEY, SO I TRIED MY SECOND MASTER KEY AND WHEN IT WOULDN'T TURN EITHER I TRIED MY SUB KEY WHICH FAILED JUST AS WELL. I KEPT TRYING WITH MY TWO MASTER KEYS, TAKING THEM OUT AND PUTTING THEM BACK IN REPEATEDLY. UNTIL FINALLY AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES MY IGNITION TURNED OVER. MY CAR STARTED AT TIMES EASY AND KIND OF EASY FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS FOLLOWING THAT. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED TO ACT UP AGAIN SOMETIMES NOT TURNING OVER AT ALL AND LEAVING ME STRANDED OR MISSING WORK. THIS NOW OCCURS EVERY SINGLE TIME I TRY TO START MY CAR. GOD FORBID SOME ONE FOLLOWS ME TO MY CAR I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET AWAY. I'VE CONTACTED NUMEROUS REPAIR COMPANIES, MECHANICS, SAVAGE YARDS, AND PARTS STORES WHO HAVE ALL POINTED ME IN THE DIRECTION OF THE DEALER OF THE MAKE/MODEL BECAUSE OF THE DEFERMENT/IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALER I'VE LEARNED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, IT WILL COST ME A PRETTY PENNY. NEW PARTS WILL HAVE TO BE ORDERED AND OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10230027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON, WHICH IS EXPERIENCING CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA 98E035000. SPECIFICALLY, HVAC FAN WORKS SPORADICALLY. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS REFUSE TO CHECK WIRING HARNESS FOR RECALL ELIGIBILITY, AS CALLED FOR IN NHTSA: 98E035000. DEALERSHIPS WILL ONLY RUN VIN THOUGH DATABASE, INSTEAD OF CHECKING MANUFACTURE DATE OF WIRING HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #10218879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesLittle Neck, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN WAS DEFECTIVE. IT WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. OWNER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THEY REPAIRED IT ONCE IN JUNE 2003, NOW THE HORN IS DEFECTIVE AGAIN. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE HORN WASNEVER REPAIRED, IT DOESNOT RESPOND AT NORMAL SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #10092435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 48,000 milesNEW Windsor, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSIDE FAN SPEED TURNS OFF RANDOMLY WITH SECURITY LIGHT AND AC CONTROLS , OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE READING.
NHTSA complaint #10052337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE'S KEY GETS INTERMITTENTLY STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN. RELATED RECALL 98E035000, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10022637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manhasset Hill, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN WORKS INTERMITTENTLY EVEN AFTER THE DEALER HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.AK
NHTSA complaint #8019160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF RECALL 98E035000 AND HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING OF THE TDS SYSTEM. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #783567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glendora, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
COMPUTER FAILURE CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COMES ON AND GOES OFF REPEATEDLY. YH
NHTSA complaint #609041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Coast, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THERE IS EXCESSIVE WIRING BY THE KICK PANEL WHICH CAUSES THE KICK PANEL NOT TO STAY ON BEACUSE THE WIRES ARE RUBBING. THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHORT OUT AND STALL. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #850983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Coast, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SINCE APRIL OF 1998 COMPLAINING ABOUT THE KICKPANEL NOT STAYING ON, NEVER GETTING SATISFACTORY RESULTS, I CONTACTED TOYOTA USA AND REQUESTED ARBITRATION, THEY FAILED TO RESPOND. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DAYTONA BEACH TOYOTA AT 451 N. NOVA RD DAYTONA BEACH FL 32114 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS "EXTRA WIRING ADDED TO HARNESS UNABLE TO REPAIR WIHT OUT REMOVING WIRES" THIS WAS ON 06/21/99. AT NO TIME DID ANY DEALER OR THE MANAFACTURER INFORM ME OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98E03500. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALL NOTICE AND AM AWAITING ARBITRATION WITH TOYOTA ON NOVEMBER 1,1999 AT THE STATE LEMON LAW OFFICE 1300 RIVERPLACE BLVD. JACKSONVILLE, FL 32207. AS OF 10/15/1999 I RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL FROM DAVID ADAMS WITH TOYOTA THE REGIONAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION MANAGER INFORMED ME HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING ON ANY OTHER AVALON! ALTHOUGH TOYOTA HAS AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THEM AT THE ARBITRATIN HEARING ON NOVEMBER 1,1999, MR ADAMS HAS ASKED THT WE SETTLE THIS MATTER BY MY PURHCASING ANOTHER TOYOTA AVALON WITH HIM ASISTING US AT DAYTONA BEACH TOYOTA.
NHTSA complaint #713388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rosemead, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION PIECE FELL OFF. YH
NHTSA complaint #608763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Gabrie, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #606879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Downingtow, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATED PROBLEMS AT 100 MILES, AFTER TOYOTA SERVICE THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT 200 MILES AND TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING ITSELF (ELECTRONICALLY) INTO NEUTRAL AT SPEEDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH, WITHOUT ANY MOVEMENT OF THE GEAR SHIFT.
NHTSA complaint #537658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.