There are 5 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2002 Toyota Avalonin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Headlights failed to operate correctly, resulting in taking the car to fix problem , service advisor told me that this veh vin number shows this car should not havve automatly controled headlights, the car is being serviced at cedar rapids toyota , steve lemke is the servvice advisior
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LOOSE ELECTRICAL WIRE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE CRASH WAS PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000.
2002 TOYOTA AVALON XLS WITH ABOUT 84,000 MILES PERIODICALLY STALLS WHEN BRAKING AND TURNING 90 DEGREES AT LOW SPEED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL NEAR OUR HOUSE. IT'S AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE ENGINE STALLS AND POWER STEERING BECOMES INOPERATIVE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL CAR UNTIL IT IS STOPPED AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED. ALL PERIODIC SERVICES ARE ACCOMPLISHED BY TOYOTA IN ACCORDANCE WITH VEHICLE SERVICE GUIDE. *TR
HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 10 MILES. STOPPED AT TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND NOTICED SMOKE FILLING PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, THOUGHT IT WAS FROM CAR IN FRONT WHICH HAD EXCESS EXHAUST, ROLLED DOWN WINDOW AND CLEARED AIR. DROVE SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET AND NOTED CAR FILL WITH SMOKE AND ALSO COMING FROM HOOD AREA ,STOPPED LIFTED HOOD TO SEE FLAMES COMING FROM AREA AT FRONT( IE;AT RADIATOR,FAN,ALTERNATOR,ETC.).DIFFICULTY CALLING FD,ANOTHER TRUCK STOPPED AND POURED 5 GAL. OF WATER ON FLAMING AREA, PLASTIC STILL BURNED AND FULLY PUT OUT WITH EXTINGUISHER. NO ONE INJURED,BUT UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE,CALLED TOYOTA OF GREENVILLE TO PICK UP CAR. *NM
2002 TOYOTA AVALON WITH ENGINE, VSC ON AND VSC OFF CHECK LIGHTS ON. SENSOR REPLACED AND/OR RESET X5. CHRONIC SENSOR MALFUNCTION? 1ST INCIDENT AT APPROX 20,000 MILES. VEHICLE NOW HAS 65,000 MILES. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026