Model year record

1998 Toyota Avalon

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 205 owner complaints on file.

Toyota Avalon, 1995–1999 generation
Pictured: the 1995–1999 generation. Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V278000

Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module

Component
Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module
Manufacturer
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS
Vehicles affected
1,960
Reported to NHTSA
1998-10-19

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR HVAC FAN SPEED CONTROLS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN SMOOTHLY AND COULD STALL.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1420,000 mi
Air bags: frontal13—
Vehicle speed control1290,000 mi
Tires10115,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system820,000 mi
Electrical system648,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline6—
Suspension6131,000 mi
Suspension: front6105,000 mi
Unknown or other666 mi
Power train: automatic transmission469,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip4—
Suspension: front: macpherson strut454,700 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element472,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition364,000 mi
Seats3137,642 mi
Tires: sidewall3—
Air bags250,000 mi
Air bags: side/window2—
Electrical system: horn230,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module278,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: module2—
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash2—
Engine and engine cooling: engine2121,900 mi
Equipment267,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly245,920 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch237,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)2—
Seat belts2—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components2—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor2—
Steering2170,000 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar2—
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump2—
Steering: rack and pinion2—
Structure: body: door2—
Suspension: rear2—
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal245,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls2—
Visibility: windshield2—
Child seat: shell: booster1—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1—
Electrical system: wiring1—
Engine and engine cooling1—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system186,466 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility1120,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1—
Exterior lighting1—
Exterior lighting: brake lights1—
Exterior lighting: headlights154,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline183,674 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1—
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system1—
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap1—
Interior lighting1—
Power train1100,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)1—
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift1—
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter155,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission1—
Seat belts: front150,000 mi
Seat belts: front: anchorage1—
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly1—
Seat belts: rear/other1—
Seats: front assembly: power adjust1—
Seats: front assembly: recliner1—
Service brakes, air: controls: hand control/valve175,000 mi
Service brakes, air: disc: rotor1101,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic145,920 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages1—
Steering: column1—
Structure: body1—
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments1—
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut170,000 mi
Structure: body: trunk lid1—
Structure: frame and members1—
Suspension: rear: shock absorber1—
Tires: tread/belt1—
Vehicle speed control: cruise control1—
Vehicle speed control: linkages1—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor175,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core171,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear1—
Wheels1115,000 mi

The 1997 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 1999 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Other Toyota Avalon model years

All Toyota Avalon recalls by year

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.