Model year record

1998 Toyota Avalon

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

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.

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.