Model year record

1999 Toyota Avalon

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 113 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
Vehicle speed control1527,000 mi
Air bags1335,385 mi
Air bags: frontal5—
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module556,000 mi
Suspension539,500 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal5—
Electrical system4165,432 mi
Suspension: front429,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission3—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components3—
Suspension: rear3—
Engine and engine cooling: engine234,200 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline2—
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors2—
Steering2156,901 mi
Suspension: front: macpherson strut217,000 mi
Tires2—
Unknown or other2—
Air bags: on-off switch assembly1—
Air bags: side/window1—
Electrical system: wiring1—
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash1—
Engine1121,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system1—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe1—
Equipment1—
Equipment adaptive/mobility174,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1—
Exterior lighting: headlights1—
Fuel system, gasoline1—
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system1—
Power train: driveline: constant velocity joint1—
Seat belts1124,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly1—
Seat belts: front: webbing1—
Seat belts: rear/other1—
Seats: front assembly: recliner1—
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler150,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic1131,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor1—
Steering: rack and pinion1—
Structure: body: door1184,300 mi
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments1—
Structure: frame and members1—
Tires: bead1—
Tires: sidewall1—
Tires: tread/belt1—
Vehicle speed control: cruise control170,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: linkages1—
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly1—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer1—

The 1998 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2000 model has about half 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.