Model year record

1999 Toyota Avalon

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 113 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
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.

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.