2002 Toyota Avalon Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota Avalon.

20012003
Complaints
148
Crashes
44
Fires
2
Injuries
22
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1

Worst 2002 Toyota Avalon Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#128 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:132,800 mi
Crash-related:6
#220 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:96,020 mi
Crash-related:15
#318 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:99,240 mi
Crash-related:3
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Toyota Avalon.

Airbags
28
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
132,800
Unintended Acceleration
20
complaints
Crashes
15
Fires
—
Avg Miles
96,020
Steering Defects
18
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
99,240
Electrical Faults
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
107,396
Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
186,458
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
21,500
Air Bags:Side/Window
4
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc)
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Toyota Avalon. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2002 Toyota Avalon

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~372,593 vehicles.

10V345000Steering
~372,593 affected

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000-2004 AVALON VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER CASTING OF THE STEERING LOCK BAR, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A MINUTE CRACK MAY DEVELOP ON THE SURFACE OF THE LOCK BAR. SUCH A CRACK MAY EXPAND OVER A LONG PERIOD OF REPEATED LOCK AND UNLOCK OPERATIONS, AND EVENTUALLY THE LOCK BAR COULD BREAK.

Other Toyota Avalon Years

1995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022

2002 Toyota Avalon — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2002 Toyota Avalon reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2002 Toyota Avalon has 148 NHTSA complaints, 44 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Airbags with 28 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Toyota Avalon?
Top reported problems: Airbags (28 complaints, avg 132,800 mi); Unintended Acceleration (20 complaints, avg 96,020 mi); Steering Defects (18 complaints, avg 99,240 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Toyota Avalon?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 111,134 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Toyota Avalon?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Toyota Avalon include 44 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 22 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Toyota Avalon have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 372,593 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2002 Toyota Avalon?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Toyota Avalon reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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