2004 Toyota Avalon Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota Avalon.

20032005
Complaints
252
Crashes
36
Fires
0
Injuries
23
Fatalities
4
Recalls
3

Worst 2004 Toyota Avalon Problems

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

#1122 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:92,560 mi
Crash-related:4
#224 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:76,994 mi
#323 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:53,554 mi
Crash-related:16
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Toyota Avalon.

Airbags
122
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
92,560
Steering Defects
24
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
76,994
Unintended Acceleration
23
complaints
Crashes
16
Fires
Avg Miles
53,554
Electrical Faults
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
122,703
Seat Belt Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
104,200
Air Bags:Frontal
5
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
49,770
Engine & Cooling
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches / Locks
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:On-Off Switch Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Toyota Avalon. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2004 Toyota Avalon

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,799,768 vehicles.

15V043000Air Bags:frontal
~1,006,849 affected

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29, 2004, 2003-2004 Avalon vehicles manufactured June 5, 2002, to December 20, 2004, and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured January 18, 2002, to April 27, 2004. Due to electrical noise, a component in the air bag control module may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

11V539000Engine & Cooling
~420,326 affected

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.

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

2004 Toyota Avalon — FAQ

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

Is the 2004 Toyota Avalon reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2004 Toyota Avalon has 252 NHTSA complaints, 36 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 122 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Toyota Avalon?
Top reported problems: Airbags (122 complaints, avg 92,560 mi); Steering Defects (24 complaints, avg 76,994 mi); Unintended Acceleration (23 complaints, avg 53,554 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 2004 Toyota Avalon?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 86,792 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Toyota Avalon?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Toyota Avalon include 36 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 23 injuries, and 4 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 2004 Toyota Avalon have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,799,768 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 2004 Toyota Avalon?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

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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