1998 Toyota Avalon
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Suspension, Wheels & Tires
Suspension, Wheels & Tires leads by volume: 33 of 178 complaints (19%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (16) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 125 in 1997 to 178 in 1998.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | vs. 1998 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,950 | 2,850 | 2,850 | 2,850 | 2,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 18 / 26 | 18 / 28 | 19 / 27 | 19 / 27 | 19 / 27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 423 | 404 | 404 | 404 | 404 | |
| Complaints filed | 109 | 125 | 178 | 92 | 173 | |
| Recalls issued | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 10 | 12 | 25 | 15 | 43 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 10 | 8 | 25 | 9 | 30 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 1998 Toyota Avalon have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 1998 Toyota Avalon?
Suspension, Wheels & Tires: 33 of 178 NHTSA complaints (19%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1998 Toyota Avalon get?
EPA rates it 22 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1998 Toyota Avalon?
EPA estimates $2,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (1)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 19 mpg | 27 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 404 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 22 | 14 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 16 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 14 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 24 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE · Campaign 98V278000 · Nov 9, 1998
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE · Campaign 98E035000 · Oct 20, 1998
Defect: EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS USED ON 1998-1998 TOYOTA RAV4, AVALON, AND SIENNA MODEL VEHICLES 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.
Consequence: 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.
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.