2002 Toyota Avalon
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 38 of 116 complaints (33%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 134 in 2001 to 116 in 2002.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | vs. 2002 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850 | 2,950 | 2,850 | 2,850 | 2,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19 / 27 | 18 / 27 | 19 / 27 | 19 / 27 | 19 / 27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 404 | 423 | 404 | 404 | 404 | |
| Complaints filed | 173 | 134 | 116 | 293 | 205 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 43 | 34 | 32 | 49 | 27 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 30 | 25 | 16 | 28 | 17 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 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 2002 Toyota Avalon have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign 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 2002 Toyota Avalon?
Airbags & Restraints: 38 of 116 NHTSA complaints (33%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2002 Toyota Avalon get?
EPA rates it 22 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2002 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 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 16 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 18 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 38 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 25 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 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 (1)
STEERING · Campaign 10V345000 · Jul 29, 2010
Defect: 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.
Consequence: SHOULD THE STEERING LOCK BAR BREAK, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK AND THE DRIVER WOULD LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING INTERLOCK DEVICE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.