1996 Toyota Avalon problems
Owners have filed 121 complaints about the 1996 Toyota Avalon with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling accounts for 15.7% of them — the clear leader, ahead of visibility at 9.9%.
Complaints121
Crashes11
Fires0
Injuries12
Deaths1
What owners report breaking
Engine and engine cooling 15.7% · 19
Visibility 9.9% · 12
Service brakes, hydraulic 9.1% · 11
Steering 9.1% · 11
Vehicle speed control 8.3% · 10
Exterior lighting 6.6% · 8
Electrical system 5.8% · 7
Air bags 5.0% · 6
Severity
Of those complaints, 11 describe a crash, 12 report an injury and 1 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 17 model years of the Toyota Avalon in this data, 1996 draws comparatively few complaints; 2006 is the outlier year.
Filings are rising — 9 in the last three years against 3 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 117,417 miles.
In owners' own words
I am the owner of a 1996 Toyota Avalon and need a new engine due to oil sludge problems. My car is not covered under Toyota's csp program although it has the same problems as the engines covered under this program. This has caused my family emotional and financial stress. Engine and engine cooling · reported at 116,000 miles
I have a 1996 Toyota Avalon and the engine seems to be burning a lot of oil and sending off a lot of smoke related to the sludge problem known to have been investigated by the nhtsa. I just wanted to make the problem known once more. Engine and engine cooling
The vehicle was taken to dealer for an oil change, and consumer found that there was sludge in the engine. A recall was issued for avalons of 1997, but not for this year. Engine and engine cooling · reported at 117,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…