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Toyota Avalon 2003

The 2003 Toyota Avalon has a 3.0 L engine. It gets 22 MPG combined (19 city, 27 highway), per the EPA. 2 recall campaigns and 40 owner complaints are on record.

Large Cars Front-wheel (FWD)
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Toyota Avalon
Representative photo of the Avalon. It may show a different year or version. Photo: Dinkun Chen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Specs

Engine
3,000 cc
6
Cylinders6
TransmissionAutomatic · 4 speeds
DrivetrainFront-wheel (FWD)
Dimensions (L × W × H)4,880 × 1,820 × 1,470 mm (192.1 × 71.7 × 57.9 in)
Wheelbase2,720 mm (107.1 in)
Curb weight1,560 kg (3,439 lb)
Body styleLarge Cars

Dimensions and weight: Canada's official specifications (NHTSA vPIC).

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Safety

Crash-test results across markets. They can vary by version and equipment.

NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2003 Toyota Avalon 4-DR. w/SAB
🇺🇸 Local data

Fuel economy (MPG)

🇺🇸 Local data
City
19 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Emissions
251 g/km
COâ‚‚

Recalls

2 campaigns🇺🇸 Local dataNHTSA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 15V043000 · 2015-01-28 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

Inadvertent deployment of the air bags or the seat belt pretensioners increases the risk of an injury or crash.

Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began on August 24, 2015. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. GM issued an interim notification to owners on March 27, 2015. The recall began on August 24, 2015. Pontiac owners may call 1-800-620-7668. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 13V-029 and 14V-147. Vehicles that had a noise filter installed as the remedy for one of those campaigns need to have the air bag control module replaced under this campaign.

STEERING 10V345000 · 2010-07-29 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

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.

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.

Common problems

40 reports🇺🇸 Local data

Reported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS 1 injured 2026-04-20 · NHTSA

March 13, 2026, I was on a road trip from CA to AZ and while driving around 75-80mph (speed limit), something in the driver's side seat belt or the shoulder holster exploded, the belt tightened, and something metal or plastic flew off. Shortly after (within 30 seconds or so), the passenger's side seat belt did somethi…

WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 2026-02-01 · NHTSA

Many things are happening to my truck that’s why I am contacting you people to see if I got any callback thank you so much

AIR BAGS Crash 1 injured 2023-05-22 · NHTSA

I was driving back home, out of no where my car went out of control, went left, then right, hit something and flipped over twice to end in a hill against the traffic with 4 flat tires. The air bag did not deployed. I did hit the windshield. The car was total.

STEERING 2023-01-04 · NHTSA

Purchased car used 11/2020 Jan 14 2021 had 2 open recalls steering casting defect and wire harness filter to deflect noise from ecm . I lost control of communication of operations. 12/2022 steering lock bar The past 2 years uncovered everything on my own. Learned somebody died in 2003 Avalon in Texas about steer…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2021-12-05 · NHTSA

turn off the lights inside panel. The level of heat all the way up, the same with the gasoline level. The internal lights blink. Loss of power.

ENGINE Fire 2021-06-01 · NHTSA

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the vehicle started smoking and the engine stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the engine needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not re…

STEERING,SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2021-05-24 · NHTSA

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? 1- AUG 2020- MEGA MOTERS- PURCHASSED AUTO- CARFAX AND AUTO GURO- RECOMMENDED THIS VEHISCAL AND SALES PITCH INCLUDED THESE COMPANIES- HE SAID HE DOES GOOD BUSINESS- HE SAID HE WILL FIX ALL ISSUES IF THE ISSUE WAS WITH-IN…

STEERING 2019-04-07 · NHTSA

CAR'S STEERING STOPS TURNING WHILE DRIVING IN THE INITIAL 5 MINUTES OF DRIVE, IT OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN WEATHER IS HUMID ( RAINING). THE EPISODE OCCURS WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE STEERING AND RECOVERS AFTER I FORCIBLY TURN THE STIFF STEERING.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2019-02-27 · NHTSA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KENDALL TOYOTA (10943 S DIXIE HWY, MIAMI, FL 33156) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE BATTERY WAS ALSO REPLACED. …

ENGINE 2019-02-05 · NHTSA

THE AUTO SURGES FORWARD AS I'M TRYING TO STOP EITHER AT A STOP LIGHT OR PARKING SPOT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 OR 4 TIMES AND MY MECHANIC SAID THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WOULD BE FOR IT TO HAPPEN WHILE HE WAS DRIVING IT. THERE'S NO PATTERN TO WHEN IT HAPPENS BUT IT'S SCARY AND I'M AFRAID TO LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT. IT HAPPENED YE…

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS 2018-12-31 · NHTSA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BEECHMONT TOYOTA (8667 BEECHMONT AVE, CINCINNATI, OH 45255, (513) 388-3800) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WA…

AIR BAGS 1 injured 2018-08-08 · NHTSA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED …

All 40 reports, grouped by component

Questions

What engine does the 2003 Toyota Avalon have?
The 2003 Toyota Avalon has a 3.0 L engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2003 Toyota Avalon?
It gets 22 MPG combined (19 city, 27 highway), per the EPA.
Does the 2003 Toyota Avalon have recalls?
2 recall campaigns are on record. The latest concerns Air Bags (2015-01-28).
What are the common problems of the 2003 Toyota Avalon?
40 owners have filed complaints, most often about Air Bags.

Other years

Other models by Toyota

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