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KLUNK
KLUNK

2004 Toyota Avalon

The Verdict

53 Proceed with Caution

The 2004 Toyota Avalon has 205 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (130 complaints) and body (55 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 53/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Toyota Avalon, consider the 2022 model year which has 96% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2022 has 96% fewer complaints

View the 2022 Toyota Avalon dashboard →

53

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000892334298
20016113342110
2002632138128
200372121882110
2004556130122
200512619233623
200616926457643
200713622313320
2008946228812
200939103642
2010321822
20116662671
2012163911
20131021329133
20146071891
201522121071
2016112442
201731370
2018112731
201913518256
202031150
2021411140
202241210

By Category

Electrical
130
Body
55
Engine
12
Brakes
6
Transmission
2

By Severity

1
102
2
75
3
1
4
26
5
1

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 2

Ella tuvo realmente la culpa

23mo ago
Engine 2

CAR MAKES A VERY, VERY LOUD SCREECHING SOUND WHEN STARTED WITH A/C OR HEATING ON (BUT MORE COMMONLY WITH A/C). THE SOUND WILL SOMETIMES DIE DOWN OR STOP ONCE A/C IS TURNED OFF, BUT NOT ALWAYS. PUDDLES CAN TRIGGER THE SOUND AS WELL. SOUND CAN BE HEARD MAINLY UPON INITAL STARTUP BUT CAN OCCUR AFTER CAR IS IN MOTION.

65mo ago
Engine 2

I'VE NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, ELECTRICAL, COOLANT OR SOMETHING. MY MECHANICS FINDS NO LEAKS, BUT I CHECKED ONCE AND THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY, FIND NO LEAKS. SOMEHOW, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR MUD FLAP CAME OFF AND THE TRUNK LID DOESN'T LINE UP. IT ALWAYS LOOKS LIKE IT'S PARTIALLY OPENED. WHEN DRIVING I HEAR AND FEEL RATTLING SOUNDS THAT SOUNDS AND FEELS LIKE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION OR BODY PANELS. MORE LIKE THE SUSPENSION. THE PERSON I BOUGHT IT FROM HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY AND HAD TIMING CHAIN, O2 SENSOR, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES CHECKED AND FIXED OR REPLACED. THEY ALSO HAD IT COMPLETELY CHECKED OUT AND ANYTHING WRONG WAS FIXED. IT ALSO GETS VERY POOR GAS MILEAGE. THE STEERING ALSO DOESN'T FEEL QUITE RIGHT, CAN'T REALLY EXPLAIN THAT VERY WELL, OTHER THAN IT'S NO QUITE RIGHT. ALSO, FOR SOME REASON THE BATTERY WOULDN'T START THE CAR ONE DAY AND WE CHECKED THE BATTERY AND THE CELLS WERE DRY.

65mo ago
Electrical 1

THE ECU ITSELF IS NOT WORKING, WHICH THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO NEVER STOP WORKING. WELL OURS STOPPED WORKING AND THE LICENSED MECHANIC WILL NOT WORK ON IT IF IT IS RECALLED. WE ARE LITERALLY WAITING ON TOYOTA TO FIX OUR CAR. THEY HAVE NOT DONE SO. THE HOLE ECU NOT JUST PART OF IT.

85mo ago
Electrical 2

AIR BAG DASHBOARD LIGHT OCCASIONALLY FLICKERS AND BEGINS TO GLOW FOR A FEW SECONDS. SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY IN WET WEATHER. MY STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK WHEN I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. REVERSED BACKWARDS A LITTLE BIT AND WIGGLED THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULDN'T BUDGE THEN I WENT FORWARD AND WIGGLED AND IT FINALLY LOOSENED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES AND USUALLY IN WET WEATHER. MY CAR IS LISTED IN THE AIR BAG RECALL OF 2015; HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF WHAT TO DO NEXT AND IT HAS NOW BEEN MORE THAN 3 YEARS SINCE FIRST NOTIFICATION.

89mo ago
Electrical 2

(1) AIR BAG DASHBOARD LIGHT OCCASIONALLY FLICKERS AND BEGINS TO GLOW FOR A FEW SECONDS THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY IN WET WEATHER.. (2) WHEN MOVING AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE DOOR LOCKS CLICK OPEN AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT GOES ON FOR A FEW SECONDS, THIS HAPPENS DAILY.

91mo ago
Body 1

MY STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK WHEN I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING ..THIS MORNING I WAS JUST STARTING MY CAR AND WAS TURNING LEFT AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WENT UP THE SIDEWALK AND ALMOST HIT THE FENCE AND I COULDN'T MOVE IT I REVERSED BACKWARDS A LITTLE BIT AND WIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WOULDN'T BUDGE THEN I WENT FORWARD AND WIGGLED AND IT FINALLY LOOSENED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW USUALLY IN THE MORNING. AND MY MILEAGE IS 140,822

95mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXTRA STRENGTH WAS NEEDED TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000.

96mo ago
Electrical 2

TAKATA RECALL

101mo ago
Electrical 1

#15V043 THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT BLINKING, NEVER STOPS, WHETHER DRIVING OR PARKED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED, IN MARYLAND, WHERE IT PASSED THEIR INSPECTION AND WILL PASS MY INSPECTION IN PENNSYLVANIA, BUT DOES CONCERN ME. I SOLD MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON XL TO MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE CAR FAX THIS VEHICLE NEVER GOT A RECALL, BUT GOT THE RECALL # FROM THE INTERNET. SEEMS THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THE TOYOTA AVALON HAS, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER VEHICLES.

105mo ago
Electrical 1

I RECEIVED NOTICE FOR THIS RECALL IN 2015. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 15V043 RECALL DATE: JANUARY 27, 2015 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: ESG NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE IN 2.5 YEARS.

109mo ago
Body 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND BEING SHIFTED INTO PARK, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT HEARD THE ENGINE REV AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A FENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH SLOANE TOYOTA OF GLENSIDE (503 N EASTON RD, GLENSIDE, PA 19038) WHO DOCUMENTED THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

109mo ago
Body 1

MY CAR KEYS CAN BE REMOVED WITHOUT PUTTING THE CAR IN P.THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING SPACE AND ROLLED BACK.

109mo ago
Electrical 2

HAVE BEEN CALLING DEALERSHIP SINCE MARCH 31ST, 2015. THEY TOLD ME ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE PARTS, I WAS ON A LIST. GAVE UP ON CONTACTING THEM.THEIR DEALERSHIP IS LOCATED IN JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT? THEIR PHONE NUMBER IS 608-754-7754. THE NOTICE SAID IT WAS URGENT, HOW URGENT CAN IT BE IF IT STILL IS NOT FIXED???

113mo ago
Electrical 1

NHTSA RECALL 15V-043 (1-27-15). ON 7/16 I RECEIVED AN URGENT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE VIA MAIL. RUSSEL TOYOTA 410-788-8400 SAID THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THE PART COMES IN. ON 12/6/16 I CALL MR. ALLEN, SERVICE MANAGER WHO SAID THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AND THEY WOULD CALL ME IN 2-3 MONTHS. ONE QUESTION: WHY IS TOYOTA ALLOWED TO MAKE ME DRIVE MY CAR WITH THIS UNSAFE CONDITION FOR MORE THAN 2 YEARS BEFORE THEY THINK ABOUT OBTAINING THE PARTS NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS?

117mo ago
Electrical 1

TOOK CAR TO DON MCGILL 3TIMES ,TOOK IT TO JOE MYERS TODAY AND THE SRS LIGHT IS STILL ON ,THEY SAY THEY COMPLETED THE RECALL ,BUT I NEED A DR SIDE AIR BAG IT HAS A DTC B0116 I'M GOING TO CHECK CONNECTIONS . IT'S MY MOMS CAR AND I WANT TO BE SURE IT'S WORKING.AND SAFE NO SHRAPMETAL.

120mo ago
Electrical 4

NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN MY 2004 AVALON XLS WHEN A DRIVER STATED SHE DID NOT SEE ME/MY CAR AND TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME LEAVING ME 2 SECONDS TO BRAKE.THIS WAS ON A CITYN STREET AND SHE WAS TURNING FROM STOPPED POSITION INTO PRIVATE COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT. I WAS DRIVING IN LANE CLOSEST TO HER CAR TO REACH LIGHT ANOTHER 500 FEET AHEAD SO I COULD TURN SOUTH WHEN I GOT TO IT. MY CAR WAS TRAVELING 30-35MPH(5-10MPH UNDER POSTED SPEED LIMIT).I HAD JUST ENTERED THE ROADWAY 400 FT BEFORE HER TURN FROM 0MPH TO MAYBE 3MPH? IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR HIT HERS ON BAR BETWEEN THE FRONT AND BACK PASSENGER DOORS. IT CAUSED HER CAR TO RISE UP-I SAW THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF HER CAR; IT THEN ROLLED COMPLETELY OVER ONTO ITS ROOF OUT OF MY SIGHT. ALL WITNESS DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INCIDENT AND MY OWN DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED WERE EXACTLY THE SAME. SHE WAS FOUND AT FAULT AND WE BOTH WERE TRANSPORTED ON BACKBOARDS WITH C COLLARS TO CLOSEST HOSPITAL. I HAVE INJURED SPINE(CERVICAL, THORACIC, LUMBAR), BILATERAL INJURIES TO SHOULDERS, ELBOWS, WRISTS, HANDS, FINGERS, KNEES, FEMORAL BALL AND SOCKET JOINTS, MIGRAINES, INABILITY TO GET FULL NIGHT'S REST, MEMORY LOSS-SEARCH FOR WORDS & JUST PLAIN DON;T REMEMBER THINGS I MAY HAVE DONE-WHAT I HAD FOR BREAKFAST OR IF I EVEN ATE BREAKFAST; WHAT SOMEONE HAS TOLD ME; WHAT HAPPENED ON A TV SHOW OR MOVIE; EXPERIENCING FRUSTRATION, ANXIETY, FEAR OF DYING IN A CAR WRECK-PARAMEDIC TOLD ME IF I HAD NOT BEEN IN THE SIZE CAR I WAS IN THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN A PILE OF BROKEN BONES OR DEAD; THE AT-FAULT DRIVER WAS ALSO TAKEN TO HOSPITAL THE SAME WAY I WAS; HER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPOLY EITHER; IMPACTED HER CAR, A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. ANY PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION OF WHY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN EITHER OF OUR CARS?

120mo ago
Electrical 1

I TRIED TWICE TO GET A SAFETY RECALL FIXED BY KOONS TOYOTA TYSONS CORNER AFTER RECEIVING A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON MY TOYOTA AVALON (RECALL 15V-043). TWICE THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO INSPECT THE CAR TO SEE IF IT NEEDED A REMEDY TO THE RECALL AND ONLY AFTER AN INSPECTION WOULD THEY ORDER PARTS. I BROUGHT IT IN THE FIRST TIME, THEY SAID IT DID NEED THE RECALL AND THEY WOULD ORDER THE PARTS. THEY NEVER DID. WHEN I TRIED TO SCHEDULE IT AGAIN, THEY TOLD ME THE SAME STORY THAT I HAD TO BRING IT IN FOR AN INSPECTION AND THEN THEY WOULD DECIDE IF THEY COULD ORDER THE PARTS. IT IS RIDICULOUS TO GO THROUGH SUCH TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND SO THEREFORE THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED YET.

120mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

122mo ago
Electrical 1

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND SPENT 2000 DOLLARS AT DON MCGILL TOYOTA TO HAVE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG REPLACED. ABOUT A 1000 MILES ( 3 MONTHS) LATER, THE LIGHT IS BACK ON WITH THE SAME CODE. DEALER SO FAR IS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT INADVERTENT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AS WELL AS LOSING THE USE OF MY CAR WHILE THE DEALER TRIES TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I THINK THEY ARE JUST THROWING EXPENSIVE PARTS AT IT HOPING SOMETHING WORKS,

122mo ago

205 total

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