Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 195 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Toyota Avalon, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 17 | 9% |
| Suspension | 17 | 9% |
| Air bags | 15 | 8% |
| Visibility | 15 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 8% |
| Equipment | 14 | 7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 7% |
| Tires | 13 | 7% |
| Power train | 11 | 6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 5% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Tie rods detached from frame, along with steering parts became unsafe on minor highway speed turnes
NHTSA complaint: Steering
All plastic parts are disintegrating, seer belts, door locks, door handles, AC vents , body trim, steering wheel, lights, & anything made of plastic
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC AT THE LIGHT, ALTERNATOR WAS TESTED. BATTERY LIGHT STAY ON, LIGHTS DIMMED OUT, LOST SPEED. HAD TO GET PUSHED OUT THE ROAD AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN ATLANTA GEORGIA ON CLEVELAND AVE
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE THROUGH TWO RED LIGHTS. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PED
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
ONE DAY WHEN MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AND AFTER IT HAD SET FOR A FEW DAYS I STARTED IT NORMALLY AND NOTICED THE SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON MY DASH CAME ON. THIS IS BEEN ABOUT A MONTH NOW AND A LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THE CODE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPEN
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHEEL LOCKED THEN THE CAR WILL NOT START, ALARM SYSTEM LIGHT WON'T BLINK AND I'M HEARING A WINEING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON START UP, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION NOR WOULD THE VEHICLE START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE IGN
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1998 Toyota Avalon. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 WIRI
Risk: 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 COU
Fix: 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 -
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 I
Risk: 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 COU
Fix: 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 -
| Reliability raw | 75 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 81 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 83 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 76 | good |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 41 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 195 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 17 of them (9%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 75/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.