Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 186 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 24 | 13% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 20 | 11% |
| Air bags | 19 | 10% |
| Visibility | 18 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 12 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 6% |
| Tires | 9 | 5% |
| Suspension | 9 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 7 | 4% |
| Power train | 6 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that the brake line was leaking brake fluid. The brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The contact stated that the subframe and rear axle were rus
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
Hi was making a left turn when this guys ran the last and hit me on my passenger and wheel and this air bags never deployed !
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
Two times the power steering locked/hard to turn momentarily while driving and turning. Check power steering fluid full and no leak, power steering belt is good. Stop driving the car for now. First incident happened on D
NHTSA complaint: Steering
AIR BAG INDICATOR FLASHING ON AND OFF WHETHER IN MOTION, TURNING OR STATIONARY.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SPONTANEOUSLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A SUBARU FORESTER. THERE WERE NO WAR
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB, SPUN AROUND ON
NHTSA complaint: Steering
LARGE BULGE ON TREAD SIDE OF TIRE - NO BLOWOUT. PROBABLY STEEL BELT SEPARATION. FELT LIKE UNBALANCED TIRE IN REAR. IMAGE ATTACHED. DID NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES. WAS THE SECOND TIRE OF ANOTHER COMPLAINT OF A SIMILAR TIRE
NHTSA complaint: Wheels
GOOD AFTERNOON ,MY NAME IS [XXX] AND SOME TIME AGO .I WAS CONTACTED BY THE OFFICE OF [XXX] CONCERNING THE FACTORY DEFECT THAT MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS AND MAY HAVE EVEN KILLED DRIVERS THROUGH THE EXPOSU
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2000 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.
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 EVENTUAL
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT, THE REAR AXLE MAY NOT HAVE ADEQUATE STRENGTH IN SOME AREAS.
Risk: AFTER EXTENDED USE OF THE VEHICLE, THE REAR AXLE SHAFTS COULD FAIL OR BREAK.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE REAR AXLE HUB ASSEMBLIES.
| Reliability raw | 71 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| 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 186 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 24 of them (13%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 71/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 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 71/100. 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.