2002 Toyota Avalon

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

73/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 142 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Toyota Avalon, and it carries 1 recall. 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	29	20%
Vehicle speed control	18	13%
Steering	13	9%
Service brakes	10	7%
Engine and engine cooling	7	5%
Power train	7	5%
Tires	7	5%
Visibility	4	3%
Suspension	4	3%
Latches/locks/linkages	4	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

Airbag is pushing out of the passenger side dashboard and also on drivers side wheel. There is now a quarter inch gap where we can see behind it on the passenger side. There were VERY loud popping noises. There is a reca
NHTSA complaint: Power train

Bosch ABS anti skid, anti lock brake moduled failed. No brakes. Toyota US has no replacements parts available. Bosch no longer produces. Called Toyota Customer Service three times. Got to the management end and Senior Ad
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

Headlights failed to operate correctly, resulting in taking the car to fix problem , service advisor told me that this veh vin number shows this car should not havve automatly controled headlights, the car is being serv
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

THE 2003-2004 MODEL AVALON'S HAVE A RECALL FOR THE AIRBAGS WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN FREQUENCIES AND NOISES. MY 2002 AVALON HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO INCLUDE THIS MODEL YEAR AS WELL. I'VE HAD NO PROBLEMS OUT O
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO SLIPPERY ROADS. I WAS EXITING I5 ON TO HIGHWAY 7 IN TACOMA WASHINGTON. THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP, SLID AND HIT A CEMENT WALL ON HIGHWAY 7. UPON IMPACT I
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE CAR PUT ITSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO LANES, THEN ACCELERATED TURN HALF ,I THINK, CRASHED (THE FRONT OF THE CAR)WITH A SMALL HILL SO
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

WHILE AT THE STORE I FOUND I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY AND GET OU WHILE THE CAR IS STILL IN GEAR. IF YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION THE VEHICLE CAN ROLL AWAY, CAUSING PERSONAL AND PROPERTY DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

AIR BAG FLASHES VSC OFF AND ENGINE FAILURE LIT.LOW MILES. TUNED REPLACING SPARK PLUGS. NO IMPROVEMENT.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2002 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.

Steering 10V345000

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.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	76	good
Longevity est.	81	excellent
Maintenance	83	excellent
Depreciation	76	good
Performance	54	average
Efficiency	41	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 34% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 77% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 78% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 77% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 76: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 81: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2002 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 83: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2002 Toyota Avalon?

Owners have filed 142 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 29 of them (20%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2002 Toyota Avalon reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (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.

How long will a 2002 Toyota Avalon last?

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 2002 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2002 Toyota Avalon?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. 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.