TOYOTA AVALON · model year

1995 TOYOTA AVALON

92 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1995TOYOTAAVALON carries 92 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 4 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1995 AVALON is steering:rack and pinion with 6 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (5) and seat belts:front:webbing (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 1995 AVALON, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

92
Complaints
8
Crashes
4
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

92 filings

Crashes Reported

8 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING:RACK AND PINION6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL5
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING4
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS4
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM3
AIR BAGS3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
SUSPENSION:FRONT2
SEATS2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL2
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID2

Recent Complaints

20140211VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY DAD'S OLD TOYOTA AVALON USED TO UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BETWEEN THE END OF 2005 AND 2007. I WOULD SAY THAT BY THE END OF 2007 IT WOULD HAPPEN EVERY TIME I DROVE ON THE INTERSTATE!! WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED I WOULD HIT THE BRAKES AND USUALLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE CAR WOULD DECELERATE (OBVIOUSLY CROSSING MY FINGERS AND PRAYING AT THIS MOMENT) HOWEVER THIS GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY I NEVER HIT ANYONE OR CRASHED. I BECAME SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND IT EVENTUALLY FELL APART ANYWAY... *TR

20140211SERVICE BRAKES

MY DAD'S OLD TOYOTA AVALON USED TO UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BETWEEN THE END OF 2005 AND 2007. I WOULD SAY THAT BY THE END OF 2007 IT WOULD HAPPEN EVERY TIME I DROVE ON THE INTERSTATE!! WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED I WOULD HIT THE BRAKES AND USUALLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE CAR WOULD DECELERATE (OBVIOUSLY CROSSING MY FINGERS AND PRAYING AT THIS MOMENT) HOWEVER THIS GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY I NEVER HIT ANYONE OR CRASHED. I BECAME SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND IT EVENTUALLY FELL APART ANYWAY... *TR

20100930ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1)WAS RECENTLY ABLE TO SHUT OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY WHILE STILL IN DRIVE. DID THIS INADVERTENTLY WHEN I FORGOT TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. FORTUNATELY VEHICLE DID NOT ROLL AWAY AS I WAS IN THE GARAGE AT HOME. 2) FAILURE ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN I TRY SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE IN DRIVE. THE KEY SIMPLY COMES OUT. KEY SHOULD NOT COME OUT IN DRIVE. 3) AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. HAD IT DIAGNOSED. AFTER AN HOUR AND A HALF, THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT NEEDS A NEW SHIFT SOLENOID ECU, WHICH THEY MUST ORDER. *TR

Mileage: 127,100

20091229STEERING:COLUMN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN DRIVING HE NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE BOLTS TIGHTENED ON THE STEERING SHAFT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107000.

Mileage: 133,000

20080214FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1995 TOYOTA AVALON ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *KB A PASSERBY INFORMED THE CONSUMER A ROD MAY HAVE WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN OIL LEAK, WHICH THEN DRIPPED ON THE MUFFLER. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0043-91. *JB

Mileage: 13,000

20050103CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE TRAVELING IN STOP AND GO FREEWAY TRAFFIC, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES (BOTH I AND MY WIFE THOUGHT THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP) BUT RATHER THAN STOPPING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED AND WE SLID INTO A STOPPED CAR. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO OPEN.*AK

20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

OIL SLUDGE IN ENGINE VALVE COVERS RESULTED IN OIL BEING PULLED INTO THE AIR INTAKE THROUGH THE PCV VALVE. THE BAFFLE SYSTEM ON BOTH COVERS WERE REMOVED TO REVEAL NEAR TOTAL BLOCKAGE OF BAKED SLUDGE. THE CAMSHAFT VALLEYS IN THE CYLINDER HEADS WERE COATED WITH UP TO 1/2 OF SLUDGE. THE THROTTLE BODY, AIR CHAMBER, AIR CHAMBER CONTROL VALVE, AND INTAKE PLENUM WERE COATED WITH OILY SLUDGE AS WELL. AIR INTAKE AND CAMSHAFT CHAMBERS REQUIRED MANY HOUR OF CLEANING.

Mileage: 99,500

20030624FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PARKED MY AVALON IN MY APARTMENT PARKING LOT FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR. WHEN I RETURNED THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD HAD MELTED COMPLETELY AROUND THE FUSE BOX AND STEERING WHEEL. ALL OF THE DASH AND SURROUNDING AREA WAS BURNED OR MELTED. ALSO I MIGHT MENTION THAT I AM AWARE OF NO CHANGES OF THE FUSES BY MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE, AND THE CAR HASN'T HAD ANY MAJOR REPAIRS (OUTSIDE OF FLUID CHANGES, TIRE ALIGNMENTS) SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. *JB

20030428SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE IN TWO RESULTING IN PUNCTURED TIRE AND THE COST OF REPLACING BOTH SIDES WITH NEW STRUTS & SPRINGS. *NLM

Mileage: 103,000

20030325ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY CAR JUST RECENTLY STARTED TO EMIT WHITE SMOKE WHEN WE WOULD START IT, AND THEN IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD OIL SLUDGE/GEL AND THAT I HAD BLOWN A ROD. THEY THEN TOLD ME ABOUT TOYOTA PAYING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT I THEN FOUND OUT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED THAT IT STARTED WITH THE 1997 MODEL. I THEN REQUESTED THAT THEY(TOYOTA) REVIEW THIS FURTHER AND THEY ASKED THAT I SUBMIT MY OIL CHANGE LOG AND DEALER DIAGNOSIS. AFTER THEY REVIEWED IT FURTHER THEY SAID IT WAS A LACK OF MAINTENANCE ON MY PART AND THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THAT THEY WOULD DO. I HAVE REALLY TAKEN CARE OF MY CAR AND AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CAR HAS BEEN GREAT UP TIL NOW. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING FURTHER THAT I SHOULD DO.

Mileage: 97,244

20030205ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHILE VEHICLE SAT IN DRIVE WAY, OIL SLUGGED IN THE ENGINE CAUSING THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. PH

20021206STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER STATED GLUE RAN DOWN ALL 4 DOORS. GLUE WAS COMING FROM DOOR PANELS INSIDE OF CAR. CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF GLUE FUMES. TS *TT

Mileage: 39,184

20020917STEERING:RACK AND PINION

RIGHT SIDE STEERING RACK SEAL WAS LEAKING, DEALER REPLACED STEERING RACK. *SLC

20020812POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

SIX BOLTS ON THE DRIVETRAIN WHERE IT ENTERS THE ENGINE CAME LOOSE. ALL FELL OUT EXCEPT ABOUT TWO. MECHANIC WHO CHECKED IT SAID IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF IT FELL OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TOYOTA REPLACED IT FOR FREE, ONLY AFTER INTENSE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHO SHOULD PAY FOR REPAIR.*AK

20020709WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

FROM 60,000 MILES TO THE PRESENT TEN STUDS BROKE OFF ON VARIOUS WHEELS. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20020318VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE DRIVING FOOT SLIPPED FROM BRAKES PEDAL TO GAS PEDAL ONLY TOUCHING GAS PEDAL LIGHTLY, AND VEHICLE SPED UNCONTROLLABLY IN REVERSE. VEHICLE STILL WAS ACCELERATING AFTER STOPPING. *AK

20020212FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FLUID LEAKS AT A FAST RATE COMPROMISING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO TURN; MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES IN THE MODELS BUILT BETWEEN 1995-1998; PLEASE CONTACT ME AT X64026. *AK

20011024SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

ABS WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A HIGH PITCH SQUEAL COMING FROM THE REAR SEAT AREA WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT ABS SENSOR FOR LEFT-REAR WHEEL FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NLM

20010731CrashAIR BAGS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20010523STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER DOOR LOCKS - ALLOWING DOORS TO BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE RESULTS IN INABILITY TO EXIT CAR THRU DOOR(S) AFFECTED; PROB REPORTED TO TOYOTA DEALER; THEY UNABLE TO RE-CREATE NOR REPAIR ; HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE; THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM ; HOW CAN I GET TOYOTA'S ATTENTION ?*AK

Compare 1995TOYOTAAVALON to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1995 TOYOTA AVALON have?
The 1995 TOYOTA AVALON has 92 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 4 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 TOYOTA AVALON?
The most-complained component for the 1995 TOYOTA AVALON is STEERING:RACK AND PINION with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING.
Is the 1995 TOYOTA AVALON safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.