Most common 1996 Toyota Avalon problems
Share of the 109 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Avalon complaints by model year
Best Avalon years: 2017, 2020, 2022. Years to avoid: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 1998. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 1996 Toyota Avalon:
Turn signal failures
Consumers allege left and right turn signal functions fail while driving.Toyota dealers have replaced turn signal switches, but in one instance the new switch still failed intermittently.dealer mechanics instructed the owner to turn the hazard warning switch on/off to reset the switch.the hazard warning switch is connected in-line with the turn signal switch, thus an electrical malfunction in the hazard warning…
Turn signal failures
There is no summary currently available
Engine seizure
What 1996 Toyota Avalon owners say
Engine & cooling all 21 →
While driving to an appointment, I had unintended acceleration. Luckily, I was able to pull over to side of road after using two feet to slow vehicle, and shut vehicle off. After trying to restart vehicle several times, it was still revving. After a half hour, I was able to start it and bring it home. Very scary! It has happened several times since then, when my husband was driving, and we were able to pull off to safety. We took it to our mechanic, and since it was not doing it while they had it, they couldn't find what was causing the problem, and fix it. While trying to find the cause of this problem on the internet, we discovered that this was a common problem to this vehicle year, and most were on camry's. We do not have replacement floor mats, and the pedal was not stuck. We called Toyota to check on recall information. …
The engine cut out/stalled in the middle of the expressway with no warning. Pulled to the emergency lane, turned off engine, waited a while, turned engine back on and engine light was on for first time. Towed car to dealership, who indicates it is oil sludge due to failure to change oil frequently enough. Oil has been changed every 4000 miles. Getting no satisfaction from dealer, who indicates minimum repair cost will be $3300 - $3500 for rebuilt engine. Made complaint to Toyota corporate, who also are not providing assistance at this time. Getting run around as complaint was filed, which is being sent back to regional office for handling. Regional office already indicated that they probably aren't going to offer any assistance because the 1996 model isn't included in the oil sludge recall on 1997 - 2002 models. Engine has just over 63,000 miles on it. …
Brakes
After receiving a jump, I was told to drive the car for about 20 minutes to recharge the battery. After driving for about 10 minutes, the gas pedal seemed to stick. Then when driving the speed began to accelerate without pressing the gas pedal. The longer we drove the higher the engine revved. I decided to return to my home about 5 minutes away then the car brake would not stop the car at a stop light and I had to quickly turn the corner to a side street until the light changed and I was able to enter my street. I pulled the car to the side to park it and it would not stop with my foot on the brake to the floor so I quickly put it in park and turned it off. It revved a few seconds before finally turning off.
Rear brakes squealed only when backing up. Had brake shoes cleaned many times by dealer. Always the same thing until replacing rear brakes fixed problem. Not under warranty.
Speed control & acceleration
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Toyota Avalon. While pulling up to a curb, the consumer attempted to stop, but the vehicle accelerated forward. The consumer tried to stop the vehicle by using repeated brake application, then putting the gear in park which made the vehicle go into reverse. The vehicle then accelerated backwards 50 feet and pinned a pedestrian under the vehicle dragging him approximately 50 feet. The pedestrian died from his injures. The vehicle continued backwards until it hit a utility pole. The failure mileage was 68,047. Updated 02/19/10 updated 09/02/10 updated 9/27/11
Tl contact owns a 1996 Toyota Avalon. The contact was involved in a crash and the vehicle was destroyed. The contact had to be cut out of the vehicle in order to be transported to the hospital via ambulance. The contact sustained a fractured hip. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal remained stuck to the floor when the pedal was engaged which caused him to crash into a building. Both the dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 226,444. A police report was filed. The VIN was unavailable.
1996 Toyota Avalon engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Toyota Avalon a good car?
Based on 109 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Avalon rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Avalon at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Toyota Avalon?
The engine & cooling — 21 complaints, 19% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the brakes (12) and speed control & acceleration (10).
How many recalls does the 1996 Toyota Avalon have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1996 Toyota Avalon. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Avalon?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2020 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 1998. See the full Toyota Avalon years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Toyota Avalon problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 116,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.