Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Toyota Avalon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving and trying to change lanes, the vehicle began to accelerate out of control. It began swaying from one lane to the next. She tried to depress the brake pedal but the vehicle was unresponsive. She hit the center divider to stop the vehicle because she had no control and could not stop the vehicle. The contact was injured and the vehicle was totaled. A police report was taken at the scene. She called the manufacturer after the accident and had the vehicle towed to a dealership. When inspected, the dealer stated that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. The accident occurred in 2007. The current and failure mileages were approximately 27,000. Updated 03/10/10 updated 06/14/10.
1999 Toyota Avalon. Unintended acceleration causing an accident. The consumer stated she was at a car wash which was nearing the end of the was on the conveyor belt with the vehicle in neutral gear as required. At the end of the wash cycle, the green light came on which was her signal to put the vehicle in drive and ease off the belt onto the lot. At the green light, the consumer put her foot on the brake to change the gear from neutral to drive. Once in drive gear, the vehicle suddenly and instantly accelerated at a tremendously high speed. The consumer stomped on the brakes continuously with no result. The vehicle crossed the east sidewalk and three empty southbound lanes. It then collided into the three northbound-lane cars; crossed the west sidewalk and crashed through a six foot commercial chain link fence; hit a parked pick up truck and crashed into a wall. …
Driving my daughter to school about the 17th of December 2013, I attempted to brake the car to a stop. Instead the car lurched forward suddenly out of control and mounted the sidewalk. It traveled about 20 feet before I was able to brake it to a complete stop. There was no object or person in the path of the car and nobody was injured. This is the third such incident. The first was on June 3, 2006; the second was on 3 February 2010. All involved the car either being stopped or coming to a stop. I documented both, writing to Toyota full accounts of each incident. I have copies of these letters. Please note that the first incident occurred on June 3, 2006 long before the widely publicized death of 4 people in an accelerating Toyota vehicle.
Dt*: the consumer stated the cruise control engaged with the control switch in the off position; however the cruise control lamp illuminated. The vehicle's speed rapidly increased to over 70 MPH, although the brake pedal was being depressed. The consumer disengaged the cruise control by shutting the engine off. The vehicle was towed to the local dealership for inspection where they replaced the cruise control switch. Updated 02/13/06.
The vehicle intermittently experienced sudden acceleration when the brake pedal was applied. The consumer had to apply excessive force to the brake pedal to stop the acceleration. The consumer almost hit a pedestrian when this occurred.
While at a stop light was hit by a bus, and then consumer hit accelerator and vehicle ran into a building. Upon impact, none of the air bags deployed. Contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.
The vehicle accelerates intermittently although the consumers foot is on the brake pedal. The consumer is forced to shut the vehicle off in order to get the problem to stop. The dealer has been notified. Jb
At about 5:00 p.m. March 18, 2007, as I went to pick up my 96 year old mother at the retirement community, I stopped my 1999 Toyota Avalon underneath the drive-through canopy to wait for her. As I waited there, I noticed that a car had pulled up behind me and was preparing to discharge an elderly passenger so I proceeded around the circular drive to get out of their way. As I slowly circled around the drive back toward the entrance I noted the other car had cleared out. As I coasted toward the entrance I noted a small group of people on the sidewalk walking toward the entrance in front of me. As I continued slowly back toward the entrance, I felt my vehicle accelerate violently toward the group of pedestrians. Engaging the brake pedal with both feet, I gradually brought my vehicle under control and continued to a safe stop where I shut off the ignition. …
The problem occurs when attempting to accelerate (from a stop) while making a left hand turn. --for instance at an intersection occasionally, and recently, more often than not, when I apply moderate gas, between 1/4 and 1/2 pedal, the engine loses power and the car just sits there. To complete my turn, I have to let off the gas and proceed slowly, sometimes narrowly being hit by oncoming traffic.
Without warning engine will rev up to 5500 rpms, causing vehicle to lurch forward or in reverse, causing loss of control. Consumer must quickly apply brakes, and change gear in order to keep vehicle from moving. Toyota cannot duplicate defect. Therfore, cannot determine cause. In meantime, consumer is driving an unsafe vehicle.
Acceleration complaints in other Avalon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 1999 Toyota Avalon?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 1999 Toyota Avalon, 22% of the model year's 92 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Toyota Avalon acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 1999 Toyota Avalon, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Toyota Avalon acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 43,000 miles, and 38% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries and 1 death to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.