Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Toyota Avalon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 warning indicators illuminated. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot. The contact called team Toyota of glen mills (1050 baltimore pike, glen mills, pa 19342, [phone]) and informed them of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: [redacted]. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 38,350. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 U.S.c. 552(b)(6).
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 !
Dt: the consumer was involved in an accident and the air bags did not deploy. There was no indication that the air bags would not deploy. The manufacturer was called and the consumer is waiting for a reply. The dealer had not been contacted yet. The driver sustained bruises to her sternum, abdomen and left side from the seat belt. The cruise control was on when all of a sudden a hail storm hit and instantly changed the road into ice. The consumer swerved from the outer lane across the highway and into the median where the vehicle struck two vehicles. The traction control did not activate and the steering had become inoperative. The traction control was non-existent on all 4 wheels.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Toyota Avalon. The driver was driving approximately 10 MPH. Unexpectedly, the vehicle began to increase excessive acceleration. The driver applied both feet to the brake pedal with great force. The vehicle crashed into a stump to avoid entering into a river. The speed rate increased to 35 MPH. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver suffered minor injuries. The police was not called to the scene. The failure mileage was 12,000.
2000 Avalon xls - my wife was hit broadside by another car that ran a red light @~50 MPH. The impact occurred on the drivers side and knocked the vehicle 25 feet sideways down the road. The side air bags failed to deploy. The car was deemed a total loss by the insurance company and they took possession of the vehicle.
My son was driving on a two lane road came around a corner and a lady hit him head on he hit his head in steering wheel and seat belt did not lock the air bags did not deploy[redacted]
2005 Toyota Avalon was invovled in a crash. It hit the rear end of another car. The Avalon was going 55 MPH and the car it hit was going 35 MPH. Both cars were totalled. The Avalon's air bag failed to deploy. The driver of the Avalon had minor injuries.
The first thing that happened was that the air bag light on the dash came on. Looked this up in the manual and it said to take the car in to the dealer - which I did. The local Toyota deal said that they ran a check and found nothing wrong with the car. Their explanation was that a LED light in the dash was malfunctioning. My horn was not working either - so they wiggled the wires under the hood and said that it would be fine. The horn lasted until I was out of their driveway. This fall I decided to take my car to a local garage to have the brakes replaced. And asked them if they would check on my horn, since it didn't work. They told me it was odd for a horn to go out - but they would replace it if needed. Before they did anything to the horn they called me to let me know that not only did I not have a horn but - I didn't have the driver air bag or cruise control. …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Avalon. While driving at various speeds, the air bag warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the center brake sensor, air bag sensor assembly, and driver and passenger seat belt assembly failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the seat belt assemblies failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Updated 02/10/16 updated 05/04/18
It was a clear day dry road, about 5:30 pm on aug. 16, 2005. I was westbound on state rt 9, in loudoun county va traveling at about 30 MPH. A 2005 Honda crv, SUV, crossed my lane directly in front of me. I was so close that there was no time to avoid the accident, no time to slow down. I pushed the SUV sideways about 30 feet before coming to a stop. During the accident my Toyota Avalon air bags failed to deploy, (operate). During the accident I could see the side air bags on the Honda operate. As a result of the accident I was injured by the seat belt and my car was a total loss. No corrective action has been taken by Toyota with respect to this accident.
Airbag complaints in other Avalon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2000 Toyota Avalon?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the air bags of the 2000 Toyota Avalon, 15% of the model year's 173 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Toyota Avalon airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2000 Toyota Avalon, though it has 2 recalls 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 2000 Toyota Avalon airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 16 crashes, 0 fires and 17 injuries to air bags 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.