Most common 2004 Toyota Avalon problems
Share of the 205 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 →
2004 Toyota Avalon recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29, 2004, 2003-2004 Avalon vehicles manufactured June 5, 2002, to December 20, 2004,…
Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began on August 24, 2015.
Engine and engine cooling
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004 avalon vehicles; 2004 and 2005 camry, camry solara, highlander, and sienna vehicles, 2006 highlander hybrid; 2004 and 2005 Lexus es330 and rx330; and 2006 Lexus rx400h vehicles manufactured from June 1, 2004 through March 31, 2005, equipped with the 1mz-fe or 3mz-fe engine.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the crankshaft pulley to identify whether it was produced by the U.S. Supplier. If so, the dealer will replace the pulley with a new one at no charge.
Steering
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 eventually the lock bar could break.
Remedy: 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.
What 2004 Toyota Avalon owners say
Air bags all 127 →
Tl contact owns a 2004 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving distracted at 70 MPH, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact mentioned that the SRS warning light previously illuminated intermittently. The contact sustained head and mouth injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle had previously been repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V147000 (air bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 147,000.
No airbags deployed in my 2004 Avalon xls when a driver stated she did not see me/my car and turned left in front of me leaving me 2 seconds to brake.this was on a cityn street and she was turning from stopped position into private commercial parking lot. I was driving in lane closest to her car to reach light another 500 feet ahead so I could turn south when I got to it. My car was traveling 30-35mph(5-10mph under posted speed limit).I had just entered the roadway 400 ft before her turn from 0mph to maybe 3mph? In front of me. My car hit hers on bar between the front and back passenger doors. It caused her car to rise up-I saw the undercarriage of her car; it then rolled completely over onto its roof out of my sight. All witness descriptions of the incident and my own description of what happened were exactly the same. …
Steering all 28 →
I was driving on an expressway at apx 65 MPH going onto the off ramp going down to 25mph the steering became very tight and then as I drove home the steering wheel started clicking. I checked fluids at home and they looked OK. Drove around the block and power steering was gone left and right then heard a grinding noise, it felt OK going straight. After I drove it it became more intermittent with power coming and going altogether. On 8/26/15 had a small accident on the front quarter panel. It was at body shop for 4 days. I had asked them to check the steering and they said it was the rack and pinion. Called Toyota and was told the recall in 2010 was for a different steering issue than the steering problem that I mentioned. Toyota said they cannot help me. I informed them of a disability I have and might not be able to adjust to it. Too bad!
I was just coming off the expressway driving from 75 MPH, down to 35 getting off the ramp. As I exited onto the ramp I noticed that the steering was getting really hard to control and had a pounding noise . From that location it took about three more big turns where I had an extremely hard time turning the wheel. When I got home, checked levels in power steering fluid, which needed a little more, so I filled it ,and coolant levels looked normal. I drove around the block to see if it made a difference. It was actually getting worse. Now the pounding noise got louder and it was still really hard to turn, and eventually developed a clicking/grinding noise. So now I'm going to call Toyota to see if they have a recall to cover what is going on.
Speed control & acceleration all 25 →
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Toyota Avalon. While the vehicle was stationary and being shifted into park, the contact depressed the brake pedal. The contact heard the engine rev and the vehicle accelerated independently, causing the contact to crash into a fence. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene and the contact's insurance company confirmed that the vehicle was destroyed. The contact spoke with sloane Toyota of glenside (503 n easton rd, glenside, pa 19038) who documented the incident. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.
Having traveled up a steep road, I proceeded to turn into an acquaintance's driveway. I began to apply the brake as I came to park behind her vehicle. Suddenly without warning, my 2004 Toyota Avalon surged ahead and crashed into her parked vehicle causing my front bumper to go under the back of her 2004 sebring convertible lifting it up off the ground. The air bags did not deploy. I called my Toyota dealer and they suggested I not drive it (I was to go out of town for the memorial day weekend). So I had it towed to the dealer as I wanted them to check this accerlation problem. I had $2537.16 damage to the front end of my Avalon, that included damage to my front bumper, grille, headlamp, panel hood, radiator and front fenders. The sebring had approximately $650 damage. It took 10 days to repair. The dealer said that he could find nothing wrong with my vehicle. …
2004 Toyota Avalon engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Toyota Avalon a good car?
Based on 205 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Avalon rates average: 26% fewer complaints than 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 2004 Toyota Avalon?
The air bags — 127 complaints, 62% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the steering (28) and speed control & acceleration (25).
How many recalls does the 2004 Toyota Avalon have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2004 Toyota Avalon, the most recent from January 28, 2015 (frontal). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the 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 2004 Toyota Avalon problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 69,000 miles; 35% 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.