1998 Toyota Avalon Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1998 Toyota Avalon, and owners have filed 178 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
1 safety recall for the 1998 Toyota Avalon
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Electrical system: control module
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles, MINI vans and passenger vehicles equipped with a theft deterrent systems (tds) supplied by audiovox corporation and distributed by southeast toyota distributors, inc. In the states of alabama, florida, georgia, north and south carolina. The alarm wiring harness plugs into the vehicle's…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code label on the security system harness and any displaying the manufacturing/final date code will be replaced with newly produced harnesses. The date codes are: rav4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98,…
178 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 Toyota Avalon have filed 178 complaints with NHTSA; 25 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 25 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 82,915 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 43 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tie rods detached from frame, along with steering parts became unsafe on minor highway speed turnes”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 26, 2023 · Steering
“All plastic parts are disintegrating, seer belts, door locks, door handles, AC vents , body trim, steering wheel, lights, & anything made of plastic”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 26, 2023 · Seat belts
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1998 Toyota Avalon. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19 / 27 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Large Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Toyota Avalon model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota Avalon model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 Toyota Avalon | 0 | 80 |
| 1996 Toyota Avalon | 0 | 109 |
| 1997 Toyota Avalon | 1 | 125 |
| 1998 Toyota Avalon | 1 | 178 |
| 1999 Toyota Avalon | 1 | 92 |
| 2000 Toyota Avalon | 2 | 173 |
| 2001 Toyota Avalon | 2 | 134 |
| 2002 Toyota Avalon | 1 | 116 |
| 2003 Toyota Avalon | 2 | 293 |
| 2004 Toyota Avalon | 3 | 205 |
| 2005 Toyota Avalon | 7 | 228 |
| 2006 Toyota Avalon | 7 | 360 |
| 2007 Toyota Avalon | 6 | 243 |
| 2008 Toyota Avalon | 6 | 349 |
| 2009 Toyota Avalon | 7 | 91 |
| 2010 Toyota Avalon | 7 | 46 |
| 2011 Toyota Avalon | 1 | 106 |
| 2012 Toyota Avalon | 4 | 30 |
| 2013 Toyota Avalon | 4 | 137 |
| 2014 Toyota Avalon | 4 | 96 |
| 2015 Toyota Avalon | 2 | 41 |
| 2016 Toyota Avalon | 3 | 23 |
| 2017 Toyota Avalon | 2 | 14 |
| 2018 Toyota Avalon | 2 | 24 |
| 2019 Toyota Avalon | 4 | 71 |
| 2020 Toyota Avalon | 3 | 10 |
| 2021 Toyota Avalon | 2 | 21 |
| 2022 Toyota Avalon | 0 | 8 |
Checking a specific 1998 Toyota Avalon
How do I know if my 1998 Toyota Avalon has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1998 Toyota Avalon; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 98V278000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Toyota models
- Camry18,189 complaints
- Prius12,516 complaints
- Corolla11,739 complaints
- RAV49,385 complaints
- Sienna8,549 complaints
- Tacoma8,440 complaints
- Tundra6,922 complaints
- Highlander5,745 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.