Is the 2000 Toyota Avalon a bad year?
172 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Avalon years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2000 Toyota Avalon are in line with other Avalon years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2000 Avalon owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 109,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 34 (20%) | 95k–125k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Air bags | 26 (15%) | 60k–140k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 20 (12%) | 40k–98k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Engine | 19 (11%) | 35k–91k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 22 (13%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 17 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 13 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 10 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 109,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 172 complaints: 43 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 24 report an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Apr 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2000 Toyota Avalon: 2
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. Should the steering lock bar break, the steering wheel would lock and the driver would lose the ability to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Due to improper heat treatment, the rear axle may not have adequate strength in some areas. After extended use of the vehicle, the rear axle shafts could fail or break.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 42
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2000 Toyota Avalon. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic…
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues…
Low battery voltage can contribute to a MIL "ON" condition for P0335 (Crankshaft Position Sensor Circuit) and/or P0340…
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Engine seizure
Neighbouring years
2001 Avalon: 134 complaints, keep it.
Every Toyota Avalon year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · All Avalon years side by side
Other Toyota models: Toyota 4Runner · Toyota C-HR · Toyota Camry · Toyota Camry Hybrid · Toyota Camry Solara · Toyota Celica · Toyota Corolla · Toyota Corolla Cross · Toyota Corolla Matrix · Toyota Echo · Toyota FJ Cruiser · Toyota Grand Highlander · Toyota Highlander · Toyota Highlander Hybrid · Toyota Matrix · Toyota Prius · Toyota Prius c · Toyota Prius v · Toyota RAV4 · Toyota RAV4 Hybrid · Toyota RAV4 Prime · Toyota Sequoia · Toyota Sienna · Toyota Sienna Hybrid · Toyota Tacoma · Toyota Tundra · Toyota Venza · Toyota Venza Hybrid · Toyota Yaris. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2000 Toyota Avalon a bad year?
172 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Avalon years. At 109,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Toyota Avalon?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (34), air bags (26), speed control (20), engine (19), brakes (22).
How many recalls does the 2000 Toyota Avalon have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 10V-345), Suspension (NHTSA 00V-154). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.