1997 Toyota Avalon Problems, Recalls & Reliability
155 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1997 Toyota Avalon, alongside 1 recall campaign and 1 defect investigation. It scores 32/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Steering leads the reports, typically around 83,732 miles.
Typical
Where 1997 sits among all Avalon years
What owners report
“Dealer replaced the power steering rack because it was leaking. Owner noticed noise while steering, and checked power steering fluid to find that it was very close to empty. The dealer didn't charge for labor, so i only paid for the rack ($600.00). Contacted toyota about a recall, but was told that…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Avalon
“The front suspension bar was broken causing the vehicle veeres to the left while on highway and goes out of control resulting in accident. Yh”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Avalon
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 35 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 99,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 70,000 and 142,206 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MAINE, MICHIGAN,MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NOTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA,…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE.
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
58 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on brakes & stability and visibility & wipers — are on file for the 1997 Toyota Avalon. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1997 Avalon TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1997 Toyota Avalon reliable?
The 1997 Toyota Avalon drew 155 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 32/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).
What are the most common 1997 Toyota Avalon problems?
The top reported problems for the 1997 Toyota Avalon are steering (43 complaints), suspension (27), and brakes & stability (12).
At what mileage do 1997 Toyota Avalon problems show up?
Owners most often report 1997 Toyota Avalon problems around 99,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 70,000 and 142,206 miles.
Does the 1997 Toyota Avalon have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 1997 Toyota Avalon. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.