There are 34 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2000 Toyota Avalonin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Two times the power steering locked/hard to turn momentarily while driving and turning. Check power steering fluid full and no leak, power steering belt is good. Stop driving the car for now. First incident happened on Dec. 15 and the second last Dec. 23.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB, SPUN AROUND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND CRASHED INTO A BRIDGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.
PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SHAKES TILL I REACH 45MPH IT STOPS
SUSPENSION: MAKES STRANGE SOUNDS - LIKE PARTS ARE GRINDING AGAINST EACH OTHER ESPECIALLY WHEN BACKING UP. STEERING - MAKES UNUSUAL SOUNDS - AS IF PARTS ARE RUBBING AGAINST EACH OTHER.
THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY 10, 2015 WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, I TOOK THIS RAMP AT 30 MPH WHICH IS A LEFT TUNING CURVE THAT TAKES YOU TO THE HIGHWAY. AT THE END OF THE RAMP I HAD TO GRADUALLY ACCELERATE AND MAKE A MODERATE RIGHT TURN TO JOIN THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. AFTER FINISHING THE RIGHT TURN, I COULDN'T KEEP THE CAR RUNNING STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND I WASN'T ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE KEPT ON GOING THE RIGHT TURN AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL CAUSING THE BUMPER COVER, BUMPER REINFORCEMENT, WIND SHIELD WASHER TANK, FRONT BUMPER GRILL AND LEFT AND RIGHT LIGHTS TO BE DAMAGED. THE STEERING SYSTEM AND ITS COMPONENTS ARE IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED BECAUSE "STEERING INTERLOCK ASSEMBLY" RECALL OF JULY 29, 2010 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V345000) WAS NOT DONE TO MY 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. TOYOTA DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THIS RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE VEHICLES LIKE MINE THAT BEING DRIVEN ON THE STREETS WITHOUT THE STEERING INTERLOCK ASSEMBLY RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE RECALL STATES THAT: 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. TOYOTA FAILED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT. TOYOTA PERFORMED AN INSPECTION WHICH NOT RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN RECALL. PLEASE HELP THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY BE INSPECTED. *TR
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED IN THE WINTER, THE STEERING COLUMN IS SOMETIMES LOCKED, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED BACK AND FORTH REPEATEDLY, THE VEHICLE WARMS UP, OR THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON AND OFF. INTERNET RESEARCH SUGGESTS THIS IS PART OF ESTABLISHED STEERING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2000 AVALON AND LIKELY RELATED TO THE STEERING LOCK BAR OF THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM. NO STEERING ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED AS OF YET WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *TR
THIS IS AN INTERMITEND PROBLEM AND IT HAPPENS WHEN STARTING ON THE CAR. TO TURN THE CAR ON I HAVE TO TAKE THE STEERING WHEEL AND FORCEFULLY TURN IT LEFT AND RIGHT. MOVE ALSO THE SHIFTER TO NEUTRAL. I ALSO TRY TO PRESS THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME. MECHANICS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS ALSO CHECKED BY A TOYOTA DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT IDENTIFIED. THE BATTERY AND THE CABLES ARE WORKING PROPERLY. NOW IT IS HAPPENING VERY OFTEN AND CREATING A SECURITY AND SAFETY ISSUE. I CHECKED THE RECALLS FOR THIS CAR ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SITUATION I DID NOT FIND AN ANSWER ALTHOUGH I HAVE READ LOTS OF RELATED COMPLAINS. I AM PLANNING TO CHANGE THE IGNITION OR THE STARTER BUT PROBABLY IS A TRY AND ERROR SOLUTION.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL 10V345000 (STEERING). WHEN HE CALLED TWO DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 104,000.
COULD NOT PUT CAR INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL DRIVER SHAFT CLIP TOTALLY FAILED ON MY TOYOTA 2000 AVALON XLS NEW SHAFT ASSEMBLY INSTALLED WESTBURY TOYOTA WOULD NOT REPAIR UNLESS I PAID A $300 DIAGNOSTIC FEE WILL CALL TO SEE IF PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR
DEAR SIR OR MADAM, I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WITH MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. MY CAR IS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON XS, AND THE PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING. I DRIVE ABOUT 25 MILES TO WORK DAILY THROUGH THE FREEWAY AND YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ITSELF WHILE THE CAR WAS ON, FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES I WAS UNABLE TO GO IN ANY OTHER DIRECTION OTHER THAN STRAIGHT BECAUSE IT HAD LOCKED ITSELF. AFTER USING FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT HAD FINALLY DISLODGED, IT WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I HAD STARTED TO DRIFT INTO THE OTHER LANE SO I SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH FOR IT TO BE LOCKED IN A STRAIGHTAWAY INSTEAD OF A TURN. HOWEVER THAT WAS ONLY THE FIRST TIME IT HAD HAPPENED, LATER THAT NIGHT WHEN I WAS DOING ERRANDS IT HAD LOCKED UP ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME OUTSIDE OUR HOUSE. AFTER TRYING TO BUDGE IT FOR A WHOLE HOUR IT FINALLY UNLOCKED AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO OUR CAR SHOP. THE OWNER OF THE SHOP, A FRIEND OF OURS, ENCOURAGED US TO WRITE TO YOU TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO ANYONE ELSE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 114000.
POWER STEERING BECAME INTERMITTENTLY EFFECTIVE, WITH SECTIONS OF STEERING WHEEL TURNING BEING HARD TO TURN, AND EASY TO TURN. MECHANIC REPLACED THE LOWER STEERING ASSEMBLY U-JOINT, AND STATED THAT WE WERE LUCKY THAT IT DID NOT BREAK. THE OLD UNIT IS OPERABLE ON ONE AXIS, WHEREAS IT IS FROZE UP ON THE OTHER90 DEGREE AXIS. *TR
WHILE I WAS TURNING A 90 DEGREE RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN COMPLETELY LOCKED UP WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. NOT POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE, BUT COMPLETE LOCK UP. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND STOPPED THE CAR. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF, THEN BACK ON, THE CAR COULD AGAIN BE STEERED. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, AND WE HAD BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2000. CAR NOW HAS 92,000 MILES. THE DEALER REMOVED THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK AT MY INSISTENCE. NO OTHER PART WAS REPAIRED OR REPLACED, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
MY 2000 TOYOTA AVALON STEERING WOULD RANDOMLY LOCKUP WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE PIN THAT LOCKS UP THE STEERING WHEEL FOR THEFT PROTECTION WOULD ACTIVATE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHICH IN TURN WOULD LOCK THE STEERING UP MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHEN HE WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN RUNNING CAR INTO THE CURB. A WEEK LATER I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING LOCKED CAUSING ME TO VEER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC AND I AVOIDED A COLLISION. MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAD NO EXPLAINATION FOR THE PROBLEM. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPLACING THE PART WITH LABOR WOULD BE ABOUT $800.00. I HAD A MECHANIC AT A LOCAL GARAGE JUST REMOVE THE LOCKING DEVICE FOR $200.00 AND NOT REPLACE IT. *TR
WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM SOUTHBOUND EASTERN AVE. TO WEST BOUND WARM SPRINGS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE TURNED POSITION CAUSING THE CAR TO GO OVER A CURB NEARLY HITTING A UTILITY POLE. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS BENT AND THAT TIRE WAS DESTROYED AND THE FRONT END LIKELY KNOCKED OUT OF ALIGNMENT. IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES A DISASTROUS CRASH COULD EASILY HAVE OCCURRED. I HAVE A PHONE CALL IN TO A TOYOTA DEALER TO FIX THINGS. *TR
2000 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TOYOTA RECALL STEERING COLUMN UPPER BRACKET *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING BRACKET IN HIS VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED, PRIOR TO TOYOTA ISSUING A RECALL. THE CONSUMER WROTE TOYOTA TWO MONTHS LATER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. TOYOTA RESPONDING BY SAYING THE REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE, WERE NOT RECALLED REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL AS WELL AS HIS INVOICE STATED THE STEERING BRACKET WAS THE PROBLEM. *JB
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHILE I'M DRIVING MY 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. *TR
I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND IT NOW HAS 94,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. RECENTLY I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING WHILE I AM DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND WAS TURNING RIGHT INTO A PARKING LOT. THE WHEEL LOCKED, I STOPPED THE CAR AND TRIED TURNED THE WHEEL RIGHT AND LEFT TO UNLOCK IT AND IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE BACKED UP A FEW FEET AND THEN PULLED FORWARD WHILE TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN IT UNLOCKED. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A FREAK OCCURRENCE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED ABOUT ONE MONTH LATER DURING ANOTHER RIGHT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND THEN AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. ALL THREE TIMES THE CAR HAS BEEN MOVING AND THE ENGINE RUNNING. I ASKED A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP ABOUT REPAIRING THE VEHICLE AND THEY HAVE CALLED SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERS AND NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED COMPLETELY WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE UNEXPECTED FAILURE CAUSED STEERING DIFFICULTY AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE ON THE STREET. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; HOWEVER, BOTH VEHICLES SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGES. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STEER NORMALLY AND WAS DRIVEN TO HER RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 124,000.
ON JULY 3, 2008, MY 2000 TOYOTA AVALON STEERING COLUMN LOCKED WHILE ON VACATION IN SEDONA, AZ. IT WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS IN PRESCOTT, AZ. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR RECEIPT READS: FAULTY LOCK PIN, REMOVED IGNITION LOCK BRACKET, REMOVED LOCK PIN, REINSTALLED BRACKET. NEEDS NEW LOCK BRACKET AND BREAK-OFF BOLTS. (PLEASE REFER TO THE MECHANIC NOTES THAT I NEEDED A NEW LOCK BRACKET AND BREAK-OFF BOLTS - DID TOYOTA KNOW AT THIS TIME THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PROBLEM?) RECENTLY I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR CERTAIN 2000 - 2004 TOYOTA AVALON STEERING COLUMN UPPER BRACKETS. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA BY MAIL AND PHONE AND THEY REFUSE TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE EXPENSES I HAVE INCURRED BECAUSE OF THEIR DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING. THE RECALL NOTICE DESCRIBES THE RECALL CONDITION AS FOLLOWS: DUE TO THE IMPROPER CASTING OF THE STEERING LOCK BAR, WHICH IS A COMPONENT OF THE STEERING INTERLOCK SYSTEM, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT MINUTE CRACK MAY DEVELOP ON THE SURFACE. SUCH A CRACK MAY EXPAND OVER A LONG PERIOD OF REPEATED LOCK AND UNLOCK OPERATIONS, AND EVENTUALLY THE BAR COULD BREAK. IT THIS OCCURS, THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM MAY BECOME DIFFICULT TO UNLOCK WHEN STATIONARY. ..... *TR
Showing 1–20 of 34 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026