1996 Toyota Avalon Recalls

No recalls on record Updated July 2026

No NHTSA recalls on record for the 1996 Toyota Avalon. That means NHTSA has no open safety campaign for this vehicle — it does not guarantee the absence of problems. Owners have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Complaints by component

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10
5crashes3injuries1deaths
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
5
1injuries
TIRES
5
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
5
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
4
4crashes5injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
3
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
3
Total complaints121

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“While driving to an appointment, I had unintended acceleration. Luckily, I was able to pull over to side of road after using two feet to slow vehicle, and shut vehicle off. After trying to restart vehicle several times, it was still revving. After a half hour, I was able to start it and bring it…”

ENGINE · reported 2013-10-10

“While driving to an appointment, I had unintended acceleration. Luckily, I was able to pull over to side of road after using two feet to slow vehicle, and shut vehicle off. After trying to restart vehicle several times, it was still revving. After a half hour, I was able to start it and bring it…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2013-10-10

“Automatic air conditioner, a/c amplifier, air inlet servo motor & servo link & heater controls stop working and only works intermittently by itself. Toyota will not own up to this problem. Toyota only wants more money to fix the problem without telling you exactly what the problem is. Toyota has…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2013-05-27

“After receiving a jump, I was told to drive the car for about 20 minutes to recharge the battery. After driving for about 10 minutes, the gas pedal seemed to stick. Then when driving the speed began to accelerate without pressing the gas pedal. The longer we drove the higher the engine revved. I…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2013-03-03

“After receiving a jump, I was told to drive the car for about 20 minutes to recharge the battery. After driving for about 10 minutes, the gas pedal seemed to stick. Then when driving the speed began to accelerate without pressing the gas pedal. The longer we drove the higher the engine revved. I…”

ENGINE · reported 2013-03-03

“After receiving a jump, I was told to drive the car for about 20 minutes to recharge the battery. After driving for about 10 minutes, the gas pedal seemed to stick. Then when driving the speed began to accelerate without pressing the gas pedal. The longer we drove the higher the engine revved. I…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2013-03-03

“After receiving a jump, I was told to drive the car for about 20 minutes to recharge the battery. After driving for about 10 minutes, the gas pedal seemed to stick. Then when driving the speed began to accelerate without pressing the gas pedal. The longer we drove the higher the engine revved. I…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2013-03-03

“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 toyota avalon. The contact stated the front drivers side seat belt was stuck and would not retract. The contact stated there was no seat belt light warning light on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure and…”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2012-06-26

Defect investigations

Investigation DP02004 Opened 2002-04-30 · closed 2002-06-20

ENGINE SEIZURE

Investigation EA97015 Opened 1997-07-22 · closed 1998-09-21

TURN SIGNAL FAILURES

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE97018 Opened 1997-04-29 · closed 1997-07-22

TURN SIGNAL FAILURES

CONSUMERS ALLEGE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONS FAIL WHILE DRIVING.TOYOTA DEALERS HAVE REPLACED TURN SIGNAL SWITCHES, BUT IN ONE INSTANCE THE NEW SWITCH STILL FAILED INTERMITTENTLY.DEALER MECHANICS INSTRUCTED THE OWNER TO TURN THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH ON/OFF TO RESET THE SWITCH.THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH IS…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Toyota Avalon as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.