Toyota Avalon 2004 and earlier

wheels4me · November 2001

Can't understand how toyota could allow the avalon to get lower crash test ratings now then they did between 95 and 99. If they had the technology to increase safety, why did they ignore it in the later models?

ltastet1 · November 2001

My wife and I just purchased a 2002 Avalon XLS and have already agreed that we love the car. Its very quite and handles great for a large car. In fact it rides just as good as a ES300 or GS300. Well the Lexus cars might be a little quicker, but hey I take a car that's thousands less and only 1 to 2 seconds slower.

The primary reason we choosed the Avalon was that we could fit three car seats in the back seat. No other import sedan could do this in this price range. The Avalon is a great alternative to buying an SUV for the room. Better ride, reliable and fuel efficient.

toledo19 · November 2001

The Insurance Institute gave the Avalon a "best pick" for offset tests. Now, if you plan to ram it in to a wall, then you should be concerned about the government tests.

wheels4me · November 2001

toyota knew the gov't testing. they worked
to get the avalon a great rating. can't understand how they can "forget" how to build a
car that does well in the crash tests.

lasher5 · November 2001

The reflections from the dash instrument cluster are caused by a design defect. The visor or hood over the instruments is not long enough to block out the reflected glare. There are to options to correct this problem. First would be to change the angle of the instrument dials. This would necessitate the removal of the dash and the cooperation of your Toyota dealer. The second is to stick a 3 X 5 index card in the seam above the instrument cluster and the dash. This was the only solution that worked for a friend of my mother who I convinced to buy the Avalon instead of another Lincoln Continental. I think Consumer reports gave the Avalon an average rating because of build quality (squeaks, rattles and wind noise) all of which the Avalon has experienced as noted in previous posts. The mechanical reliability has been good. As to fuel injector replacement, I think this is covered under the emissions warranty up to 50k. Consult your owners manual. I like the Avalon but feel the dash looks too GM. I guess the build quality problems stem from when Toyota hired away from GM the Oldsmoile interior engineer to work on the Avalon. Sqeeks, rattles and wind noise are the "mark of excellence" at General Motors.

joel2468 · November 2001

I also had a Volvo S70 that I traded for a 2001 Avalon. The Avalon isn't perfect (there are a few things I would like to see changed/improved, e.g. brakes) but compared to the S70, it is a dream. I liked my S70, but I always wondered if it would start each time I got in it to drive. Yes, the Avalon is becoming as plentiful as Accords/Camrys where I live too. Even though the prices have come down, this is not an inexpensive car when loaded up. Most of what I see are loaded XLS. Point is, many people have recognized this car for the bargain it is.

goukcats · November 2001

I have a '97 avalon w/ 155,000. I'm in real estate and drive mostly city/subdivision miles. I've replaced the power steering pump twice. Once at 80,000 miles and again at 125,000 miles. The brakes were repaired twice under warranty for a "clank" noise. The paint job is terrible. The front hood has numerous chips in the paint. Overall, the car has been great. I'm looking to replace with newer avalon when this one finally dies. Has it been perfect? NO, but no car is. If I don't have a car, I don't make money. This car has been very reliable and a joy to drive.

gentlegiant · November 2001

good news, all! i just received the new 2002 buying guide from CR, and guess what? they have moved the avalon's reliability up to their highest rating, "much better than average." so, i guess i made a moot point! thanks for the responses, folks. looks like it may be time for me to trade in the new beetle and return to avalon-owner-land!

cheers,
gentlegiant

bwia · November 2001

Avalon owners, What's your experience with an all purpose cleaner?

I just used an all purpose cleaner and conditioner (brand name TANNERY)in my Avalon. It comes in a black 10-oz aerosol can, and the label says it is good for Leather, Vinyl, Rubber trim and Fiberglass.

I used it on the console, dash and leather seats with no apparent fading or discoloration. I was expecting a little more luster, something close to what you get from a professional detailer, instead what I got was clean surfaces waiting to be shined (although too much interior shine/luster is hazardous to night time driving).

The product is odorless and does its job well with no mess or residue. For an all purpose product I am very satisfied. My question, how often should one use such products on leather?

bwia · November 2001

At New England's largest Toyota dealer today I was told that they have stopped ordering the Avalon XLS because it does not sell and its sales have been canibalized by the NEW CAMRY. They had over 60 XL models on the lot but ZERO XLS'. The saleswoman believes that Toyota has discontinued the Avalon XLS line entirely.

Is this true?

alpha01 · November 2001

While there are many, many excellent salesmen and women out there, who care about their customers, there are also others who just want to sell the cars, and in that very instant. Bwia, I think you said it yourself.. she had 60 XL models on the lot... OF COURSE she's not going to try to steer you to an XLS of which she has none!
~alpha

dguillaume · November 2001

We leased a 95 & then our 98. Both cars were/are wonderful. The two-tone color (cream & taupe), the beautiful front end, the moon roof and its superior handling capabilities make it a car-for-all-seasons. (I traded my 92 Buick Park Ave. for my first Avalon.)

BUT then the styling changed and I just hate the current boxy design. So, when the lease ended, we bought our 98. It still looks beautiful and, just recently, I was asked by a (not very knowledgeable) friend if it was a Lexus.

And what's with this new Camry? Anyone have actual factual knowledge about what Toyota's plans are vis-a-vis their product line? Best wishes!

02mdx · November 2001

On KBB and other internet sites, there is an extra charge of $187 for the white exterior color on the '02 Avalon. Can anyone explain why there is an extra charge for white, but none of the other colors.

cliffy1 · November 2001

It is an extra procedure during the painting process.

fin · November 2001

After 3 years and 2 months and 75,000 highway miles my 1999 Avalon XL finally needed something fixed. A -brake light bulb- burned out. Is this the best car sold in America? For my money, YOU BET IT IS! And it still gets 30+ mpg on the highway driving 70 mph with a full load in the trunk and rear seat. On average, this is one of the finest cars ever produced by anybody. Buy one!

boord · November 2001

I just read the post stating that he gets 30+MPG on his '99 Avalon fully loaded. Over the past year I have read many claims on MPG that are widely different.

I have a 2000XLS with 20,000 miles on it. I live in central Cal and drive a mix of highway and light suburban traffic with a lot of 70mph miles.
I use mobil 1 synthetic oil and change it every 3000 miles. I use regular gas (I've tried premium in several successive tanks and noticed no difference in either mpg or performance). I rarely have a fully loaded trunk or passenger compartment. The a/c is usually on.

I usually get between 24 to 28 mpg with it closer to 24 more often than not. So what am I doing wrong not to get 30+MPG? What's the experience of others?

joedbob · November 2001

I have kept exact mileage/gas records for every tank of gas on my 2000 Avalon XLS with 19508 miles. I have filled up 72 times, mostly using reg 87 octane. I tried several tanks of premium, and similar to your experience, could not detect a difference. I also change the oil and filter at a maximum of every 3000 miles. Results from my spread sheet:

City driving (around town, some freeway driving): 18.8 MPG
Long trips (Mosltly freeways, some around town): 24.7 MPG

Combined totals (19508 miles divided by 974 gals): 20.02 MPG

Maybe we're both doing the same thing wrong, whatever it is, huh?

n4py · November 2001

I have a 2000 XLS with 37000 miles. I live in
North Carolina. Most of my driving is highway driving. I have averaged 28 mpg on 87 octane over the life of the vehicle. I wonder if the previous reports of only 24 mpg were in California and are the result of the more strict pollution standards there.

joedbob · November 2001

In my above post I forgot to mention that I live in Southern California. It's possible Califonia's standards contibute to lower MPG.

corliss1 · November 2001

Going into the Denver area this weekend to look at a Toyota Avalon XLS the dealer has gotten in for me that should pretty much have everything on it. If I decide to get it, how much should I pay for it?

Also planning to drive an Acura TL-S. Wonder about the Lexus ES-300, but it seems smaller than the Avalon. Am giving up my '99 Chrysler 300M due to the noise it makes on the highway and the posts rear and back that make it hard to see well at certain angles. Otherwise it has been a great car. Any thoughts from anyone on these choices?

hello52 · December 2001

Regarding Post #1190 by markxd and Post #1183 by toledo19, what year is your Toyota? I have a 2001 Toyota Avalon and have the same problem. At night, I can see a reflection of the 120 from the speedometer and the fuel gauge. I have to turn the dash lights down, but I think I'll take the 3x5 card advice. I too went to a Toyota dealership in Appleton, WI. They could not do a thing. They too told me my VIN number was not eligible for the repair similar to the 2000 models and they could not do anything.

markxd, who did you talk to at Customer Service, so that I can log the same problem with the same person, if it makes a difference talking to the same person. Thanks.

apagonzla1 · December 2001

We bought a new 2002 Avalon on Nov 30. I had read a lot about the console lights reflecting on the inside of the windshield. I'm 5'11" and use the seat in its lowest position. I had to contort to about 4'11" to even see the phenomenon. My wife is 5'3" and uses a high seat and she can't see it either. Sound like much ado about nothing. I wish the elapsed driving hours and average fuel economy didn't reset when the key is turned off. Am I missing something? Seems like a great car tho. A good word for the '95 Concorde with 132200 miles that I got rid of. It was a fine car.

Fred Anderson

echosox · December 2001

Boord, joedbob, n4py,

Fin is probably getting 30mpg because he's measuring them in the larger Imperial gallons used in Canada, not U.S. gallons. Either that or he's driving 50mph on the highway...

carguy000 · December 2001

My parents have a 2000 Avalon XLS, and my mom has put 38,000 miles on it. We've had no problems with the car, and really don't expect to have many considering Toyota's reputation for reliability. As far as gas mileage goes, when we go on trips we usually get around 29-30 MPG. It's a little closer to 29 when we use the A/C. We live in North Carolina, and we're not doing much driving in the mountains (especially on our trips to the beach), so I'm wondering if the relative flatness and constant speed attribute to our mileage. Mom and Dad are usually pretty easy on the gas, so this might help our mileage, too. Also, another factor to consider is tire inflation pressure. I think we run 32 psi in ours. I'm sorry you guys aren't getting better mileage. As far as the car, my parents love it, and my Dad has already said that he's not going to buy anything else but a Toyota. This being after suffering through four Chrysler minivans over a period of 10 years, all with bad transmissions. Those of you with gas mileage averages that are less than what you think you should be getting, is your car an XLS model with the average readings on the dash? We've found that ours is pretty accurate when compared to what you actually get when you divide miles driven by gallons used. Okay, that's all for now. Have a great day!

toledo19 · December 2001

You don't see the refection because it is most prominent when you "raise" yourself in the seat, not "contort" down,

apagonzla1 · December 2001

I still can't find the reflection. Where does it show up? Inches from center and inches above dash?

More on computer readouts. Elapsed time driven and average gas mileage would be much more useful if they were only reset when I want to reset them (the way my Concorde worked). Having them reset every time the key is turned off makes them virtually useless to me.

cliffy1 · December 2001

Don't look for trouble. Once you see it, you'll fixate on it. Be happy you haven't noticed it. If you drive on well lit roads, you may never see it. It is only on very dark roads that it shows up.

Here's a little story about things that drive a person nuts only if it is pointed out to them:

When I bought my Tundra, I noticed a click that would happen every time I hit the brakes. It wasn't loud, but I heard it. It happened at the same point each time I hit the brakes. It bothered me for a while but the shop guys said not to worry about it.

Recently, somebody commented about their Tundra doing the same thing. I told them mine had it too, but it went away. I was quizzed about it and I was sure that I had not heard it in over 6 months. Unfortunately, this got me thinking about it and I listened for it. Sure enough, the click still exists. For 6 months, I had ignored it and it stopped bothering me. Now that I listened for it, and heard it, I am bothered by it again!

The moral: Don't go looking for trouble.

dave210 · December 2001

My wife has had two Chrysler Town & Country's that had/have the overhead console trip computer which doesn't reset, so i know what you mean. I like being able to see after three months what my average mile to the gallon is, or seeing how long the trip to grandma's took even though we turned off the car for ten minutes to eat.

In my Avalon, it's pointless. Although the trip time works when I'm going from and to work, it's only because I make no stops on the way home. But since since all the functions reset WHENEVER you shut of the car, there really is no point.

I'm hoping Toyota will fix this, because while they thought they may have had a good idea, it's virtually pointless having it reset ALL the time.

apagonzla1 · December 2001

I finally touched the roof with my head and saw the reflection. Believe me, it will not be a problem.

Thanks for the support on the computer. What could they have been thinking?

joedbob · December 2001

"But since since all the functions reset WHENEVER you shut of the car, there really is no point."

I agree totally with you. My 2000 Avalon XLS does the same thing. It's very frustrating. They have fixed the problem though on my 2002 Camry XLE V6. Each function remains "on" until you manually reset it. Kinda nice. Don't know what they could have been thinking about on the Avalon.

heatmiser1 · December 2001

My grandmother has a 1996 Toyota Avalon with only 24,000 miles. She was the only driver and took extremely good care of the car. Problem is that the car has been sitting around for the last 2 years without being driven hardly at all. Should someone be concerned about buying this car since it has not had any road time in two years? If so, what could potentially be wrong with the car having sat around for this long?

lestergehman · December 2001

I have a 00 xls. Came from a 96 Chrysler LHS. Where the external noise was unbearable. But no inside noises ( or you couldn't hear them ). The xls is the the other way around. But they were fixed by dealer. First make sure you buckle the front seat belts, they giggle on the door piller. Have dealer take right foor kick panel under the glove box and make sure the wire bundles don't hit any metal mine were against. They wrapped these in foam tape. Cured noise. Next the center consol squeeks. Try not having any arm pressure on it. Mine was quiet then, so I put foal tape on the bottom of lid. squeek gone. Now I have the quietest car I have ever owned. Any time we have passengers they remark how quiet the car is. Good fuel mileage Pa - Ind 30-31 mpg with a/c and 68-72 mph, around home 22-24 mpg all on reg. gas.

bwia · December 2001

Thanks lestergehman:
You said "Have the dealer take the right floor kick panel under the glove box and make sure the wire bundles don't hit any metal mine were against. They wrapped these in foam tape".

I will take your suggestion to my dealership because that's exactly where I am having the squeaking sound on my 00 XLS. Somehow the noise disappears when the weather gets real cold or when there is a passenger sitting in the front seat. Otherwise the XLS is a joy to drive and the subject of many compliments.

messydesk · December 2001

It sounds like the Avalon gets some pretty high ratings around here. I have the opportunity to buy a 98 XL with 45K miles and new tires for about $11K from a colleague who is moving overseas in two weeks for a couple years. I wasn't exactly in the market for a car right now, since the van isn't paid off yet. Since I am currently driving an 85 Cressida with 110K miles that I bought used 10 years ago, this is starting to sound like a deal I can't refuse (assuming the car is in good shape, of course). Plus, I'd get air conditioning in the summer, CD player, ABS, air bags, and one of those new-fangled brake lights in the middle of the rear windshield! Anyone know a new driver that needs a "birth-year" car?

kkee · December 2001

Just picked up my 2002 Avalon XLS, fully loaded; GV, VD, SR, options etc . I paid $300 over invoice. My dealer showed me the invoice and it all added up. I also verified against edmunds.com's invoice. Plus i bought a $150 manufacturer rebate from edmunds.com for $50. Good deal!

02mdx · December 2001

Great deal on the '02 XLS. Could you tell us more about the rebate that you bought from Edmunds. I tried to find it, but came up blank.

06mike · December 2001

I am looking at purchasing a 2002 Avalon XLS. Tired of the idiot treatment from the dealer! One simple question they can't answer. Does the V6 need regular unleaded or premium unleaded. Some trade pubs say premium, dealer guesses regular. Dealer will not let me look at owners manual.

bolivar · December 2001

Because the owners manual says premium.

joedbob · December 2001

Read back a couple of hundred posts. This issue has been discussed at length on several forums. My 2000 Avalon XLS runs perfectly on 87 octane unleaded gas. So does my 2002 Camry XLE V6. I can't even tell the difference using premium, either in performance or mileage.

mackabee · December 2001

owner's manual says: "87 octane or higher (premium recommended)" November's car and driver mag, has an article on the ongoing issue of reg unleaded vs premium unleaded. Check it out, it's on page 133, but if you still want to spend the extra money on premium, hey it's your money.

: )
Mackabee

kkee · December 2001

It was a while (at least 8 months ago) back since I bought the coupon from edmunds.com. I guess they ran out...

farmboy7 · December 2001

Hello,

I am purchasing a Toyota Certified Pre-Owned 2000 Avalon XLS with 35K. I ran the VIN through carfax and it came up as a corporate fleet vehicle. The car comes with a 6/100K drivetrain warranty (from original owner's purchase date), however, for an additional $895 I can purchase a wraparound warranty for the same duration. It has a $50 deductible. I've consistently read that extended warranties are not worth it on a vehicle like a Toyota, however, this will be my first used car purchase and it might give me some peace of mind. Any comments? Thank you.

Joe

mariner28 · December 2001

mariner28 · December 2001

Same words. I have a 2001, I use reg and if I floor it, the car still does not ping! I expect if I used premium it will accelerate faster- but i do not do that ---anymore

avalon02wh · December 2001

Interesting question. Car problems can be broken down into several areas:
1. Problem with emission controls. The warranties on emission devices are often longer than regular warranties.
2. Problems with safety devices. Often a manufacturer will recall a vehicle if a safety device fails on a number of cars.
3. Other recalls. Sometimes a car maker will recall vehicles for other types of problems. Toyota has a reputation to maintain. They will probably try harder to fix problems.
4. Accidents. If you car is damaged or totaled insurance will pay the bill.
5. Problems the warranty company will not pay for.

Toyota makes a good car. The number of problems that would fall outside items 1 to 5 might be very small. The companies that sell the warranties make a "good" profit. I have heard it can be several hundred percent. Do you care if they make a lot of money off you?

Several questions I like to ask "salespeople":
What is the average repair cost?
What percentage of cars actually use the warranty?
What percentage of "car you are buying" use the warranty?
How much do you and the dealer make on the warranty?
What percentage of claims are denied?
What types of claims are denied?

Will the $895 cost be financed? What is the total cost with financing? Would it be better to put the money in savings instead? How are your cash reserves? Will a $3,000 dollar repair bill cause major problems? Do you take care of your car?

And finally, how is your luck with cars? This may sound silly, but, it is something to consider.

If you have not guessed by now, I never get the extended warranty.

footie · December 2001

I just did a 340 mile trip from Boston to Newark DE and returnh. I got approx 30.2 mpg at 68 mph average on the way back per the Avalon computer. My gas up and travel times agreed. I had similar on the way down, but slightly higher mileage and lower mph due to Connecticut State Police presences on Merrit Parkway. Hard to beat on a car this size.

yanker · December 2001

We had the same results from Western New York to Columbus Ohio Boston 2x and Conn. at thanksgiving. It is a treat to drive a car so comfortable and get good mileage. We have 2000 XLS
and I use cruise control while my wife does not.
Basically the same results

spree1 · December 2001

I bought my Avalon XL two months ago, and am having hard time getting used to the suspension. My daughter and I get car sick because it rolls and sways. Dealer has aligned it, and also had to line up steering wheel with wheels.
Another problem, when taking off there is a 'thunk' coming from the back of car. Dealer thinks it is the gas tank???
I've had 6 new Toyotas since 1984, and 1 new 2000 Honda Accord. The Accord was EXV6, and had transmission problems. Traded it before I had it two years.
We are so dissapointed with this Avalon. Alas, I think this will be our last Japanese car.

alpha01 · December 2001

spree1, are both probably NOT Japanese (built) cars. In any case, your issues are with Avalon are unfortuante, but a bit bizarre... with respect to the motion sickness.. did you test drive the car first and not feel its soft-ish ride? I have never heard of misalignment causing motion sickness? I am sorry about, and perplexed by this experience. I'd appreciate more technical input, concerning spree1's experience, from anyone who is qualified...
~alpha

bmcgin1 · December 2001

I experienced a similar symptom in my Camry. After several frustrating visits to the dealer, we discovered the noise to be in the brakes. It is only noticeable after the car has been backed up. On the restart there is a noticeable "thunk". I was told "it was poor design, but there ws no fix for it" Good Luck!

Toyota Avalon 2004 and earlier

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