VehicleVerdict

1997 Toyota Avalon steering problems

The 1997 Toyota Avalon has 43 steering complaints filed with NHTSA — 28% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

43

Steering complaints

28%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Steering complaints by year

Avalon steering complaints by model year43 complaints1995: 8 complaints1996: 11 complaints1997: 43 complaints1998: 9 complaints1999: 3 complaints2000: 34 complaints2001: 9 complaints2002: 18 complaints2003: 19 complaints2004: 29 complaints2005: 43 complaints2006: 35 complaints2007: 16 complaints2008: 17 complaints2009: 18 complaints2010: 10 complaints2011: 33 complaints2013: 2 complaints2014: 6 complaints2015: 1 complaints2018: 4 complaints2020: 1 complaints
Avalon steering complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“UPPER STEERING KNUCKLE BROKE; CAUSED VEHICLE TO PULL SEVERELY TO RIGHT, HIT CURB, STRUCK LIGHT POLE, NOISY, SEEMED TO HAVE MIND OF ITS OWN; REPAIRED. DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · October 6, 1997 · crash

Common questions

How many steering complaints does the 1997 Toyota Avalon have?

NHTSA has 43 complaints about the 1997 Toyota Avalon steering — 28% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.