Model year guide

2003 Toyota Avalon

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2003 Toyota Avalon is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 42 on record.

2003 Toyota Avalon — representative photo
Representative photo

2003 Toyota Avalon at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints305
Combined22 mpg
Typical price$3,720

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2003 Toyota Avalon recalls 2

Air Bags:frontal NHTSA Campaign #15V043000 · 28/01/2015

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29, 2004, 2003-2004 Avalon vehicles manufactured June 5, 2002, to December 20, 2004, and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured January 18, 2002, to April 27, 2004. Due…

Fix: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began on August 24, 2015. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. GM issued an interim notification to owners on…

Steering NHTSA Campaign #10V345000 · 29/07/2010

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000-2004 AVALON VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER CASTING OF THE STEERING LOCK BAR, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A MINUTE CRACK MAY DEVELOP ON THE SURFACE OF THE LOCK BAR. SUCH A CRACK MAY EXPAND OVER A LONG PERIOD OF REPEATED LOCK AND UNLOCK OPERATIONS, AND EVENTUALLY THE LOCK BAR COULD BREAK.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING INTERLOCK DEVICE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2003 Toyota Avalon common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 305 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

2003 Toyota Avalon MPG & running costs

Combined22 mpg
City19 mpg
Highway27 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,800

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2003 Toyota Avalon worth?

Low
$2,200
Typical price
$3,720
High
$5,800

From 42 comparable 2003 Toyota Avalon listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2003 Toyota Avalon costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,000
Depreciation (5 yrs)$2,100
Total$16,100
Per mile$0.21

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($3,720) with the same model 5 model-years older ($1,632), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2003 Toyota Avalon trims & engines on record

Trims
XLS · XL
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl 210 hp

2003 Toyota Avalon vehicles on record

2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B13U279573 2003 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B83U303478 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B23U279324 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B33U318163 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B23U299279 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B83U336464 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B03U272100 2003 Toyota Avalon xl4T1BF28B03D267995 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B13U308649 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B03U284117 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B33U324206 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B73U311555 2003 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B03U303698 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B83U303304 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B83U272782 2003 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28BX3U307144 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B63U276992 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B93U268952 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B93U296234 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B03U332117 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B13U323670 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B43U288588 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B33U331379 2003 Toyota Avalon 2003 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B93U290076

Other Toyota Avalon model years

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995

2003 Toyota Avalon — frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Toyota Avalon have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 2003 Toyota Avalon. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Toyota Avalon?

Based on 305 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, engine, steering.

What gas mileage does the 2003 Toyota Avalon get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2003 Toyota Avalon at about 22 mpg combined (19 city / 27 highway).

How much is a 2003 Toyota Avalon worth?

Comparable 2003 Toyota Avalon listings run roughly $2,200–$5,800, typically around $3,720 (from 42 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.