Model year guide

2004 Toyota Avalon

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2004 Toyota Avalon is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 36 on record.

2004 Toyota Avalon — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2004 Toyota Avalon at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints205
Combined22 mpg
Typical price$4,464

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

2004 Toyota Avalon recalls 3

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…

Engine And Engine Cooling NHTSA Campaign #11V539000 · 09/11/2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER …

Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT …

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.

2004 Toyota Avalon common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 205 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.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
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.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Forward Collision Avoidance
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

2004 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 2004 Toyota Avalon worth?

Low
$2,100
Typical price
$4,464
High
$6,700

From 35 comparable 2004 Toyota Avalon listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2004 Toyota Avalon costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,000
Depreciation (5 yrs)$2,800
Total$16,800
Per mile$0.22

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 ($4,464) with the same model 5 model-years older ($1,687), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2004 Toyota Avalon trims & engines on record

Trims
XL · XLS
Engines
3.0L 6-cyl 184 hp

2004 Toyota Avalon vehicles on record

2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B24U345324 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B54U347441 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B04U346505 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B44U364246 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B14U372725 2004 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B34U384147 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28BX4U388597 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B84U354075 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B74U382644 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B64U381663 2004 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B14U374815 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B84U365478 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B94U343117 2004 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B04U366771 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B14U386995 2004 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B84U376125 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B14U361966 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B04U375762 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B44U366868 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B84U359406 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B14U364690 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28B24U382941 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XLS4T1BF28B94U373136 2004 Toyota Avalon 2004 Toyota Avalon XL4T1BF28BX4U363229

Other Toyota Avalon model years

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995

2004 Toyota Avalon — frequently asked questions

Does the 2004 Toyota Avalon have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2004 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 2004 Toyota Avalon?

Based on 205 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, steering, suspension.

What gas mileage does the 2004 Toyota Avalon get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2004 Toyota Avalon at about 22 mpg combined (19 city / 27 highway).

How much is a 2004 Toyota Avalon worth?

Comparable 2004 Toyota Avalon listings run roughly $2,100–$6,700, typically around $4,464 (from 35 vehicles).

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