Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Toyota Avalon
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Toyota Avalon has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 178 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #98V278000 SOUTHEAST TOYOTA/AUDIOVOX/THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98E035000 AUDIOVOX/THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 19 complaints
- Visibility 19 complaints
- Electrical System 17 complaints
- Equipment 17 complaints
- Air Bags 16 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 16 complaints
Of the 178 complaints on file, 25 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 178 complaints, owners report 24 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$6,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Toyota Avalon shows some reliability concerns, primarily in the electrical and suspension systems, though it remains dependable overall. Recalls, notably related to anti-theft systems, are limited by geographic distribution. Complaints highlight commonly reported issues with visibility and equipment, potentially leading to added maintenance.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspension | 60,000–90,000 miles | $400–$900 | common |
| electrical system | 50,000–80,000 miles | $200–$600 | common |
| vehicle speed control | 70,000–100,000 miles | $350–$750 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Replace brake pads every 30,000 miles
- Check suspension annually
- Replace timing belt after 90,000 miles
- Flush coolant every 30,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Uneven tire wear
- Battery discharging quickly
- Steering wheel vibrations
- Brake pedal softness
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Toyota Avalon at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.