I was driving my 2007 Toyota Avalon returning home from work and was driving on a local road at approximately 25 MPH and turning my vehicle towards right on a curved road and the steering wheel seized and car veered and jumped the curb causing the passenger side bottom of car protection plastic guard clips damaged. No other damage to car observed other than minor scratches to front bumper due to tree limbs on grassy island next to curb. Hit the brakes hard and was able to stop vehicle stopping just before it could hit the tree on side of road. No warning lights were illuminated. No air bags were deployed. Was able to restart the vehicle and reversing down on the road and eventually was able to unseize the steering wheel. Was able to drive the car home and will be taking it to either Toyota dealer or vehicle repair shop for further diagnosis. No injures were sustained. No police report was filed. Will be calling the manufacturer to notify steering wheel seizure. The mileage of car was around 205,000+ miles.
Toyota Avalon steering lock-up problems
44 of the 3,402 owner complaints about the Toyota Avalon describe steering wheel locks up, most of them for the 2000 model year.
- owner complaints
- 44
- worst model year
- 2000
- typical repair cost reported
- $581
- typical mileage
- 104,837
By model year
Often reported together
Power steering loss 3Engine failure 3Airbag light 2Won't start 1Wipers 1Jerking 1Check engine light 1Grinding brakes 1
What owners say
Steering wheel locked up while driving ! No warning lights. steering bracket assembly is the issue . Same issue with 2000-2004 Avalons …all were recalled and fixed but anything after those years are not recalled or fixed . This is clearly a defect and should be recalled again before someone has a bad accident .
Purchased car used 11/2020 Jan 14 2021 had 2 open recalls steering casting defect and wire harness filter to deflect noise from ecm . I lost control of communication of operations. 12/2022 steering lock bar The past 2 years uncovered everything on my own. Learned somebody died in 2003 Avalon in Texas about steering locking up. Plan to talk to class action lawyers over airbag and steering. And arrange my own lawyer with settlement lawyers to make this repair and all tsb to be performed. I will never buy a car unless I can find all tsb problems associated with that car. I hope recalls can be opened especially when you guys in government state safety ,compliance and emissions do not expire. Recall
I am the owner of the 2007 Toyota Avalon that my son was driving. He experienced a very dangerous situation where his steering wheel getting locked while driving on Dec 10, 2021 afternoon. He stopped the car immediately by slamming on the brakes. The car was towed to a local Toyota dealership, Toyota of Redlands, California. The Service Manager Todd Klingbeil was able to reproduce the issue based on the earlier Toyota Recall information for 2000-2004 Avalons, and they replaced the steering bracket assembly. It is clear that my 2007 Avalon car experienced similar Steering locking issue/defect like in the Toyota Avalon 2000-2004 recall bulletin. I brought the matter to the attention of Toyota (manufacturer), but they simply ignored the matter saying there is no recall for 2007 Avalon, and they would not cover the cost nor reimburse me. And they never responded to my fax, emails and phone calls.
Two times the power steering locked/hard to turn momentarily while driving and turning. Check power steering fluid full and no leak, power steering belt is good. Stop driving the car for now. First incident happened on Dec. 15 and the second last Dec. 23.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 toyota avalon. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the steering wheel locked without warning. As a result, the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle drove over a curb, spun around on the opposite side of the road, and crashed into a bridge. A police report was filed. The driver suffered neck and back injuries that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 167,000.
My steering wheel will lock when I turn left or right while driving ..this morning I was just starting my car and was turning left and my steering wheel locked and I went up the sidewalk and almost hit the fence and I couldn't move it I reversed backwards a little bit and wiggle the steering wheel and it wouldn't budge then I went forward and wiggled and it finally loosened. This has happened 4 times now usually in the morning. And my mileage is 140,822
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota avalon. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel seized and the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that extra strength was needed to steer the vehicle and the failure occurred periodically. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.
Steering wheel locks up when turning to the right
On 23 feb 2016 the steering locked while making a left turn and again on 12 april 2016. On 4 may 2016 the steering locked while trying to turn right......updated 05-12/16 *bf
Related recalls
Steering
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- Should the steering lock bar break, the steering wheel would lock and the driver would lose the ability to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 10V345000 · Recall details
Steering: column
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, the steering yoke was not welded to the steering shaft. If the vehicle is operated in this condition, there is a possibility that the yoke may come off from the shaft, and could result in a loss of vehicle steering control.
- Risk
- Loss of control of the vehicle could result in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the steering yoke and shaft weld condition, and replace the steering column assembly free of charge. The recall began on may 2, 2005. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331.
Recall number 05V227000 · Recall details
Questions about the Toyota Avalon steering lock-up
Which Toyota Avalon years have steering wheel locks up problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2000 (16 complaints), 2001 (5 complaints) and 2008 (4 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix steering wheel locks up on the Toyota Avalon?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $581 (median of 5 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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