1997 Toyota Avalon
4T1BF12B4VU190893
Vehicle record for the 1997 Toyota Avalon (VIN 4T1BF12B4VU190893). Blue, sedan, gasoline. Registered in Odesa. 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year. Free specifications, registration region and recall data.
No photo of this model yet1997 Toyota Avalon · Blue on the registration record
Full vehicle history report
Everything below is in the paid report for VIN 4T1BF12B4VU190893, compiled live from NMVTIS and licensed providers the moment you unlock it. Not every vehicle has every record type — the report shows what is on file, and says so when nothing is. The 1 recall campaign for this model year are shown free further down.
📜 Title & ownership
- Title statusClean, salvage, rebuilt, junk, flood or lemon — from the national title database (NMVTIS)🔒
- Title brand historyEvery brand ever applied, by state, with what each one means🔒
- Title & registration recordsHow many times it has been titled, where, and the years-per-owner pace🔒
- Decode consistency checkThe provider's decode cross-checked against ours — a mismatch is a cloned-VIN warning sign🔒
🛞 Odometer
- Odometer timelineEvery reported reading with its date and state, drawn as a timeline🔒
- Rollback checkFlags any reading that goes backwards🔒
- Miles per yearThis car's pace against the US average🔒
💥 Damage, loss & theft
- Total-loss recordsInsurance total-loss declarations, with the reporting insurer type and date🔒
- Salvage & junk-yard recordsSalvage, junk and auction dispositions, including export flags🔒
- Theft screenActive and recovered theft records🔒
- Accident indicatorsDamage events reflected in title data (NMVTIS does not carry police crash reports)🔒
- Flood-exposure checkTitle activity in a disaster area soon after a major flood or hurricane🔒
💰 Liens & value
- Liens, impounds & exportOpen liens with the lender, tow/impound and export records🔒
- Market value for this exact carRetail adjusted for its mileage and state, trade-in, loan value, auction low/avg/high and retail by condition🔒
- DepreciationDrop from original MSRP, yearly rate and a one-year projection🔒
- Sticker vs dealer invoiceWhat it cost new, and what the dealer paid🔒
🧰 Factory warranty & equipment
- Remaining warrantyBasic, powertrain and rust coverage left, estimated from the first title date and odometer🔒
- Standard equipment & coloursWhat this trim came with from the factory, and the colours it was offered in🔒
🚨 Recalls on this VIN
- Per-VIN recall statusWhether each campaign has been repaired on THIS car, remedy availability, do-not-drive and stop-sale flags, dealer labour time🔒
History reports cover US-titled vehicles only. This car is registered in Ukraine, so title, salvage and odometer records from the US national title database (NMVTIS) don't apply to it. The registration record, specifications and recall data on this page are free.
At a glance
Vehicle identity & specifications
🧾 Window sticker / build sheet → All 1997 Toyota Avalon data →
📋 All factory specifications on file8 more fields from the manufacturer's VIN record (NHTSA vPIC)
🏭 Manufacturing & other
Values are as reported by the manufacturer for this VIN pattern; blank or "not applicable" fields are omitted.
What's a 1997 Toyota Avalon worth?
What comparable 1997 Toyota Avalon vehicles are listed for — a quick gut-check before you negotiate.
Is the seller's price fair? Get this exact VIN's current market value — retail, trade-in & loan value — in the full report.
See this car's exact value →MPG & running costs
U.S. EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 1997 Toyota Avalon.
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. Actual mileage varies with trim and driving conditions.
Crash-test safety ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1997 Toyota Avalon.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program, tested as the 1997 Toyota Avalon 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1997 Toyota Avalon costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1997 Toyota Avalon. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 1
ENGINE SEIZURE Closed
NHTSA #DP02004 · Engine And Engine Cooling · opened Apr 2002 · closed Jun 2002An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.
Manufacturer service bulletins 71
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be free. Showing the 10 most recent of 71.
TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the crit…
Bulletin TSB003220 · Air Bags, Vehicle Speed Control, Equipment · Aug 2023TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
Bulletin TTT063620 · Back Over Prevention, Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Mar 2022POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it.…
Bulletin Toyota PRO19-02 · Tires, Wheels, Equipment · Jan 2022Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
Bulletin Toyota Safety Re · Air Bags · Mar 2021TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
Bulletin T-TT-0636-20 Rev · Service Brakes, Back Over Prevention · Mar 2021TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the crit…
Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 Rev · Equipment · Feb 2021TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
Bulletin T-TT-0636-20 · Back Over Prevention, Service Brakes · Dec 2020TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
Bulletin T-TT-0636-20 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Dec 2020TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates
Bulletin T-SB-0304-17 Obs · Equipment · Apr 2020TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, T-SB-0144-08, and T-SB-0304-17. The aforementioned bulleti…
Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 · Equipment · Apr 2020Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the AVALON. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 1
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1997 Toyota Avalon. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Brakes
UNDER EXTREMELY LOW TEMPERATURE OPERATING CONDITIONS AND INFREQUENT BRAKE OPERATION THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT CONDENSED MOISTURE FROM A SURGE TANK MIGHT SEEP INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE AND FREEZE. OVER TIME, THE ICE MAY ACCUMULATE AND EVENTUALLY PLUG THE HOSE, THEREBY ELIMINATING THE VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES. THE INCREASED PEDAL PRESSURE REQUIRED TO APPLY THE BRA…
Transport Canada #1997155 · Sep 1997Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Toyota Avalon
The Toyota Avalon is a full-size sedan manufactured by Toyota, as its largest front-wheel drive sedan; also its flagship in the United States, Canada, China and the Middle East. The Avalon was also manufactured in Australia from April 2000 until June 2005, when it was replaced in November 2006 by the Aurion. The first production Avalon was manufactured in September 1994 at the TMMK assembly line in Georgetown, Kentucky, where subsequent generations have been manufactured.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.
Safety recall campaigns 1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MAINE, MICHIGAN,MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NOTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. A CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHERE ACCUMULATED MOISTURE CAN TEMPORARILY FREEZE IN THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE IF THE VEHICLE IS …
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE.
NHTSA Campaign #97V156000 · 17/09/1997Note: recall data comes from the U.S. NHTSA and covers the US-market version of this model. A car registered in Ukraine may have different campaigns — check with the manufacturer's local importer.
These are NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year, last checked 7 Oct 2026. They don't show whether this particular car has had the repair done — check this VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.
We'll email you the moment a new safety recall is issued — no spam, unsubscribe any time.
Common problems & what to inspect
Based on all 132 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Toyota Avalon, here are the most-reported problem areas — and what to check before you buy.
💥 13 involved a crash 🚑 12 reported injuries
🔍 Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
🔍 Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
🔍 Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
🔍 Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
🔍 Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
🔍 Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Pre-purchase checklist
- Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
- Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
- Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
- Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
- Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
- Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
- Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.
Owner complaints 132
Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 1997 Toyota Avalon.
SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE MADE LOUD NOISES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATERAL ARM SNAPPED OFF THE SUBFRAME DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.…
NHTSA ODI #10894082TIRES
WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE TIRE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED MY TIRES COMPLAINING OF A SHAKING STEERING WHEEL (THINKING ONE OF MY TIRES HAD LOST A BALANCE WEIGHT), THAT'S WHEN I DISCOVERED 3 OF THE 4 TIRES I HAD PURCHASED A YEAR AGO SEPTEMBER (AND WHICH HAD ONLY 14,000 MILES OF WEAR) HAD ALL EXPERIENCED THE STEEL BELT SEPARATING INSIDE THE TIRE. UPD…
NHTSA ODI #10730642AIR BAGS
MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, GOING APPROX. 10 MPH, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE (ONLY) BUMPED INTO A RAILROAD TRACK AND THE SENSORS TOLD THE CAR IT HAD A FRONT END COLLISION AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS EXPLOSION BUSTED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, PASSENGER SIDE GLASS, KNOCKED THE FRONT GRILL OFF, E…
Crash · 1 injured · NHTSA ODI #10676454FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE TUBING FROM THE FILLER NECK TO THE FUEL TANK IS SUBJECT TO RUST. THE RUST RESULTS IN HOLES IN THE TUBE. FUEL SPILLS OUT DURING REFUELING AND ACCELERATION. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10669434LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES,EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
AUTO LOCKING SYSTEM LOCKS DOORS WHILE DOORS ARE OPEN OR CLOSED AND YOU ARE GETTING OUT OF CAR OR PUTTING GROCERS IN IF UR KEYS ARE IN CAR IT STILL LOCKS I HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT MANY TIMES IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN UR DAUGHTER BORROWS YOUR CAR AND GETS HER9 MONTH OLD BABY LOCKED IN AT 95 DEGREES AT 11AM IN FLORIDA IN THE SUN IN A PA…
NHTSA ODI #10652661VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS ON MY WAY TO COLLEGE AT 7:45 A.M HEADING HIGHWAY 72 WEST. MY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATED FROM 75MPH TO 100 MPH. I PUSHED, PRESSED, AND PUMPED MY BRAKES THAT WOULDN'T WORK. I PRESSED DOWN MY EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH DID NOT WORK EITHER. I TRAVELED ABOUT TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE CAR JUST SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP SMOKING FROM MY TIRES AND UNDER THE HOOD.…
1 injured · NHTSA ODI #10578759SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE
NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF CAR, UPON INSPECTION, REAR SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER WAS RUSTED OUT. NO OTHER SIGNIFICANT RUST UNDER CAR. CROSSMEMBER FAILED PREMATURELY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10482650SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWERVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICL…
NHTSA ODI #10453006+ 124 more complaints on record.
