1998 Toyota Avalon XLS from North America - Comments

My Avalon began to emit large plumes of white smoke at cold startup.

Even after providing proof of the required oil changes, the dealer and Toyota rep claims improper maintenance causing sludge in the engine. This claim was made without even removing the valve covers or oil pan! Toyota refuses to honor their warranty, even after providing records of all oil changes, which were performed every 3,000 miles. The Toyota manual recommends changing the oil every 5,000-7,500 miles!? Many others complain of the same problem with their Toyota Avalon and Toyota Sienna.

Had the same experience, there are sites all over the Internet reporting the same exact problem and Toyota's not taking responsiblility, and is blaming the owners for "improper maintenance". Toyota has a car heading for a class action lawsuit.

Hmmmm... mine is doing this as well. This is the first problem I have ever had with it!

Me too, with a 97 Toyota Camry LE 4 cylinder.

50k on 2000 Avalon XLS. Oil changes EVERY 7000 miles. Sludge!!! Toyota won't look at oil change receipts, my fault they say.

1997 Toyota Camry V6XLE engine went out at 49,000 miles, Toyota refuses to fix under the 60,000 mile powertrain warranty - I produced maintenance receipts, they said due to having the oil changed at non Toyota places such as Jiffy Lube and Valvoline, they are trying to pass the blame.

2000 Avalon with 35,000 miles, got smoke from the tail pipe on start up, took it to the dealer - sludge he points out! Offered to break down the engine at a cost of $3,500 to me! Yes, I change my oil properly! Use Mobil I, used it for 15 years! In a 72 Nova hot rod, 88 Bonneville, 84 Cavalier, 92 Honda Accord, 92 Geo, and 96 Neon all over 100,000 miles, NO SLUDGE!!! But the Avalon sludges and it's "MY" not changing the oil they tell me!

Just bought 98 Avalon XLS with 61,000 miles from a used car dealer. Didn't see smoke until a couple of days later. Used car dealer has agreed to repair but am pretty sick to think about spending so much money on what is supposed to be a reliable car.

My 1999 Toyota Avalon XLS Limited Edition developed sludge at 16,000 miles.

Took the car to the dealer for its 15K checkup (at 16K miles) and informed the service department of a puff of white smoke at startup. Ask them to investigate and determine the cause, and remedy it. Result was beginning to develop sludge and to change the oil every 1K miles for the next 5 oil changes. Did this twice at the dealership as recommended. After the 1st change, dealer indicated to continue with this plan. After the 2nd change, dealer said the engine will seize up soon and needs to be replaced. The oil was changed as recommended by the dealer at 17K miles and 18K miles and now they tell me the engine has to be replaced.

Of course, this is not covered under the warranty (they say). I show records of oil changes at proper intervals and followed their instructions to correct problem with white smoke at startup and now it is my problem and due to improper maintenance.

This is a common response from Toyota after researching this issue for weeks now. Toyota blames the consumer and gets away with it. This is VERY WRONG! I am sure this will have a long term effect and will hurt Toyota in the long run.

I am filing a claim under the Lemon Law and am confident of winning my case. My attorney friend with the Better Business Bureau has handled a Lemon Law case with a different manufacturer and says that I have a strong case and should persue the Lemon Law arbitration process against Toyota. She says I should have no problem winning my case.

I AM CERTAIN TO NEVER BUY A TOYOTA AGAIN!!!

I don't understand...haven't you people ever owned a car before, or did you just think... hmmm I bought a Toyota, I don't have to do anything for 100,000 miles... EVEN IF YOU GO 7,000 miles between changes, YOU WILL HAVE NO PROBLEMS. If you go 8,000-15,000 between changes, YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR NOT MAINTAINING YOUR ENGINE, as the man says... pay a little now, or a LOT later!! Change the oil people!!!

I can't help to think most of these oil sludge comments are written by the SAME PERSON. I have owned Toyotas' for years and have never had an oil sludge problem, plus I know a Toyota mechanic and he says it is total crap, they hardly ever see a sludged up engine and when they do it's always a high mileage engine that did not receive anywhere near regular maintenance. I have seen the same comment made here over and over in Toyota Discussion groups, made by the same lady over and over, it's HOG WASH...

I have owned 2 Toyota Avalons and I LOVE them. My first was a 1996 which I had an accident in and totaled. I replaced it with a used 1998 which I have owned for 2 years now.

Within the first 6 months that I owned the 1998 the AC went out. I had bought a warranty which covered the entire cost. I have only had minor problems such as the mirror on the visor breaking.

I will trade this car in very soon for a 2001 Avalon. I have a co-worker who had a 1998 and traded it in on a 2000 last year, and he has nothing but good things to say about it. I also have a family member that just bought a 2001 and they are thrilled with it thus far.

I previously owned a 1980 Toyota Supra and the Toyotas are without a doubt the best cars I have ever owned. I have never had any sludge in any Toyota that I have owned and would HIGHLY recommend the Toyota Avalon to anyone who wants a car that will last.

I feel that with any manufacturers cars you are going to get a lemon every once in a while. When you have mass quantities produced there is bound to be a couple of bad ones. From what I gather in the comments made, it's not the maker of the product, it's the dealer that sold them the car that they are having problems with. If the maker knew of the ongoing problems they were having, they probably would have taken care of it. When buying remember you're not just buying a product, but also a service. They may have the best deal, but not the best service.

We have a 1999 Toyota Avalon XLS. It is the best car we have ever purchased. Now that it is 3 years old, it has 44,000 miles on it and still performes like a brand new one. We change the oil every 3,000 miles, using a synthetic oil (Castrol Syntec). The only problem we have had was the driver-side window. It was making a creaky noise when coming down, but a trip to the dealer solved the problem ($150) If you want a really dependable full-size upscale sedan, you'll find yourself driving an Avalon (XLS with extra options) We paid $36,000 w/o tax which has every available option on the XLS model.

I am glad to see others having the oil sludge problem. I take my car to the same dealer every time, and I return to have my oil changed when they recommend it. All of the maintenence records are in their computer, they performed every service, at intervals that they recommended, and they still claim that the problem is improper maintenence. I don't know how they get away with it. They are basically saying that the service they performed was sub-par, but somehow, it's my fault? I have never experienced a problem like this with any other of my previous Toyotas. I am deeply disappointed.

You guys are freaking me out... 20K miles on a 2001 Toyota Sienna, puff of white smoke on start up. Determined that this is burning oil since I have no leaks and the oil is diminishing pretty fast (1 1/2 quarts in the last 1K miles). I have not gotten to the dealer yet. Wish me luck.

Looks to me like one or maybe 2 people skewing the reviews to the domestic's favor. It seems every time I read reviews anymore in this or AOL's review forums I keep seeing the same old tired ANTI-IMPORT rhetoric. Toyota trucks aren't big enough (I believe Freud had something to say about men who have a problem with "size") and the cars are made out of tin cans. Last time I looked, almost everything sold in the USA is built in NORTH AMERICA. Toyota spent 13 BILLION dollars just in North American parts procurement. (so much for the comment... all the money goes back to Japan) As a Toyota Master tech, I REALLY DON'T SEE very many of these engines sludged up. If I do IT ALWAYS IS THE OWNER'S FAULT!! Let's see the causes... infrequent oil changes, clogged up air filters, and just a PURE LACK OF MAINTENANCE. ALSO, why is it NO ONE takes responsibility anymore for themselves. I can't hold everyone's hand for God's sakes!! CHANGE YOUR OIL!!! I don't care if you take it to Wal-Mart once a month, at least it is getting done!! ALSO, the DOMESTICS have sludging problems if you change the oil every 10,000 miles too!!!