1997 Toyota Avalon XL from North America - Comments

Wow, thanks for this page! Our Camry just started to make that loud rattle at 97,000 miles, a 2001 Camry (made in USA, while my other two Toyota's were made in Japan Camry's). My wife says it sounds like an airplane. I too hear it especially at 45 mph and faster. One shop said it sounds normal to them. I will try to get help armed with the help of previous comments. Thanks.

I have a 97 Avalon with the same problem. My front end is making the knocking noise under the passenger side. I've searched the internet and spoke to several mechanics and they tell me to first start with the sway bar bushings. Then if that doesn't work, then try strut mounts.

I'm going to change the bar bushings this weekend and will let you know how it goes.

Thanks for all the info and help!!

I have a 2002 Camry V6 LE 58k miles and had this problem and drove me crazy, my relative took the car to change strut mounts and engine mount for two times, didn't help, so I did research and saw this board, great tips, finally fixed the problem, so here's what all of us should do:

1. check if strut mounts are loose or crack, tight them to 60lbs.

2. loose your end links and tie zip to the side and drive on street to see if noise is there, if no noise, then go to 3, if still noise, double check the strut mounts and strut.

3. change front sway bar bushings, it's very cheap, less than $20 if your local dealer is nice.

4. change front sway bar endlinks, you can buy a set of ebay cheap.

Those words are GOLD people, will save you at least $1,000+ and many many troubles, if you really want to thank me, welcome to paypal donation at

hsujohn@hotmail.com

I purchased a 1997 Avalon XLS with approximately 35,000 miles. My wife complained about the noise in the front end. My mechanic replaced the strut mounts and struts. That appears to fix the problem. Now, at 92,000 miles, my wife is complaining about noise in the rear. I have noticed it for quite a while. I talked to my mechanic and he said that strut mount problems on the rear is fairly common. Appreciate all of the comments and solutions.

Second problem, had noise up front that followed road speed. I diagnosed the source as the differential. Noise got worse over 9 month period. My mechanic just installed a rebuilt transmission for $4000.00.

We have a 97 and a 99 Camry- you can tell we loved Toyota. NOT any more. We cannot get rid of the rattling noise from the front end passenger side. I have replaced struts, mounts, ball joint, rubber bushings on the 99, but only to hear the rattles again. The last thing our mechanic could think of was that may be the tires have become dry and rigid and replaced them. It still rattles. worse in the morning even on slightly bumpy road. TOYOTA, please, please, please, listen to all these people on this webpage and have mercy on us. Save us from this notorious rattle that has taken away our otherwise peaceful rides.

SUCCESS! and many thanks to the party that gave the input on tightening the nuts at top of strut towers. The rattle in my 98 Camry front end now completely gone thanks to your valuable input. I will copy this input below in hopes others will benefit. Again thanks... here goes.

QUOTE Just a note on the rattle. I just purchased a 1998 Camry CE and after a while noticed that annoying rattle in the front-end. Even the slightest bumps would case the noise. I did some looking on-line and one person recommended tightening the nuts on the front strut mounts (the center nut). This is very easy to do if you have a 19mm deep socket and fairly large wrench. Just pop the hood and you'll see the mounts on either side. If they move around when you bounce the front of the car, then try tightening them a bit. I just did it and it appears to have completely fixed the rattle on the front end. No telling how long the fix will last, though. It's possible the problem is the nuts coming loose over time and so allowing the mount to rattle.

I have a '97 Camry V6 XLE. I purchased it new, but it now has over 80,000 miles on it. I have been relatively happy with its reliability; however, when something goes wrong, it's always very costly! My experiences with the Toyota Dealerships have been frustrating because of the ridiculous price quotes and poor customer service.

Because of the cold weather, my rattling in the front passenger side has been getting even louder. It makes me feel like my car is going to fall apart so I couldn't ignore it any longer. Today, after about 5 hours and $440, I have 2 new struts and (drum roll)...the same rattling!!

This message board has many great ideas that I may eventually try. I just hope that this rattling does not foreshadow (or cause) greater problems in the future!

I have a 1999 Toyota Avalon. I had the rear struts and mounts replaced. Also the rear sway bar bushing. When you drive over bumps you can still hear a knocking and rattling noise from the rear, Very annoying. The mechanic cannot find anything else loose. It's just amazing that Toyota has more or less ignored this common complaint. Would never buy another Camry or Avalon again. I talked to a Toyota service manager and he says there is no problem with the rear struts!

While studying about the bad suspension on my 99 avalon

I found this quote from the "Consumer Guide Report for Avalon under reliability "trouble spots, suspension" for 97-99 Avalon.

"Suspension noise: The front suspension is noisy when driving over speed bumps or washboard roads due to a bad rubber bushing in the upper strut mount. Countermeasure bushings have been released. (1997-99)

When studying about this car, I read the Consumer Guide report on 1997 to 1999 Avalons, and it is listed under "reliability" that the suspension is noisy due to bad rubber bushings. They state that new bushings have been produced to counteract the problem.

This should have been a recall issue and resolved on Toyota's account. We are supposed to pay hundreds of dollars to correct for something they knew was wrong?

I called a dealer last week and he said due to the rubber bushing, the whole strut can go bad.

I have a 1997 Toyota Avalon. In the past year I have replaced the struts and strut mounts 3 times! I continue to hear a plastic crunching sound from the strut area on the driver's side, but only when I turn right. Its more noticeable when it is cold. I have also had my racket pinon steering replaced in the past year. Any thoughts what causes this phantom noise that NO ONE can figure out? Helpless in Norcross!

Here is another 1997 Toyota Avalon owner (59,500 miles.) I really have enjoyed this car for almost 11 years (we have other cars in family thus the low miles). I too have experienced the front end (rattling noise) almost from the day the car was new. I however, was not convinced that changing the front struts would make the noise "go away" but as soon as it stops snowing around here and I can get my hood open I will check out the passenger side upper strut nut to see if I can get a few turns on it and keep my fingers crossed.

The automatic transmission will not shift when cold. You need to drive about 2 to 3 miles before it will start acting somewhat normal. This car has been maintained to the max in case you are wondering.

Toyota, in my opinion, should have corrected these 2 problems. It is mind boggling to see all these comments on this site regarding the same problems. Thanks to all who have shared their experiences. Live and learn.

I have a 2001 Toyota Corolla that had an annoying rattle in the front end. I changed the struts which needed replacing, but the rattle was still there.

The rattle would disappear when turning corners in either direction and it dawned on me that it could be the sway bar links causing the problem. The links (about 3 inches long), which connect the sway bar to the front axle assembly have two small ball joints on either end and these wear out causing the rattle.

As I turned the corner, say to the left, the link on the driver's side was in tension and the link on the passenger side was in compression due to the lean of the car and the slack in the links was taken up resulting in no rattle.

I changed the links (relatively inexpensive compared to struts) and much easier than replacing struts. Voila! Rattle gone.

Have your mechanic check the sway bar links.

Dateline Saddle Brook NJ... World Class Auto/The "Toy Shop"

Ditto most comments hear regarding Toy Avalon/Camry '97-'00 models with front and rear suspension problems... a mess...many complaints and no dealer solution... current Avalon on rack has $1500 worth of struts, stabilizer links and bushings all around and just installed new rear control arms... the new ones... right from a Toy dealer @$122 each... New ones are bad...rattle..metal to metal contact inside... not enuf rubber?...would love to find new ones that are good...perhaps, I have to fashion an old style rubber bushing... shop made... to fix this stupid prob that should have been recalled by Toyota long ago... cheap @#$!@#$...still hard to believe that Toyota's legendary quality has disappeared... its all I have driven for last quarter century... no more WCToyShop@aol.com.

Problem - '97 Avalon front strut noise - fix - put small amount of syntec (used) oil into top of strut tower used duct tape to seal the oil. It will stop the noise in a few days and last quite some time. I fought this problem for years finally fixed it.