Overview & Reviews

The Avalon gets side-impact airbags, new headlights and taillamps, a new grille, a new trunk lid and pre-tensioner seatbelts with force limiters.

• One of the best full-size cars on the market. Stylish, reliable, and surprisingly roomy, this thing has a back seat like Jaguar XJ8 Vanden Plas.

• Invisible in a crowd. Dashboard plastics are too shiny for a car this nice.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 51.00

• 

  Avalon: Like Cruisin on Catalina - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By jdog - December 27 - 10:00 am

  I really enjoy the Avalon. This car gets a solid 25 mpg without sacrificing performance. I can turn off overdrive and step on it going up mountain passes and around slower traffic and the V-6 responds really well. The ride is smooth and the interior sits six adults comfortably. Ive taken road-trips with four other adults without any complaints about space or comfort. The only problem Ive had is that the brakes have a pernicious squeal on this model that was not corrected by the new brake pads that the dealer installed. I think that this was corrected on later models. Overall, I think my Avalon is an excellent cruising sedan.

• 

  98 avalon - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By j chan - December 9 - 2:00 am

  we brought this used with 37K miles from toyota dealer. Cars paint is terrible, looks like mircobubble on the top. Paint chip easily. Had to replace strut plate at 50K miles at $900. trunk leak water due to bad gasket in tail lamp. air conditioner had to be recharged last week at 65K, car drives great, but everything sucks.

• 

  98 Avalon XLS - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By jad0110 - September 30 - 10:00 am

  We have 146,000 miles on our Avalon and we have enjoyed every mile. The car is very solid safe, my wife was T-boned at 20 mph in the center of the doors and there was NO frame damage. We especially enjoyed the high quality materials of the interior - a Lexus for less $. The back seat is limo spacious, but at the sacrifice of some trunk space. Overall, a great car if you value luxury over sport. Just keep the oil changed every 3,000 miles (very important!) and expect years of reliable transportation.

• 

  The Good and Bad... mostly Good - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By IrvineGuy - April 15 - 10:00 am

  This car excels in being reliable, dependable, and performance. It has good visibility with no measurable blind spots. Seats seem to be made for smaller framed people. Feels like Im sitting on a stool. Right elbow doesnt reach the armrest in the drivers position. I rated the quality a 7, even though I think the engine quality is excellent, the exterior quality of the metal is weak. A slight tap on the panels will create a dent.

• 

  Good Car - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By Fl Driver - January 29 - 3:36 am

  I bought my Avalon used in 2002. So far the only maintenance problem Ive had is that the check engine refuses to go out. Ive a few mechanics look at it, and no one can seem to find the problem. Other than that, it has been an excellent vehicle. Strong engine, with OK mileage.

• 

  The Avalon--a Great Car - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By Pollyclaire - January 19 - 10:00 am

  The only thing I dont like about my Avalon is the seat belts. They cut across my neck and are too tight. The back seat ones are especially bad.

• 

  1998 avalon - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By nonfib - November 22 - 10:00 am

  This has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. Aside from the road noise, there has not been a complaint about the car in the five years we have owned it.

• 

  Recall for sludge - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By vicky - November 19 - 2:16 pm

  At around 113000 miles their is a oil gel/sludge in the engine below the valves. At 131340 miles there was dried oil in the form of coffee grinds in the internal oil screen that filters the oil inside the oil pan cover. WHEN OIL LIGHT comes on at 131340 miles HAVE IT TOWED to your closest dealer or you will be paying for a new engine. Make sure you tell the Service Manager NO ONE IS TO DRIVE IT or let it run at idle. Or you will have major internal engine damage. I was not notified by the manufacture that there was a recall for sludge ... so if it is smoking that could be the sign that it has an oil gel problem and it is covered by the manufacture. At 131300 miles changed front springs.

• 

  My car - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By Joe Moe - November 3 - 10:00 am

  This car has been excellent in regard to driving pleasure, reliability, gas mileage, comfort, size and looks.

• 

  Great car - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By Bill-NJ - September 9 - 2:00 am

  Solid and reliable car. Comfort is exceptional. Just returned from vacation, driving 18 hours straight with 5 people. Rear seat comfort is as good as front. Averaged 30 mpg.