Toyota Avalon problems by model year

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

NHTSA has 295 owner complaints and 24 recalls on file for the Toyota Avalon (2005–2022). The 2013 Avalon has the most serious complaints, most often about visibility & wipers.

Complaints
295
Recalls
24
Model years
18
Worst year
2013

Complaints by model year

1520051319200711112009614201153620132120201594201714582019102120218
NHTSA complaints per Toyota Avalon model year. Click a bar for details.

Newer model years have had less time on the road, so they naturally have fewer complaints. Compare a year against its neighbors rather than against brand-new models.

Worst Toyota Avalon years to buy

Ranked by our severity-weighted complaint score (crashes, fires and injuries count extra — how it works).

  1. 2013 Toyota Avalon — 36 complaints, 5 crashes; top problem: Visibility & Wipers
  2. 2019 Toyota Avalon — 58 complaints, 3 crashes; top problem: Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
  3. 2007 Toyota Avalon — 19 complaints, 4 crashes; top problem: Steering
  4. 2006 Toyota Avalon — 13 complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires; top problem: Airbags
  5. 2008 Toyota Avalon — 11 complaints, 1 crash; top problem: Lighting

Fewest serious complaints among years at least 3 years old: 2017 (4 complaints).

Every Toyota Avalon model year

YearComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuriesRecallsTop problem
2022 Avalon81010Wheels & Tires
2021 Avalon211002Airbags
2020 Avalon101003Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
2019 Avalon583024Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
2018 Avalon144022Airbags
2017 Avalon40002Airbags
2016 Avalon91013Airbags
2015 Avalon205002Brakes
2014 Avalon212024Visibility & Wipers
2013 Avalon365064Visibility & Wipers
2012 Avalon51024Visibility & Wipers
2011 Avalon140001Steering
2010 Avalon60006Steering
2009 Avalon110006Steering
2008 Avalon111015Lighting
2007 Avalon194025Steering
2006 Avalon132215Airbags
2005 Avalon150004Electrical System

Most common Toyota Avalon problem areas (all years)

  • Airbags
    44 complaints
  • Electrical System
    37 complaints
  • Visibility & Wipers
    33 complaints
  • Brakes
    33 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    31 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
    29 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    24 complaints
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control
    21 complaints
  • Steering
    21 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts
    20 complaints

Complaint trend

202020212022202320252026
Complaints about the Toyota Avalon received by NHTSA each month.

Toyota Avalon recalls

  • Recall 23V865000Dec 20, 2023999,901 vehiclesModel years 2020–2021

    Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

  • Recall 20V734000Nov 25, 2020161 vehiclesModel years 2020–2021

    Risk: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.

  • Recall 20V682000Nov 4, 20201,525,742 vehiclesModel years 2019–2020

    Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 20V024000Jan 17, 20202,891,976 vehiclesModel years 2012–2018

    Risk: In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.

  • Recall 20V012000Jan 13, 20201,830,752 vehiclesModel years 2018–2019

    Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 19V244000Mar 27, 20193,634 vehiclesModel years 2019

    Risk: If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 18V685000Oct 4, 2018168,187 vehiclesModel years 2019

    Risk: If the air bags do not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

  • Recall 18V569000Aug 29, 201819,354 vehiclesModel years 2012

    Risk: If the seat belt is falsely interpreted as being buckled, in the event of a crash, the air bags may not deploy appropriately, increasing the risk of injury.

  • Recall 17V295000May 2, 2017409 vehiclesModel years 2017

    Risk: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 16V906000Dec 16, 201612 vehiclesModel years 2016

    Risk: If the air bag was installed with incorrect fasteners, the fasteners may become loose over time, affecting the air bag deployment and increasing the risk of injury.

  • Recall 16V396000Jun 2, 20167,749 vehiclesModel years 2005–2010

    Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

  • Recall 16V215000Apr 14, 201658,515 vehiclesModel years 2016

    Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended during a crash increase the risk of injury.

  • Recall 15V728000Nov 3, 201530,812 vehiclesModel years 2013–2015

    Risk: A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 15V047000Jan 28, 201551,495 vehiclesModel years 2011–2012

    Risk: A constant electrical current flow may cause the sub-woofer to overheat, increasing the risk of fire.

  • Recall 14V743000Nov 19, 20143,233 vehiclesModel years 2006–2010

    Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

  • Recall 14V715000Nov 7, 20145,650 vehiclesModel years 2014

    Risk: Because of the insufficient clamping force, the lower arm may separate from the ball joint, increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 14V576000Sep 19, 201415,872 vehiclesModel years 2014

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

  • Recall 13V442000Oct 17, 2013802,769 vehiclesModel years 2012–2013

    Risk: A short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.

  • Recall 13V505000Oct 17, 20139,795 vehiclesModel years 2013

    Risk: A short circuit could cause inoperative windshield wipers, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 13V014000Jan 16, 20133,235 vehiclesModel years 2009–2010

    Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

  • Recall 10V499000Oct 21, 2010728,544 vehiclesModel years 2005–2006

    Risk: A leak of brake fluid could lead to a change in brake pedal feel and overtime a degradation in braking performance increasing the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 10V035000Feb 3, 2010271,417 vehiclesModel years 2007–2010

    Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.

  • Recall 10V036000Feb 3, 2010153,418 vehiclesModel years 2005–2010

    Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.

  • Recall 10V017000Jan 21, 20102,230,661 vehiclesModel years 2005–2010

    Risk: The accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash.

Other Toyota models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. Methodology