Toyota Avalon Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 3,404 consumer complaints across the 28 model years of the Toyota Avalon (1995–2022) that have at least 5 complaints. 2006 has the most, with 360. Across all years, the part named most often is vehicle speed control (602 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Avalon model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 8 | — | 0 | 105 | — | Not enough data |
| 2021 | 21 | 1,650 | 2 | 170 | — | Rising |
| 2020 | 10 | 4,000 | 3 | 192 | — | Not enough data |
| 2019 | 71 | 5,116 | 4 | 220 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2018 | 24 | 10,500 | 2 | 178 | — | Falling |
| 2017 | 14 | 17,515 | 2 | 221 | — | Not enough data |
| 2016 | 23 | 31,000 | 3 | 266 | — | Rising |
| 2015 | 42 | 42,500 | 2 | 314 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2014 | 96 | 13,625 | 4 | 448 | 58 · Typical | Falling |
| 2013 | 137 | 17,522 | 4 | 498 | 67 · More | Falling |
| 2012 | 30 | 33,000 | 4 | 292 | 4 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2011 | 106 | 34,950 | 1 | 274 | 31 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2010 | 46 | 13,000 | 7 | 319 | 46 · Typical | Falling |
| 2009 | 91 | 47,010 | 7 | 285 | 64 · Typical | Falling |
| 2008 | 349 | 52,000 | 6 | 267 | 96 · More | Falling |
| 2007 | 243 | 40,650 | 6 | 210 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 360 | 45,000 | 7 | 205 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 228 | 47,850 | 7 | 204 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2004 | 205 | 67,886 | 3 | 121 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 293 | 82,500 | 2 | 104 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 116 | 91,000 | 1 | 101 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 134 | 60,000 | 2 | 96 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2000 | 173 | 83,837 | 2 | 81 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1999 | 92 | 53,000 | 1 | 50 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 178 | 72,000 | 1 | 49 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1997 | 125 | 99,000 | 1 | 37 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 109 | 116,000 | 0 | 32 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 80 | 99,500 | 0 | 32 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Vehicle speed control602 21%
- Air bags586 21%
- Steering361 13%
- Electrical system295 10%
- Exterior lighting291 10%
- Brakes278 9.8%
- Transmission and drivetrain211 7.5%
- Other or unknown199 7.0%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2019: “I bought this car about 5 months ago and everything was fine until a month ago. Every time I'm driving less than 35 MPH I feel a rough down shift is not that bad, but I notice it. It only happens when I'm driving slow, more specifically in the city.Toyota hasn't sent anything regarding this problem. I thought it would go away but it hasn't.”
NHTSA complaint #11309436, filed 2020-02, 20 miles2011: “Telescoping steering column lock loosens while driving causing steering wheel and brakes to shake. Advised my local Toyota dealer and they said it was not covered under warranty but I could pay them to repair the issue with a upgraded repair that Toyota has identified. A notice was never sent out to Toyota owners. This should be a recall notice. Safety issue while driving. …”
NHTSA complaint #11407050, filed 2021-04, 45,636 miles2002: “I was in a car accident where I lost control of the vehicle due to slippery roads. I was exiting i5 on to highway 7 in tacoma washington. The vehicle wouldn't stop, slid and hit a cement wall on highway 7. Upon impact I hit my head on windshield and none of the air bags came out upon impact. I received injuries due to this disorder.”
NHTSA complaint #11306600, filed 2020-02, 192,000 milesOther Toyota models
18,207 complaintsToyota Prius
12,519 complaintsToyota Corolla
11,738 complaintsToyota RAV4
9,401 complaintsToyota Sienna
8,831 complaintsToyota Tacoma
8,476 complaintsToyota Tundra
6,944 complaintsToyota 4RUNNER
5,900 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology