Toyota Avalon Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Toyota Avalon options? We analyzed 10 model years (2013–2022) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
Free VIN check
Found a Toyota Avalon? Check that exact car.
Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
No VIN yet? Ask the seller.
A genuine seller should be happy to share it. Send this, then paste the VIN into the box above when it comes back.
Going to see one?
Get the Toyota Avalon inspection checklist by email, so you know what to look for when you're standing next to it.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Toyota Avalon has 479 owner complaints and 26 safety recalls across model years 2013–2022. The most reported issue area is UNKNOWN OR OTHER. 2013 drew the most complaints; 2022 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Toyota
- Model
- Avalon
- Model years analyzed
- 2013–2022 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 479
- Safety recall campaigns
- 26
- Crash-related complaints
- 51
- Fire-related complaints
- 3
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2013 (160 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2022 (8 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Toyota Avalon: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe TOYOTA AVALON has 479 NHTSA complaints and 26 recalls on record. 51 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 479 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 26 federal recall campaigns
- 51 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Oct 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
26 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: CRASH IMMINENT BRAKING
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2013–2022. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 479 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
479 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
After a maintenance service, i was made aware of an oil leak from where the bank 1 head gasket meets the timing cover. Verbally quoted for $6500 due to the “extensive labor” costs of replacing the gasket.
Went to dealer cause air bag malfunction came on they said it was the driver seat belt clicker being faulty. They wanted 250 to fix it. I fixed it myself for 50. To find out it was the passenger clicker. They have a recall on the passenger but dealer lied said it was driver side to get me to pay n them 250
Infotainment screen went black when car had 42,000mi. Took to toyota dealer and charged $200 for same reset i did at home also charging ports do not work. Can't get any gps or anything information on car through screen all Took place in 2023
On 11/27/25 around 11:30 am , I went to stop at a stop sign before approaching the main road. I went to stop at the stop sign and hit the brakes as I proceded to turn left on to the main Road there was a car coming on the main road and I hit my brakes to stop from causing me to run into him when I hit the brakes to avoid hitting the other car , the brakes locked and would not stop the car. Causing the car to swerve and hit the car, went to the other side of the street , hit a pole , and damaged my left and right back and front of my car and hit the other car as well. It was not the first time that the brakes did this to me, however the first time that that happened thankfully I did not hit anyone on the on going road , but the brakes freed up and I continued driving. This timethe brakes froze and the car went out of control. I almost lost my life me and my husband who was a passenger in the car. The person whom I hit in the other car saw that I tried to stop and the car went out of control. The car would not stop. I am concerned because for a long time I have been telling the dealer when I go for service I complained about the knocking of the brakes when I press to stop. They said nothing is wrong and they never did anything about it. Now today I went to the dealer to complain about the accident I was in and wanted them to inspect the brakes. They wanted to charge me 199.00 and I refused to have them diagnose the car because this appears to be problem with the car and nothing on my part. It may be a sensor issue or something. I felt that the car was being operated remotley in other words I had no control the car spinned out of control and the brake system did not work. I want to get rid of this car because I have had 4 accidents with this car since I purchased it in May of 2022. I am now afraid to drive the car after this incident. Please someone help me with this situation.
The vehicle was proceeding on the freeway when the drivers side rear tire blew out and went completely flat. The low pressure tire warning system that alerted us never indicated that the air pressure was low or getting low, but rather it had instantly dropped to 0 PSI. There was no integrity left to the tire which posed an extreme safety hazard to the stability of the vehicle. Upon contacting Bridgestone I was asked to have a third party company inspect the tire to which we complied. The inspection revealed that the tire had suffered a failure due to a manufacturing defect and not wear/tear or accidental damage. The tires equipped on the vehicle are approximately one year old with less than 3,800 miles on them. Bridgestone is refusing to honor a replacement due to their defect unless I purchase an extended warranty for all 4 tires. Tire Size: 215 / 55 R 17
I was driving home from work. I was on the the highway driving approximately 55 mph. All of a sudden I heard what can only be described as a gun shot or explosion. It was extremely loud and it almost caused me to run into the guardrail. I then heard glass falling onto the safety shield of my moonroof. I got home and inspected the moonroof and there was a large hole in the moonroof. The glass appeared to push out from inside the car. There were zero signs that this would happen. The moonroof is never used. It was approximately 75 degrees and partly cloudy when this occurred.
Read 14 more owner reports
While driving, the tire sidewall ripped in half. I had reported this as a tire failure but Firestone (owns Bridgestone) stated that this was caused by the vehicle (Toyota Avalon). I did want to report this in case there are other incidents.
Tire blew out, the outer sidewall completely came apart at the seams. There was no external pressure and there are less than 5,000 miles on the car. The PSI was at 35 as per the manufacturers spec.
The torsion springs for the rear trunk are very weak. They have been that way since car was new. I have had multiple occasions where I opened the trunk and had it come down and hit me on the head. This has also happened to my wife.
Leaving a parking lot, the car jumped out of gear. Thought maybe I had bumped the gear selector but attempts at putting the car in gear resulted in grinding noises and the only option was to put it in PARK. Check engine light came on. Mechanic diagnosed a speed sensor. Had this happened on the freeway or while trying to pass another car on a two lane and a speed sensor disable the entire car to me is dangerous and should be addressed. Had the check engine light come on, I would have had the sensor replaced right away. I now feel this is an unsafe situation that could arise in other 2017 Toyota cars
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNNAMED DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN EMAIL CONFIRMATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS). THE NHTSA HOTLINE WAS CONTACTED AND AN INQUIRY WAS MADE IN REGARD TO THE STATUS OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PART NOT AVAILABLE.
TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO INSTALL AN AUTO-STOP CAUSED THE CARBON-MONOXIDE POISONING OF TWO (MORE) PEOPLE, MANY DOZENS OF SUCH DEATHS REPORTED. (DETAIL: THEY HAD LIKELY STOPPED THE ENGINE, BUT THE WIRELESS FOB CAN RE-START; AND THIS MODEL HAS AN AUTO STOP/START FUNCTION THAT CAN ALSO LEAD TO DEATH.] NOTE: NOT MY CAR, MY PARENTS.
I WAS PULLING OUT OF A CHURCH PARKING SPOT VERY SLOWLY. ONCE OUT OF THE SPOT I STOPPED AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED AS IF IT SHIFTED INTO CURSE CONTROL. WE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET BEFORE HITTING A TREE. IT ALL HAPPENED SO SUDDENLY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO.
TOYOTA AVALON FAILS TO HAVE AN IGNITION AUTO SHUT OFF WHICH LED TO DEATH OF TWO INDIVIDUALS. THIS DESIGN FLAW DID NOT PREVENT THE CAR FROM IDLING INDEFINITELY AND FILLING THE HOUSE WITH CARBON MONOXIDE' A TOXIC FATAL GAS. THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE PROPER EXTERNAL WARNINGS LIKE A HONK TO ADVISE A DRIVER THEY MAY HAVE REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE CAR.
TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO INSTALL AN ENGINE AUTO STOP CAUSED THE CARBON MONOXIDE DEATH OF TWO PEOPLE. FAILURE TO HAVE PROPER OUTSIDE WARNINGS LIKE A HONK TO WARN THE OPERATOR NOT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE CAR LED TO THESE DEATHS. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A GARAGE. PEOPLE WERE INSIDE THE HOME. HTTPS://WWW.LEGACY.COM/OBITUARIES/HERALDTRIBUNE/OBITUARY.ASPX?N=JAMES-LIVINGSTON&PID=192908732 HTTPS://WWW.LEGACY.COM/OBITUARIES/HERALDTRIBUNE/OBITUARY.ASPX?N=SHERRY-PENNEY&PID=192908731
TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO INSTALL AN ENGINE AUTO STOP CAUSED THE CARBON MONOXIDE DEATH OF TWO PEOPLE. FAILURE TO HAVE PROPER OUTSIDE WARNINGS LIKE A HONK TO WARN THE OPERATOR NOT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE CAR LED TO THIS DEATH.
TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO INSTALL AN ENGINE AUTO STOP CAUSED THE CARBON MONOXIDE DEATH OF TWO PEOPLE. CAR WAS STATIONARY. FAILURE TO HAVE PROPER OUTSIDE WARNINGS LIKE A HONK TO WARN THE OPERATOR NOT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE CAR LED TO THIS DEATH.
I REPORTED NOISE WHEN I MADE TURNS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. I BOUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND ADVISED OF THE ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CHECK ALL COMPONENTS OF THE CAR AND CHANGE THE OIL AND ROTATE THE TIRES. THIS WAS AT 19,611 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING SOUND I HEARD WAS ELECTRIC AND THAT IT WAS FINE. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3/10/18 AND THE CAR WAS CHECKED AGAIN AT 24,650 MILES. THE CAR WAS REPORTED FINE. THEN ON 4/26/18 I HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK OR ANY OF THE COMPUTER SAFETY FEATURES. I WAS STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT WAITING FOR ANOTHER CAR TO BACK OUT. THE CAR PASSED AND I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR TO PULL INTO THE SPACE. THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING ACCELERATING NOISES AND THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK. I RAN OVER THE YELLOW CONCRETE BLOCK AND OUT OF THE PARKING LOT INTO THE VACANT LOT NEXT DOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN BY PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR IS DAMAGED AND I HAVE INJURIES. TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE (08/14/2017) I NOTICED A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE ANALOG SPEEDOMETER AND THE CENTER DIGITAL DISPLAY OF THE SPEED (MPH). CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. HE ADVISED THERE IS NO FIX. I NOTED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB. THE ERROR IS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 MPH AND VARIES WITH DIFFERENT SPEEDS. STARTING SPEED IS ZERO WITH THE ERRORS OCCURRING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I HAVE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS CHECKED THE ACTUAL SPEED AGAINST LOCAL "RADAR" WARNING SIGNS. IT APPEARS THAT THE DIGITAL DISPLAY IS THE MOST ACCURATE. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE DISCREPANCY AND SENT THEM TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE THEN AGREED TO GO FOR A TEST DRIVE WITH ME. HE CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE A TOYOTA TECH STREAM DEVICE. I ALSO HAD HIM ACTIVATE HIS GPS SPEED PROGRAM ON HIS CELL PHONE. THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT HIS TECH STREAM DEVICE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND/OR WAS DISPLAYING SPEEDS THAT WERE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE DIGITAL DISPLAY OR THE ANALOG DISPLAY (THE MAIN ROUND SPEEDOMETER NEXT TO THE TACHOMETER). HOWEVER, HIS GPS PHONE APP INDICATED THAT THE DIGITAL DISPLAY WAS THE MOST ACCURATE. THE RESULTS ALSO CONFIRMED THE DISCREPANCY OF 2-4 MPH BETWEEN THE ANALOG AND DIGITAL DISPLAYS. A COMPLAINT FILED WITH TOYOTA LAST WEEK BY ME RESULTED IN A PHONE CALL FROM THEM INDICATING THAT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE CALLER EVEN INDICATING THAT THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE TO BEGIN WITH. (JUST GOOGLE IT AND YOU WILL SEE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS.) NOW, THIS MIGHT NOT BE AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT SURE COULD GET ONE INTO A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. IF ONE THOUGHT HE OR SHE WAS GOING 66 MPH AND WAS ACTUALLY GOING 70 MPH IN A 65 ZONE, YOU COULD BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO RECEIVING A CITATION FOR DOING SO. I SHOULD KNOW, I'M A RETIRED STATE TROOPER.
Showing 20 of 479 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Toyota Avalon
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Toyota Avalon, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Toyota Avalon has 479 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Toyota Avalon has 26 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 51 of the Toyota Avalon's 479 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Toyota Avalon vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Toyota Avalon vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Toyota Avalon has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
Compare
Buyers also compare
How does the Toyota Avalon stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
Explore
Other Toyota models
By state
Check a Toyota Avalon by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Toyota Avalon.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Toyota Avalon reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Toyota Avalon reliable?
Poor. The Toyota Avalon has 479 NHTSA owner complaints and 26 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Toyota Avalon years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2013 (160 complaints), 2014 (96 complaints), 2019 (70 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Toyota Avalon problems?
Top reported issues: UNKNOWN OR OTHER (78 complaints); AIR BAGS (59 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (58 complaints).
Does the Toyota Avalon have recalls?
Yes — 26 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Toyota Avalon. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.