Toyota Avalon Complaints, Problems and TSBs

Toyota’s flagship full-size sedan, the Avalon, is so comfortable, reliable, and affordable that it’s owned and driven by over 1.3 million Americans. Like everyone else, Avalon owners face a few obstacles associated with owning a car. Below is a list of the most common problems experienced by Avalon owners.

Note: The list of problems below is organized by vehicle generation. Scroll down to find your model range.

2018-Present Avalon - Common Problems

The 2020 Toyota Avalon

The Avalon is based on the Camry and is Toyota's highest-level luxury car. As such, there is very little data indicating any common problems of concern as of yet!

2016-2017 Avalon - Common Problems

A 2017 Toyota Avalon

Good news: there's no data suggesting any common problems to report for this generation either! Be sure to check back once in a while because we update the information on this page regularly.

2013-2015 Avalon - Common Problems

A 2013 Toyota Avalon

Pre-Collision System Radar Not Programmed Correctly: Many 2013-2015 Avalon owners reported having had their pre-collision system activating unexpectedly and applying the brakes without warning. However, Toyota issued a recall to fix this issue. The issue is that collision avoidance radar detects steel plates and roadway joints and can misinterpret them as objects that should be avoided...the Toyota recall fixes this issue.

2005-2012 Avalon - Common Problems

A 2008-2010 Toyota Avalon

Worn Oil Hose: If not caught in time, a worn oil hose will spring a leak and drain the oil out of the engine. This may lead to engine failure. Symptoms of insufficient oil include the engine making odd noises and the oil pressure light coming on. To address this issue, Toyota announced a Limited Service Campaign in 2010 offering to replace the oil hose (Part No. 15707-31030) for free.

Worn Pedal Mechanism: When the sliding surface of the friction level becomes smooth during operation, the accelerator starts sticking. The gas pedal becomes harder to depress, slower to return, or stuck when partially depressed, resulting in unintended acceleration. This substantially increases the risk of an accident. Upon learning of this common problem, Toyota issued a recall.

Headlight Malfunction: Many 3rd-generation Avalon owners reported having had their headlights fail at random times. Sometimes it’d be just the high beam headlights; other times it’d be both the high beams and low beams. Replacing the bulbs usually does the trick. When it doesn't, a light assembly replacement is required.

Loose Subwoofer Wires (2011-2012 models only): In 2015, Toyota recalled 52,000 2011-2012 Avalon models to fix the subwoofer wires inside the trunk. They're set up in such a way that if something in the trunk hits them, they can loosen or disconnect, increasing the risk of one of the wires touching the subwoofer’s metal frame. That could lead to a short circuit or trunk fire.

1999-2004 Avalon - Common Problems

A 2001-2002 Toyota Avalon

Cracked or Broken Steering Lock Bar: The steering lock bar wasn’t cast properly on many 2000-2004 Avalons. As a result, it’d crack or break over time, eventually locking the steering wheel and causing the driver to lose control of the car. In 2010, Toyota recalled nearly 375,000 Avalon models to fix this issue.

Airbag Control Module Failure (2003-2004 models only): When an airbag control module failure occurs prematurely, the front airbags, side airbags, and/or seatbelt pre-tensioners deploy unexpectedly. In early 2015, Toyota responded to this issue by recalling almost 120,000 2003-2004 Avalons and installing the sub-harness to prevent the integrated circuits from short-circuiting and randomly deploying the airbags.

If you’re experiencing another issue with your Avalon that isn’t listed here, feel free to email us or give us a call. Our knowledgeable staff will be more than happy to help you find the replacement parts you need!

Toyota Avalon TSBs - 1997-2017

To find these TSBs, you can try Googling the TSB ID #, the name of the TSB, or some combination. You can also go to NHTSA.gov and search for the TSB by entering your VIN.