Toyota Avalon: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Toyota Avalon problems by model year, from 661 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2019 (47%, 31 drivetrain complaints). 1 of the 7 Toyota Avalon years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2011 (7%), 2012 (8%) and 2010 (10%). 2012 and 2010 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2019 drew the most drivetrain complaints (31 of 77 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 and 2022 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Toyota Avalon year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Avalon | no elevated signal | 10% | 4 | 46 | 5/7 | 7 |
| 2011 Avalon | no elevated signal | 7% | 7 | 106 | 7/7 | 1 |
| 2012 Avalon | no elevated signal | 8% | 2 | 30 | 6/7 | 4 |
| 2013 Avalon | no elevated signal | 11% | 15 | 160 | 3/7 | 4 |
| 2014 Avalon | no elevated signal | 10% | 9 | 96 | 4/7 | 4 |
| 2015 Avalon | no elevated signal | 20% | 9 | 53 | 2/7 | 2 |
| 2016 Avalon | too few to score | – | 6 | 23 | – | 3 |
| 2017 Avalon | too few to score | – | 7 | 14 | – | 2 |
| 2018 Avalon | too few to score | – | 4 | 24 | – | 2 |
| 2019 Avalon | high | 47% | 31 | 70 | 1/7 | 4 |
| 2020 Avalon | too few to score | – | 5 | 10 | – | 3 |
| 2021 Avalon | too few to score | – | 4 | 21 | – | 2 |
| 2022 Avalon | too few to score | – | 1 | 8 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Toyota Avalon years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Toyota Avalon fuel system recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Toyota Avalon involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 19 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2014 | 14V576000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2014 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V012000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V682000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019 |
16 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2009 | 09V388000 | vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2010 |
| Jan 2010 | 10V017000 | vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2010 |
| Feb 2010 | 10V035000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Feb 2010 | 10V036000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Jan 2013 | 13V014000 | air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive | 2010 |
| Oct 2013 | 13V442000 | electrical system | 2012–2013 |
| Oct 2013 | 13V505000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring | 2013 |
| Nov 2014 | 14V715000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2014 |
| Nov 2014 | 14V743000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010 |
| Jan 2015 | 15V047000 | electrical system | 2011–2012 |
| Nov 2015 | 15V728000 | forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking | 2013–2015 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V396000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V569000 | air bags | 2012 |
| Oct 2018 | 18V685000 | electrical system: software | 2019 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V244000 | equipment: other: labels | 2019 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V024000 | air bags: air bag/restraint control module | 2012–2015 |
What the free pages leave out on the Toyota Avalon
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Toyota Avalon
What are the worst years for the Toyota Avalon?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Toyota Avalon years are the 2019 (47% of relevant complaints, high). 1 of 7 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Toyota Avalon?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Toyota Avalon years are the 2011 (7%), the 2012 (8%) and the 2010 (10%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Toyota Avalon have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 7 scored years, 77 of 549 relevant NHTSA complaints (14%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2019.
Is the Toyota Avalon reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 1 of 7 Toyota Avalon years we score have an elevated complaint share and 6 do not. Pooled across those years, 14% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Toyota Avalon?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Toyota Avalon years we track, out of 19 in total: 14V576000 (Sep 2014, 2014), 20V012000 (Jan 2020, 2019), 20V682000 (Nov 2020, 2019). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.