Toyota Avalon 2005–2012 problems by year and mileage
3rd generation (XX30) · GSX30 / XX30
NHTSA data through 18 October 20261,453 complaints, 1,178 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
- 200548kmedian
- 200645kmedian
- 200741kmedian
- 200852kmedian
- 200947kmedian
- 201013kmedian
- 201135kmedian
- 2012—too few
The 2005 Toyota Avalon
Close- Median failure report
- 48,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 228
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 2005
- Throttle and speed control72 reports · median 48,000 mi
- Steering42 reports · median 49,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline33 reports
Recall areas Seats — front assembly · Service brakes, hydraulic — foundation components · Equipment — other
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2006 Toyota Avalon
Close- Median failure report
- 45,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 360
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 2006
- Throttle and speed control103 reports · median 37,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system57 reports · median 62,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline52 reports · median 16,000 mi
Recall areas Seats — front assembly · Service brakes, hydraulic — foundation components · Equipment — other
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2007 Toyota Avalon
Close- Median failure report
- 41,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 243
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
Most reported on the 2007
- Throttle and speed control85 reports · median 35,000 mi
- Body structure30 reports
- Transmission and driveline23 reports
Recall areas Seats — front assembly · Equipment — other · Vehicle speed control — accelerator pedal
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2008 Toyota Avalon
Close- Median failure report
- 52,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 349
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
Most reported on the 2008
- Exterior lighting209 reports · median 60,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control45 reports · median 23,000 mi
- Electrical system44 reports · median 56,000 mi
Recall areas Seats — front assembly · Equipment — other · Vehicle speed control — accelerator pedal
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2009 Toyota Avalon
Close- Median failure report
- 47,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 91
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 2009
- Exterior lighting25 reports
- Steering18 reports
- Throttle and speed control18 reports
Recall areas Seats — front assembly · Seats · Equipment — other
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2010 Toyota Avalon
Close- Median failure report
- 13,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 46
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 2010
- Throttle and speed control13 reports
- Steering10 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise6 reports
Recall areas Seats — front assembly · Seats · Equipment — other
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2011 Toyota Avalon
Close- Median failure report
- 35,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 106
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2011
- Steering31 reports
- Electrical system25 reports
- Throttle and speed control11 reports
Recall areas Electrical system
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2012 Toyota Avalon
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 30
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2012
- Airbag system6 reports
- Body structure6 reports
- Electrical system4 reports
Recall areas Air bags — air bag/restraint control module · Seat belts · Electrical system
Check the VIN at NHTSA
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. Latest: the 2008; earliest: the 2010, and the 2008 is 2 years older (part of the gap is age). 1 of these years carries fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and shows no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2005–2012 Toyota Avalon reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 46,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 110,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 1,178
- Recalls
- 14
Most reported
- Throttle and speed control24.2% of complaints · median 30,000 mi
- Exterior lighting18.0% of complaints · median 58,000 mi
- Steering11.6% of complaints · median 44,000 mi
Documented problems
- Engine - Oil Supply Hose2007–2011
- Accelerator / Floor Mat2005–2010
- Powertrain Change2005–2012
Owners filed 1,453 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005–2012 Toyota Avalon; throttle and speed control leads with 24.2% of them, and half of the 1,178 that record an odometer reading came by 46,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.
No single peak: the middle half runs 20,000 to 74,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2005–2012 Toyota Avalon last?
On the 2005–2012 Toyota Avalon, half of the 1,178 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 46,000 miles and 90% by 110,000 miles (why that is not a lifespan).
32 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 12 past 200,000 — each one proof that an Avalon reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Toyota Avalon 2005–2012 · 1,178 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
10,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 189 complaints
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 12 complaints (1.0%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 3,000
- 25%
- 20,000
- Median
- 46,000
- 75%
- 74,000
- 90%
- 110,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 189 | 16.0% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 91 | 7.7% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 97 | 8.2% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 111 | 9.4% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 144 | 12.2% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 113 | 9.6% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 88 | 7.5% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 92 | 7.8% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 57 | 4.8% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 49 | 4.2% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 30 | 2.5% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 32 | 2.7% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 23 | 2.0% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 16 | 1.4% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 14 | 1.2% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 6 | 0.5% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 9 | 0.8% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 12 | 1.0% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Avalon problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Toyota Avalon 2005–2012
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Transmission and driveline128 reportsmedian 22,000middle half 1,500–59,000
- Throttle and speed control351 reportsmedian 30,000middle half 9,000–54,000
- Steering169 reportsmedian 44,000middle half 20,000–73,000
- Engine and its cooling system96 reportsmedian 50,000middle half 30,000–71,000
- Electrical system137 reportsmedian 52,000middle half 33,000–90,000
- Body structure107 reportsmedian 53,000middle half 36,000–71,000
- Exterior lighting261 reportsmedian 58,000middle half 45,000–79,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Throttle and speed control | 351 | 24.2% | 30,000 | 9,000–54,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 261 | 18.0% | 58,000 | 45,000–79,000 |
| Steering | 169 | 11.6% | 44,000 | 20,000–73,000 |
| Electrical system | 137 | 9.4% | 52,000 | 33,000–90,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 128 | 8.8% | 22,000 | 1,500–59,000 |
| Body structure | 107 | 7.4% | 53,000 | 36,000–71,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 96 | 6.6% | 50,000 | 30,000–71,000 |
| Airbag system | 82 | 5.6% | 60,000 | 29,000–113,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 77 | 5.3% | 57,000 | 23,000–80,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 56 | 3.9% | 34,000 | 12,000–55,000 |
Known problems with the 2005–2012 Avalon
Engine - Oil Supply Hose 2007–2011
2GR-FE rubber oil supply hose feeding the VVT-i controller can rupture, causing rapid loss of engine oil and possible engine damage or fire; Toyota recalled affected 2GR-FE vehicles and replaced the rubber section with a metal line.
Accelerator / Floor Mat 2005–2010
Included in Toyota's 2009-2010 floor mat pedal entrapment recalls covering unintended acceleration risk on several 2005-2010 models.
Powertrain Change 2005–2012
Grouping note, not a defect: MY2005-2007 cars use the 5-speed U151E and MY2008-2012 use the 6-speed U660E, so transmission complaints should be segmented at 2008.
Before you buy a 2005–2012 Avalon: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,178 mileage-tagged complaints, 14 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 14 campaigns cover this generation.
- Check engine - oil supply hose on 2007–2011 cars. What each looks like: Known problems.
- Check accelerator / floor mat on 2005–2010 cars.
- Check powertrain change on 2005–2012 cars.
- Years differ here: from 30 to 360 complaints a year — compare them by model year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Avalon problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi63% below | At 90k mi83% below | At 120k mi93% below | At 150k mi97% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Throttle and speed control | 9,000–54,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Exterior lighting | 45,000–79,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Steering | 20,000–73,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 33,000–90,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 1,500–59,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Body structure | 36,000–71,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 30,000–71,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Toyota Avalon 2005–2012 · 1,178 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 60,000 mi — 63% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 83% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 93% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 97% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median (the 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
2005–2012 Toyota Avalon recalls (14)
NHTSA records 14 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
The campaigns cluster around seats (3), equipment (3), the airbag system (2) (why one area can repeat).
Jan 2020 · 2012 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase…
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly…
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of…
Aug 2018 · 2012 · Seat BeltsIf the seat belt is falsely interpreted as being buckled, in the event of a crash, the air bags may not…
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles. During a vehicle repair, the seat belt inner buckles may have been replaced with parts that may incorrectly tell the air bag management system that the seat…
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the seat belt assembly to verify that it is properly detecting being unbuckled, replacing the inner seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge.…
Jun 2016 · 2005–2010 · SeatsIf damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The defect. Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011…
What can happen. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact…
Jan 2015 · 2011–2012 · Electrical SystemA constant electrical current flow may cause the sub-woofer to overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles manufactured February 9, 2010, to October 22, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the sub-woofer speaker located in the trunk may experience an…
What can happen. A constant electrical current flow may cause the sub-woofer to overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the audio system amplifier and install a protective cover around the sub-woofer, free of charge. The recall began on July 1,2015. Owners may…
Nov 2014 · 2006–2010 · SeatsDamage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and…
The defect. Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4…
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected…
Oct 2013 · 2012 · EquipmentA short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy.
The defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air…
What can happen. 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…
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February…
Jan 2013 · 2009–2010 · SeatsIf the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may…
The defect. Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and…
What can happen. 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…
The free fix. Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact…
Oct 2010 · 2005–2006 · Service Brakes, HydraulicA leak of brake fluid could lead to a change in brake pedal feel and overtime a degradation in braking…
The defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 Avalon, model year 2004-2006 highlander, model year 2004-2006 Lexus rx, and model year 2006 Lexus gs and is vehicles. Brake fluid containing polymers is used that acts as lubricants for certain brake system…
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the seal with a newly designed one. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 15, 2010. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 and…
Feb 2010 · 2005–2010 · EquipmentA driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "Tire selection and rims." These vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying…
What can happen. A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact…
Feb 2010 · 2007–2010 · EquipmentThis does not meet the standard requirements.
The defect. Gulf states Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "Tire selection and rims." These vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008…
What can happen. This does not meet the standard requirements.
The free fix. Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety…
Jan 2010 · 2005–2010 · Vehicle Speed ControlThe accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically…
The defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Avalon, model year 2007-2010 camry, model year 2009-2010 corolla, corolla matrix, RAV4, model year 2010 highlander, model year 2008-2010 sequoia, and model year 2007-2010 tundra vehicles. Due to the manner in…
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal which will allow the pedal to operate smoothly. Gm will notify owners for the Pontiac vibe please see 10v-018. This service will be…
Oct 2009 · 2005–2010 · Vehicle Speed ControlA stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the…
The defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
What can happen. A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
The free fix. Toyota filed an amended defect report on november 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal.…
Apr 2006 · 2005–2006 · Air BagsThis may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
The defect. On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for…
What can happen. This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the specific srs air bag. The recall began on april 6, 2006. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371, scion at 1-866-548-1851, or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
May 2005 · 2005 · SteeringLoss of control of the vehicle could result in a crash.
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles, the steering yoke was not welded to the steering shaft. If the vehicle is operated in this condition, there is a possibility that the yoke may come off from the shaft, and could result in a loss of vehicle steering control.
What can happen. Loss of control of the vehicle could result in a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the steering yoke and shaft weld condition, and replace the steering column assembly free of charge. The recall began on may 2, 2005. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 1,453 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 198 (13.6%)
- Fires
- 14
- Injury reports
- 93
- Fatality reports
- 7
Avalon problems by model year
The 2006 drew the most complaints of this generation, 360, most of them about throttle and speed control, and the 2012 the fewest, 30. A typical year drew about 167.
That makes the 2006 stand out at roughly 2.2 times a typical year (what a yearly count can and cannot say).
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 228 | 180 | 48,000 | Throttle and speed control (72) | 7 |
| 2006 | 360 | 289 | 45,000 | Throttle and speed control (103) | 7 |
| 2007 | 243 | 194 | 41,000 | Throttle and speed control (85) | 6 |
| 2008 | 349 | 305 | 52,000 | Exterior lighting (209) | 6 |
| 2009 | 91 | 74 | 47,000 | Exterior lighting (25) | 7 |
| 2010 | 46 | 35 | 13,000 | Throttle and speed control (13) | 7 |
| 2011 | 106 | 78 | 35,000 | Steering (31) | 1 |
| 2012 | 30 | 23 | under 30 reports | Airbag system (6) | 4 |
What Avalon owners reported
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2007 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that the transmission fluid was low. The contact became aware that transmission fluid was leaking from the vehicle. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy.…
2007 · 311,000 miles · Electrical system
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger's side seat belt failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt latch failed to unlock. The contact stated that his wife was stuck in the seat for five minutes…
2011 · 122,000 miles · Seat belts
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The vehicle then returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The vehicle was taken to an independent…
2005 · 170,000 miles · Throttle and speed control
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH and attempting to make a turn, the steering wheel had seized causing a crash. The front passenger side and rear passenger side bumper impacted into a guard rail during the crash. No warning lights had illuminated. No…
2007 · 160,000 miles · Steering
Built from 1,178 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Avalon generations
- Avalon 1995–1999 136 reports with mileage, most about the steering
- Avalon 2000–2004 479 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Avalon 2013–2018 237 reports with mileage, most about problems owners could not categorise