Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 106 safety complaints
about the 2011 Toyota Avalon with the US government. Of those, 14 describe a crash, 6 people were injured and no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering the electrical system.
The most complained-about system is the steering,
named in 31 complaints, 29% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 34,950 miles,
the median across the 78
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers October 2010 to December 2024 · How this is counted
What is on file
106 complaints on file
106
Complaints
14
Describe a crash
0
Mention fire
6
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
STEERING 31 · 29%
31 29%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 25 · 24%
25 24%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11 · 10%
11 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10 · 9%
10 9%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 9 · 8%
9 8%
STRUCTURE 6 · 6%
6 6%
SERVICE BRAKES 5 · 5%
5 5%
VISIBILITY 5 · 5%
5 5%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 4 · 4%
4 4%
ENGINE 3 · 3%
3 3%
SEATS 3 · 3%
3 3%
AIR BAGS 2 · 2%
2 2%
01531
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 106.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2015 at 17.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2010 to 2024.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2011 Toyota AVALON, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
4 DR FWD
Overall
Not rated
Frontal crash
Not rated
Frontal, driver
Not rated
Frontal, passenger
Not rated
Side crash
Not rated
Side barrier
Not rated
Side pole
Not rated
Rollover
Chance of rollover
11.1%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
Recall campaigns
1 on file
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
15V047000 · January 28, 2015
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 intermittent electrical short which may cause damage to the integrated circuit (IC) in the audio amplifier. In some cases, the damaged IC may allow a constant electrical current flow to the sub-woofer.
The risk
A constant electrical current flow may cause the sub-woofer to overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
The remedy
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 contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 51,495 vehicles across all model years covered
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 injured · crash · 5,500 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BRUSH OF CACTUS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND A PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (REPORT NUMBER: 120223189). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR GARAGE WHERE THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO FURTHER INSPECT THE FAILURE BUT COULD NOT LOCATE A FAILURE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500. UPDATED 06/05/12 *BF
NHTSA complaint 10456327. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
2 injured · crash · 78,545 miles
WAS HIT FROM THE REAR BY F250 FORD TRUCK ,AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK,MY WIFE HIT HER HEAD ON GLASS AND MY KNEE HIT FRONT PASSAGER SIDE DASH. *JS
NHTSA complaint 10579475. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
1 injured · crash · towed · 24,000 miles
WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH FROM PARKING SPOT TO FRONT OF RESTAURANT TO PICK UP PASSENGER, CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED VERY FAST WITHOUT DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL. BOTH FEET WERE APPLIED TO BRAKE PEDAL AND CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP UNTIL IT HIT CEMENT PILLAR CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, TOTALING THE CAR AND CAUSING INJURY TO DRIVER.
NHTSA complaint 10970748. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1 injured · crash · 3,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES TO HER ARM AND KNEE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PLACE TO VEHICLE INTO REVERSE WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A CHAIN LINK FENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DID NOT PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST YET REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD BE SENDING OUT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHIN THE NEXT THIRTY DAYS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE …
NHTSA complaint 10375409, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEAT BELTS
121,578 miles
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 doe to the failure. The contact attempted several times before the seat belt unlatched. Additionally, the contact stated that the seat belt became inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The vehicle was scheduled to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately …
NHTSA complaint 11628627, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
the rear trunk lid arms broken lid feel on top of me
NHTSA complaint 11515505. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The rear sun screen will get stuck in the up position . At night there is almost no visibility out of the back window. This is a very dangerous safety problem. Apparently Toyota has had a problem with this feature with no effort made to correct it.
NHTSA complaint 11481479. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
The engine has quit while in traffic several times and the check engine light and the skid control lights are the only lights lit on the dashboard. Once the car comes to rest and one waits 3 to 5 minutes, the car will restart. We have taken the car to the dealer twice, ( each time the had it for nearly a week) and they could not find the problem. This is a very serious problem because the engine stops without notice causing loss of power steering and total loss of control. The lights for check engine and skid control are sometimes on when this happens, but not always; and the fact that these lights are lit does not predict this event happening.I think there might be a sensor in the engine …
NHTSA complaint 11443659, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Failure of the Sun shade in the rear causes a problem with visability. Stays stuck in up or down position. Creates a loud distracting grinding noise when in operation and highly reduces visibility through the rear window. Particularly when it is stuck in the half way position.
NHTSA complaint 11442918. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
45,636 miles
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. SERVICE BULLETIN (#00206, NHTSA # 10019669) THEY NOW INFORM ME OF A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TELESCOPIC LEVER DETENT CLIP AND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB-0147-13 AND ALSO THAT TOYOTA HAD A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM - ZTY TO ADDRESS IT WHICH EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NOT A SAFETY …
NHTSA complaint 11407050, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed January 28, 2015.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst