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2011 Toyota Avalon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Toyota Avalon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

78 reports with mileage · 28 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

10 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2023
Unknown Or Other

the rear trunk lid arms broken lid feel on top of me

NHTSA ODI #11515505

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2022
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 ODI #11481479

45,636 miles · Apr 8, 2021
Unknown Or Other

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…

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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 RECALL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD CONTINUE TO STAND BEHIND.

NHTSA ODI #11407050

80,000 miles · Aug 13, 2017
Unknown Or Other

2011 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED WITH 80,000 MILES. THE REAR SUNSHADE HAS BEGUN OPERATING ON ITS OWN. IT RAISES AND LOWERS WITHOUT MY PUSHING BUTTON, IT DOES THIS DURING DAYLIGHT AND AT NIGHT. HINDERS BACKING, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. I HAVE READ ON THE "NET" THIS IS TYPICAL AT THIS MILEAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11014915

55,000 miles · Aug 31, 2016
Unknown Or OtherCrash

THIS TOYOTA WAS IN A SIX (6) CAR TRAFFIC CRASH LIST THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR. AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. THIS CAR WAS NUMBER 5. CARS WERE SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT. THIS CAR HAD FRONT END AND REAR END DAMAGE. THIS CAR MAYBE TOTAL. ONE BODY SHOP PERSON SAID IT WAS TOTALED. AIR BAG IN SIX CAR DID GO OFF WHICH DID HIT THIS CAR IN THE …

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THIS TOYOTA WAS IN A SIX (6) CAR TRAFFIC CRASH LIST THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR. AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. THIS CAR WAS NUMBER 5. CARS WERE SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT. THIS CAR HAD FRONT END AND REAR END DAMAGE. THIS CAR MAYBE TOTAL. ONE BODY SHOP PERSON SAID IT WAS TOTALED. AIR BAG IN SIX CAR DID GO OFF WHICH DID HIT THIS CAR IN THE REAR END. THE FRONT OF THIS CAR HAS HEAVY DAMAGE. THIS WAS LESS THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR.

NHTSA ODI #10899684

45,222 miles · Jul 6, 2014
EngineSteeringUnknown Or Other

PURCHASE THE 2011 TOYOTA AVALON ON JUNE 13, 2010 WHICH ON MY FIRST SERVICE DATE I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE STEERING COLUMN AND HARSH FEELING OF THE CAR DUE TO THE STEERING COLUMN. BUENA PARK TOYOTA KEPT TELLING ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG RIGHT UP TO THE LAST SERVICE THAT WAS DONE THE END OF JUNE 2014. ON JUNE 30TH WENT TO VICTO…

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PURCHASE THE 2011 TOYOTA AVALON ON JUNE 13, 2010 WHICH ON MY FIRST SERVICE DATE I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE STEERING COLUMN AND HARSH FEELING OF THE CAR DUE TO THE STEERING COLUMN. BUENA PARK TOYOTA KEPT TELLING ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG RIGHT UP TO THE LAST SERVICE THAT WAS DONE THE END OF JUNE 2014. ON JUNE 30TH WENT TO VICTORVILLE TO VISIT MY WIFES SISTER. ON JULY 2 2014 WE STARTED BACK HOME WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACKING LIGHT CAME ON, FORTATLEY THE ISSUE HAPPENED BEFORE COMING DOWN THE CAJHON PASS ON HIGHWAY 15. WE WHERE ONLY 2 MILES AWAY FROM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN VICTORVILLE AND THEY FOUND THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED COLUMN ASSY, STEERING AND BOLDT STEERING LOCK. PLUS PO500 TRANS SPEED SENSOR POSS LOOSE CONNECTIONS CLEANED AND TIGHTENED CONNECTIONS AT SPEED SENNSOR. THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT SHOWES A DEFECT ON THE COMPUTER SHOWING THE STEERING COLUMN HAS A DEFECT. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL CONCERNING THE ABOVE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHICH COULD TAKE A LOT OF INNOCENT LIFES. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608465

16,500 miles · Jul 10, 2013
Unknown Or Other

MY CAR WAS FLOODED BECAUSE OF A BLOCKED AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN WHICH THE DEALER SAID WAS FILLED WITH DEBRIS. THE CAR IS ONLY ONE AND A HALF YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 16500 MILES ON IT. IT IS DRIVEN ON PAVEMENT AND NOT PARKED UNDER TREES. A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INTIMATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THE DRAIN COULD HAVE B…

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MY CAR WAS FLOODED BECAUSE OF A BLOCKED AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN WHICH THE DEALER SAID WAS FILLED WITH DEBRIS. THE CAR IS ONLY ONE AND A HALF YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 16500 MILES ON IT. IT IS DRIVEN ON PAVEMENT AND NOT PARKED UNDER TREES. A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INTIMATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THE DRAIN COULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED IMPROPERLY. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MOLD FORMING BECAUSE OF THIS FLOODING SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI #10524427

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2011
Unknown Or Other

2011 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES TRUNK OPENER SWITCH IS A SAFETY HAZARD *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE HAS A SUNSHADE AND THE SWITCH IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE TRUNK OPENER. THE CONSUMER STATED A FEW AGO WHILE DRIVING, HE WANTED TO LOWER THE SUNSHADE, BUT HE ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE TRUNK OPENED INSTEAD AND THE LID OPENED. THE…

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2011 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES TRUNK OPENER SWITCH IS A SAFETY HAZARD *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE HAS A SUNSHADE AND THE SWITCH IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE TRUNK OPENER. THE CONSUMER STATED A FEW AGO WHILE DRIVING, HE WANTED TO LOWER THE SUNSHADE, BUT HE ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE TRUNK OPENED INSTEAD AND THE LID OPENED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRUNK OPENER SHOULD NOT BE ACTIVE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10396412

7,692 miles · Mar 26, 2011
Unknown Or Other

DRIVER-SIDE FRONT DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED - FROM THE INSIDE. DRIVER-SIDE FRONT DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED - FROM THE OUTSIDE VIA KEY OR REMOTE.

NHTSA ODI #10393388

290 miles · Oct 30, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or Other

FOOT FIRMLY ON BRAKE, SHIFTING TO REVERSE. ENGINE ROARED TO LIFE AND VEHICLE THRUST BACKWARD. FOLLOWED BY FOUR OTHER EPISODES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE FOOT ON BRAKE. THE LAST OF THESE RESULTED IN LIGHT REAR-END COLLISION. NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO STRUCK PICKUP. FRONT GRILL OF AVALON VISIBLY CRUSHED. THESE FIVE INCIDENTS OC…

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FOOT FIRMLY ON BRAKE, SHIFTING TO REVERSE. ENGINE ROARED TO LIFE AND VEHICLE THRUST BACKWARD. FOLLOWED BY FOUR OTHER EPISODES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE FOOT ON BRAKE. THE LAST OF THESE RESULTED IN LIGHT REAR-END COLLISION. NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO STRUCK PICKUP. FRONT GRILL OF AVALON VISIBLY CRUSHED. THESE FIVE INCIDENTS OCCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT NINE DAYS. I HAVE REFUSED TO DRIVE IT SINCE.

NHTSA ODI #10363372

Official recalls

1

15V047000 · Electrical System

Jan 28, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A constant electrical current flow may cause the sub-woofer to overheat, increasing the risk of fire.

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.