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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

Visibility complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlVisibility

2011 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ON TWO OCCASIONS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS SLOWING DOWN, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP, WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. HE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 21, 2011 AS HE WAS ABOUT TO THE PARK, THE ENGINE …

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2011 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ON TWO OCCASIONS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS SLOWING DOWN, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP, WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. HE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 21, 2011 AS HE WAS ABOUT TO THE PARK, THE ENGINE REVVED AGAIN, AT A HIGH RATE, WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE REAR WINDOW SUN SCREEN WOULD ENGAGE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10449878

250 miles · Jan 16, 2012
StructureVisibility

THE REAR POWER SUNSHADE CONTROL IS NEXT TO THE TRUNK BUTTON. I ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE WRONG BUTTON WHILE DRIVING AND OPENED THE TRUNK..THE TRUNK BUTTON SHOULD HAVE A SAFETY SWITCH WHICH DOESN'T ALLOW THE TRUCK TO BE OPENED WHILE THE CAR IS IN DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10443916

700 miles · Nov 14, 2011
StructureVisibility

I HAVE A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED WITH A POWER REAR SUNSCREEN. THE CONTROL BUTTONS FOR THE SUNSCREEN ARE POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE TRUNK RELEASE SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD LOCATED NEAR THE LEFT KNEE OF THE DRIVER WHICH IS HIDDEN BY THE STEERING COLUMN. WHILE DRIVING I INADVERTENTLY PUSHED THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON INSTEAD OF TH…

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I HAVE A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED WITH A POWER REAR SUNSCREEN. THE CONTROL BUTTONS FOR THE SUNSCREEN ARE POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE TRUNK RELEASE SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD LOCATED NEAR THE LEFT KNEE OF THE DRIVER WHICH IS HIDDEN BY THE STEERING COLUMN. WHILE DRIVING I INADVERTENTLY PUSHED THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON INSTEAD OF THE SUNSCREEN BUTTON AND THE TRUNK POPPED OPEN. I WOULD THINK THAT THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON SHOULD EITHER BE AWAY FROM THE POWER SUNSCREEN SWITCH OR NON OPERATIONAL WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435458

100 miles · Aug 13, 2011
Visibility

I BOUGHT A NEW 2011 TOYOTA AVALON IN APRIL OF 2010. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS ARE COVERED WITH A FILM FROM GAS VAPORS. IT IS SO THICK THAT IT REDUCES YOUR VISION PARTICULARLY IN THE SUN. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY JUST LISTEN AND DO NOTHING. A FRIEND OF MINE ALSO BOUG…

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I BOUGHT A NEW 2011 TOYOTA AVALON IN APRIL OF 2010. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS ARE COVERED WITH A FILM FROM GAS VAPORS. IT IS SO THICK THAT IT REDUCES YOUR VISION PARTICULARLY IN THE SUN. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY JUST LISTEN AND DO NOTHING. A FRIEND OF MINE ALSO BOUGHT A NEW AVALON IN MAY OF 2011 AND THEIR CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM SO OVER A YEAR LATER THE AVALONS ARE DOING THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10419292

800 miles · Mar 19, 2011
Visibility

I BOUGHT A NEW 2011 AVALON MAY 2010. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, FILM FROM GAS VAPORS FORMED ON INTERIOR WINDOWS. THE FILM IMPEDES CLEAR VISION WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE FILM IS SO THICK, ONE CAN WRITE THEIR NAME. LOOKING OUTWARD IT APPEARS YOU ARE INSIDE AN IRIDESCENCE BUBBLE. REFLECTION FROM SUN AND HEADLIGHTS WORSENS THE PROBLEM TO …

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I BOUGHT A NEW 2011 AVALON MAY 2010. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, FILM FROM GAS VAPORS FORMED ON INTERIOR WINDOWS. THE FILM IMPEDES CLEAR VISION WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE FILM IS SO THICK, ONE CAN WRITE THEIR NAME. LOOKING OUTWARD IT APPEARS YOU ARE INSIDE AN IRIDESCENCE BUBBLE. REFLECTION FROM SUN AND HEADLIGHTS WORSENS THE PROBLEM TO THE POINT THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO JUDGE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOUR CAR AND OTHER VEHICLES. I'VE BEEN TO ARBITRATION THROUGH NATIONAL CENTER FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION CASE # 2210170; I REQUESTED MSDS SHEETS FOR THE CAUSE OF THE GAS VAPORS. INSTEAD I WAS PROVIDED A COPY OF A LETTER FROM TOYOTA CORP DATED 1989 STATING "THERE ARE NO KNOWN CARCINOGENIC MATERIALS." TASC# 102320282. .I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IN 21 YEARS TOYOTA HASN'T CHANGED THE PARTS IN CARS. I REQUESTED EITHER (1) PERMANENT RESOLUTION TO FIX THE FILM ON THE WINDOWS PROBLEM; (2) A FULL REFUND, OR (3) NEW CAR W/O THE GAS VAPOR PROBLEM. I WAS OFFERED $500 FOR CAR WASHES! A BUMPER STICKER ON THE CAR NOW STATES "I AM A LEMON, NEVER BUY A TOYOTA." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392225

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.