IllustrationDash board is melting which causes it to get shiny which causes it to reflect onto the windshield. This reflection makes it very difficult to see other vehicles, road lines, and traffic direction sighns.
2014 Toyota Avalon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2014 Toyota Avalon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Avalon years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
360–25K
925–50K
450–75K
775–100K
2100–150K
2150K+
60 reports with mileage · 36 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.
- Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. 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.
7 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports
Structure complaints
12 reportsThe reflective trim on the interior of the vehicle creates pain for the eyes and is so high that it interferes with the ability of the driver to see out the front window.
ALL LEATHER AREAS ARE STICKY AND DIFFICULT TO USE IN THE CABIN. THE DASH, ALL COVERS, SHIFT NOB, CENTER CONSOLE, AND STEERING WHEEL. THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WHERE EVERYWHERE YOU TOUCH IS STICKY. IT ALSO HAS AN ODOR AND MOLD/MILDEW SMELL. TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPAIR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE RUBBER PEDAL COVER ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A 2004 TOYOTA. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED .THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE RUBBER PEDAL COVER ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A 2004 TOYOTA. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED .THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PASSPORT TOYOTA 5001 AUTH WAY, SUITLAND-SILVER HILL, MD 20746 (301) 899-6000.THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,900. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET, THE GLASS ON THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED WITH A LOUD EXPLOSION WITH LARGE SHARDS OF GLASS, THE SHADE WAS CLOSED. THANK GOD, THIS HAPPENED TODAY. WILL TAKE IT IN TOMORROW
CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE FOR COUPLE DAYS UNDER A HEAVY RAIN. NEXT DAY, WHEN IT WAS HOT AND SUNNY, I OPENED CAR'S DOOR AND INSIDE OF THE CAR WAS ALL HUMID AND STEAMY. THERE WAS A MUSTY SCENT AS WELL. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR I FOUND SOME WATER IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUNK. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AFTER TWO DAY DIAGNOSTICS TOLD ME …
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CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE FOR COUPLE DAYS UNDER A HEAVY RAIN. NEXT DAY, WHEN IT WAS HOT AND SUNNY, I OPENED CAR'S DOOR AND INSIDE OF THE CAR WAS ALL HUMID AND STEAMY. THERE WAS A MUSTY SCENT AS WELL. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR I FOUND SOME WATER IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUNK. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AFTER TWO DAY DIAGNOSTICS TOLD ME THAT ONE OF SUNROOF DRAIN TUBES IS DETACHED AND THAT CAUSED A LEAK INSIDE THE CAR. I THINK IT PRESENTS BOTH DRIVING SAFETY AND HEALTH SAFETY ISSUES: - I WEAR GLASSES AND BECAUSE OF THE HUMID AND STEAMY ATMOSPHERE IN THE CAR - MY GLASSES KEPT FOGGING UP AND I HAD TO STOP COUPLE TIMES TO CLEAR THEM. CONDITION GOT BETTER, BUT DID NOT IMPROVE MUCH AFTER AIR CONDITIONING IN THE CAR RUN FOR SOME TIME. - HEALTH CONCERN IS RELATED TO A MOLD THAT CAN ACCUMULATE IN THE CAR BECAUSE OF THESE LEAKS. IT MIGHT CAUSE ALLERGIC REACTIONS OR ASTHMA. I THINK CAR MANUFACTURER SHOULD EITHER USE BETTER MATERIALS FOR THESE DRAINS, SO THEY DO NOT DETERIORATE WITH TIME OR CHANGE THE DESIGN OF SUNROOF DRAIN SYSTEM.
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE GLASS SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED. FORTUNATELY THE SHADE WAS CLOSED, BECAUSE THE GLASS BROKE INTO LARGE SHARDS. THE REPAIR WAS DONE BY A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS PAID IN FULL BY MY INSURANCE. MY REASON FOR THIS REPORT IS TO CALL A MANUFACTURING DEFAULT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
THE COVER TO THE GAS TANK LOCKS WHEN THE CAR IS LOCKED, AND CAN BE OPENED WHEN THE CAR IS UNLOCKED. IF, FOR SOME REASON, THIS MECHANISM IS INOPERATIVE, AND ONE CANNOT OPEN THE GAS TANK COVER, ONE IS INSTRUCTED TO OPEN THE TRUNK, REMOVE THE TRUNK LINING, REACH IN BLINDLY PAST ALL THE WIRES AND CONNECTERS, AND FIND A LITTLE WHITE …
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THE COVER TO THE GAS TANK LOCKS WHEN THE CAR IS LOCKED, AND CAN BE OPENED WHEN THE CAR IS UNLOCKED. IF, FOR SOME REASON, THIS MECHANISM IS INOPERATIVE, AND ONE CANNOT OPEN THE GAS TANK COVER, ONE IS INSTRUCTED TO OPEN THE TRUNK, REMOVE THE TRUNK LINING, REACH IN BLINDLY PAST ALL THE WIRES AND CONNECTERS, AND FIND A LITTLE WHITE PLASTIC LEVER. THE LEVER EMERGES FROM BEHIND THE TRUNK THROUGH A HOLE IN THE TRUNK THAT IS COMPOSED OF SHARP METAL. THE LEVER IS ATTACHED BY A FLIMSY LITTLE PLASTIC WIRE. ONE MUST PULL THE LEVER PERFECTLY HORIZONTALLY. IF ONE EXERTS THE SLIGHTEST UPWARDS PRESSURE WHEN PULLING ON THE LEVER, THE FLIMSY LITTLE PLASTIC WIRE IS SHEARED BY THE SHARP EDGES OF THE HOLE THROUGH WHICH THE WIRE EMERGES. EVEN IF ONE MANAGES THE ABOVE FEAT, THE GAS TANK COVER IS NOT GUARANTEED TO OPEN. SO ONE IS STUCK AT THE GAS STATION WITH NO WAY TO ADD GASOLINE TO THE TANK. AND IF THE WIRE IS SHEARED OFF, ONE IS REALLY IN DEEP TROUBLE. FIRST OF ALL, THE WIRE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, SO I AM REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THEY SAY IT WAS MY FAULT; I PULLED TOO HARD. THE TRUTH IS IT IS THE FAULT OF THE ENGINEERS FOR DESIGNING SUCH A POOR SYSTEM. THE WIRE IS FLIMSY PLASTIC; THE EDGES OF THE HOLE ARE SHARP METAL; HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO PULL THE LEVER WITHOUT SHEARING THE WIRE. THE WHOLE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED. SECONDLY, PULLING THE WIRE DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. WHAT IS THE BACKUP PLAN? THIRDLY, I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE FELT LINING OF THE TRUNK, REACH IN BLINDLY, AND FIND THE LEVER. THERE IS NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT MY WIFE COULD HAVE DONE THIS. THE LEVER SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE SIMPLY BY OPENING THE TRUNK. *TR
I BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA AVALON. AFTER ABOUT A MONTH I NOTICED THE HEADLINER FALLING OFF BY THE SUN ROOF. TOYOTA REPLACED THE HEADLINER. THE NEW HEADLINER DID THE SAME THING AFTER A FEW WEEKS. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO TOYOTA AND THE PUT DOUBLE SIDED TAPE ON TOP OF THE DOUBLE SIDED TAPE WHICH IS PUT ON TO HOLD THE HEADLINER UP. …
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I BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA AVALON. AFTER ABOUT A MONTH I NOTICED THE HEADLINER FALLING OFF BY THE SUN ROOF. TOYOTA REPLACED THE HEADLINER. THE NEW HEADLINER DID THE SAME THING AFTER A FEW WEEKS. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO TOYOTA AND THE PUT DOUBLE SIDED TAPE ON TOP OF THE DOUBLE SIDED TAPE WHICH IS PUT ON TO HOLD THE HEADLINER UP. THE HEADLINE CAME DOWN AGAIN. TOYOTA WANT TO REPLACE THE HEADLINER AGAIN. I ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY CHANGES IN THE HEADLINER AND THEY SAID NO. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAD BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE 2013-2014 AVALONS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON A CITY STREET MIDDAY, IN SUNNY CLEAR CONDITIONS, SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED THE SUNS GLARE FROM AT LEAST 3 SPOTS ON SHINY CHROME COVERED DASHBOARD ALL AT SAME TIME, FROM DIFFERENT SPOTS, BLINDING AND DISTRACTING ME AND ALMOST MAKING ME RUN A RED LIGHT SINCE I COULD BARELY SEE. IT WAS LIKE 3 SUNS IN MY FACE. C…
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WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON A CITY STREET MIDDAY, IN SUNNY CLEAR CONDITIONS, SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED THE SUNS GLARE FROM AT LEAST 3 SPOTS ON SHINY CHROME COVERED DASHBOARD ALL AT SAME TIME, FROM DIFFERENT SPOTS, BLINDING AND DISTRACTING ME AND ALMOST MAKING ME RUN A RED LIGHT SINCE I COULD BARELY SEE. IT WAS LIKE 3 SUNS IN MY FACE. CHROME IS MIRROR LIKE, QUITE THICK, AND AT AN ANGLE THAT CAUSES SUN TO REFLECT STRAIGHT INTO YOUR EYES WHEN IT'S MIDDAY AND THE SUN SHINES DOWN THROUGH WINDSHIELD FROM OVERHEAD. I HAD TO BREAK HARD WHEN I NOTICED LIGHT WAS RED AT THE LAST MINUTE. ALMOST CAUSED ME TO RUN THE RED LIGHT. *TR UPDATED 2/20/15 *JS
Official recalls
420V024000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
Jan 17, 2020
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 disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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 the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.
15V728000 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent Braking
Nov 3, 2015
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a Pre-Collision System (PCS) as optional equipment. In these vehicles, the PCS may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this campaign are F1V and F2E.
14V715000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
Nov 7, 2014
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Toyota Camry, Camry HV, Avalon, and Avalon HV vehicles equipped with 16-inch and 17-inch rims. In the affected vehicles, the left-side front suspension lower arm may have been incorrectly manufactured. As a result, the left side lower arm may not have enough clamping surface area for one of the bolts that secures the lower arm to the lower ball joint.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Because of the insufficient clamping force, the lower arm may separate from the ball joint, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left side lower arm, free of charge. The recall began on December 12, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
14V576000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 19, 2014
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Sienna, and Highlander and model year 2015 Lexus RX350 vehicles. Fuel may leak from the one of the fuel delivery pipes in the engine compartment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace any of the suspect fuel delivery pipes free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
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
1EA19001 · Electrical Overstress
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.