RoadVitals

2005 Toyota Avalon Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
31
Latest Jul 1, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
14%
of 228 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Toyota Avalon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words

ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 1, 2023

Please check for all recalls on my car.

NHTSA ID
11529945
Incident
Nov 20, 2019
BrakesEngine
Filed Mar 6, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SLOW STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE MADE A REVVING NOISE, BUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ID
11076488
Incident
Mar 4, 2018
Mileage
81,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 29, 2017

I PURCHASED THIS CERTIFIED USED AVALON 04/26/2005 WITH THE CERTIFIED WARRANTY EXPIRING ON 04/26/2012 OR 100,000 MILES. AT 74,000 MILES IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT FINDLAY TOYOTA FOR ENGINE OIL LEAK AT TIMING CHAIN COVER. I PAID $235.94, INSURANCE PAID $1530.93. AT 99,983 MILES THE SAME OIL LEAK HAD TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN AT DESERT TOYOTA, SCION. THEY STATED "FOUND USED COVER AND UPPER OIL PAN HAS BEEN REPLACED AND NOT SEALED PROPERLY, ALSO COOLANT HOSES NOT SEALED PROPERLY". FOR THIS REPAIR I PAID $2957.23. THE CAR STARTED LEAKING AGAIN AT 113,480 MILES AND IS IN NEED OF REPAIR AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WILL COST ME THIS TIME. APPARENTLY THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM TOYOTA HAD NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED. ON TOYOTA'S TIS I FOUND TSB EG019-07 THAT SHOWS TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND NEVER NOTIFIED IT'S CUSTOMERS. I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE PREVIOUS REPAIR AND ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIRS REQUIRED TO PERMANENTLY FIX THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP! THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY EACH TIME I OBSERVED THESE LEAKS.

NHTSA ID
11020249
Incident
Aug 28, 2017
Mileage
74,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 29, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 5 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10651097
Incident
Sep 2, 2014
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 19, 2014

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, REPLACED #2 IGNITION COIL. 800MILES AND 3 MONTHS LATER SAME THING HAPPENED,REPLACED #5 COIL. TOYOTA DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL FOR A HIGH MILEAGE CAR. TOTAL COST $700+ IF THIS IS NORMAL THEY SHOULD [XXX] WELL PAY FOR IT. IT TAKES RELIABLE OUT OF TOYOTA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10604473
Incident
Dec 18, 2013
Mileage
92,079 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 15, 2013

NOTICED OIL PUDDLE ON MY GARAGE FLOOR WHEN VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS OLD AND STILL UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED OIL LINE HOSE. VEHICLE HAD SAME LEAK APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER AND HOSE WAS REPLACED AGAIN. NOTICED OIL LEAK AGAIN WHEN VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD. THIS TIME WAS TIMING COVER LEAK. DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY AND REFERRED TO SOME TSB CONCERNING TIMING COVER LEAK. CONTINUED TO HAVE PERIODIC LEAKS ATTRIBUTED TO LOOSE CONNECTIONS. AT 95,000 MILES TIMING COVER LEAKING AGAIN. DEALER REPAIRED, BUT NO WARRANTY SERVICE. COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA WHY NO RECALL AND HAVING RECURRING PROBLEM WITH TIMING COVER. TOYOTA STATED THEY WOULD PROVIDE ME WITH $1,000 CHECK TO ASSIST IN COVERING THE $1853.53 DEALER REPAIR CHARGE UPON SUBMITTING PAID INVOICE TO THEM. NOTED THAT A MAJORITY OF 2005 AVALON OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, BUT NO RECALL FROM TOYOTA. WHY NOT? *TR

NHTSA ID
10552410
Incident
Aug 3, 2009
Mileage
40,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine+1 more
Filed Mar 25, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE EXPERIENCED AN EXCESSIVE PULSATION IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) IN JUNE OF 2010. THE FAILURE RECURRED RECENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THERE WAS ALSO A DEFAULT WITH THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. ...UPDATED 05/22/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REBUILT. UPDATED 06/14/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID
10504375
Incident
Oct 29, 2010
Mileage
60,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 29, 2012

2005 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY WITH OXYGEN SENSOR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED WHEN NOTHING APPEARED TO BE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10454094
Incident
Mar 1, 2012
Engine
Filed Mar 10, 2012

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING,AND THEN THE VSC LIGHT CAME ON,CAR HESITATES WHEN GAS PEDAL IS APPLIED THEN JERKS AND TAKES OFF ALMOST RAN IN THE BACK OF A FEW PEOPLE,WENT TO DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS A ECU COMPUTER 1350$ HAD CAR FOR 8MO. ONLY PUT 8000 MILES ON IT,WAS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING THIS CAR *TR

NHTSA ID
10451063
Incident
Mar 9, 2012
Mileage
99,750 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed May 13, 2011

FIRST CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR SALES U.S.A., INC. IN TORRANCE, CA. AND ADVISED THEM OF MY CAR TROUBLES PRIOR TO GOING TO DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. I MADE THEM AWARE THAT I DO NOT TRUST DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. THEY ASSIGNED ME A CASE NUMBER AND DOCUMENTED MY ISSUES WITH ENGINE/POWERTRAIN MALFUNCTION THAT STILL EXIST TODAY AND BOTH THE DEALER AND TOYOTA MOTOR SALES HAVE NOT ADDRESSED PROBLEM. ALSO, I STATED TO DEALER THAT THERE WAS LEAKAGE SURROUNDING THE POWER STEERING PUMP. DEALER WAS QUICK TO RESOLVE PROBLEM BY TRYING TO INDUCE ME TO HAVE PUMP CHANGED WITHOUT PERFORMING TRUE DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES TO INCLUDE; FAILURE TO REMOVE FRONT R/H TIRE TO LOOK AT POWER STEERING PUMP FROM THE FRONT SIDE, FAILURE TO CLEAN POWER STEERING PUMP AND SURROUNDING AREAS TO INVESTIGATE TRUE AREA OF LEAKAGE. INSTEAD, DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE CONCLUSION THAT THE PUMP MUST BE LEAKING FROM PUMP SHAFT BEARING. COST TO REPLACE; $750.00 WHICH I DECLINED TO HAVE REPLACED. WITH THE VEHICLE UP ON JACK STANDS AND WITH TRUE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, I REMOVED FRONT R/H TIRE, THOROUGHLY CLEANED POWER STEERING PUMP AND SURROUNDING AREA AND STEERED LEFT TO RIGHT AND RIGHT TO LEFT MANY TIMES AND CAN NOT LOCATE LEAK AT THIS TIME. COULD BE EVEN ENGINE OIL THAT DRIPPED DOWN OR PUMP HIGH PRESSURE LINE THAT GOES TO STEERING CYLINDER GEARBOX/YOKE AREA. AS FAR AS THE POWER TRAIN/ENGINE PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME, THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE ALWAYS OUT OF SYNCHRONIZATION. TO BRIEFLY STATE, THE ENGINE WONDERS (HI AND LOW RPMS) AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE IN WRONG GEAR. FURTHERMORE, THROTTLE RESPONSE IS MANY TIMES NON-EXISTENT. I DEPRESS PEDAL AND NO ENGINE RESPONSE IS FOUND. NEED TO FURTHER DEPRESS PEDAL FOR ENGINE TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY FACTOR AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. HAVE OTHER ISSUES NOT ABLE TO STATE BECAUSE OF YOUR LIMITED WORDS ALLOWED.

NHTSA ID
10401756
Incident
Nov 19, 2010
Mileage
48,000 mi
ElectricalEngineVisibility
Filed Oct 12, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVEN TIMES WHERE THE OIL TUBE, HOSE, FILTER HOUSING, STUDS AND DRAIN PLUG CASKET WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,214 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,289. UPDATED 01/12/11*LJ THE DEALER REPLACED, THE DRAIN PLUGS, GASKETS, CRANK SEAL, VALVE COVERS AND OIL PAN. THE MOONROOF DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY NOT CHARGING. UPDATED 04/15/11 THE CONSUMER STATED THE UPPER AND LOWER OIL PANS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/19/11/ *JB

NHTSA ID
10360133
Incident
Dec 10, 2007
Mileage
30,214 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 28, 2010

ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10352513
Incident
May 20, 2010
Mileage
90,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 28, 2010

ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10352511
Incident
May 20, 2010
Mileage
90,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 13, 2010

ON THE 2005 TOYOTA 3.5 V-6 ENGINE (2FZR ENGINE), THERE IS AN OIL HOSE THAT FEEDS THE LEFT BANK (TOP HEAD OF THE ENGINE) THIS HOSE IS BULGING AND CRACKING AND MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS HOSE HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY TOYOTA, BUT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNLESS THE HOSE RUPTURES DURING THE 5 YEAR OR 60,000 MILES WARRANTY. THIS HOSE IS DEFECTIVE AND TOYOTA HAS REPLACED IT. SINCE PART OF THE LUBRICATION HOSE TO THE LEFT BANK OF THE ENGINE IS METAL, THE PORTION THAT IS RUBBER IS THE AFFECTED PART ONLY. FURTHER RESEARCH FOUND THAT LEXUS WITH SIMILAR DISPLACEMENT ENGINE DOES NOT HAVE THIS RUBBER PORTION OF THE LUBRICATION HOSE. INSTEAD, THE LINE IS ALL METAL (AS IS THE CASE IN THE RIGHT BANK OF THE AVALON ENGINE. I AM REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION AND REQUESTING THAT TOYOTA ISSUE A METAL REPLACEMENT HOSE. NUMEROUS AVALON OWNERS AND NOW HIGHLANDERS ARE BEING RECALLED TO REPAIR THIS DEFECTIVE RUBBER HOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10325570
Incident
Mar 18, 2010
Mileage
58,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 24, 2010
Fire reported

MY 2005 AVALON WITH LESS THAT 40,000 MILES -STILL UNDER WARRANTY -WITHOUT ANY WARNING FROM DASHBOARD LIGHTS BEGAN TO LOSE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY-THEN IT SHUT DOWN-I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. TOYOTA HAD THE CAR FOR OVER THREE MONTHS-COULD NOT TELL WHAT CAUSED THIS BUT IT MELTED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BUT THEY WOULD NOT MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TOWARD REPLACING IT. I HAD TO CALL TOYOTA TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE TOWING. I HAD TO DEMAND A COPY OF THE 10 PAGE REPAIR BILL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10313601
Incident
Oct 15, 2008
Mileage
43,072 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Feb 23, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE HAD RISEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57,000. UPDATED 3/24/10 *CN THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS APPARENTLY CAUSED BY FROZEN BEARINGS IN THE IDLER PULLEY. THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE. UPDATED 08/11/10

NHTSA ID
10313021
Incident
Apr 25, 2008
Mileage
57,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 8, 2010

VVTI HIGH-PRESSURE OIL RUBBER HOSE LEAKAGE PROBLEM ON 2005 AVALON AT 29,500 MILES: HEARD STRANGE ENGINE NOISE; SAW VERY LITTLE OIL ALTHOUGH I HAD CHANGED OIL ONLY 300 MILES AGO AND NO SIGN ON DASHBOARD. PUT 4-5 QUARTS OF OIL AND DROVE 20 MILES AND PARKED. AFTER STARTING THE CAR, SAW A HUGE OIL PUDDLE UNDER THE ENGINE. NEXT MORNING TOWED TO TOYOTA MECHANIC WHO MENTIONED THE ABOVE VVTI RUBBER HOSE LEAKAGE PROBLEM IN BANK 2 (TOP ONE). THE METAL CLIPS CONNECTING THE RUBBER HOSE TO THE OIL METAL TUBE ON BANK 2 ERODE THE RUBBER PORTION WITH TIME, MAKING A SMALL PINHOLE LEAK AT FIRST WHICH CAN LEAD TO A CRACK SUDDENLY UNDER HIGH PRESSURE. GOOGLING IT I FOUND THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE V6 ENGINES ON 2005 AVALONS AND OTHER TOYOTA CARS, SUCH AS, RAV4. TOYOTA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT, BUT IT NEVER WARNED OWNERS LIKE ME ABOUT IT.THROUGH A PERSONAL LETTER. SOME PEOPLE HAD THEIR ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO IT, MINE DID NOT. BUT WORSE WAS IN STORE FOR ME. AFTER THE RUBBER HOSE WAS REPLACED BY ANOTHER SIMILAR RUBBER HOSE, I STARTED NOTICING IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS THAT THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I STARTED IT COLD - AFTER 10-12 HOURS OF OVERNIGHT PARKING, SAY, 75% OF THE TIME, BUT THE NOISE DIED AWAY AFTER 30 SECONDS OR SO; NO NOISE IF WARM. ALSO, A GROWLING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN GOING UP SMALL INDOOR GRADIENTS LIKE PARKING LOTS. MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BOLTS ON THE TIMING GEAR IN BOTH BANK 2 AND BANK 1 HAD BECOME LOOSE, TWO BOLTS WERE OUT IN THE GEAR BOX WITH ONE BROKEN - ALL CAUSED DURING THE OIL LEAKAGE. I WAS LUCKY MY ENGINE HAD NEVER SEIZED DUE TO IT. HE HAD TO REPLACE ALL PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT, NAMELY, TIMING GEARS, CAM-SHAFTS, CAMS, TENSIONER RING, ETC. ALSO, REPLACED THE RUBBER HOSE WITH AN ALL-METAL OIL TUBE, AS THAT WAS WHAT TOYOTA HAD ON ITS LEXUS ES350, BUT THIS ONLY DUE TO MY INSISTENCE. RUBBER HOSE CAN LEAK AGAIN. ALSO, PUT SILICONE ON SOME ENGINE GASKETS (?). TOYOTA NEEDS TO WARN AVALON OWNERS ABOUT GETTING THIS VVTI HOSE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10307358
Incident
Oct 15, 2009
Mileage
29,500 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 30, 2009

RE: 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. LUBRICATION OIL LEAK FROM THE VVTI OIL LINE. TOYOTA IS AWARE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS PART BUT ONLY WILL FIX IT IF THEY SEE IMMEDIATE LEAKING AND THE VEHICLE IS UNDER 60,000 MILES. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING MY CAR IN ON OCTOBER 1, 2010. BUT HAVE BEEN ADVISED IF THEY DO NOT SEE OIL SPURTING FROM THE LINE THERE WILL BE A 95.00 CHARGE FOR INSPECTION AND THEY WILL NOT FIX THE DEFECT. IN THE PAST 3 WEEKS I HAVE ADDED 2 QUARTS OFOIL TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 42,00 MILES ON IT. MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THIS PROBLEM IS WITH THE 2005 MODELS ONLY. THE ANGLE OF THE OIL LINE IS TOO SEVERE CAUSING THE TUBE TO FAIL AND LEAK OIL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10285753
Incident
Sep 14, 2009
Mileage
41,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 23, 2009

TOYOTA AVALON 2005 MODEL OIL LINE FAILURE CAUSING OIL TO SPILL OUT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ONTO THE TIRES, BRAKES AND ROADWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10285081
Incident
Sep 23, 2009
Mileage
70,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 18, 2009

WHILE DRIVING A STRONG "BURNING OIL" SMELL BEGAN TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY FOUND OIL COATING ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH A HIGHER CONCENTRATION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AFTER PUTTING A COUPLE QUARTS OF OIL THEY STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY A STREAM OF OIL (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PENCIL LEAD) WAS FOUND SPRAYING OUT FROM A RUBBER HOSE LOCATED TOWARD THE REAR OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR, JUST ABOVE A METAL BRACKET. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO REPLACE THE LEAKING HOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10280926
Incident
Jul 29, 2009
Mileage
51,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 30, 2009

2005 TOYOTA AVALON PREVIOUSLY HAD MASSIVE OIL LEAK, HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AND REPAIR WAS COVERED BY TOYOTA AND PROVIDED WITH RENTAL (10/08) 6/09, STARTED VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE - HAD VEHICLE TOWED AGAIN AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER TECH THAT IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT NOT SURE IF THEY WILL COVER REPAIRS. 67,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10275402
Incident
Jun 29, 2009
Mileage
67,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 30, 2009

I HAVE A 2005 AVALON XLS WITH ABOUT 25,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO HAVE A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE ON JANUARY 23, 2009. WHEN THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN GOT UNDER IT TO REMOVE THE FILTER AND DRAIN PLUG HE NOTICED OIL SPRAYED ON THE ENGINE AND FRAME AND ASKED ME IF I KNEW THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. I TOLD HIM NO AND THAT I HADN'T NOTICED ANY OIL ON THE GROUND WHERE I PARK THE CAR. HE THEN LOOKED AT THE ENGINE FROM THE TOP AND NOTICED OIL POOLING ON TOP OF A SMALL HOSE THAT CONNECTS TO A METAL LINE. HE TOLD ME I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY TO HAVE THE OIL LEAK FIXED. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALER AND A MECHANIC THERE TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS THE OIL PIPE SUB-ASSEMBLY. THE TOYOTA SERVICE REP. SAID TOYOTA WILL GET AND PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR UNTIL MY CAR WAS FIXED. THAT WAS OVER 9 WEEKS AGO AND I STILL DON'T HAVE MY CAR BACK!!! THE SERVICE REP STATES THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO MANY, MANY AVALONS AND THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE BACK IN 2005 BUT DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO, CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN WHY IT'S TAKING SO LONG TO GET THE PARTS? *TR

NHTSA ID
10263679
Incident
Jan 23, 2009
Mileage
25,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 8, 2009

WE BOUGHT A TOYOTA AVALON IN 2005 FOR MY SON THINKING THAT WE HAVE HAD A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH OUR FIRST TOYOTA. YESTERDAY, MY WORRIED SON CALLED TO TELL ME THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM HIS CAR. NOT WANTING TO CAUSE MORE DAMAGE TO HIS CAR, HE CALLED A TOWING SERVICE AND THEY TOOK HIS CAR TO THE CLOSEST REPAIR SHOP. THERE HE WAS TOLD THAT HE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AS THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY SEVERAL AVALON OWNERS. WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, HE WAS TOLD THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE CAR IS IN BACK ORDER AND WOULD PROBABLY TAKE 3 WEEKS BEFORE IT ARRIVES. IN THE MEANTIME, HE WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS ANOTHER AVALON WAITING FOR THE SAME PART AND SINCE THAT CAR CAME IN FIRST, HIS CAR MAY NOT BE READY BY THEN. MY SON WAS NOT OFFERED A RENTAL WHICH I WILL TAKE UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP. LOOKS LIKE WHATEVER WAS PLAGUING THE AVALON 2006 OWNERS IS ALSO BEING EXPERIENCED BY 2005 OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10261066
Incident
Feb 2, 2005
Mileage
82,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 21, 2009

2005 TOYOTA AVALON WITH 70,000 + MILES AND JUST HAD 70,000 MILE SERVICE. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND HEARD ENGINE SOUNDING LOUDER THAN NORMAL. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER WARNING WAS GIVEN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. ANALYSIS REVEALED BROKEN OIL PIPE AND OIL SOAKED TIMING BELT. PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND WILL NOT ARRIVE UNTIL FEB 18 FROM JAPAN. I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT MORE THAN A THOUSAND ON BACKORDER. IN REVIEWING COMPLAINTS ON 2006 AVALON, I NOTED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND APPARENTLY A SERVICE MEMORANDUM HAS BEEN ISSUED. APPEARS TO BE A DEFECTIVE PART. BECAUSE OF SAFETY RISK, SHOULDN'T THIS BE SUBJECT TO RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ID
10255927
Incident
Jan 9, 2009
Engine
Filed Oct 3, 2008
Fire reported

DROVE TO WORK (17 MILES) 10/2/2008, AS TYPICAL AT 6:30AM STILL DARK. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 5 MILES KEPT GETTING WHIFS OF BURNING ENGINE OIL BUT KEPT THINKING IT WAS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT ENOUGH SO I DID NOT THINK IT WAS MY VEHICLE. ALSO THE NEWNESS OF THE VEHICLE DECEIVED ME. ARRIVED AT WORK AND DID SOME LOOKING. FOUND THE TRAIL OF OIL IN THE PARKING LOT AND RAISED THE HOOD TO SEE OIL SPEWED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CALLED FOR TOW TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE IS A TSB ON THIS. WHY WAS THERE NOT A RECALL? THIS COULD BE CATASTROPHIC! THE OIL LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AND THE TEMP WAS NORMAL THROUGHOUT....MY ONLY INDICATION OF A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WAS SMELL AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE PERSONS WITHOUT THIS SENSE ARE MORE COMMON THAN I SUSPECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10244281
Incident
Oct 2, 2008
Mileage
85,600 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .