2007 Toyota Avalon Owner Complaints

Immediately upon making a low-speed contact of my back bumper with a pole, the engine revved loudly. I attempted to go from reverse to drive to get some clearance from the pole. I then immediately attempted to put the car in park so I could get out and observe any damage. Immediately, the car accelerated extremely suddenly and quickly. I went over a curb where I had parked prior to backing up and contacting the pole. I hit a landscaping decorative boulder and a young tree. It was clear that my car was headed into the two-way street straight ahead since it was clear my breaking efforts were useless. I believe the car went airborne for a second, landed and continued straight, thankfully not hitting any vehicle or pedestrian. I saw a parked black full-size pickup truck and figured we would hit it, we did. I thought if the truck didn't stop us then we would continue into the building just beyond it. We landed on a memorial boulder next to the truck with the front end on the boulder and the rear of the car low to the ground. It was very difficult to exit the driver's door because the truck was angled so that my door wouldn't open much. It was difficult to get the door handle to actually open the door. I kept trying the lock in case it was engaged. I squeezed out praying loudly for God to help us, over and over again as I squeezed out. I thought the engine was on fire - I thought I saw smoke but later realized it was the powder from the airbags. I was trying to get to the other side of the vehicle to help my friend out. I had a hard time walking due to scraped up legs. A lady came up to me to help. I asked if my friend was ok. I asked if anyone was hit. She said he was out of the vehicle and no one was hit. I held onto her because I was very weak and shaking. I thought my chest pain was due to a heart attack. But when she coached me on my breathing I realized the pain at my sternum was from the seatbelt. I yelled, "I tried to stop, I couldn't stop, the brakes didn't work!

NHTSA ID

11751413

Incident

Jul 17, 2026

I was driving my 2007 Toyota Avalon returning home from work and was driving on a local road at approximately 25 MPH and turning my vehicle towards right on a curved road and the steering wheel seized and car veered and jumped the curb causing the passenger side bottom of car protection plastic guard clips damaged. No other damage to car observed other than minor scratches to front bumper due to tree limbs on grassy island next to curb. Hit the brakes hard and was able to stop vehicle stopping just before it could hit the tree on side of road. No warning lights were illuminated. No air bags were deployed. Was able to restart the vehicle and reversing down on the road and eventually was able to unseize the steering wheel. Was able to drive the car home and will be taking it to either Toyota dealer or vehicle repair shop for further diagnosis. No injures were sustained. No police report was filed. Will be calling the manufacturer to notify steering wheel seizure. The mileage of car was around 205,000+ miles.

NHTSA ID

11681812

Incident

Aug 19, 2025

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2007 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that the transmission fluid was low. The contact became aware that transmission fluid was leaking from the vehicle. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 123,226 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 311,025.

NHTSA ID

11673268

Incident

Mar 11, 2025

Mileage

311,025 mi

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH and attempting to make a turn, the steering wheel had seized causing a crash. The front passenger side and rear passenger side bumper impacted into a guard rail during the crash. No warning lights had illuminated. No air bags deployed. The contact managed to restart the vehicle and the failure was temporarily fixed. No injuries were sustained. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the insurance provider for further diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired as of yet. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11610510

Incident

Aug 8, 2024

Mileage

160,000 mi

Was not informed of Bad VVT or recall.

NHTSA ID

11547906

Incident

Oct 2, 2023

The dashboard melts/gets sticky when it is hot and humid outside. Once the dashboard is in the sticky state, it appears wet with melted/sticky plastic. When we look out the front windshield while driving, the sun reflects off of the extra shiny sticky dashboard and the experience of the entire front dashboard surface reflecting the sun is like looking directly into the sun. You cannot see out the front windshield because the glare is too severe because of the shiny dashboard top. Even with sunglasses on and visor down, it is impossible to see ahead of the car while driving because of the blinding glare. The glare off of the sticky dashboard and the reflection of the dashboard onto the inside of the windshield is very scary. The Toyota dealer said that they are aware of the issue and extended the warranty to replace the dashboard because of the problem, but they did NOT issue a recall. The extended warranty expired, ironically, this vehicle has been kept in a garage since it was bought in 2007 and only has 50,000 miles on it now...so we didn't know there was a problem until several years after their extended warranty expired in 2017. The dealer said that I would have to pay out of pocket to replace the dashboard and they would not pay for it. We called Toyota "Resolution Department" and they said the same thing. We asked them if they admit that it is a factory defect and it creates a dangerous driving situation, why would they not want to make it right?

NHTSA ID

11518741

Incident

Apr 14, 2023

Is available gas pedal stuck open hitting the brake wouldn't stop it didn't stop till impact with another vehicle doing 1to5 miles an hour in parking lot haven't taken in yet can't afford it Dec 27 day of accident was first time 2nd owner talked to first owner said brake recall is the one he fixed didn't know about the gas pedal recall

NHTSA ID

11507986

Incident

Dec 27, 2022

Steering wheel locked up while driving ! No warning lights. steering bracket assembly is the issue . Same issue with 2000-2004 Avalons …all were recalled and fixed but anything after those years are not recalled or fixed . This is clearly a defect and should be recalled again before someone has a bad accident .

NHTSA ID

11504939

Incident

Jan 31, 2023

Melting Dashboard. This should have been a recall from the get-go. Poses a glare hazard when driving on a bright day.

NHTSA ID

11496841

Incident

Aug 31, 2020

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that the dashboard had cracked. The contact stated that the vehicle was garage kept. The contact also stated there were three recalls on the vehicle related to the floorboard and front assembly heater and accelerator that were already repaired. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed with a defective dashboard. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11481985

Incident

Aug 5, 2022

Mileage

80,000 mi

I am the owner of the 2007 Toyota Avalon that my son was driving. He experienced a very dangerous situation where his steering wheel getting locked while driving on Dec 10, 2021 afternoon. He stopped the car immediately by slamming on the brakes. The car was towed to a local Toyota dealership, Toyota of Redlands, California. The Service Manager Todd Klingbeil was able to reproduce the issue based on the earlier Toyota Recall information for 2000-2004 Avalons, and they replaced the steering bracket assembly. It is clear that my 2007 Avalon car experienced similar Steering locking issue/defect like in the Toyota Avalon 2000-2004 recall bulletin. I brought the matter to the attention of Toyota (manufacturer), but they simply ignored the matter saying there is no recall for 2007 Avalon, and they would not cover the cost nor reimburse me. And they never responded to my fax, emails and phone calls.

NHTSA ID

11451263

Incident

Dec 10, 2021

Instrument cover and glove box has turned sticky and very reflective. Sun can reflect up to windshield and nearly complete obscure visibility. Toyota replaced many on their own but now will not honor the recall.

NHTSA ID

11448323

Incident

Jan 21, 2022

Driver seat rear driver side leg failed and cracked making seat separate from the rail and chair. Drivers seats rocks loosely. Other 3 legs functions properly but if you are rear ended then the seat would lunge forward towards steering wheel. No insurance review brought it to a welding shop to spot weld and rebrace the leg.

NHTSA ID

11430005

Incident

Jun 13, 2021

I HAVE TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE AT ALL TIME NO MATTER WHAT POSITION THE CAR IS IN AT THAT TIME. IF NOT, THE CAR WOULD MAKE A MOVEMENT TO WHERE IT ACTS LIKE IT WANT TO JUMP OUT OF THE GEAR THAT THE CAR IS POSITION IN. EVEN IF THE CAR IS IN POSITION PARK POSITION IF THE BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED THE CAR WOULD MAKE A HARD MOVEMENT LIKE IT WANT TO KEEP MOVING. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS STILL IN THE DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITION AND THE STATIONARY PTO SWITCH IS ENGAGED BY THE OPERATOR, THE ENGINE MAY REV AND OVERCOME THE PARKING BRAKE'S ABILITY TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH OR INJURY.

NHTSA ID

11388514

Incident

Aug 20, 2020

Mileage

14,599 mi

RECALL NUMBER: SET16B: THE SEATS CUSHION IS COMPRESSED AND WHEN TURN ON THE HEATER FOR THE SEATS IT GET OVER HEATED AND IT HARD TO TURN IT DOWN SO IT CAN COOL OFF FAST. LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATIONS LABELS THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD NO 110, REQUIREMENTS. TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS STICKING ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS HARD TO DEPRESS SLOW TO RETURN TO IDLE OR IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION WHICH MAKE IT HARD FOR THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. WHILE IN MOTION. WHICH CAN CAUSE A RISK OF A CRASH. PEDAL ENTRAPMENT WHILE IN MOTION THE OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOME IN A VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

NHTSA ID

11388511

Incident

Aug 20, 2020

Mileage

145,799 mi

MY PAID CASH FOR THIS TOYOTA AVALON $5000 WORTH $2200 THE CAR HAS 6 RECALLS NONE OF WHICH WERE EVER INVESTIGATED BY TOYOTA OR ANYONE ELSE. I FIRST GOT THE CAR STARTED DRIVING AND THE BELT STARTED SMOKING BEFORE 3 YRS THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED OUT BY ADVANCED AUTO FREE / WE PAID FOR A NEW BELT THEN THE TIRE WENT OUT 2 X FOUND OUT THEIRS A WHEEL ALIGNMENT ISSUE WITH THE ARMS THAT NEED REPLACING TOY DEALER AND AMERICAN BEST RECOMMENDED NEW ARMS AMER BEST PRICED $800 TOY DEALER PRICED $3-5K AMONG BRAKES WIPERS SUSPENSION ETC ! TOY SHOULD BE LIABLE TO FIX THE CAR PARTS AS I WENT THERE FOR HELP INSTEAD THEY SEND AN EST FOR THOUSANDS TO FIX WHEN THERE ARE 6 RECALLS REMAINING ! I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT 10/30 SOMEONE HIT ME WHILE DRIVING FROM BEHIND . THE CAR I BELIEVE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO OWNERSHIP. EVERYTHING I MENTIONED IS HAZARDOUS AND UNSAFE FOR MANUFACTURERS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD UNSAFE CARS ON THE ROAD!

NHTSA ID

11373914

Incident

Oct 30, 2020

Mileage

280,000 mi

2011: I NOTICED THE DASH FELT SOFT, NOT STICKY EXACTLY, BUT FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, PLIABLE. 2013: WHILE DRIVING ON VACATION I REALIZED MY VISIBILITY WAS TREMENDOUSLY IMPEDED BY THE INCREDIBLY OPAQUE GLARE IN MY WINDSHIELD FROM THE DASHBOARD. IT WAS SO BAD, I REALIZED I COULD MAKE OUT THE PATTERNED IMPRINT (DESIGNED TO RESEMBLE LEATHER GRAIN). THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE THIS GLARE AS LONG AS THE SUN IS OUT. IT SERIOUSLY IMPAIRS MY ABILITY TO SEE CLEARLY, IS OBVIOUSLY DISTRACTING, AND ADDED TO MY FATIGUE ON THE TRIP. A SAFETY ISSUE IF THERE EVER WAS ONE CAUSING DRIVER IMPAIRMENT DUE TO EYE STRAIN ADDING TO DRIVER FATIGUE. 2015: I NOTICED MY FIRST CRACK IN THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE AIRBAG. WITHIN A MONTH, I FOUND ANOTHER CRACK IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH. THIS IS A GARAGE KEPT SECOND CAR, USED FOR LONG TRIP COMFORT AND SUNDAY DRIVES. 2016: CALLED TOYOTA ABOUT PROGRESSING CRACKS IN DASH. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL BUT IT HAD ENDED 2 MONTHS EARLIER. SORRY BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. 2020: I AM WAITING FOR PIECES OF MY DASH TO FALL OFF. MY LATEST CRACK FOLLOWS THE INSTRUMENT COCKPIT TOP EDGE COMPLETELY ACROSS TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR CURVE. IT JUST SPLIT APART. THIS IS MY BABIED AND PROTECTED CAR, 2007 AVALON XLS WITH 64,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. MY FAMILY AND I HAVE OWNED TOYOTAS SINCE THE EARLY 80'S; COROLLA, TERCEL, CELICA, CAMRY, RAV4, AVALON. NOT ONE OF THEM EVER HAD A DASH PROBLEM. IN LOOKING AT COMPLAINTS HERE THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE ABOUT THE DASH. TOYOTA SHOULD STEP UP. WHO GETS TO DECIDE THAT ONE SAFETY ISSUE IS WORTH A RECALL BUT ANOTHER ISN'T? THE GLARE IS SO BAD THAT, MORE THAN ONCE, I HAVE BEEN NERVOUS ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE BRAKE LIGHTS WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. IS IT FAIR THAT THE ONLY SAFE WAY TO OPERATE MY TOYOTA IS ON A CLOUDY DAY OR AT NIGHT? I HOPE EVENTUALLY ENOUGH COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS WILL HELP.

NHTSA ID

11365268

Incident

Apr 16, 2011

Mileage

20,000 mi

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING UNEVEN AND SOME TIME IT STAYS IN ONE PARTICULAR GEAR EVEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. CAR DOESN'T NOT STOP EVEN WHILE APPLIED BRAKE. I HAVE TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK P MODE WHILE IT IS RUNNING ON THE ROAD TO STOP MY VEHICLE. SINCE EVEN I APPLY BRAKE IT DOES NOT WANT TO STOP.

NHTSA ID

11317600

Incident

Sep 10, 2018

Mileage

25 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN THE DASHBOARD THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A STICKY SUBSTANCE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD DIMINISHED VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A WARRANTY FOR THE FAILURE HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK* *LN*JB

NHTSA ID

11306728

Incident

Jul 11, 2019

I WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND MY HOLE FRONT IN WAS SMASHED IN AND NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET GOING STRAIGHT AND AN AVALANCHE TRUCK PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT TRYING TO QUICKLY JET ACROSS THE STREET SO HE HIT THE GAS PEDDLE TO MOVE FAST AND SMASHED RIGHT INTO MY PASSENGER FRONT SIDE SMASHED THE HOLE FRONT END THE RADIATOR AND EVERYTHING MY CAR WAS LEAKING RADIATOR FLUID AND EVERYTHING IT'S A TOTAL LOSS

NHTSA ID

11270579

Incident

Oct 23, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

IN JULY 2013, MY PERFECTLY WONDERFUL TOYOTA AVALON (2007, 67,700 MILES) RUPTURED A TTVI OIL HOSE AND WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES BLEW UP MY ENGINE. UPON CONTACTING TOYOTA, I WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM FOR CAMRYS AND AVALONS INCLUDING MY YEAR AND MODEL, BUT THAT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED NOR COVERED BECAUSE MY VIN #WAS OUTSIDE THE PARAMETERS. I FILED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS AN APPEAL OF THIS PHONE AND LOCAL DEALER DETERMINATION. I RECEIVED ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF MY COMPLAINT (1307241937) BUT NO DETERMINATION. I JUST CALLED TOYOTA NATIONAL TORRANCE, AND WAS TOLD MY STATUS WAS CLOSED BECAUSE THEY HAD DETERMINED MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED-- MY APPEAL WAS TO THE POINT OF WHY MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED. I LIVE IN KY, 20 MILES FROM THE TOYOTA PLANT AND HAVE MANY FRIENDS THAT WORK THERE. MANY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE VIN IS AN UNRELIABLE PARAMETER, BECAUSE OFTEN THEY HAVE OLD PARTS ON THEIR TRAYS THAT ARE INSTALLED ON LATER VEHICLES. EVERY PARTY AGREES THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE CAMPAIGN ON THE EXACT RARE DEFECT-ORIGINATED PROBLEM AND THAT MY DAMAGE WAS THE RESULT OF THE EXACT DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE CAMPAIGN. EVERY PARTY AGREES THAT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE ISSUE IS WHY MY VIN NUMBER (AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS I AM SURE) WAS NOT INCLUDED AND WHY, GIVEN THE EVIDENCE THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED, TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR OF THE CAR---$307 FOR HOSE AND $6500 FOR ENGINE WHICH ENDED UP BEING THE MARK DOWN OF WHAT LOCAL TOYOTA GAVE ME FOR MY CAR TOWARD A NEW CAR. *JS

NHTSA ID

11244674

Incident

Jul 24, 2013

DASHBOARD AND PANEL HAVE MELTED AND CRACKED, CREATING A GLARE FROM THE SHINY AND STICKY SURFACE. THIS IS MAKING THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THIS HAS ALSO CREATED A CONCERN NOT ONLY FOR THE GLARE, BUT FOR THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS THIS HAS DISPERSED INTO THE VEHICLE.I CALLED TOYOTA IN '18, BUT WAS TOLD VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I WOULD NOT CONSIDER THIS A WARRANTY PROBLEM, BUT A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE REGARDING THIS DETERIORATION CONDITION. VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE OR RIDE IN. FIRST NOTICED THIS IN LATE '12 AND THIS HAS GOTTEN MUCH, MUCH WORSE EVEN THOUGH IS IT GARAGED THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME.

NHTSA ID

11240895

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

THE REAR SUNSHADE WENT UP ON IT'S OWN WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AND NOW IT WILL NOT GO DOWN. MY CAR MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS WITH THE TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED WITH MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN BACKING UP OR DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS IS NOT AN EASY FIX AND TYPICALLY COSTS WELL OVER $1,000 TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11229431

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

105,000 mi

REAR WINDOW SHADE WENT UP AND NOW WON'T GO DOWN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER A FEW MONTHS AGO AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN.WHEN THEY TOLD ME THE COST OF REPAIRING/REPLACING, I OPTED TO JUST NOT USE IT. A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT WENT UP AGAIN AND I AM NOT ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING AT NIGHT, TOOK TO THE DEALER AGAIN TO SEE IF THEY COULD PUT IT DOWN AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD I NEED TO CHANGE THE MOTOR ( ALMOST $1000) SO I WAS NOT ABLE TO DO IT. I TOLD THEM I CANT SEE AT NIGHT AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I FEEL THEY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE YOUR REAR WINDOW.

NHTSA ID

11219541

Incident

May 30, 2019

Mileage

112,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL TELESCOPING LEVER COMES LOOSE OFTEN. THE LEVER COMES LOOSE ABOUT EVERY 500 MILES .I HAVE RESORTED TO MAKING SURE IT IT TIGHT EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11217972

Incident

Jun 2, 2019

Mileage

88,000 mi