2017 Toyota Avalon Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2017 Toyota Avalon, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine637.5%
- Driver assistance318.8%
- Airbags212.5%
- Electrical212.5%
- Brakes16.3%
- Body & structure16.3%
- Fuel system16.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Leaving a parking lot, the car jumped out of gear. Thought maybe I had bumped the gear selector but attempts at putting the car in gear resulted in grinding noises and the only option was to put it in PARK. Check engine light came on. Mechanic diagnosed a speed sensor. Had this happened on the freeway or while trying to pass another car on a two lane and a speed sensor disable the entire car to me is dangerous and should be addressed. Had the check engine light come on, I would have had the sensor replaced right away. I now feel this is an unsafe situation that could arise in other 2017 Toyota cars
TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO INSTALL AN AUTO-STOP CAUSED THE CARBON-MONOXIDE POISONING OF TWO (MORE) PEOPLE, MANY DOZENS OF SUCH DEATHS REPORTED. (DETAIL: THEY HAD LIKELY STOPPED THE ENGINE, BUT THE WIRELESS FOB CAN RE-START; AND THIS MODEL HAS AN AUTO STOP/START FUNCTION THAT CAN ALSO LEAD TO DEATH.] NOTE: NOT MY CAR, MY PARENTS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Leaving a parking lot, the car jumped out of gear. Thought maybe I had bumped the gear selector but attempts at putting the car in gear resulted in grinding noises and the only option was to put it in PARK. Check engine light came on. Mechanic diagnosed a speed sensor. Had this happened on the freeway or while trying to pass another car on a two lane and a speed sensor disable the entire car to me is dangerous and should be addressed. Had the check engine light come on, I would have had the sensor replaced right away. I now feel this is an unsafe situation that could arise in other 2017 Toyota cars
I REPORTED NOISE WHEN I MADE TURNS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. I BOUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND ADVISED OF THE ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CHECK ALL COMPONENTS OF THE CAR AND CHANGE THE OIL AND ROTATE THE TIRES. THIS WAS AT 19,611 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING SOUND I HEARD WAS ELECTRIC AND THAT IT WAS FINE. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3/10/18 AND THE CAR WAS CHECKED AGAIN AT 24,650 MILES. THE CAR WAS REPORTED FINE. THEN ON 4/26/18 I HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK OR ANY OF THE COMPUTER SAFETY FEATURES. I WAS STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT WAITING FOR ANOTHER CAR TO BACK OUT. THE CAR PASSED AND I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR TO PULL INTO THE SPACE. THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING ACCELERATING NOISES AND THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK. I RAN OVER THE YELLOW CONCRETE BLOCK AND OUT OF THE PARKING LOT INTO THE VACANT LOT NEXT DOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN BY PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR IS DAMAGED AND I HAVE INJURIES. TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNNAMED DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN EMAIL CONFIRMATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS). THE NHTSA HOTLINE WAS CONTACTED AND AN INQUIRY WAS MADE IN REGARD TO THE STATUS OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PART NOT AVAILABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Leaving a parking lot, the car jumped out of gear. Thought maybe I had bumped the gear selector but attempts at putting the car in gear resulted in grinding noises and the only option was to put it in PARK. Check engine light came on. Mechanic diagnosed a speed sensor. Had this happened on the freeway or while trying to pass another car on a two lane and a speed sensor disable the entire car to me is dangerous and should be addressed. Had the check engine light come on, I would have had the sensor replaced right away. I now feel this is an unsafe situation that could arise in other 2017 Toyota cars
FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE (08/14/2017) I NOTICED A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE ANALOG SPEEDOMETER AND THE CENTER DIGITAL DISPLAY OF THE SPEED (MPH). CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. HE ADVISED THERE IS NO FIX. I NOTED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB. THE ERROR IS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 MPH AND VARIES WITH DIFFERENT SPEEDS. STARTING SPEED IS ZERO WITH THE ERRORS OCCURRING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I HAVE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS CHECKED THE ACTUAL SPEED AGAINST LOCAL "RADAR" WARNING SIGNS. IT APPEARS THAT THE DIGITAL DISPLAY IS THE MOST ACCURATE. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE DISCREPANCY AND SENT THEM TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE THEN AGREED TO GO FOR A TEST DRIVE WITH ME. HE CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE A TOYOTA TECH STREAM DEVICE. I ALSO HAD HIM ACTIVATE HIS GPS SPEED PROGRAM ON HIS CELL PHONE. THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT HIS TECH STREAM DEVICE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND/OR WAS DISPLAYING SPEEDS THAT WERE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE DIGITAL DISPLAY OR THE ANALOG DISPLAY (THE MAIN ROUND SPEEDOMETER NEXT TO THE TACHOMETER). HOWEVER, HIS GPS PHONE APP INDICATED THAT THE DIGITAL DISPLAY WAS THE MOST ACCURATE. THE RESULTS ALSO CONFIRMED THE DISCREPANCY OF 2-4 MPH BETWEEN THE ANALOG AND DIGITAL DISPLAYS. A COMPLAINT FILED WITH TOYOTA LAST WEEK BY ME RESULTED IN A PHONE CALL FROM THEM INDICATING THAT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE CALLER EVEN INDICATING THAT THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE TO BEGIN WITH. (JUST GOOGLE IT AND YOU WILL SEE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS.) NOW, THIS MIGHT NOT BE AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT SURE COULD GET ONE INTO A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. IF ONE THOUGHT HE OR SHE WAS GOING 66 MPH AND WAS ACTUALLY GOING 70 MPH IN A 65 ZONE, YOU COULD BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO RECEIVING A CITATION FOR DOING SO. I SHOULD KNOW, I'M A RETIRED STATE TROOPER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
2017 TOYOTA BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED BY TOYOTA. ASKED MY DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ANSWER. PLEASE REFER TO THE TOYOTA OWNERS WEBSITE IT HAS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
The torsion springs for the rear trunk are very weak. They have been that way since car was new. I have had multiple occasions where I opened the trunk and had it come down and hit me on the head. This has also happened to my wife.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS PULLING OUT OF A CHURCH PARKING SPOT VERY SLOWLY. ONCE OUT OF THE SPOT I STOPPED AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED AS IF IT SHIFTED INTO CURSE CONTROL. WE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET BEFORE HITTING A TREE. IT ALL HAPPENED SO SUDDENLY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .