Toyota Avalon Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2006 draws 15 complaints per run and the 2015 2.58, a 5.8-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 66.8% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Air Bags, with 542 complaints, typically at 8.3 years.

Toyota Avalon years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Toyota Avalon — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2022	1.33	8	6	too new
2021	1.11	20	18	too new
2020	1.11	10	9	yes
2019	3.5	70	20	yes
2018	2.18	24	11	yes
2017	1.75	14	8	yes
2016	1.31	21	16	yes
2015	2.58	49	19	yes
2014	3.68	81	22	yes
2013	5.96	143	24	yes
2012	2.25	27	12	yes
2011	6.71	94	14	yes
2010	2.87	43	15	yes
2009	5.13	82	16	yes
2008	14.24	299	21	yes
2007	11	209	19	yes
2006	15	300	20	yes
2005	9.14	192	21	yes
2004	11.18	190	17	yes
2003	17.67	265	15	yes
2002	5.37	102	19	yes
2001	5.47	104	19	yes
2000	5.46	142	26	yes
1999	3.32	73	22	yes
1998	5.88	147	25	yes
1997	5.05	101	20	yes
1996	3.8	76	20	yes
1995	1.97	59	30	yes

ROWS 28·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2006 Avalon asks a median $4,995, against $4,400 for a 2007, the next model year: 14% more, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.

Among the 11 Toyota Avalon years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2006, 2008, 2007; the three worth hunting are 2015, 2019, 2014.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Toyota Avalon — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	373	13.9%	covered
1 year	285	24.4%	covered
2 years	237	33.2%	covered
3 years	301	44.4%	you pay
4 years	240	53.3%	you pay
5 years	183	60.1%	you pay
6 years	181	66.8%	you pay
7 years	152	72.5%	you pay
8 years	118	76.9%	you pay
9 years	112	81%	you pay
10 years	118	85.4%	you pay
11 years	150	91%	you pay
12 years	130	95.8%	you pay
13 years	55	97.8%	you pay
14 years	33	99.1%	you pay
15 years	25	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 33.2% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 66.8% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 6% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Toyota Avalon, the early trouble is Vehicle Speed Control and Power Train — reported at around 4 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Air Bags at 8.3 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Toyota Avalon — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Air Bags	542	8.3 yrs	153	—
Vehicle Speed Control	515	4 yrs	213	3
Steering	317	5.4 yrs	23	2
Electrical System	262	5.3 yrs	13	11
Service Brakes	245	4.7 yrs	58	1
Exterior Lighting	242	4.4 yrs	—	2
Power Train	177	3.5 yrs	19	—
Unknown Or Other	174	5.5 yrs	8	1

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Avalon's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 6.2 for the Avalon. That is the most complaints of the group.

FIG.05·Toyota Avalon — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Avalon	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Toyota Camry	20,039	161	1983–2026
Honda Accord	24,369	415	1981–2026
Dodge Challenger	1,696	77	1981–2026
Toyota Prius	12,873	109	2001–2026
Hyundai Elantra	9,090	117	1992–2026
Nissan Altima	15,657	148	1993–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Toyota Avalon

Recalls90 campaigns Fuel economy44 mpg best Common problems3,540 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space16 cu ft Used prices1,789 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car1995–2022

Frequently asked questions

Is the Toyota Avalon reliable?

By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 6.2 against 3.73 for the average car, and more than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.

Which Avalon years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2006, 2008, 2007. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2015, 2019, 2014. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Avalon problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Air Bags, typically at 8.3 years, followed by Vehicle Speed Control.

Will the warranty cover Avalon problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 33.2% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 6% of the complaints here.

Is the Avalon more reliable than the Toyota Camry?

No: 6.2 complaints per production run for the Avalon against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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