IllustrationDASHBOARD IS CRACKING RAPIDLY AND TOYOTA ISN'T STANDING BEHIND THIS DEFECT. CONCERNED ABOUT FLYING PARTS IF THE AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY. CAR IS MAINLY KEPT IN THE GARAGE AND I VENT TO LET THE LEATHER BREATHE. THIS IS APPARENTLY A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
2006 Toyota Avalon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Avalon years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Toyota Avalon are substantially higher than 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
850–25K
7325–50K
5950–75K
3375–100K
28100–150K
13150K+
291 reports with mileage · 69 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.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 103 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
54 crash reports4 fire reports25 injury reports
Structure complaints
23 reportsTHE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD ARE SHOWING EVERYWHERE. THE ARE GETTING MORE NUMEROUS AND WIDE. *TR
DASHBOARD CRACKED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER, CRACKED ALL UP BY THE INSTRUMENT BOARD, DOWN BY THE COMPARTMENT. JUST APPEARED ONE DAY. CAR IN GARAGED. TOYOTA DEALER ACKNOWLEDGE IT THAT THEY ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH QUITE A FEW VEHICLES. TOYOTA WANTS ME TO PAY $500 TOWARDS REPLACING THE DASH. I FEEL IT IS A DEFECT, OBVIOUSLY, ON …
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DASHBOARD CRACKED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER, CRACKED ALL UP BY THE INSTRUMENT BOARD, DOWN BY THE COMPARTMENT. JUST APPEARED ONE DAY. CAR IN GARAGED. TOYOTA DEALER ACKNOWLEDGE IT THAT THEY ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH QUITE A FEW VEHICLES. TOYOTA WANTS ME TO PAY $500 TOWARDS REPLACING THE DASH. I FEEL IT IS A DEFECT, OBVIOUSLY, ON THEIR PART AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED. CAN IT BE A SAFETY HAZARD? MAYBE IF IT IS CRACKED AROUND WHERE THE DASH AIR BAG IS. *TR
DASH BOARD AND AIR BAG FRONT AREA N THEE FRONT BEGAN TO CRACK. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN HOUSED OUTSIDE A GARAGE AND I CAN SEE WHERE THE MATERIAL SHOULD BEGIN TO CRACK. IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOIST AND CLEAN. NOW IT IS EXTENDING THRU THE FRONT AREA EVEN MORE. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A TOYOTA 2004 SOLARA IT STARTED ABOUT THE SAME TI…
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DASH BOARD AND AIR BAG FRONT AREA N THEE FRONT BEGAN TO CRACK. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN HOUSED OUTSIDE A GARAGE AND I CAN SEE WHERE THE MATERIAL SHOULD BEGIN TO CRACK. IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOIST AND CLEAN. NOW IT IS EXTENDING THRU THE FRONT AREA EVEN MORE. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A TOYOTA 2004 SOLARA IT STARTED ABOUT THE SAME TIME. SAME HOUSING AND CARE APPLIES HERE TOO.THE 2004 MODEL HAD ABOUT 50000 WHEN IT STARTED TO CRACK THE MATERIAL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED CRACKS AND BECAME STICKY TO THE TOUCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT APPEARED TO BE MELTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPED CRACKS AND BECAME STICKY TO THE TOUCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT APPEARED TO BE MELTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000. ..UPDATED 08/11/14 *BF
DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A SMALL CRACK WHICH IS NOW ABOUT 36" LONG. TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY WILL REPLACE THE DASH FOR $2000+. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME VEHICLE ONLINE. *TR
VEHICLE DASHBOARD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES WHERE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS AIR BAG WILL/WILL NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED. MANY TOYOTA AVALON OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND LOCAL DEALER WHO ADVISED NOT A WARRANTY ITEM OR SUBJECT TO RECALL. *TR
DEFECTIVE DASH. THIS CAR HAS 48,305 MILES AND HAS ALMOST ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MARCH OF 2006. RECENTLY, ABOUT JULY OF 2013, WHEN I FIRST STARTED NOTICING IT, THE COMPLETE DASH OF THIS CAR HAS BECOME COVERED IN A VERY STICKY, SHINY SUBSTANCE. NO SEALERS, POLISHES OR WAXES HAVE EVER BEEN APPLIED TO IT, ONL…
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DEFECTIVE DASH. THIS CAR HAS 48,305 MILES AND HAS ALMOST ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MARCH OF 2006. RECENTLY, ABOUT JULY OF 2013, WHEN I FIRST STARTED NOTICING IT, THE COMPLETE DASH OF THIS CAR HAS BECOME COVERED IN A VERY STICKY, SHINY SUBSTANCE. NO SEALERS, POLISHES OR WAXES HAVE EVER BEEN APPLIED TO IT, ONLY CLEANED WITH A DAMP RAG. NOT ONLY IS THIS TOYOTA DEFECT AFFECTING THE VALUE OF THIS CAR IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE. THE GLARE THE SHINE ON THE DASH CREATES MAKE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER TOYOTA AVALON AND CAMRY OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THIS DEFECT. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARDS.
DEFECTIVE VINYL DASH THIS CAR HAS 48,305 MILES AND HAS ALMOST ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MARCH OF 2006. RECENTLY, ABOUT JULY OF 2013, WHEN I FIRST STARTED NOTICING IT, THE COMPLETE DASH OF THIS CAR HAS BECOME COVERED IN A VERY STICKY, SHINY SUBSTANCE. NO SEALERS, POLISHES OR WAXES HAVE EVER BEEN APPLIED TO IT,…
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DEFECTIVE VINYL DASH THIS CAR HAS 48,305 MILES AND HAS ALMOST ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MARCH OF 2006. RECENTLY, ABOUT JULY OF 2013, WHEN I FIRST STARTED NOTICING IT, THE COMPLETE DASH OF THIS CAR HAS BECOME COVERED IN A VERY STICKY, SHINY SUBSTANCE. NO SEALERS, POLISHES OR WAXES HAVE EVER BEEN APPLIED TO IT, ONLY CLEANED WITH A DAMP RAG. NOT ONLY IS THIS TOYOTA DEFECT AFFECTING THE VALUE OF THIS CAR IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE. THE GLARE THE SHINE ON THE DASH CREATES MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER TOYOTA AVALON AND CAMRY OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THIS DEFECT. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARDS. *TR
I SLOWED TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE ON THE ROOF OF PARKING GARAGE. I TAPPED MY BRAKE AND FELT A SUDDEN SURGE OF POWER. (NOISY POWER SOUND) I FORCEFULLY PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKES AND BURNED RUBBER MAKING VISIBLE SKID MARKS. THE CAR WENT OVER BOTH THE CEMENT BUMPER IN FRONT OF MY CAR AND THE CEMENT BUMPER OF THE FACING CAR AND…
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I SLOWED TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE ON THE ROOF OF PARKING GARAGE. I TAPPED MY BRAKE AND FELT A SUDDEN SURGE OF POWER. (NOISY POWER SOUND) I FORCEFULLY PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKES AND BURNED RUBBER MAKING VISIBLE SKID MARKS. THE CAR WENT OVER BOTH THE CEMENT BUMPER IN FRONT OF MY CAR AND THE CEMENT BUMPER OF THE FACING CAR AND CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT HIT HIS CAR. BOTH CARS SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT. I WAS NOT INJURED AND NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR I HIT. IT IS FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR AT A STOP WITH PEDESTRIANS. *TR
Official recalls
716V396000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
Jun 2, 2016
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
14V743000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
Nov 19, 2014
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
10V499000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Oct 21, 2010
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 LEXUS RX, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 LEXUS GS AND IS VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS LUBRICANTS FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAL WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
10V036000 · Equipment:other:labels
Feb 3, 2010
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
10V017000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
Jan 21, 2010
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 CAMRY, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX, RAV4, MODEL YEAR 2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SEQUOIA, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 TUNDRA VEHICLES. DUE TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FRICTION LEVER INTERACTS WITH THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSIDE THE PEDAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY, THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE LEVER MAY BECOME SMOOTH DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IN THIS CONDITION, IF CONDENSATION OCCURS ON THE SURFACE, AS MAY OCCUR FROM HEATER OPERATION (WITHOUT A/C) WHEN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS COLD, THE FRICTION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS OPERATED MAY INCREASE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMING HARDER TO DEPRESS, SLOWER TO RETURN, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY BECOME HARD TO DEPRESS, SLOW TO RETURN TO IDLE, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BAR IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHICH WILL ALLOW THE PEDAL TO OPERATE SMOOTHLY. GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS FOR THE PONTIAC VIBE PLEASE SEE 10V-018. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2010 AND WILL BE COMPLETED ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
09V388000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
Oct 5, 2009
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: TOYOTA FILED AN AMENDED DEFECT REPORT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2009, STATING THAT DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE FLOOR SURFACE UNDER THE PEDAL. THESE CHANGES ADDRESS THE RISK OF PEDAL ENTRAPMENT DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. REDESIGNED ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING IN APRIL 2010 AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY MODIFIED PEDAL WITH THE NEW PEDAL IF DESIRED. ALSO, DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY GENUINE TOYOTA OR LEXUS ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS WITH REDESIGNED ALL-WEATHER MATS, OR REPURCHASE THE PREVIOUS MATS FROM OWNERS WHO DO NOT WANT THE NEW ONES. ADDITIONALLY, SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS WILL BE INSTALLED ON CAMRY, AVALON AND LEXUS ES 350, IS 350 AND IS 250 MODELS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE OVERRIDES THE ACCELERATOR IN THE EVENT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE APPLIED. TOYOTA WILL BEGIN MAILING LETTERS TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 31, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
06V096000 · Air Bags
Apr 3, 2006
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR, WHICH IS USED IN THE SIDE AIR BAG, THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAG, AND THE KNEE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY, SOME INFLATORS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF THE HEATING AGENTS NECESSARY FOR PROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. IN THIS CONDITION, THE EXPANSION FORCE OF THE GAS MAY BE INSUFFICIENT TO PROPERLY INFLATE THE AIR BAG WHEN THE SRS SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED DURING A CRASH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE INVOLVED SEATING POSITION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SPECIFIC SRS AIR BAG. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371, SCION AT 1-866-548-1851, OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.