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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

103 reports
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570 miles · Aug 15, 2006
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

AT TIMES THE ENGINE SPEED DOES NOT INCREASE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. SUCH AS WHEN I STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND AT TIMES WHEN I TRY TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I CANNOT INCREASE SPEED OR WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE A…

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AT TIMES THE ENGINE SPEED DOES NOT INCREASE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. SUCH AS WHEN I STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND AT TIMES WHEN I TRY TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I CANNOT INCREASE SPEED OR WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS IT SHOULD. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10165573

3,823 miles · May 25, 2006
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed ControlCrash

CAR DID NOT START FOR SEVERAL TRIES. ON ABOUT THE 5TH TRY, THE MOMENT I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE THROTTLE STUCK AND THE CAR HURTLED OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT VEERED TO THE LEFT (AS YOU FACE THE GARAGE) IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLEARING THE GARAGE, CUT UNDER THE BRANCHES OF A BIG SPRUCE TREE ON THE CORNER OF MY NEIGHBOR'S LOT, CROSSED H…

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CAR DID NOT START FOR SEVERAL TRIES. ON ABOUT THE 5TH TRY, THE MOMENT I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE THROTTLE STUCK AND THE CAR HURTLED OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT VEERED TO THE LEFT (AS YOU FACE THE GARAGE) IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLEARING THE GARAGE, CUT UNDER THE BRANCHES OF A BIG SPRUCE TREE ON THE CORNER OF MY NEIGHBOR'S LOT, CROSSED HIS DRIVEWAY, ACROSS A SMALL DRAINAGE DITCH AND SLAMMED INTO THE TRUNK OF A HUGE SPRUCE TREE. CAR STOPPED THEN, WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO REAR, AND ENGINE DIED. CAR WAS DRIVABLE AND I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER, WHO CHOSE TO NOT EXAMINE ANYTHING. DURING THE EVENT, I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES KEPT IT FROM LOCKING THE WHEELS AND I TRIED TO KILL THE ENGINE BY HITTING THE START BUTTON (THERE IS NO KEY ON THIS MODEL CAR). THAT DID NOT WORK AND I HIT THE TREE BEFORE I COULD THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE TO DO. I WAS NOT HURT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158289

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2006
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

RE: TOYOTA 2006 AVALON I RECENTLY BOUGHT A TOYOTA AVALON. IT NOW HAS 3800 MILES ON IT. IN THE SECOND WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE, I WAS DRIVING ON A RAMP TO ENTER A LIMITED ACCESS HIGH WAY. SPEED WAS ABOUT 50 MPH AS I BLENDED IN WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE LANE I WAS IN STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THE LANE TO MY LEFT HAD AN OPEN SPA…

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RE: TOYOTA 2006 AVALON I RECENTLY BOUGHT A TOYOTA AVALON. IT NOW HAS 3800 MILES ON IT. IN THE SECOND WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE, I WAS DRIVING ON A RAMP TO ENTER A LIMITED ACCESS HIGH WAY. SPEED WAS ABOUT 50 MPH AS I BLENDED IN WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE LANE I WAS IN STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THE LANE TO MY LEFT HAD AN OPEN SPACE. I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GAIN SPEED AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARD THE LEFT LANE. THE CAR, INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING, APPEARED TO GO INTO NEUTRAL, THE TACHOMETER REACHED ALMOST 7000 RPM, THEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO THE PASSING GEAR AND LEAPED FORWARD. I ALMOST HIT THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT SINCE MY CAR HAD SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE I WAS ABLE TO STEER AROUND AND GET INTO THE LEFT LANE. I HAVE GONE INTO THIS DETAILED EXPLANATION TO DEMONSTRATE THE DANGER, AND POTENTIAL TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT 50MPH THAT THE ??BUILT IN?? HESITATION OF THE 2006 TOYOTA AVALON COULD HAVE CAUSED. AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE, I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, GOT THE EXPLANATION THAT THE HESITATION WAS NORMAL FOR 2006 TOYOTA AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. I TOLD THE DEALER I DID NOT WANT THE CAR AND WANTED MY MONEY BACK. OF COURSE THAT WAS REFUSED. SO I??M STILL DRIVING A CAR I THINK IS DANGEROUS. I THINKTOYOTA SHOULD MAKE A RETRO FIT TO CORRECT THE HESITATION PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10156708

Official recalls

7

16V396000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.