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2011 Toyota Avalon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Toyota Avalon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →
106Owner complaints

Model-year median: 101

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
349
200891
200946
2010106
201130
2012137
201396
2014
Compare all Avalon years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Steering
31Electrical System
25Vehicle Speed Control
11Unknown Or Other
10Visibility/wiper
9
All reported categories
Structure
6Service Brakes
5Visibility
5Latches/locks/linkages
4Engine
3Seats
3Air Bags
2Engine And Engine Cooling
2Exterior Lighting
2Power Train
2Seat Belts
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Parking Brake
1Suspension
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

78 reports with mileage · 28 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.

  • Steering. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Seats complaints

3 reports
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85,000 miles · Nov 6, 2020
SeatsSteering

I WAS USING THE LEVER TO PUSH THE SEAT AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN ONE SIDE STOPPED MOVING, CAUSING THE OTHER SIDE TO DERAIL. I TOOK THE CAR TO JIM HUDSON TOYOTA IMMEDIATELY, AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO GET SEAT BACK ON TRACK. HOWEVER, HE WASN'T ABLE TO GET THE SIDE MOVING, AND STATED THE ENTIRE SEAT RAIL WOULD HAVE T…

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I WAS USING THE LEVER TO PUSH THE SEAT AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN ONE SIDE STOPPED MOVING, CAUSING THE OTHER SIDE TO DERAIL. I TOOK THE CAR TO JIM HUDSON TOYOTA IMMEDIATELY, AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO GET SEAT BACK ON TRACK. HOWEVER, HE WASN'T ABLE TO GET THE SIDE MOVING, AND STATED THE ENTIRE SEAT RAIL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. FURTHERMORE, I WAS TOLD I HAVE A LEAK IN THE ROD AND PINION SYSTEM BECAUSE THE INNER SEAL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH, I SERVICE MY VEHICLE REGULARLY WITH FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA, AND NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN SAID ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11373521

300 miles · Sep 21, 2015
Seats

HEAD REST DOES NOT ALLOW DRIVER TO SIT UP STRAIGHT. NECK IS BENT FORWARD CAUSING DISCOMFORT.

NHTSA ODI #10766466

35,400 miles · Mar 28, 2014
Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT ACTIVATED WHEN SUDDENLY, A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT CUSHION THEM BECAME SUNKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOC…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT ACTIVATED WHEN SUDDENLY, A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT CUSHION THEM BECAME SUNKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,400.

NHTSA ODI #10575395

Official recalls

1

15V047000 · Electrical System

Jan 28, 2015

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles manufactured February 9, 2010, to October 22, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the sub-woofer speaker located in the trunk may experience an intermittent electrical short which may cause damage to the integrated circuit (IC) in the audio amplifier. In some cases, the damaged IC may allow a constant electrical current flow to the sub-woofer.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A constant electrical current flow may cause the sub-woofer to overheat, increasing the risk of fire.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the audio system amplifier and install a protective cover around the sub-woofer, free of charge. The recall began on July 1,2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

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.