IllustrationTHE REAR POWER SUNSHADE CONTROL IS NEXT TO THE TRUNK BUTTON. I ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE WRONG BUTTON WHILE DRIVING AND OPENED THE TRUNK..THE TRUNK BUTTON SHOULD HAVE A SAFETY SWITCH WHICH DOESN'T ALLOW THE TRUCK TO BE OPENED WHILE THE CAR IS IN DRIVE. *TR
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 →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
330–25K
2025–50K
950–75K
675–100K
10100–150K
0150K+
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
What owners actually said
106 reportsAT HIGHWAY SPEED (65+) THE FRONT END VIBRATES AND CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE SEATS. *TR
I HAVE A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED WITH A POWER REAR SUNSCREEN. THE CONTROL BUTTONS FOR THE SUNSCREEN ARE POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE TRUNK RELEASE SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD LOCATED NEAR THE LEFT KNEE OF THE DRIVER WHICH IS HIDDEN BY THE STEERING COLUMN. WHILE DRIVING I INADVERTENTLY PUSHED THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON INSTEAD OF TH…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED WITH A POWER REAR SUNSCREEN. THE CONTROL BUTTONS FOR THE SUNSCREEN ARE POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE TRUNK RELEASE SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD LOCATED NEAR THE LEFT KNEE OF THE DRIVER WHICH IS HIDDEN BY THE STEERING COLUMN. WHILE DRIVING I INADVERTENTLY PUSHED THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON INSTEAD OF THE SUNSCREEN BUTTON AND THE TRUNK POPPED OPEN. I WOULD THINK THAT THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON SHOULD EITHER BE AWAY FROM THE POWER SUNSCREEN SWITCH OR NON OPERATIONAL WHILE DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL CRACKING SOUND WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN OR FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING COLUMN BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO REMEDY THE FAILURE.…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL CRACKING SOUND WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN OR FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING COLUMN BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,325. UPDATED 11/25/11 *BF UPDATED 11/30/11
I HAVE A NEW 2011 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED WITH JUST OVER 1,700 MILES. THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL LEVER LOCATED UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN HAS FALLEN OUT OF THE "LOCKED" POSITION FIVE TIMES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSES IN TOWARDS THE DASH. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. I, MYSEL…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A NEW 2011 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED WITH JUST OVER 1,700 MILES. THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL LEVER LOCATED UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN HAS FALLEN OUT OF THE "LOCKED" POSITION FIVE TIMES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSES IN TOWARDS THE DASH. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. I, MYSELF, HAVE NOW FOUND REPORTS BY OTHER AVALON OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *KB
I BOUGHT A NEW 2011 TOYOTA AVALON IN APRIL OF 2010. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS ARE COVERED WITH A FILM FROM GAS VAPORS. IT IS SO THICK THAT IT REDUCES YOUR VISION PARTICULARLY IN THE SUN. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY JUST LISTEN AND DO NOTHING. A FRIEND OF MINE ALSO BOUG…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT A NEW 2011 TOYOTA AVALON IN APRIL OF 2010. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS ARE COVERED WITH A FILM FROM GAS VAPORS. IT IS SO THICK THAT IT REDUCES YOUR VISION PARTICULARLY IN THE SUN. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY JUST LISTEN AND DO NOTHING. A FRIEND OF MINE ALSO BOUGHT A NEW AVALON IN MAY OF 2011 AND THEIR CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM SO OVER A YEAR LATER THE AVALONS ARE DOING THE SAME THING. *TR
HAD BRAKE AND STEERING PROBLEMS. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REALLY LOOSE. I HAD TO APPLY 95% OF THE BRAKE BEFORE THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED. I TOOK IT BACK TO CLAREMONT TOYOTA IN CA WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THEY JUST LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT'S WORKING LIKE DESIGNED AND SENT ME HOME. NO OTHER RESPONSES OR ASSISTANCE. *KB
2011 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES SEAT BELT REMINDER ALARM DINGS SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN GOES INTO A RAPID EXTENDED REMINDER. *TGW
2011 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES TRUNK OPENER SWITCH IS A SAFETY HAZARD *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE HAS A SUNSHADE AND THE SWITCH IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE TRUNK OPENER. THE CONSUMER STATED A FEW AGO WHILE DRIVING, HE WANTED TO LOWER THE SUNSHADE, BUT HE ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE TRUNK OPENED INSTEAD AND THE LID OPENED. THE…
Read full complaint
2011 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES TRUNK OPENER SWITCH IS A SAFETY HAZARD *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE HAS A SUNSHADE AND THE SWITCH IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE TRUNK OPENER. THE CONSUMER STATED A FEW AGO WHILE DRIVING, HE WANTED TO LOWER THE SUNSHADE, BUT HE ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE TRUNK OPENED INSTEAD AND THE LID OPENED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRUNK OPENER SHOULD NOT BE ACTIVE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *JB
DRIVER-SIDE FRONT DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED - FROM THE INSIDE. DRIVER-SIDE FRONT DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED - FROM THE OUTSIDE VIA KEY OR REMOTE.
Official recalls
115V047000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.