Home · 2019 Toyota Avalon · Complaints

What 67 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Toyota Avalon

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (67)Crash / fire / injury (4)Fuel system (21)Electrical system (16)Transmission & drivetrain (9)Driver assistance (6)Engine (6)Backup camera & sensors (4)Brakes (4)Lights (3)Speed control (3)Visibility & wipers (3)

Newest first · 67 complaints · page 2 of 3

Jul 31, 2021Transmission & drivetrainEngine

SEE ATTACHED PDF FILE

NHTSA ODI 11427262

Jun 18, 2021

There is a bad smell coming from the air ducting especially when the AC is set to recycle the cabin air. The smell is so nauseating that you have to roll the windows down while driving down the road or parked. The Toyota dealership charged me $155 +/- to clean the ducting on a less than 2-year-old car with approximately 35,000 mi on it. I'm not sure how long their cleaning service will keep the smell removed. I've owned multiple vehicles in my lifetime and never encountered this problem. This should not be happening on a new vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11421426

May 17, 2021Speed controlBrakesDriver assistance

This incident has happened twice in three years. Hence it is a very rare occurrence. Both times involved the same events. Cruise control was on. I was traveling in the left lane of the interstate highway, approaching an 18-wheel truck which was in the right lane. When I was approximately 50 feet from the rear of the truck, the truck began to enter my lane. I suspect I was in the trucker's blind spot. My car did not sense the truck. The cruise control did not disengage. The brakes did not engage. But the MOST troublesome was that the car did not respond to my pressing on the brake pedal. I had to press 4 or 5 times before the cruise control would disengage and the brakes engage. Since I was traveling approximately 70 mph, the distance between my car and the truck (each time) closed rapidly. In the first instance, the truck tire hit my right front fender. I moved to the shoulder of the road and eventually the car braked. In the second case, I avoided collision by about 10 feet. I use the cruise control frequently and in EVERY other circumstance, the sensors on my car have worked correctly and disengaged the cruise control and I have never had a problem with breaking. I suspect a blind spot in the sensor system but why, only in this situation, does the brake system fail to disengage the cruise control when i press on the brake is a very troublesome mystery to me. Answering question on web page: My safety - life threatening, No dealer consultation, Regular maintenance schedule maintained, No warnings.

NHTSA ODI 11417486

Mar 10, 2021

LOW-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP

NHTSA ODI 11400221

Jan 13, 2021Fuel system

MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WHICH MAY STOP OPERATING IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART AND IF IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHICH I DRIVE 45 MINS ONE WAY TO WORK DAILY THEN THE CAR WILL LOCK UP AND I WONT BE ABLE TO MOVE IT AND COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS TO WHERE THE VEHICLE COULD EXPLODE AND TOYOTA HAS NO IDEA HOW TO FIX IT AND ITS BEEN SITTING SINCE OCT 2020. I HAVE CONTACTED THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE AND THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH NEITHER ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH ME IN REGARDS TO PAYMENTS BEING EXEMPT TILL THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX MY CAR. THEY SAID ITS EITHER I WAIT IT OUT TILL THEY KNOW OR TRADE IT IN FOR AN EQUAL TRADE. MY ISSUE HERE IS THE CAR HAS LOST EQUITY IN IT SO THE NEW LOAN WOULD PROBABLY BE UPSIDE DOWN ON THE LTV WHICH IS COSTING ME, THEY PULL MY CREDIT WHICH WOULD MAKE IT GO DOWN, DONT GET ME WRONG ITS LOAN WORTHY BUT WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO GO THRU ALL THIS RED TAPE WHEN THEY ARE THE ONES WHO CAUSED THE ISSUE BY SELLING A LEMON TO CUSTOMERS. WHY DO I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT I HAVE ONLY OWNED SINCE MAY 2020 AND HAS BEEN SITTING SINCE OCT THAT I CAN ONLY LOOK AT ...I MEAN HOW LONG DOES ONE HAVE TO PAYOUT WITHOUT GETTING ANYTHING IN RETURN? THIS CANNOT BE LEGAL FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO CHARGE PEOPLE FOR PRODUCTS THEY CANT USE??? I LOVE THIS AVALON AND IT IS TOP OF THE LINE WITH THE EXTRAS SO I AM COMPLETELY HAPPY WITH IT BUT TOYOTA IS NOT BEING FAIR. THEY HAVE GIVEN ME THE RENTAL CAR SO I DONT LOOSE MY JOB BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD DO FOR GOD SAKES. AND THAT DOESNT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO AT ALL WITH THE PAYMENTS I HAVE TO PAY ON A CAR I CAN ONLY LOOK AT FOR THE LAST 4 MONTHS...PLEASE HELP ME THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

NHTSA ODI 11387823

Dec 22, 2020Driver assistance

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DYNAMIC CRUISE CONTROL HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE DYNAMIC CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED AND THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WORSE WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SCOTT CLARK TOYOTA (13052 MARIE GARRIS RD, MATTHEWS, NC 28105) TO BE TEST DRIVEN. WHILE BEING TEST DRIVEN ALONG WITH THE TECHNICIAN, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 11384521

Nov 17, 2020Fuel system

AFTER SEEING A NEWS REPORT ABOUT A FUEL PUMP RECALL IN TOYOTA AVALONS, I CHECKED MY VIN ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND, INDEED, MY VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY SALESPERSON AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND ASKED HIM TO CHECK ON THE RECALL RESOLUTION. HE RESPONDED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE YET. SINCE THE RECALL OCCURRED IN JANUARY 2020, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THERE IS NO REMEDY YET. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY DOCUMENTATION OR CORRESPONDENCE FROM TOYOTA REGARDING THIS RECALL. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN WITH IMPAIRED HEALTH WHO LIVES ALONE. IT IS CRITICAL THAT I HAVE A SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE TO MY FREQUENT MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS. THAT IS WHY I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I DO HAVE TO DRIVE ON HIGHWAYS IN ORDER TO GET TO THESE APPOINTMENTS AND THIS RECALL MAKES ME VERY ANXIOUS!

NHTSA ODI 11375061

Oct 29, 2020Fuel systemCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING INTO HER NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL AND THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBORS METAL FENCE. THE CONTACT STATED AN UNKNOWN RED SIGN WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES OR SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY AND HAD COSMETIC REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,240.

NHTSA ODI 11367055

Oct 7, 2020Visibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELDS WERE CLOUDY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELDS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOSELTON CHEVROLET (909 FAIRPORT RD, EAST ROCHESTER, NY 14445) WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 11363252

Jul 13, 2020Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND PROCEEDING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR STALLS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE THE CAR HAS DONE THIS (EACH TIME BEING TAKEN TO SERVICE AT TOYOTA). ONE IN PARTICULAR ALMOST BEING HIT BY A TRUCK WHEN GOING FROM A RED LIGHT TO GREEN LIGHT.ANOTHER ONE TURNING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND HAVING TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO CARS COMING MY DIRECTION IN FEAR OF BEING HIT WHILE TURNING AND CAR STALLING. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN TOO MANY SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR. THIS MATTER HAS BEEN TAKEN UP TO CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND REVIEWING HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE IN THEY CONTINUE TO TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE NOT FAILED TO REPAIR MY CAR. I HAVE CONTINUED TO TAKE THE CAR TO BE SERVICED AND DIAGNOSTIC COMES UP WITH NO PROBLEMS IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. *I ALSO HAVE VIDEOS AND ALL OF MY SERVICE INVOICES REGARDING THE STALLING ISSUE THAT HAS YET TO BE CORRECTED.*

NHTSA ODI 11338968

Jul 6, 2020Fuel system

2019 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FUEL PUMP SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS *JS

NHTSA ODI 11337033

Jul 1, 2020Electrical system

THIS VEHICLES BLIND SPOT MONITOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT OPERATIONAL AND DOES NOT SHOW VEHICLES IN THE BLIND SPOT ON THE MIRROR OVER 70% OF THE TIME GIVING THE DRIVER A FALSE SENSE THE LANE IS CLEAR. IT APPEARS THE SYSTEM GETS WORSE THE LONGER YOU DRIVE AND ALMOST NO USABLE WHEN DRIVING OVER 40 MILES. THE DRIVER SIDE BLIND SPOT MONITOR SYSTEM WORKS AS IT SHOULD. UPON SOME RESEARCH ON LINE, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND TOYOTA INDICATES IT WORKS TO SPECS, BUT BASED OFF THE FACTORY MANUAL DOES NOT.

NHTSA ODI 11331907

Jul 1, 2020Fuel systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF TRI-CITIES (6321 W CANAL DR, KENNEWICK, WA 99336, (509) 736-9900) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11331972

Jun 29, 2020Wheels

THE SIDE WALL BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON I93. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331481

Jun 21, 2020Fuel system

I HAVE NOT HEART ABOUT MY RECALL WHICH IS ONGOING AND IS DANGEROUS, I WANT IT REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS IT CONCERNING, AS PER TOYOTA, A MALFUNCTIONED FUEL PUMP, PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI 11329983

May 17, 2020Fuel system

NO UPDATE REGARDING THE NHTSA RECALL ID #20V012 REMEDY.

NHTSA ODI 11324901

May 8, 2020Fuel system

THE FUEL PUMP FAILED, MY 2019 TOYOTA AVALON STALLED IN TRAFFIC PUTTING EVERYONE IN HARMS WAY. AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET TO SAFETY, MANY WERE AT RISK, WHY? THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND STOPPED! IT WAS A TURN AFFECTING DRIVERS BEHIND ME, IN FRONT OF ME, INVOLVING TRAFFIC ON TWO STREETS OF AN INTERSECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323813

May 8, 2020Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11323841

Apr 21, 2020Fuel system

WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AS IF IT'S NOT GETTING ANY FUEL. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND TURNED OFF I CAN HEAR THE FUEL PUMP RUNNING.

NHTSA ODI 11321787

Apr 16, 2020Fuel systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2019 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11321306

Apr 1, 2020Fuel system

NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET, BUT I HAVE A NEW CAR, 4800 MILES ON IT, 3/17/20 I REC'D A RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE ITS FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, TOYOTA SAYS, MAY SUDDENLY STOP WORKING WHILE I AM DRIVING AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR ASSUMING I HAVEN'T BEEN KILLED. I DO NOT WANT A CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM AND TOYOTA SAYS THEY HAVE NO FIX CURRENTLY! I HAVE WRITTEN TO THEIR CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL FOR A REPLACEMENT OF MY FAULTY AUTO WITH A NEW VEHICLE (NOT THE SAME MODEL WITH THE PROBLEM) OF A MODEL OF COMPARABLE VALUE. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD RISK MY LIFE WHILE TOYOTA LOOKS FOR A FIX FOR A LIFE-THREATENING FLAW. REGISTERED LETTER SENT TO TOYOTA CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL 3/31/20. I HAVE NO SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE, BUT I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE A CAMRY OR COROLLA LOANER WHEN I AM COVERED BY A WARRANTY FOR THE 2019 AVALON I PAID CASH FOR IN FULL!

NHTSA ODI 11319947

Mar 8, 2020Fuel system

WHEN I PUMP 91 GASOLINE AT QUICK TRIP IT WANT TAKE BUT 4 DOLLARS AND CLICK OFF! THEN WHEN I TAKE THE PUMP OUT IT SPITS ALL THE GAS OUT THAT WAS PUT IN! THEN I PROCEED TO CUM N GO IT FILLS CORRECTLY! IT WAS THE 3RD TIME I WAS ON HIGHWAY SEEN A QUICK TRIP AND GAS WOULD NOT TAKE! LAST TRY WAS QUICK TRIP PUMP 7 ABOUT 6:20 MUSKOGEE OKLAHOMA THURSDAY 3/5/2020! JUST WONDERING IF IT WAS CAR OR GAS STATIONS PROBLEM!

NHTSA ODI 11316848

Mar 7, 2020Fuel system

CHANGING INTERSECTION IN THE CITY STREETS ENGINE STALLS LIKE ITS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL.

NHTSA ODI 11316681

Mar 7, 2020Fuel system

MY CAR MOSTLY PARKED IN THE GARAGE. LATELY, IT'S GETTING WORSE AND NOTICING ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH, STALL AT SPEED ABOUT 20 MPH AND HUMMING FROM UNDER REAR OF THE CAR HOURS AFTER IT'S SHUT OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11316755

Feb 24, 2020AirbagsCrash2 injuries

I WAS IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING ALONG A LOCAL ROAD, PROBABLY ABOUT 30MPH. I WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER CAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY CAR, AND THEN SPUN INTO A MEDIAN AND STRUCK A TREE. MUCH OF THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN AND DISPLACED FROM THE FRAME ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF. I WAS RESTRAINED BY THE SEAT BELT ONLY. THE FAILURE OF THE AIRBAGS IS OF GREAT CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI 11311011

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Working with the data? Download all 67 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 15, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2019 Toyota Avalon verdict →