If you own a Toyota Avalon, or you're thinking of buying one, then learning about common Toyota Avalon problems is a good idea if you want to make an informed decision.
About Toyota Avalon
If you aren't very familiar with the Toyota Avalon, you aren't alone. Even though the Avalon is considered the Toyota "flagship," most consumers find the Camry and Corolla more recognizable because of the length of time they've been on the market compared to the Avalon.
Toyota first introduced the Avalon to the market in 1995. The body was longer than the mid-size Camry and provided more power with a 3.0-liter V6 engine - pushing out almost 200 horsepower. The Australian offering of the Avalon in 2000 fell flat as consumers found the style boring and opted for the Camry instead. The design and power changed dramatically after 2005 in the third generation of the Avalon. The new style, as well as the increased luxury features and power, turned heads.
Reported Toyota Avalon Problems
The earlier year models of the Avalon had only minor issues, such as an oil leak from the valve cover gaskets, a faulty EVAP purge control valve, a faulty oxygen sensor, and a steering shaft recall.
While early models were known for their quality, later models from 2005 through 2007 were plagued with problems. In fact the Toyota Avalon is the model many industry experts blame for the decline in Toyota's overall reputation in the United States. The Avalon experienced the following issues reported from consumers:
- Bad U-joint welds
- Faulty catalytic converter
- Leaky oil line to the variable valve timing system
- Air bag recalls
- Steering column recalls
- Transmission hesitation issues
While the Toyota Avalon was always rated at "high quality" in most consumer watchdog publications like Consumer Reports, after the issues from 2005 through 2007, Consumer Reports and other experts downgraded the Toyota Avalon's quality to "average."
Learn More about Toyota Avalon Problems
Due to the fact that the Toyota Avalon experienced so many problems after 2005 models hit the market, you can find a lot of information about the details of those problems from both expert and consumer reviews online. The following resources offer valuable insight into those reported problems:
- Consumer Affairs hosts a forum where consumers can report their specific problems with their own Avalon.
- Toyota Problems is a popular website to learn about the most common issues across all production years. This site reveals that 2006 was the worst for Avalon complaints.
- Car Review also allows consumers to post pros and cons about their car. This site has hundreds of valuable posts with feedback from consumers.
- Automotix is a good website to look up any safety calls or defects involving this car.
- While Fixya is an excellent resource to ask for help with your specific car problem, it's also a perfect place to go to check what sort of problems people are having with similar cars as yours.
While Toyota clearly cut costs starting in 2005, and the resulting quality reflected it, the overall quality and value increased into 2009 and 2010. The car industry became extremely competitive in 2009, and all auto makers started stepping up quality efforts that year in order to win over the confidence of consumers.
