2005 Toyota AVALON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
228 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
47,850 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 180 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 59 of 228 complaints (25.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 67 | 29.4% |
| Steering behavior | 48 | 21.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 27 | 11.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 3.1% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 59 |
| Steering | 32 |
| Power Train | 14 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 59; Steering: 32; Power Train: 14; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Electrical System: 11; Air Bags: 10; Unknown Or Other: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 54 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 42 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 31 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 23 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 22 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 54; 25,000 to 49,999: 42; 50,000 to 74,999: 31; 75,000 to 99,999: 23; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 8
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (54). 48 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 21 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 18 |
| 2010 | 67 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 21; 2006: 18; 2007: 18; 2008: 9; 2009: 18; 2010: 67; 2011: 14; 2012: 12; 2013: 3; 2014: 11; 2015: 4; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 8; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 7; 2024: 4; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 67 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 48 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 27 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10116392 · 2005-04-05 (April 5, 2005)
NO ACCIDENTS SO FAR. PROBLEM SONAR CRUISE CONTROLLED CARS. I HAVE ANEW TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED. I HAVE THE SONAR CRUISE CONTOL WHICH WORKS VERY WELL. PTROBLEM WHEN MY CAR SLOWS DOWN SUDDENLY BECAUSEOF THE CAR IN FRONT, THERE IS NO WARNING FOR THE CAR BEHIND ME.. TOYOTA WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS [PROBLEM AND TOLD ME NOT TO USE THE SONAR IN HEAVY TRAVELLED ROADS. THAT IS NO SOUUTION. THERE SHOULD BE A FIX TO MAKE THE BRAKE LIGHTS GO ON WHEN THE CAR IS SLOWED DOWN BY THE SONAR. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THEY DO NOT GO ON. THAT IS THE PROBLEM NO WAARNING TO …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10116392 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119009 · 2005-04-18 (April 18, 2005)
2002 TOYOTA AVALON HAS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE SONAR CONTROLLED CRUISE CONTROL EQUIPMENT.*MR WHEN AND IF THAT CAR IN FRONT FOR SOME REASON OR OTHER, WILL SLOW DOWN QUICKLY. THE DRIVER BEHIND MY VEHICLE HAS NO IDEA AS TO WHAT IS HAPPENING AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT SHOW THAT I AM SLOWING DOWN, ESPECIALLY IF CONSUMER ARE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. *BF *NM SEE ALSO VOQ 10116392. *DSY
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10119009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128356 · 2005-07-11 (July 11, 2005)
I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL,2005.I ALSO HAVE AN EARLIER COMPLAINT,ODI#10119869,REGARDING HAVING TO RE SAUDER RADIO SPEAKER WIRES,REPLACING THE BUSHINGS AND LOWER SUB FRAME,AS WELL AS AIR CONDITONING,STEERING,AND RADIO PROBLEMS ALL OCCURRING IN THE FIRST 33 MILES OF OWNING THE NEW CAR.I ACCIDENTALLY FILED IT UNDER A TOYOTA SCION FOR TOYOTA CORP. PLEASE SEE THAT COMPLIANT ALSO.. THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS TO NOT WANT TO GET OUT OF FIRST GEAR.GETTING ONTO THE THE FREEWAY IS TERRIBLE,AS WELL AS DRIVING…
Owner-reported narrative. 33 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154548 · 2006-04-04 (April 4, 2006)
TRANSMISSION LAGS THEN JUMPS FORWARD, TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT LOW SPEEDS NEVER SEEMS TO FIND A GEAR. STEERING AT SPEEDS BELOW 40 WILL JERK LEFT OR RIGHT DEPENDING ON THE ROAD.(SCARES YOU TO DEATH) BRAKES HAVE GRABBED AND JERKED THE CAR FROM DAY ONE THE DEALERSHIP GROUND THE ROTORS TO FIX THIS BUT IT HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS HAD THE POWER STEERING HOSE REPLACED BECAUSE IT LEAKED AND IT STILL DOES. THE CD PLAYER SKIP WHILE YOUR PARKED, THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES WITH …
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154548 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120329 · 2005-05-09 (May 9, 2005)
I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION IN MY TOYOTA AVALON 2005 LIMITED OVER THE PAST MONTH. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS DONE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR AND I WOULD HAVE TO "TRAIN" MY CAR COMPUTER TO DRIVE. I HAVE OVER 1500 MILES ON THE CAR AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. I DRIVE THE CAR AND MAKE STARTS AND STOPS SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT ISSUE, THEN AT THE NEXT STOP I START OUT AND THE CAR SEEMS TO SHIFT IMMEDIATELY TO A HIGHER GEAR AND I HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120329 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121398 · 2005-05-19 (May 19, 2005)
I JUST PURCHASED 2005 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED. I EXPERIENCE TERRIBLE TRANSMISSION HESITATION/SLIPPAGE. IT IS GETTING DANGEROUS WHEN I HAVE TO ENTER HIGHWAY RAMP BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION HESITATION.WHEN I COAST AT LOW SPEED, FOR EXAMPLE, I NOTICE A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AHEAD AND TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, THE CAR THEN CONTINUES FORWARD AS IF IN GEAR AND AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME IT FEELS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL, THE RPMS DROP TO BELOW 1,000. THEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGES WHEN MY SPEED IS ABOUT 5 - 10 MPH AND I SLOWLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERA…
Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153454 · 2006-03-22 (March 22, 2006)
THREE DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL SHORTS IN A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED WITH LESS THAT 5000 MILES. THE SHORTS WERE IN THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT, AND THE FUSE BOX. THE FIRST AND THIRD SHORT PREVENTED THE CAR FROM STARTING. THE SECOND SHORT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. IT IS A MIRACLE THAT THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. THE SWITCH, ENGINE CONTROL UNIT, AND FUSE BOX HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED 4 TIMES DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153454 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200848 · 2007-08-27 (August 27, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT LEFT THE IGNITION TURNED ON OVER NIGHT AND FOUND THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DEAD THE NEXT MORNING. THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN AS A RESULT OF THE DEAD BATTERY AND IT CANNOT BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED. AAA WAS CALLED TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE SO THE TRUNK COULD BE OPENED. THE TOYOTA DEALER ADVISED HIM TO GO TO A LOCKSMITH AND HAVE A KEY OPERATED LOCK INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE DEALER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR. HE WENT TO A SECOND DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY …
Owner-reported narrative. 22,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200848 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139804 · 2005-10-15 (October 15, 2005)
WE PURCHASED A 2005 AVALON LIMITED. FROM NEARLY THE FIRST DAY WE NOTICED A HESITATION DRIVING. THE SYMPTOM IS THAT THE CAR WILL HESITATE AS IT THINKS ABOUT WHAT GEAR TO GO INTO. THIS IS NOTICEABLE GOING UP A HILL, AND IS AT ITS WORST IN A SLOW TURN WHEN THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT STALL. QUITE SIMPLY THIS IS DANGEROUS AND FROM EVERYTHING WE HAVE LEERED A RESULT OF DRIVE BY WIRE. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. WE SPENT CLOSE TO $35,000 FOR THIS CAR AND IT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS DANG…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,777 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139804 at NHTSA ↗