2006 Toyota AVALON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
359 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
45,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 291 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 93 of 359 complaints (25.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 91 | 25.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 44 | 12.3% |
| Steering behavior | 40 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 1.7% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.8% |
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 | 93 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 35 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 30 |
| Steering | 29 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 25 |
| Air Bags | 22 |
| Power Train | 15 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 93; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 35; Engine And Engine Cooling: 30; Steering: 29; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 26; Unknown Or Other: 25; Air Bags: 22; Power Train: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 85 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 73 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 59 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 33 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 28 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 85; 25,000 to 49,999: 73; 50,000 to 74,999: 59; 75,000 to 99,999: 33; 100,000 to 149,999: 28; 150,000 and above: 13
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (85). 68 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 24 |
| 2007 | 25 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2009 | 60 |
| 2010 | 105 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2006: 24; 2007: 25; 2008: 15; 2009: 60; 2010: 105; 2011: 21; 2012: 18; 2013: 6; 2014: 26; 2015: 15; 2016: 10; 2017: 4; 2018: 10; 2019: 8; 2020: 3; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 91 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 44 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 40 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 10151150 · 2006-02-24 (February 24, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE DRIVING 55MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR. THE DEFECTIVE SEALS ALLOWED BRAKE FLUID TO DRAIN FROM THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND INTO THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RESERVOIR, BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER.
Owner-reported narrative. 85 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158289 · 2006-05-25 (May 25, 2006)
CAR DID NOT START FOR SEVERAL TRIES. ON ABOUT THE 5TH TRY, THE MOMENT I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE THROTTLE STUCK AND THE CAR HURTLED OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT VEERED TO THE LEFT (AS YOU FACE THE GARAGE) IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLEARING THE GARAGE, CUT UNDER THE BRANCHES OF A BIG SPRUCE TREE ON THE CORNER OF MY NEIGHBOR'S LOT, CROSSED HIS DRIVEWAY, ACROSS A SMALL DRAINAGE DITCH AND SLAMMED INTO THE TRUNK OF A HUGE SPRUCE TREE. CAR STOPPED THEN, WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO REAR, AND ENGINE DIED. CAR WAS DRIVABLE AND I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER, WHO CHOSE TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,823 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150993 · 2006-02-23 (February 23, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE TRANSMISSION MOMENTARILY HESITATES BEFORE PROPERLY SELECTING THE CORRECT GEAR TO ENGAGE. THIS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE NEEDED REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT HAVE AFTERMARKET SOFTWARE AVAILABLE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150993 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154111 · 2006-03-27 (March 27, 2006)
LTR FM (FL) RE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IN HER 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER OVER FIVE TIMES WITHIN IN A SIX WEEK PERIOD. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN SURGE FORWARD WHEN GENTLY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE REAR SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR DIDN'T COME ON AT THE PROPER WEIGHT AS DESCRIBED BY THE SALESMAN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10154111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156708 · 2006-05-03 (May 3, 2006)
RE: TOYOTA 2006 AVALON I RECENTLY BOUGHT A TOYOTA AVALON. IT NOW HAS 3800 MILES ON IT. IN THE SECOND WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE, I WAS DRIVING ON A RAMP TO ENTER A LIMITED ACCESS HIGH WAY. SPEED WAS ABOUT 50 MPH AS I BLENDED IN WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE LANE I WAS IN STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THE LANE TO MY LEFT HAD AN OPEN SPACE. I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GAIN SPEED AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARD THE LEFT LANE. THE CAR, INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING, APPEARED TO GO INTO NEUTRAL, THE TACHOMETER REACHED ALMOST 7000 RPM, THEN THE TRANSMISS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10156708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198916 · 2007-08-08 (August 8, 2007)
(1) HEAVY BRAKING TO AVOID A COLLISION LEADS UP TO THE ONGOING FAILURES (2) FAILURE IS THE FRICTION LOCK FOR THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL SLOWLY RELEASES DURING NORMAL STOP AND GO DRIVING AND AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, A HEAVY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES WILL CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO COLLAPSE INWARD RESULTING IN NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AUTOMOBILE. (3) THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS IMPROPERLY LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL TELESCOPE LOCK.…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198916 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206979 · 2007-10-26 (October 26, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. UPON ENTERING THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF HOT GASOLINE AND BURNING WIRES. THE VEHICLE IS A SMART START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. WHILE BEING PARKED FOR TWO HOURS, THE VEHICLE HEATED THE ENTIRE GARAGE AND WAS HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS 120-150 DEGREES. HE BELIEVED THAT IF HE HAD NOT ENTERED THE GARAGE AT THAT TIME, A FIRE MAY HAVE OCCURRED. HE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER. THE VEHICLE H…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10305852 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SPEED CONTROL SETTING DECREASED THE SPEED TO 10 MPH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305852 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265070 · 2009-04-13 (April 13, 2009)
MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON XL HAS BEEN GIVING PROBLEMS SHORTLY AFTER MY PURCHASE. THE FIRST WAS THE BREAKING OF AN OIL HOSE FOLLOWED BY STALLING ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND FOR OVER A WEEK THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME ANYTHING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10322205 · 2010-03-25 (March 25, 2010)
I WAS COASTING INTO A PARKING STALL IN MY 2006 TOYOTA AVALON WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT ROARED VERY LOUD AND SPED FORWARD INTO THE PARKING SIGN THAT FORTUNATELY STOPPED THE CAR. DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER OF THE CAR. NO INJURIES OCCURRED. I HADAN APPPOINTMENT WITH THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIRS TO BE DONE FOR THE RECALL ITEMS THAT SAME DAY EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA AS OF THAT DATE. THE CAR DAMAGES WAS REPAIRED AT A BODY SHOP AND THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALSHIP FOR REPAIR OF THE RECALL ITEMS. A LETTER FROM …
Owner-reported narrative. 34,536 miles reported. Look up ODI 10322205 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283332 · 2009-09-08 (September 8, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2009, HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A RETURN FUEL LINE IN THE FUEL PUMP AND WAS AT RISK OF CAUSING A FIRE IF THE LINE WERE TO BREAK. HE ALSO OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK ON THE FLOOR AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE PER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE PART NECESSARY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE …
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283332 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10315265 · 2010-03-01 (March 1, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN, WHEN SHE HEARD A THUMP IN THE GAS TANK. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE THUMP WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO TESTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315265 at NHTSA ↗