2009 Toyota AVALON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
91 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
47,011 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 74 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 91 complaints (26.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 20 | 22.0% |
| Steering behavior | 20 | 22.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 24 |
| Steering | 17 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
Exterior Lighting: 24; Steering: 17; Vehicle Speed Control: 16; Electrical System: 10; Service Brakes, Electric: 5; Air Bags: 4; Visibility/Wiper: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 17 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2009: 6; 2010: 21; 2011: 4; 2012: 2; 2013: 7; 2014: 7; 2015: 14; 2016: 4; 2017: 8; 2018: 2; 2019: 5; 2020: 5; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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 10256495 · 2009-01-27 (January 27, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER APPLIED LIGHT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO EXERT MAXIMUM PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CON…
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276479 · 2009-07-13 (July 13, 2009)
PURCHASED 2009 AVALON IN FEB. 2009. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. AFTER BRAKING, THE CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARD UNDER ITS OWN POWER. IT WAS NOT JUST ROLLING FORWARD, THERE WAS POWER. LUCKILY NO CAR WAS CLOSE. I PROCEEDED ON HOPING THIS WAS A ONE TIME INCIDENT. A FEW WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME, I HAD BRAKED TO YIELD TO A CAR IN A PARKING LOT. THE BRAKES STOPPED THE CAR INITIALLY, THEN CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARD AGAIN. I HAD TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID A COLLISION. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276479 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10311380 · 2010-02-17 (February 17, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE MADE A TURN ON AN UPHILL SURFACE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEVERELY PULL TO THE LEFT (OR DIRECTION OPPOSITE THE TURN) WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES. ON TWO VISITS, A DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND ON THE LAST VISIT, A DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. WHEN THE CASE WAS ESCALATED TO A REPRESENTATIVE, HE WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE BEHAVED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEH…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10327756 · 2010-04-27 (April 27, 2010)
THE STEERING COLUMN TELESCOPIC LOCK WON'T STAY LOCKED. YOU CAN BE DRIVING ALONG AND THE STEERING COLUMN WILL COLLAPSE AND BECOME VERY LOOSE. I HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE TURNING A CORNER AND IT CAUSED ME TO LOOSE TEMPORARY CONTROL. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER BEFORE IT WENT OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THEY ADVISED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AT 36,800 MILES I CONVINCED THEM THERE WAS A PROBLEM. AT THAT TIME THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART AT 1/2 PRICE. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IT SHOULD BE REPLACED NO CHARGE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10327756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10350536 · 2010-08-19 (August 19, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY RENTED A 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND THEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AS HE COASTED OFF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AS IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE RENTAL FACILITY OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10350536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10312990 · 2010-02-23 (February 23, 2010)
WE PICKED UP OUR NEW 2009 AVALON LIMITED ON 7/31/09. ON 9/7/09, AFTER RETURNING FROM A DRIVE, THE CAR ACCELERATED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AS IT WAS OPENING. WE HAD STOPPED ABOUT 6 FEET FROM THE DOOR TO OPEN IT. AS WE RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR SHOT FORWARD INTO THE DOOR. DAMAGE TO THE CAR AMOUNTED TO $1500, AND ANOTHER $1000 FOR THE GARAGE DOOR. I DID NOT FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM. TOYOTA LATER RECALLED THE VEHICLE TO PUT A SPACER ON THE GAS PEDAL AND TO "RE-FLASH" THE COMPUTER. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL CONTRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10312990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10405439 · 2011-06-07 (June 7, 2011)
MARCH 2011 NOTICE HIGH BEAM LIGHT OUT ON MY 2009 TOYOTA AVALON. WENT TO REPLACE IT & FOUND NO BULB JUST ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. AFTER REVIEW OF BULB AREA I NOTICED THE BULB HAD DISAPPEARED WITHIN ITS CONFINEMENT AREA. BULB MUST HAVE MELT AWAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10405439 at NHTSA ↗