2011 Toyota AVALON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
106 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
34,950 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 78 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 106 complaints (29.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 31 | 29.2% |
| Braking behavior | 17 | 16.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 8.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 31 |
| Electrical System | 24 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Visibility | 5 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 4 |
Steering: 31; Electrical System: 24; Unknown Or Other: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Visibility/Wiper: 9; Service Brakes: 5; Visibility: 5; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 33 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 33; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 28 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2010: 2; 2011: 12; 2012: 11; 2013: 8; 2014: 11; 2015: 17; 2016: 4; 2017: 11; 2018: 9; 2019: 7; 2020: 7; 2021: 4; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 31 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 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 10376686 · 2011-01-14 (January 14, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STEERING COLUMN BECAME ABNORMALLY LOOSE AND EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL POPPING NOISE AS THE CONTACT WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE STEERING COLUMN. THEY STATED THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,500. UPDATED 03/07/11
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10416714 · 2011-08-02 (August 2, 2011)
HAD BRAKE AND STEERING PROBLEMS. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REALLY LOOSE. I HAD TO APPLY 95% OF THE BRAKE BEFORE THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED. I TOOK IT BACK TO CLAREMONT TOYOTA IN CA WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THEY JUST LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT'S WORKING LIKE DESIGNED AND SENT ME HOME. NO OTHER RESPONSES OR ASSISTANCE. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10416714 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10363372 · 2010-10-30 (October 30, 2010)
FOOT FIRMLY ON BRAKE, SHIFTING TO REVERSE. ENGINE ROARED TO LIFE AND VEHICLE THRUST BACKWARD. FOLLOWED BY FOUR OTHER EPISODES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE FOOT ON BRAKE. THE LAST OF THESE RESULTED IN LIGHT REAR-END COLLISION. NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO STRUCK PICKUP. FRONT GRILL OF AVALON VISIBLY CRUSHED. THESE FIVE INCIDENTS OCCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT NINE DAYS. I HAVE REFUSED TO DRIVE IT SINCE.
Owner-reported narrative. 290 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363372 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10375409 · 2011-01-10 (January 10, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES TO HER ARM AND KNEE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PLACE TO VEHICLE INTO REVERSE WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A CHAIN LINK FENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DID NOT PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST YET REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD BE SENDING OUT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10375409 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10705301 · 2015-04-13 (April 13, 2015)
ON 3/25/15 THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED WITH FOB OR SWITCH ON DRIVERS DOOR. AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES IT UNLOCKED. SINCE THEN THEY SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH REAR DOORS AT SAME TIME. WHEN HITTING THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON FOB THE DOOR BEEPS SEVERAL TIMES, BUT DOES NOT UNLOCK. I GAVE UP TRYING TO UNLOCK IT AND WENT TO MY NEXT DESTINATION. AFTER COMING OUT, THE REAR DOOR UNLOCKED NORMALLY. I NEVER KNOW NOW WHEN THE DOORS WILL UNLOCK, AND AM AFRAID I WILL GET TOTALLY LOCKED IN OR OUT AT SOME POINT. I HAVE AN APP…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,023 miles reported. Look up ODI 10705301 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10716488 · 2015-05-14 (May 14, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND LOST POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE DEALERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10716488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10448226 · 2012-02-16 (February 16, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 03/14/12 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10451806 · 2012-03-15 (March 15, 2012)
FROM A DEAD STOP, CAR IRREGULARITY HESITATES WHEN ONE IS BEGINNING TO MOVE FORWARD. FOR AN INSTANCE ONE GETS THE FEELING THE AUTOMOBILE IS GOING TO STALL. THIS IS A BIT UNNERVING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11443659 · 2021-12-13 (December 13, 2021)
The engine has quit while in traffic several times and the check engine light and the skid control lights are the only lights lit on the dashboard. Once the car comes to rest and one waits 3 to 5 minutes, the car will restart. We have taken the car to the dealer twice, ( each time the had it for nearly a week) and they could not find the problem. This is a very serious problem because the engine stops without notice causing loss of power steering and total loss of control. The lights for check engine and skid control are sometimes on when this …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11443659 at NHTSA ↗