2012 Toyota AVALON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
30 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
33,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 30 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 13.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 13.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Air Bags: 6; Structure:Body: 5; Electrical System: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2013: 4; 2014: 3; 2015: 10; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10522765 · 2013-07-01 (July 1, 2013)
PURCHASED USED CERTIFIED-USED AVALON WITH 28.3K MILES ON JUNE 8. ON JUNE 15, THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED FROM PARKING LOT TO STOP SIGN. APPLIED BRAKES AND NO RESPONSE. AVALON SPED UP AND HAD TO TURN THE CAR TO AVOID ACCIDENT. APPLIED BRAKES AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. CONTINUED HOME AND NO PROBLEMS. ON JUNE 16, APPROACHING STOP SIGN FROM DOWNWARD HILL AND APPLIED BRAKES AND NO RESPONSE. AVALON SPED UP AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE TURN WITH BEING HIT BY ON COMING TRAFFIC. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND ATT…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,469 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10522977 · 2013-07-02 (July 2, 2013)
2ND COMPLAINT (FIRST COMPLAINT - #10522765) - ON JULY 2, 2013, AROUND 5:20 P.M., MY FOURTH INCIDENT OF BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED. I WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MILES AND APPLIED BRAKES. BRAKES FAILED AND ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS RACING. I CRASHED INTO A THE REAR OF A SEDAN WHICH WAS STOPPED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CARS TO A DEVELOPMENT TO EXCHANGE INSURANCE INFORMATION. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR TRADE-IN SINCE IT WAS UNRELIABLE FOR DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS. AN EARLIER POTENTIAL INCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE MORNI…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,899 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10705855 · 2015-04-15 (April 15, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DISCONNECTED THE SUB-WOOFER AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY DUE TO THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 5/19/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10705855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10726044 · 2015-06-29 (June 29, 2015)
2012 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RADIO SUB-WOOFER RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE ISSUE. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE DEALER STATED THE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE MEANS OR THE INFORMATION AS TO HOW TO CORRECT THE SUB-WOOFER PROBLEM BUT HE WOULD BE CONTACTED WHEN THE REMEDY WAS AVAILABLE. ON MAY 13TH, THERE WAS A LOUD CRACKLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CON…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10726044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10510378 · 2013-05-02 (May 2, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A SCOOTER, A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOOR AND A WALL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE ENGINE RPMS CONTINUED TO RACE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND STOPPED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND IT WAS STATED THAT AN ENGINEER WOULD BE SENT TO FURTHER ASSESS THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 900.…
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11520588 · 2023-05-05 (May 5, 2023)
While entering the highway on ramp, as I accelerated and turned on the left turn signal, the engine stopped. The steering became very hard. I stopped, put the transmission in park and started the engine, with no problems. This is the second time in3 months this has happened when turning to the left, and activating the turn signal. In both cases, the auto headlight dimming warning lite came on. The car is well maintained, and has never been damaged in any way. The weather was clear.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11520588 at NHTSA ↗