2015 Toyota AVALON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
41 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
42,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 41 complaints (22.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 24.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.9% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
Service Brakes: 9; Air Bags: 7; Forward Collision Avoidance: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 21 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2015: 4; 2016: 8; 2017: 5; 2019: 4; 2020: 5; 2021: 5; 2022: 1; 2023: 4; 2025: 3; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10785402 · 2015-10-22 (October 22, 2015)
THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE DYNAMIC RADAR CRUISE CONTROL (DRCC). IT APPLIES THE BRAKES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. BELOW ARE DESCRIPTIONS OF 5 OF ABOUT 20 SUCH INCIDENTS: -ON I-40. I WAS BEHIND A TRUCK MOVING 62 IN A 70 ZONE. THERE WAS A TRUCK IN THE LEFT LANE ABOUT 200 YARDS AHEAD. I MOVED TO THE LEFT LANE. THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME IN EITHER LANE. DRCC QUICKLY SLOWED ME TO 40 MPH. -AGAIN ON I-40, IN RIGHT LANE BEHIND A TRUCK GOING ABOUT 62 IN A 70 ZONE. THE TRUCK 20 YARDS BEHIND ME MOVED LEFT AND ACCELERATED. BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY APPLIE…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10785402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10855545 · 2016-04-14 (April 14, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR THE SERVICE BRAKES AND VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL; HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE PCS SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/11…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10855545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11709132 · 2026-01-06 (January 6, 2026)
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2015 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, the contact noticed that the title listed the mileage at 133,510, with the note " Not the Actual Mileage" next to the mileage. It was later discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the vehicle mileage was 133,510, and it was later discovered that the Carfax report listed the mileage at 251,617. The Carfax report also displayed that the vehicle was sold …
Owner-reported narrative. 251,617 miles reported. Look up ODI 11709132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11749514 · 2026-07-10 (July 10, 2026)
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the transmission shuddered. No warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure did not occur once the vehicle speed exceeded 45 MPH. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact stated that the failure was common with the vehicle mo…
Owner-reported narrative. 165,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11749514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10734292 · 2015-07-15 (July 15, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2015 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,800. UPDATED 11/12/15*LJ UPDATED 11/12/2017*CN
Owner-reported narrative. 6,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10734292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11308465 · 2020-02-11 (February 11, 2020)
ON FEB. 5, 2020 AT ABOUT 6:30 AM, MY WIFE WAS PULLING UP BEHIND CARS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AS SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, SHE PRESSED THE BRAKES AS HARD AS SHE COULD, THE CAR CONTINUED TO DRIVE FORWARD HITTING THE CAR AHEAD OF HER IN LINE. SHE COULD HEAR THE CAR ENGINE RACING AND TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, BUT IT WENT INTO REVERSE AND RAPIDLY MOVED BACKWARDS, EVEN WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, HIT THE CAR BEHIND HER. SHE THAN ONCE AGAIN TRIED TO UP THE CAR IN PARK, BUT PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE AND THE OUR CAR AC…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11308465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11437591 · 2021-10-21 (October 21, 2021)
The steering tilt lock mechanism is failing. Vibrates loose while driving. It is a non-wear item. Toyota had to recall 2009-2012 models of Avalon for the same problem. My vehicle is a 2015 and is out of warranty and only has 50,000 miles. I did have a service center check it and they confirmed the problem. You can repair this non-wear item you must replace the complete steering column assembly. With parts and labor the cost is @ $1500. Whatever they did to redesign the mechanism since the 2012 model year to fix the problem was not effec…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11437591 at NHTSA ↗