Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Toyota Avalon problems

Owners filed 228 complaints about the 2005 Toyota Avalon with NHTSA between Apr 2005 and Jan 2025. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (72).

Complaints
228
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
36
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
21
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control72
  2. Steering42
  3. Power train33
  4. Engine and engine cooling24
  5. Electrical system17
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic17
  7. Structure15
  8. Air bags12
  9. Service brakes7
  10. Engine7
  11. Suspension6
  12. Tires5
  13. Visibility4
  14. Fuel system, gasoline4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200521
200618
200718
20089
200918
201067
201114
201212
20133
201411
20154
20163
20173
20188
20194
20202
20210
20221
20237
20244
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Vehicle speed control

72 reports23 crashes2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated while attempting to make a left turn, the accelerator pedal was depressed and became inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2024Vehicle speed controlODI 11618530

Steering

42 reports1 related recall
“LEVER THAT CONTROLS TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL DROPS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND COULD BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS WAS NEVER A RECALL BUT WAS COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY EXTENSION. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA THEY SENT OUT LETTERS BEGINNING IN APRIL 2014 ADVISING OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM. WE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER. TOYOTA FURTHER ADVISES US THAT THE WINDOW FOR FREE REPAIR OF THE DEFECT CLOSED ON MAY 31,2015 AND THEY WILL NOT PAY TO FIX IT. WHY WAS THIS NOT MADE AN OFFICIAL RECALL? I HAVE INJURED MY KNEE SEVERAL TIMES ENTERING THE VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2016SteeringODI 10899816

Power train

33 reports2 crashes
“After the alternator and battery dies the car went right back to accelerating by itself into traffic, I contacted Toyota and explained that after the battery and alternator died the problem came right back but they seem not to care”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 17, 2023Power train, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11555641

Engine and engine cooling

24 reports2 fires
“2005 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY WITH OXYGEN SENSOR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED WHEN NOTHING APPEARED TO BE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 29, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10454094

Electrical system

17 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that the vehicle was in direct sunlight, and the instrument panel cracked. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. The manufacturer was aware of the failure and referred contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 8, 2024Electrical systemODI 11587632

Service brakes, hydraulic

17 reports6 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND BECAME SOFT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES TO FIX THE ISSUE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED WITH A BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER BY PHONE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 225,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 4, 2020Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11327246
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.