Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Toyota Avalon problems

Owners filed 360 complaints about the 2006 Toyota Avalon with NHTSA between Feb 2006 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (103).

Complaints
360
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
54
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
35
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control103
  2. Engine and engine cooling57
  3. Power train52
  4. Steering35
  5. Air bags27
  6. Structure23
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic17
  8. Electrical system16
  9. Engine12
  10. Exterior lighting12
  11. Service brakes11
  12. Electronic stability control (esc)8
  13. Wheels6
  14. Fuel system, gasoline6

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
200624
200725
200815
200960
2010105
201121
201218
20136
201426
201515
201610
20174
201810
20198
20203
20213
20221
20233
20242
20250
20261

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

103 reports34 crashes2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH TO PULL INTO AN UNDERGROUND GARAGE AREA, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND FAILED TO RELEASE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED WITH FORCE, BUT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. UPON IMPACT, A YELLOW PIECE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FRACTURED. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND NECK AND SUSTAINED BODILY SCRATCHES AND BRUISING, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PLANNED TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG AND ACCELERATION FAILURES. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 10V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 216,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2019Electrical system, Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11193550

Engine and engine cooling

57 reports1 fire
“2006 TOYOTA AVALON CT DEALER QUOTED $1800 FOR TIMING COVER OIL LEAK; 17 HOURS OF LABOR, INEXPENSIVE PART; 3 RECALLS TO DATE WITH THIS VEHICLE-EXTREME INCONVENIENCE AND SUSPECT OF ANY ISSUES ON THIS CAR AND TOYOTA RECORD IS HORRENDOUS PER MULTIPLE SAFETY AND OTHER RECALLS. I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS TIMING COVER RESEAL EXACT ISSUE. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS SUPPOSEDLY ISSUED IN 2007 EG 019-07. NHTSA BULLETIN 10021531. WHEN WILL CONSUMERS GET PROTECTION ON THESE FURTHER TOYOTA ISSUES?? I WILL RAISE THIS TO HIGHEST LEVELS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 15, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10400925

Power train

52 reports3 crashes
“The contact owned a 2006 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle accelerated independently without warning. The contact heard an abnormal noise as he pressed on the brake pedal; the vehicle eventually came to a stop. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and resume normal driving operation. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer and was informed that a mechanical fault was found with the vehicle. The manufacturer was also informed of the failure and a complaint was filed. The contact continued to experience multiple failures after the vehicle was inspected. On the latest incident, the contact stated that he had entered a car wash on the left lane and attempted to enter the right lane by reversing the vehicle. Once the vehicle was placed into drive, the vehicle made an abnormal, squealing noise and independently accelerated without warning into a concrete wall. The airbags did not deploy upon impact. A police report was filed with Apex City, NC police department. The contact sought medical attention from his doctor for the soreness to his right hand and right knee. The contact had the vehicle initial towed to a dealer…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 26, 2021Power train, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11441720

Steering

35 reports
“ON JUNE 7, 2019, I WAS DRIVING THE AVALON, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON CITY STREET. WITH THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, I WAS TRAUMATIZED AND DID MY BEST TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND HOOKED UP TO A CODE READER, WHICH YIELDED CODES P0345, P0300, P0302, P0304, P0306. WE DID FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS AND DISCOVERED THE 3 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE VARIABLE-VALVE TIMING (VVT) GEAR TO THE INTAKE CAMSHAFT CAME LOOSE, THESE BOLTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TEMPER-RESISTANT AND NEVER BE REMOVED WHICH LED ME TO BELIEVE THE RESULT OF ENGINE DYING IS CAUSED BY SERIOUS MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN DEFECTS. PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED THREE PICTURES SHOWING 3 BOLTS LAYING NEXT TO VVT GEAR, VVT GEAR LOOSELY HELD ON AND THE VIBRATION OF BOLT LEFT CUTTING MARK ON THE GEAR, AND ALL INTAKE CAM ROCKERS FALLING OUT. I DID MORE RESEARCH AND CONCLUDED THE ROOT CAUSE OF ENGINE STOPPED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN IN OUR AVALON IS IDENTICAL TO TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL 13V-395 IN LEXUS VEHICLES 2006 TO 2011. PLEASE FIND ATTACHED TWO DOCUMENTS, RCRIT-13V395-3180.PDF ON RECENT RECALL FOR TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL 13V-395,…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 2, 2019Steering, Service brakes, EngineODI 11228871

Air bags

27 reports14 crashes1 related recall
“MY DASHBOARD HAS A TEAR OVER THE AIRBAG ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON FRANKLIN ST. IN HEMPSTEAD BEFORE THE COVID 19 VIRUS SHUT DOWN. I WAS INFORMED THAT SINCE THERE'S NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO CHANGE THE DASHBOARD COVER. I THINK IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THIS HAPPENED THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN. THE VEHICLE IS IN MINT CONDITION AND RUNS LIKE NEW BECAUSE I TAKE CARE OF MY CARS. PLEASE HELP *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2020Air bags, StructureODI 11321365

Structure

23 reports3 crashes1 fire
“THE HEATING ELEMENT ON THE PASSANGER SIDE MIRROR OVERHEATED "COOKING" THE GLASS ON THE MIRROR (ADDING A SMOKY DARK GRAY CAST) THAT REDUCES VISIBILITY ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 20, 2018StructureODI 11073906
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.