Problems · NHTSA complaints

2010 Toyota Avalon problems

Owners filed 46 complaints about the 2010 Toyota Avalon with NHTSA between Nov 2009 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (13).

Complaints
46
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control13
  2. Steering10
  3. Exterior lighting4
  4. Visibility/wiper3
  5. Electrical system3
  6. Air bags2
  7. Power train2
  8. Structure1
  9. Suspension1
  10. Equipment adaptive/mobility1
  11. Engine1
  12. Engine and engine cooling1
  13. Service brakes1
  14. Seats1

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
20092
201017
20112
20121
20136
20142
20153
20164
20171
20181
20191
20203
20211
20220
20230
20240
20250
20262

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

13 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“LAST TUESDAY, DEC 6TH, 2016,I STARTED MY TOYOTA AVALON 2010 AND GOT FROM A PARKING TO HIGWAY PR 1, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, SHIFTED GEAR TO LOWEST SHIFT, STEPPED ON THE EMERGENCY BREAK AND ONLY STOPPED WHEN I DID PUT IT ON PKG AND TURNED IT OFF. IT TOOK LIKE 500 M TO STOP IT. THE FLOOR CARPET IS ONE OF THE KIND THAT KEEP SECURED TO THE CAR FLOOR AND DIDN'T INTERFERRED WITH THE GAS PEDAL. . I BOUGHT IT NEW IN NOV 2009. THE GAS PEDAL NEVER LOOK STUCK BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE WAS BEING FED WITH A LOT OF GAS. THE CAR IS AT A TOYOTA SERVICE SHOP SINCE MORE THAN 48 HOURS BUT I STILL DON'T HAVE A DIAGNOSIS. THERE WAS NO COLISSION. I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE SHOP AFTER REPORTING THE INCIDENT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 8, 2016Vehicle speed controlODI 10933905

Steering

10 reports
“THE LATCH ON THE LOWER LEFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT CONTROLS THE POSITIONING OF THE STEERING WHEEL CONSTANTLY COMES LOOSE. I DISCOVERED THAT AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING STRAIGHT, AND THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY SLID IN AND DOWN. ALMOST CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. UPON CHECKING WITH A AVALON FAN GROUP, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A ISSUE WITH ALMOST EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO OWNS THIS BODY STYLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 25, 2020SteeringODI 11330837

Exterior lighting

4 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE NOTICED THAT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT UNDER THE REAR WINDOW FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1704300738. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO A LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2018Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiperODI 11091530

Visibility/wiper

3 reports
“REAR SUNSHADE IS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW. I KNOW MAY AVALONS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE COST TO FIX IT IS FAR BEYOND REASON.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2016Visibility/wiperODI 10873279

Electrical system

3 reports1 crash
“I HAVE A PROBLEM THAT I AM AFRAID COULD CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2010 TOYOTA AVALON I STARTED HAVING THIS PROBLEM INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT KIND OF STALLS. USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM TURNING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, SUCH AS TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. IT IS AS THOUGH MY CAR STALLS FOR A MOMENT. I GIVE IT GAS, BUT IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING FOR A FEW MOMENTS. USUALLY AROUND 15 TO 20 MPH. IF IAM PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC I ALMOST GET HIT. RECENTLY I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, I JUST PULLED OUT AND WAS GOING APPROX. 40 MPH AND IT STALLED FOR A FEW MOMENTS, MAYBE LESS THAN A MINUTE. IF A CAR HAD BEEN BEHIND ME I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. EACH TIME I TOLD THE SERVICE ADVISOR @ THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS. IT ONLY DOES IT ON OCCASION. BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 18, 2013Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10503459

Air bags

2 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, A LARGE DEER COLLIDED HEAD ON INTO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IMPACT KNOCKED THE ENGINE BLOCK OUT OF PLACE AND PUSHED IT BACKWARDS INTO THE WINDSHIELD AREA. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE BACK, A CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH, RIGHT KNEE, LEFT ARM AND WRIST. THE PASSENGER ALSO EXPERIENCED INJURIES TO THE BACK, RIGHT SHOULDER, WHIPLASH, AND A CONCUSSION. BOTH OCCUPANTS RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND CURRENTLY STILL UNDERGOING MEDICAL EXAMS FOR THE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. LOUISBURGE SHERRIFF'S DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT, BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2019Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11287102
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.