Problems · by component

2011 Toyota Avalon electrical system problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Toyota Avalon cite electrical system, 24% of all 106 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
25
24% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING CONSTANTLY AND AT TIMES ONE OR BOTH WILL GO COMPLETELY OFF. WILL HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN OFF AND THEN TURN ON AGAIN. BOTH WILL SHINE STEADY FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES AND THEN BEGAN TO FLICKER AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS WHEN PARKED OR WHEN IN MOTION. THIS ONLY APPLIES TO WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON LOW BEAM. (THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW MONTHS).”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 10, 2020Electrical systemODI 11373915
“THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT WORKING THIS PART IS TERRIBLY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. A PART LIKE THIS SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER THAN IT DOES AND SHOULD NOT BE CAUSING ONE TO TAKE OUT A LOAN TO GET IT FIXED!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2018Electrical systemODI 11121684
“PASSENGER AND TWO REAR DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM KEY FOB NOR MASTER LOCK BUTTON. THESE DOORS MUST BE UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE. I CAN DISCONNECT THE PASSENGER SWITCH AND THEY WILL WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD THEN REOCCUR. THE DIRVER'S DOOR IS UNAFFECTED. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID WAS THREE ACTUATORS BAD SIMULTANEOUSLY. ALL ACTUATORS DO NOT FAIL AT ONCE AND FOR ALL.. THERE IS A SINGLE COMPONENT USED BY THESE DOORS THAT IS FAILING, AND WORKING INTERMITTENTLY”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2018Electrical systemODI 11079625
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REMEDY FOR FREE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE SCOTT WILLIAMS DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 28, 2017Electrical systemODI 11001963
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER AND BOTH REAR DOORS WERE LOCKED, THE CONTACT COULD ONLY UNLOCK THEM FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR ACTIVATORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2017Electrical system, StructureODI 10983566
“POWER DOOR LOCK ISSUE. THE PASSENGER AND REAR DOOR LOCKS DO NOT OPEN WITH THE REMOTE KEY NOR WITH THE DOOR-LOCK SWITCH ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE DOORS HAD TO BE UNLOCKED MANUALLY FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ALL THE DOORS LOCK WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN DRIVE. ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR UNLOCKS WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN PARK. THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AT A COST OVER $1,000. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK WITH THE REMOTE KEY OR THE BUTTON IN THE DASH. THE DEALER STATED THE SAME MODULE CONTROLS THE TRUNK AND THE DOOR LOCKS. A CASE HAS BEEN OPENED WITH TOYOTA.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 24, 2017Electrical systemODI 10968381

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system

Free remedy

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles manufactured February 9, 2010, to October 22, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the sub-woofer speaker located in the trunk may experience an intermittent electrical short which may cause damage to the integrated circuit (IC) in the audio amplifier. In some cases, the damaged IC may allow a constant electrical current flow to the sub-woofer.

Electrical systemReported Jan 28, 2015NHTSA 15V047000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

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

Other 2011 Avalon problem areas