Problems · NHTSA complaints
2013 Toyota Avalon problems
Owners filed 160 complaints about the 2013 Toyota Avalon with NHTSA between Mar 2013 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is structure (27).
Complaints
160
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
18
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
21
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure27
- Vehicle speed control25
- Visibility/wiper21
- Air bags17
- Electrical system15
- Service brakes13
- Forward collision avoidance11
- Visibility10
- Seats8
- Engine6
- Tires5
- Fuel/propulsion system5
- Power train4
- Seat belts4
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
31
26
12
26
10
4
14
14
3
4
6
6
2
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 31 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 26 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Structure
27 reports1 crash
“I recently took my car in for maintenance and I was offered a complimentary car wash. 1 week after the wash, I noticed there were cloth fibers stuck between the rear side body panels. When i pulled them out, there was evidence of rust and corrosion right underneath. I suspected the cloth fibers were from the dealership's car wash so i contacted them. They confirmed the fibers are from their machine but claimed the rust is caused by a pre-existing problem (there is a small gap between the side body that was noted in the pre-inspections), when asked if the rust was noted during pre-inspections as well, they refused to answer my question. There was no evidence of rust or corrosion on the car before this incident and there are other fibers stuck in the side body panels as well which i haven't taken out yet. I have previously taken my car through car washes but this incident has never happened before. Toyota's service center refuses to look into the matter further.”
Vehicle speed control
25 reports8 crashes
“WAS DRIVING HOME ONE DAY AFTER TAKING MY DAD ABOUT 45 MINS AWAY WAS DRIVING AS USUAL AND THE CAR DIED HAD TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD PUT IN PARK AND RESTART. HAS DONE IT SEVERAL TIMES AFTER WE HAVE HAD IN AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE. SENT ME HOME WITH AN UNSAFE CAR FOR THE 4TH TIME. TRIED TAKING CAR BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT AS ISSUE HAPPENED ON FEB 6 21 AND I PURCHASED ON JAN 27 21 GOING TO CHANGE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEXT WEEK AND SEE IF THATS WHAT IT IS. PLEASE HELP I AM STUCK WITH A 23000 LOAN FOR A CAR I CANT DRIVE SAFELY OR CONFIDENTLY!”
Visibility/wiper
21 reports1 fire
“1) System Failure: Back window shade. It is available for inspection at any time. 2) Safety of me and others put at risk: When the shade is down I can not see out the back window posing a significant risk to those behind me particularly pedestrians 3) Has problem been reproduced: Yes 4) Has the component been inspected: No the motor operating the shade has not been inspected 5) Warnings prior to system failure: None Description: The window shade is meant to automatically retract out of sight when the transmission is placed in reverse. It does not retract at all. It stays fully extended covering the entire back window. This problem drastically impairs my ability to see out the back window at all. While being a problem at all times driving the vehicle it is particularly problematic when backing up at night; you simply can not see anyone behind you backing out of a parking space in a mall for example.”
Air bags
17 reports7 crashes1 related recall
“he Occupant Detection System (ODS) in my 2013 Toyota Avalon has failed. The vehicle does not consistently detect an adult passenger in the front seat, and the “Passenger Airbag OFF” light remains illuminated, even when someone is seated properly. This means the airbag will not deploy in a crash, which is a serious safety risk for my passengers. I first noticed this issue several months ago. I took the car to a local certified repair shop, where they diagnosed a failure in the ODS sensor. I then brought it to a Toyota dealership for further inspection. The dealership confirmed the issue but required extra time and labor charges just to reach the same conclusion, even though I had already informed them of the diagnosis. Despite this being a clearly safety-critical system, I was told that no recall was active, and the repair cost would be entirely out-of-pocket, which is prohibitively expensive. As a result, the issue remains unresolved. There is a constant indicator light on the dash showing that the airbag system is deactivated when the passenger seat is occupied. To my knowledge, this issue has occurred in other Toyota models as well, and I believe this should…”
Electrical system
15 reports1 fire1 related recall
“I have a electrical issue going on with the driver side headlight. I have had to change the headlight over 3 times now . Seems to go out with in a month or two. While doing my own research Toyota has also changed the light bulb for the old owner more then 3 times. It has only been the driver side headlight that is being affected. I'm a lil worried that at any time a electrical fire or something else bad will happen. So at this time i haven't had new bulb installed. I'm just to nervous. So it's hard at times to see at night fall when driving. The contact stated there is some water buildup underneath the tire in the trunk. The water is entering somehow near the back top right inside and ending in the very bottom of my truck under the tire. There is water damage on the top right corner of of the panel on the inside.”
Service brakes
13 reports4 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE STOPPED SHORT AT A YELLOW STOP LIGHT AT 20 MPH. THE ACCIDENT BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK. THE WIFE SUFFERED A CRACKED STERNUM WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THERE WAS A POLICE THAT WAS FILED AMD THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND TOTALED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER TOYOTA WALNUT CREEK (2100 N BROADWAY, WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596 925-357-3700) STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK OVER THE CLAIM AND TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER CONTACTED THE CONTACT BY MAIL AND STATED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CALL . THE CONTACT HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.”
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.