MODELYEARINDEX

Which Toyota Avalon years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2013, 2014 and 2019 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Toyota Avalon Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2013 vs model median 4.0×
Model median3× median
Body & Interior 33
Lights & Visibility 19
Speed Control 17
Avoid

2013 · 2014

Best

2017 · 2020

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
1.16× 35 C
2011
2.10× 72 D
2012
0.88× 21 C
2013
4.03× 141 F
2014
2.66× 99 F
2015
1.01× 39 C
2016
0.82× 26 B
2017
0.54× 13 B
2018
0.99× 26 B
2019
1.82× 66 D
2020
0.40× 11 B
2021
0.87× 33 B
2022 P
0.39× 13 A

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2013 F 141 reports · median 9,800 mi

  1. Body & Interior 33

    2013 avalon touring on april 2013 experience with this car hasn't been very good considering that it is a new car. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Lights & Visibility 19

    In the 2013 toyota avalon, driver visibility is dangerously distorted when looking through the rear view mirror at approaching cars (especially at night), due to a defect in the new 2013 engineering design of the rear… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Speed Control 17

    The contact owns a 2013 toyota avalon. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle surged without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

16 crash · 3 fire · 16 injuries

2014 F 99 reports · median 10,000 mi

  1. Driver Assist 19

    Car went into panic stop (incl tightening safety belts) at 50 MPH with nothing in front of it..see- eq- 10724000...-....updated 07/23/15 the post collision system (with auto-brake) activated (including the seat belt… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Body & Interior 13

    I have a new 2014 avalon with heated leather seats. I demand that a recall be issued by the toyota company. I have less than 700 miles on my car, and toyota doesn't want this to be a mandatory recall? owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 8

    The contact owns a 2014 toyota avalon. The contact stated that the information center became blank whenever the sun light reflected. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

7 crash · 3 fire · 10 injuries

The best year for the Avalon

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2020 is the best-scoring Avalon model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 82.5 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2020 0.40× 11 B
2017 0.54× 13 B
2021 0.87× 33 B

Recalls

24 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
09V388000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL 2010 4,445,056
20V024000 AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE 2012–2018 2,891,976
10V017000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL 2010 2,230,661
20V012000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2018, 2019 1,830,752
20V682000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2019, 2020 1,525,742
23V865000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION 2020, 2021 999,901
13V442000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2012, 2013 802,769
10V035000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS 2010 271,417
18V685000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE 2019 168,187
10V036000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS 2010 153,418
16V215000 AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION 2016 58,515
15V047000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2011, 2012 51,495

+ 12 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2013 were reported at a median of 9,800 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Toyota Avalon years should you avoid?
2013, 2014, 2019 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Toyota Avalon model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Toyota Avalon?
2020 is the best-scoring Toyota Avalon model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 82.5 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Toyota Avalon have?
24 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Toyota Avalon model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2013 Avalon
Complaints in window
141
Severity-weighted
215.5
Model median (weighted)
54
vs model median
4.03×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
4
Open investigations
1
Score 11.7 F