2017 Toyota Avalon Problems & Owner Complaints

Engine 6 10 death

“TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO INSTALL AN AUTO-STOP CAUSED THE CARBON-MONOXIDE POISONING OF TWO (MORE) PEOPLE, MANY DOZENS OF SUCH DEATHS REPORTED. (DETAIL: THEY HAD LIKELY STOPPED THE ENGINE, BUT THE WIRELESS FOB CAN RE-START; AND THIS MODEL HAS AN AUTO STOP/START FUNCTION THAT CAN ALSO LEAD TO DEATH.] NOTE: NOT MY CAR, MY PARENTS.”
NHTSA complaint #11233544, 2019 · 2 death(s)

“TOYOTA AVALON FAILS TO HAVE AN IGNITION AUTO SHUT OFF WHICH LED TO DEATH OF TWO INDIVIDUALS. THIS DESIGN FLAW DID NOT PREVENT THE CAR FROM IDLING INDEFINITELY AND FILLING THE HOUSE WITH CARBON MONOXIDE' A TOXIC FATAL GAS. THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE PROPER EXTERNAL WARNINGS LIKE A HONK TO ADVISE A DRIVER THEY MAY HAVE REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE CAR.”
NHTSA complaint #11220141, 2019 · 2 death(s)

“TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO INSTALL AN ENGINE AUTO STOP CAUSED THE CARBON MONOXIDE DEATH OF TWO PEOPLE. FAILURE TO HAVE PROPER OUTSIDE WARNINGS LIKE A HONK TO WARN THE OPERATOR NOT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE CAR LED TO THESE DEATHS. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A GARAGE. PEOPLE WERE INSIDE THE HOME. HTTPS://WWW.LEGACY.COM/OBITUARIES/HERALDTRIBUNE/OBITUARY.ASPX?N=JAMES-LIVINGSTON&PID=192908732 HTTPS://WWW.LEGACY.COM/OBITUARIES/HERALDTRIBUNE/OBITUARY.ASPX?N=SHERRY-PENNEY&PID=192908731”
NHTSA complaint #11220206, 2019 · 2 death(s)

Vehicle Speed Control 3 1 crash 1 injury

“I REPORTED NOISE WHEN I MADE TURNS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. I BOUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND ADVISED OF THE ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CHECK ALL COMPONENTS OF THE CAR AND CHANGE THE OIL AND ROTATE THE TIRES. THIS WAS AT 19,611 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING SOUND I HEARD WAS ELECTRIC AND THAT IT WAS FINE. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3/10/18 AND THE CAR WAS CHECKED AGAIN AT 24,650 MILES. THE CAR WAS REPORTED FINE. THEN ON 4/26/18 I HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK OR ANY OF THE COMPUTER SAFETY FEATURES. I WAS STOPPED IN A PA…”
NHTSA complaint #11101763, 2018 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“Leaving a parking lot, the car jumped out of gear. Thought maybe I had bumped the gear selector but attempts at putting the car in gear resulted in grinding noises and the only option was to put it in PARK. Check engine light came on. Mechanic diagnosed a speed sensor. Had this happened on the freeway or while trying to pass another car on a two lane and a speed sensor disable the entire car to me is dangerous and should be addressed. Had the check engine light come on, I would have had the sensor replaced right away. I now feel this is an unsafe situation that could arise in other 2017 To…”
NHTSA complaint #11490639, 2022

“FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE (08/14/2017) I NOTICED A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE ANALOG SPEEDOMETER AND THE CENTER DIGITAL DISPLAY OF THE SPEED (MPH). CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. HE ADVISED THERE IS NO FIX. I NOTED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB. THE ERROR IS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 MPH AND VARIES WITH DIFFERENT SPEEDS. STARTING SPEED IS ZERO WITH THE ERRORS OCCURRING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I HAVE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS CHECKED THE ACTUAL SPEED AGAINST LOCAL "RADAR" WARNING SIGNS. IT APPEARS THAT THE DIGITAL DISPLAY IS THE MOST ACCURATE. I HAVE TAKEN PIC…”
NHTSA complaint #11062027, 2017

Air Bags 2

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNNAMED DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.”
NHTSA complaint #11323260, 2020

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN EMAIL CONFIRMATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS). THE NHTSA HOTLINE WAS CONTACTED AND AN INQUIRY WAS MADE IN REGARD TO THE STATUS OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PART NOT AVAILABLE.”
NHTSA complaint #11301635, 2020

Electrical System 2

“Leaving a parking lot, the car jumped out of gear. Thought maybe I had bumped the gear selector but attempts at putting the car in gear resulted in grinding noises and the only option was to put it in PARK. Check engine light came on. Mechanic diagnosed a speed sensor. Had this happened on the freeway or while trying to pass another car on a two lane and a speed sensor disable the entire car to me is dangerous and should be addressed. Had the check engine light come on, I would have had the sensor replaced right away. I now feel this is an unsafe situation that could arise in other 2017 To…”
NHTSA complaint #11490639, 2022

“FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE (08/14/2017) I NOTICED A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE ANALOG SPEEDOMETER AND THE CENTER DIGITAL DISPLAY OF THE SPEED (MPH). CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. HE ADVISED THERE IS NO FIX. I NOTED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB. THE ERROR IS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 MPH AND VARIES WITH DIFFERENT SPEEDS. STARTING SPEED IS ZERO WITH THE ERRORS OCCURRING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I HAVE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS CHECKED THE ACTUAL SPEED AGAINST LOCAL "RADAR" WARNING SIGNS. IT APPEARS THAT THE DIGITAL DISPLAY IS THE MOST ACCURATE. I HAVE TAKEN PIC…”
NHTSA complaint #11062027, 2017

Fuel/Propulsion System 1 1 crash 1 injury

“I WAS PULLING OUT OF A CHURCH PARKING SPOT VERY SLOWLY. ONCE OUT OF THE SPOT I STOPPED AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED AS IF IT SHIFTED INTO CURSE CONTROL. WE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET BEFORE HITTING A TREE. IT ALL HAPPENED SO SUDDENLY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO.”
NHTSA complaint #11221412, 2018 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

Service Brakes 1

“2017 TOYOTA BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED BY TOYOTA. ASKED MY DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ANSWER. PLEASE REFER TO THE TOYOTA OWNERS WEBSITE IT HAS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE.”
NHTSA complaint #11025130, 2017

Structure 1

“The torsion springs for the rear trunk are very weak. They have been that way since car was new. I have had multiple occasions where I opened the trunk and had it come down and hit me on the head. This has also happened to my wife.”
NHTSA complaint #11497110, 2022

Unknown Or Other 1

“SCOUT NAVIGATION SYSTEM WORKS WITH MY ANDROID PHONE. WHEN THE PHONE ENTERS TIME-OUT MODE, THE NAVIGATION ON THE VEHICLE IS FROZEN. TO RESTORE SERVICE, THE DRIVER HAS TO PICK UP THE DEVICE AND SWIPE THE SCREEN IN ORDER TO RE-ESTABLISH THE SCOUT APPLICATION. REMOVING YOUR EYES FROM THE ROAD AND HAND FROM THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING IS NOT A SAFE PROCEDURE AND SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED BY THE PRODUCT IN ORDER TO RUN.”
NHTSA complaint #10991236, 2017