Problems › Toyota › 2021 Avalon
2021 Toyota Avalon Problems & Owner Complaints
Age-normalised, this year draws ~3.5 complaints per year on the road — ranking 6 of 13 Toyota Avalon years we track (1 = most complaints per year).
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What owners report
Air Bags is the most-reported problem area on the 2021 Toyota Avalon, cited in 12 of 21 filed complaints (57%).
Engine is next (4 complaints, 19%), followed by Vehicle Speed Control (3), Forward Collision Avoidance (2), Service Brakes (2).
Across all complaints, 1 report a crash.
The most safety-critical cluster is Engine: 1 crash report(s).
Complaints by vehicle system
Owner complaints filed with the U.S. NHTSA for the 2021 Toyota Avalon, grouped by the vehicle system each cites. A single complaint can name more than one system, so the group totals can add up to more than 21.
Air Bags 12
“There is no remedy available to fix the OCS sensor in front passenger seat of our 2021 Toyota Avalon. We are scared to drive it. What are our options since Toyota will not help.”
NHTSA complaint #11678629, 2025
“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Avalon. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”
NHTSA complaint #11654766, 2025
“SAFETY DEFECT IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NOT REMEDIED IN OVER ONE YEAR. TOYOTA IS CLEARLY NOT GOING TO FIX SAFETY PROBLEM AS IT WILL COST MORE TO REMEDY THAN THE COST OF DEATHS AND INJURIES.”
NHTSA complaint #11647108, 2025
Engine 4 1 crash
“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Avalon HV. The contact stated that while driving, all the instrument control panel lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer eight or nine times where it was diagnosed there was moisture in the brakes, the brake assembly, sensor harness, sensor in the grill, gear shifter, and hybrid sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. However, failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving the instrument panel, warning lights illuminated, and the hybrid system overheated. The pull over somewhere safe message was displayed.…”
NHTSA complaint #11456819, 2020 · crash
“While driving our 2021 Avalon on a busy interstate,the engine failed on us unexpectantly. This cathostrophic failure without warning startled my finance and ruined xmas holidays. The car was towed to a local Toyota dealership who diagnosed the issue as low oil pressure which prevented oil reaching the top engine ultimately collapsing the rocker arm. Oddly enough the technician shared it was not low on oil nor were there any signs of le. We were informed the engine must be replaced. We purchased the vehicle with 56K and just hit 69K. We've been responsible with routine maintenance and have ser…”
NHTSA complaint #11635159, 2024
“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate and stalled. The contact restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle drove as designed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a claim was submitted. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11505882, 2022
Vehicle Speed Control 3
“Cruise control stopped working while driving interstate speed. Would not work and all lights on dashboard came on . Proceeded to Nearest dealership and was informed that I needed a brake switch. Did not fix the problem. Have been informed that I need a wiring harness! About to spend a total of 400.00”
NHTSA complaint #11659486, 2025
“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate and stalled. The contact restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle drove as designed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a claim was submitted. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11505882, 2022
“Stopped working with a message ' radar control in not available'”
NHTSA complaint #11489699, 2022
Forward Collision Avoidance 2
“Cruise control stopped working while driving interstate speed. Would not work and all lights on dashboard came on . Proceeded to Nearest dealership and was informed that I needed a brake switch. Did not fix the problem. Have been informed that I need a wiring harness! About to spend a total of 400.00”
NHTSA complaint #11659486, 2025
“Stopped working with a message ' radar control in not available'”
NHTSA complaint #11489699, 2022
Service Brakes 2
“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated while diving approximately 50 MPH, the engine and transmission warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that the windshield had detached from the frame. The contact stated that the rear doors were failing to close correctly. The contact stated the vehicle would roll with the brake pedal depressed before coming to a stop. While driving approximately 75 MPH, the steering wheel fractured and the air bags inadvertently deployed. Additionally, the headlamps and turn signals also failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was returne…”
NHTSA complaint #11479951, 2021
“ON EVERY AVALON 2021 I HAVE DRIVEN OR THE DEALERSHIP HAS DRIVEN THERE IS A THUNK WHEN BRAKING. EVERY CAR EVERY TIME. A TECH CASE WAS OPENED AT WESLEY CHAPEL TOYOTA AND TOYOTA OF TAMPA BAY 01- 21-2021 NEW CAR WAS PURCHASED 01-13-2021”
NHTSA complaint #11389353, 2021
Back Over Prevention 1
“The Rear Cross Traffic Warning signal is installed behind rear head rest, which muffles the alert sound to barely audible, even when setting is on high. Vanandergriff Toyota dealership in Arlington, Tx., verified this information to me after bringing my car in four times for service because I was not being warned of persons and vehicles passing behind me. I've called Toyota's home office and told nothing can be done, as it was installed this way, although I am still asking they remove muffling material or change location of warning equipment. It is very dangerous, as persons and cars are n…”
NHTSA complaint #11449029, 2022
Electrical System 1 1 crash
“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Avalon HV. The contact stated that while driving, all the instrument control panel lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer eight or nine times where it was diagnosed there was moisture in the brakes, the brake assembly, sensor harness, sensor in the grill, gear shifter, and hybrid sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. However, failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving the instrument panel, warning lights illuminated, and the hybrid system overheated. The pull over somewhere safe message was displayed.…”
NHTSA complaint #11456819, 2020 · crash
Power Train 1
“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated while diving approximately 50 MPH, the engine and transmission warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that the windshield had detached from the frame. The contact stated that the rear doors were failing to close correctly. The contact stated the vehicle would roll with the brake pedal depressed before coming to a stop. While driving approximately 75 MPH, the steering wheel fractured and the air bags inadvertently deployed. Additionally, the headlamps and turn signals also failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was returne…”
NHTSA complaint #11479951, 2021
Seat Belts 1
“SEATS ARE NOT REGISTERING FOR AIR BAG AND THE MIDDLE BACK SEAT BELT ALARM GOES OFF SAYING TO PUT SEAT BELT ON, BUT NO ONE IS SITTING IN BACK SEAT. SO WHILE I'M DRIVING I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND PLUG SEAT BELT IN TO GET THE SEATBELT WARNING SOUND TO STOP. THE SEATBELT IS NOT REGISTERING IN THE BACK SEAT AND THE FRONT SEAT IS NOT REGISTERING SOMEONE IS SITTING THERE FOR THE AIRBAG. IT DOESN'T REGISTER MY GRANDSON OR MY SON, WHICH IS DANGEROUS. KIDS ARE INVOLVED.”
NHTSA complaint #11626075, 2024
Tires 1
“Bridgestone Turanza EL440BW 235 45R18 94V is original equipment on my 2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid. Mileage at the time of the incident was 11398. I saw what appeared to be splitting or separation of the lower depth of the tread. No loss of pressure. I brought it to the Toyota Dealer to check. They insisted I must have hit something and would not consider it a manufactures warranty. I replaced the tire out of safety concerns. I do not recall hitting or going over anything. I am attaching photos of the condition. I replaced the one tire with the same make and model but remain concerned that split…”
NHTSA complaint #11465017, 2022
How we read this (methodology)
How to read this: raw complaint totals are not a clean reliability score — a model year with more cars sold, or simply more years on the road, accumulates more complaints regardless of how good it is. So this page leans on two signals that are not distorted by sales volume: the share of complaints falling on each vehicle system (the breakdown above) and NHTSA's own crash / fire / injury / death flags. When we compare model years of the same model, we normalise by years on the road (complaints ÷ vehicle age) rather than comparing raw totals. Age-normalised, the 2021 Toyota Avalon draws about 3.5 complaints per year on the road, ranking 6 of 13 among the Toyota Avalon model years we have ingested (1 = most complaints per year on road).
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Data source: U.S. NHTSA (nhtsa.gov). SaveVIN surfaces public recall data and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.