2012 Toyota AVALON

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Toyota AVALON has 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is body/structure problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 toyota avalon. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a sudden banging noise coming from the front end of the vehicle without warning. the contact merged to the shoulder and noticed that the front driver's side bumper was loose. the vehicle was. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 11 crash reports 9 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BODY/STRUCTURE

6 complaints

17%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A SUDDEN BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BUMPER WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS
• THE TRUNK LID FALLS DOWN EVEN IF LIFTED TO HIGHEST POINT. LID IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY COUNTERBALANCED. IF ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH THE NOSE UP, THE LID WILL NOT OPEN. DEALER TELLS ME (ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS) THAT IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. YEAH, RIGHT, DESIGNED TO FALL ON MY HEAD. DEALER REFU
• THE TRUNK LID IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY COUNTERBALANCED AND FALLS CLOSED EVEN WHEN RAISED TO ITS UPPER LIMIT. SOMETIMES THE LID WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE SWITCH; IT UNLOCKS, BUT DOES NOT OPEN (3 FAILURES). THIS FAILED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE LID FELL CLOSED, NUMEROUS TIMES, MINOR INJURY TO MY HEAD (

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A SUDDEN BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BUMPER WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

6 complaints

17%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS
• THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE REMOTE, SO I HAD TO USE THE KEY TO GET ACCESS, THEN I WAS ABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK DOORS AND TURN ON IGNITION.I TURNED IGNITION ON AND SAW DISPLAY FLASH VARIOUS ICONS AFTER CAR WAS STARTED. AS I WAS DRIVING THE DASH ICONS FLASHED AGAIN. THE CAR DID NOT STOP, SO I CONT
• AIR BAG ON PASSANGER SIDE OF VEHICLE IS DISABLED AND WILL NOT RESET/ACTIVATE. VEHICLE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. DEALER STATED WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE SYSTEM TROUBLESHOOTING COMPLETED.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

4 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A SCOOTER, A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOOR AND A WALL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE ENGINE RPMS CONTINUED TO RACE UNT
• 2ND COMPLAINT (FIRST COMPLAINT - #10522765) - ON JULY 2, 2013, AROUND 5:20 P.M., MY FOURTH INCIDENT OF BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED. I WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MILES AND APPLIED BRAKES. BRAKES FAILED AND ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS RACING. I CRASHED INTO A THE REAR OF A SEDAN WHICH WAS STOPPED. NO INJURIES WE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A SCOOTER, A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOOR AND A WALL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE ENGINE RPMS CONTINUED TO RACE UNT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DISCONNECTED THE SUB-WOOFER AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY DUE TO THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CON
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTU
• 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RADIO SUB-WOOFER RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE ISSUE. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE DEALER STATED THE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE MEANS OR THE INFORMATION AS TO HOW TO CO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DISCONNECTED THE SUB-WOOFER AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY DUE TO THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CON”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

4 complaints

11%

• REAR DECK SUNSCREEN ACTIVATES AND COMES UP WITHOUT OPERATOR ACTIVATING IT. AND IT WILL NOT GO BACK DOWN WITHOUT MANUAL ASSISTANCE. WITH ASSISTANCE WHEN IT DOES GO DOWN THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THEN IT WILL COME BACK UP. TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF COMPLETE ASSEMBLY. (
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AND CARPET. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A MOLD ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREEDOM TOYOTA OF HARRISBURG (6060 ALLENTOWN BLVD, HARRISBURG,
• REAR SUNSCREEN REMAINS IN UP POSITION, WHEN LOWERED IN REVERSE, IT MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. HAVING TO DRIVE AT NIGHT PRESENTS A PROBLEM WITH VISIBILITY WHEN THE SUNSCREEN REMAINS IN THE UP POSITION.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“REAR DECK SUNSCREEN ACTIVATES AND COMES UP WITHOUT OPERATOR ACTIVATING IT. AND IT WILL NOT GO BACK DOWN WITHOUT MANUAL ASSISTANCE. WITH ASSISTANCE WHEN IT DOES GO DOWN THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THEN IT WILL COME BACK UP. TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF COMPLETE ASSEMBLY. (”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 35 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A SUDDEN BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BUMPER WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A SCOOTER, A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOOR AND A WALL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE ENGINE RPMS CONTINUED TO RACE UNT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DISCONNECTED THE SUB-WOOFER AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY DUE TO THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)