The Lemon Index
Subscribe

All cars · Toyota · Car

Toyota Avalon.

The best Toyota Avalon years are 2017, 2016, 2002. Years to avoid: 2008, 2006, 2007. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 81, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2000 to 2019.

81Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Better than average. Whole model, 2010-2022: 1.2× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2017 · Worst year 2008

Toyota Avalon
Photo shows a Toyota Avalon. Dinkun Chen, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2000701.4× fewer complaints2001771.3× fewer complaints2002412.4× fewer complaints2003621.6× fewer complaints2004–few complaints2005100about average20062002× the complaints20071771.8× the complaints20082872.9× the complaints20091361.4× the complaints2010881.1× fewer complaints20111281.3× the complaints2012521.9× fewer complaints2013110about average2014104about average2015422.4× fewer complaints2016313.2× fewer complaints2017303.3× fewer complaints2018591.7× fewer complaints20191531.5× the complaints

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Best years to buy

2017.

2017303.3× fewer complaints than average2016313.2× fewer complaints than average2002412.4× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2008.

20082872.9× the average car's complaints20062002× the average car's complaints20071771.8× the average car's complaints

Quick answers.

Is the Toyota Avalon a good car?

Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 81; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2017 and the worst is 2008.

What are the best Toyota Avalon years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2017, 2016, 2002.

What Toyota Avalon years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2008, 2006, 2007.

How many recalls does the Toyota Avalon have?

76 safety recalls across the 20 model years we track. Most: 2005 (7), 2006 (7), 2009 (7). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Toyota Avalon problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name speed control, engine and transmission & drivetrain most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2000701.4× fewer complaints than average81visibility (20%)2—22
2001771.3× fewer complaints than average74visibility (14%)2—21
2002412.4× fewer complaints than average31tires (19%)1—22
2003621.6× fewer complaints than average29speed control (38%)2—22
2004–too few complaints to score18steering (33%)3—22
2005100about average66speed control (32%)7—22
20062002× the average car's complaints124engine (39%)7—23
20071771.8× the average car's complaints121speed control (52%)6—23
20082872.9× the average car's complaints141lights (50%)6—22
20091361.4× the average car's complaints33speed control (48%)7—23
2010881.1× fewer complaints than average28speed control (43%)7—23
20111281.3× the average car's complaints44steering (39%)1—23
2012521.9× fewer complaints than average17body structure (29%)4—22
2013110about average95body structure (23%)4★★★★★24–40
2014104about average79automatic emergency braking (24%)4★★★★★24–40
2015422.4× fewer complaints than average26brakes (27%)2★★★★★24–40
2016313.2× fewer complaints than average16engine (25%)3★★★★★24–40
2017303.3× fewer complaints than average12engine (42%)2★★★★★24–40
2018591.7× fewer complaints than average20airbags (20%)2★★★★★24–40
20191531.5× the average car's complaints46fuel or EV drive system (30%)4★★★★★25–44

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Toyota Avalon transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data