The Lemon Index
20202022Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 19,460 in the U.S. in 2021 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 16 complaints in its first 3 years.
16 owner complaints, first 3 years 25–44 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2021 Nissan Maxima2021 Chrysler 3002021 Dodge Charger 26
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
Engines & versions
When problems show up
Only 6 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 23V865000 (airbags) and 20V734000 (airbags) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Toyota's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 16 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Transmission problems in every Toyota Avalon year →
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 0K to 29K miles (1K to 47K km) on the car (6 of all 16 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Dec 20,2023 Manufacturer Recall Number23TB15 NHTSA Recall Number23V865 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available When will this be resolved? Can Toyota inspect my vehicle now?
2021 Toyota Avalon owner · NHTSA complaint 11622606
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 30.5M views · 2019–2022 Toyota Avalon
Prices people quote
- Price when new$37,35015 videos▶ Hear it
Most-watched topics
- Intake, EGR & engine sensors85K views
2018 - 2022 TOYOTA CAMRY / AVALON 02 SENSOR ( OXYGEN SENSOR ) REPLACEMENT / B1S2 | 2019 2020 2021Gearmo Auto · 85K views - Oil changes & service28K views
2021 Toyota Avalon 3.5L V6 Oil and Filter ChangeAvalon Fan · 17K views · 2 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring26K views
2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid check engine light Grille Shutter Malfunction onVitus Fan · 17K views · 2 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical20K views
2019 - 2022 Toyota Avalon Key Fob Battery Replacement - EASY DIYKey Fob Rob · 20K views
Show 2 more
- Heat, A/C & blend door14K views
2019-2022 Toyota Avalon cabin air filter Replacement.Jason's DIY & Reviews · 14K views - No-start: theft light, key & ignition6K views
No Crank No Start, 2019 Toyota Avalon clicks but Won't start/ Run....SolvedPeter L · 6K views
Before you buy, watch
2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid VS. Camry Hybrid - Which Hybrid Sedan Should You Buy!?Drive On Reviews · 15K views
2020 Toyota Avalon TRD Review: Should You Buy It?Drive Break Fix Repeat · 12K views
2021 Toyota Avalon - Should you buy the 2021 Avalon?Carfacta · 8K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2021 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Recalls 2
- Airbags · recall issued 2023
A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
- Airbags · recall issued 2020
Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota AVALON 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota AVALON 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota AVALON HYBRID 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1,450–$2,550 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
Every Toyota Avalon year. 2021 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 20 Toyota Avalon years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2021 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/toyota-avalon/?y=2021" title="Toyota Avalon reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="652" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/toyota-avalon/2021/">Lemon Index</a> (2021 Toyota Avalon reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2021 Toyota Avalon reliable?
We can't score it: only 19,460 were sold in the U.S. in 2021 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 16 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2021 Toyota Avalon problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (56%), engine (19%) and brakes (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Avalon have?
2 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Toyota Avalon get?
25 to 44 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2021 Toyota Avalon safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2021 Toyota Avalon have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2021 Toyota Avalon cost in fuel a year?
About $1,450 to $2,550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2021 Toyota Avalon have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Avalon year is better than the 2021?
Nearby, the 2018 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (a bit over half as many complaints as the average car). Across every year, 2017 drew the fewest.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works