The Lemon Index
Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.
What owners describe
Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.
In owners' words
The transmission poses safety problems because it is very uneven and unpredictable, shifting when you don't expect shifting, at lower and higher speeds and in cruise control.
2006 Toyota Avalon owner · NHTSA complaint
2006 toyota avalon transmission hesitates at 0-35 mph, especially in stop and go traffic. It has nearly caused accidents. I need help because toyota is not acknowledging this problem. This is a big safety issue.
2006 Toyota Avalon owner · NHTSA complaint
Quick answers
Which Toyota Avalon years have transmission problems?
By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Toyota Avalon years are 2006, 2007, 2019.
What are common Toyota Avalon transmission problems?
Owners most often describe delay or hesitation, slipping, hard or jerky shifting.
Which Toyota Avalon years have the fewest transmission complaints?
Since 2010, the Toyota Avalon years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2014, 2015, 2012.
See every problem, not just the transmission: Toyota Avalon reliability by year. How we count