2015 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2015 Toyota Avalon Hybrid has a complaint index of 75 and ranks 3rd worst out of 9 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. Brakes account for half of its 12 complaints, with 2 recalls covering airbag control units and the pre-collision system.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 75/100
- #3 of 9 Avalon Hybrid years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 12
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Brakes
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 40
- 40 city / 39 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2015 Toyota Avalon Hybrid problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes6 (50%)
- Electrical System3 (25%)
- Engine3 (25%)
- Airbags1 (8%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (8%)
- Other1 (8%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (8%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Brake pedal reportedly traveled to the floorboard before the vehicle stopped, though dealers could not duplicate the issue on inspection.
- Pre-collision braking system activated unexpectedly on some roadways, applying the brakes when no obstacle was present.
- Airbags failed to deploy during a 35 mph collision, resulting in head, rib, and shoulder injuries.
- Electrical malfunctions caused the display panel to shut off or short out without warning, sometimes accompanied by a clicking noise from the dashboard.
- At high mileage, the hybrid system reportedly switched abruptly from electric to gasoline operation, causing sudden acceleration and jerking at low speed.
- A sunroof reportedly shattered while driving at highway speed with no prior warning.
2015 Toyota Avalon Hybrid recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V024000Jan 17, 2020Airbags2,891,976 vehicles
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Risk: In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.
- NHTSA 15V728000Nov 3, 2015Collision Avoidance & Cameras30,812 vehicles
Forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a Pre-Collision System (PCS) as optional equipment. In these vehicles, the PCS may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object.
Risk: A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this campaign are F1V and F2E.
2015 Toyota Avalon Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 40 MPG
- Highway
- 39 MPG
- Combined
- 40 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,600
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2015 compared with other Avalon Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2015 Toyota Avalon Hybrid reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2015 Avalon Hybrid a complaint index of 75, the third-worst of the 9 model years with data, and it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Avalon Hybrid years.
- What is the most common problem with the 2015 Avalon Hybrid?
- Brakes are the top problem area, making up 6 of 12 complaints (50%), including reports of pre-collision system braking issues and soft or unresponsive brake pedals.
- Does the 2015 Avalon Hybrid have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2015 Avalon Hybrid: one for airbag control unit noise filters and one for pre-collision system component replacement. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2015 Avalon Hybrid compare to other years?
- Its complaint index of 75 is better than 2013 (100) and 2014 (88), but worse than 2016 (50), 2017 (0), 2018 (25), 2019 (38), and 2020 (13), all of which have lower complaint indexes.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Avalon Hybrid?
- EPA rates it at 40 mpg combined (40 city / 39 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,600.