2009 Toyota Avalon Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
71/100
#6 most-complained of 18 Avalon years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2009 Toyota Avalon has 91 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 71, and 7 recalls, earning a Caution verdict and ranking 6th worst out of 18 model years. Electrical System problems (35% of complaints) top the list, alongside unintended acceleration reports affecting engine and brakes.
- Complaints
- 91
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes / fires
- 10 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 19 city / 28 hwy
Top 2009 Toyota Avalon problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System32 (35%)
- Engine21 (23%)
- Steering18 (20%)
- Brakes10 (11%)
- Structure & Body6 (7%)
- Airbags5 (5%)
- Other5 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers4 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (2%)
- Fuel System1 (1%)
What owners report
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration or lurching forward when applying the brake at low speed, sometimes ending in a collision.
- Several drivers report the brake pedal failing to stop the car promptly, requiring maximum pressure before it slowed.
- One owner found a headlight bulb had melted away inside its housing, tied to an electrical fault.
- A steering wheel that pulls hard to one side during uphill turns while braking was reported and duplicated by a dealer.
- One driver reported side airbags failing to deploy in a T-bone collision despite front airbags firing.
2009 Toyota Avalon recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V396000Jun 2, 2016Structure & Body7,749 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
- NHTSA 14V743000Nov 19, 2014Structure & Body3,233 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
- NHTSA 13V014000Jan 16, 2013Structure & Body3,235 vehicles
Seats
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
2009 Toyota Avalon fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 23 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,800
- 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.
2009 compared with other Avalon years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Toyota Avalon reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2009 Avalon a complaint index of 71 and a Caution verdict, ranking 6th worst of 18 model years. Electrical System issues make up 35% of its 91 complaints.
- What problems does the 2009 Toyota Avalon have?
- Owners most often reported Electrical System issues (35% of complaints), followed by Engine (23%) and Steering (20%). NHTSA also logged 10 crashes and 6 injuries tied to complaints for this year.
- Does the 2009 Toyota Avalon have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2009 Avalon, covering seat heaters, tire labeling, accelerator pedal entrapment, and accelerator pedal reinforcement.
- How does the 2009 Avalon compare to other years?
- The 2009 Avalon's complaint index of 71 is better than 2005-2008 (all rated Avoid, indexes 82-100) but worse than 2010-2022, which include several Good and Best years like 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022.