2011 Toyota Avalon Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2011 Toyota Avalon has a complaint index of 65, ranking 7th worst of 18 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. Steering (31 complaints) and electrical system issues (27 complaints) are the top reported problem areas, with one recall on file.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 65/100
- #7 of 18 Avalon years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 106
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 14
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 6
- Top issue
- Steering
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 20 city / 29 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
Top 2011 Toyota Avalon problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Steering31 (29%)
- Electrical System27 (25%)
- Engine15 (14%)
- Visibility & Wipers14 (13%)
- Structure & Body13 (12%)
- Other10 (9%)
- Brakes8 (8%)
- Airbags2 (2%)
- Fuel System2 (2%)
- Seat Belts2 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration from a stop or at low speed, sometimes ending in a crash into an object or another vehicle.
- Some describe the engine suddenly racing at a stoplight with the foot on the brake, requiring the driver to shift to park and shut off the ignition.
- Several complaints describe airbags failing to deploy during a rear-end or frontal collision.
- One owner reported the rear door chime failing to sound while backing out of a garage, resulting in door damage.
- Another owner described braking hard while parking at low speed but the vehicle still surging forward unexpectedly.
2011 Toyota Avalon recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V047000Jan 28, 2015Electrical System51,495 vehicles
Electrical system
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles manufactured February 9, 2010, to October 22, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the sub-woofer speaker located in the trunk may experience an intermittent electrical short which may cause damage to the integrated circuit (IC) in the audio amplifier. In some cases, the damaged IC may allow a constant electrical current flow to the sub-woofer.
Risk: A constant electrical current flow may cause the sub-woofer to overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the audio system amplifier and install a protective cover around the sub-woofer, free of charge. The recall began on July 1,2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
2011 Toyota Avalon fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 29 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.
2011 compared with other Avalon years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Toyota Avalon reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2011 Avalon a complaint index of 65, placing it 7th worst among 18 model years tracked. It carries a Caution verdict relative to other Avalon years, driven mainly by steering and electrical complaints.
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Toyota Avalon?
- Steering accounts for 31 complaints (29% of the total), followed by electrical system issues at 27 complaints (25%). Engine problems (15 complaints) were tied to 9 of the 14 reported crashes.
- Does the 2011 Toyota Avalon have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists one recall, campaign 15V047000, covering a sub-woofer speaker location issue in the electrical system; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2011 Avalon compare to other years?
- Its complaint index of 65 is better than 2005-2008 and 2013, which are all Avoid years with indexes from 76 to 100, but worse than 2010, 2012, 2015-2022, which mostly earned Good or Best verdicts.
- At what mileage do 2011 Avalon problems typically appear?
- Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 34,950. Steering issues showed up at a median of 40,000 miles, while engine complaints appeared earlier, at a median of 15,000 miles.