YearToAvoid

2011 Toyota Avalon Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

65/100

#7 most-complained of 18 Avalon years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2011 Toyota Avalon has 106 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 65 out of 100 — #7 highest of 18 Avalon model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is steering (31 complaints, 29% of the total). Complaints report 14 crashes and 6 injuries.

Complaints
106
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
14 / 0
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 29 hwy

Top 2011 Toyota Avalon problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering31 (29%)
  2. Electrical System27 (25%)
  3. Engine15 (14%)
  4. Visibility & Wipers14 (13%)
  5. Structure & Body13 (12%)
  6. Other10 (9%)
  7. Brakes8 (8%)
  8. Airbags2 (2%)
  9. Fuel System2 (2%)
  10. Seat Belts2 (2%)
2011 Toyota Avalon complaints: complaints filed per quarter102010 Q42012 Q22014 Q22015 Q42017 Q32019 Q22021 Q1
127 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q4 to 2024 Q4; peak 2012 Q1 (10).

2011 Toyota Avalon recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. 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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2009Caution7191723
2010Good4146723
2011Caution65106123
2012Good3530422
2013Avoid76137424.5

All Toyota Avalon years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Toyota Avalon a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 Toyota Avalon ranks #7 of 18 among Avalon model years (Complaint Index 65/100, verdict: Caution). It has 106 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Toyota Avalon?
The most reported problem areas are steering (31 complaints), electrical system (27 complaints), and engine (15 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 34,950 miles.
Does the 2011 Toyota Avalon have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2011 Toyota Avalon, most recently reported 2015, covering electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Toyota Avalon?
EPA rates the 2011 Toyota Avalon at 23 MPG combined (20 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.