2014 Toyota Avalon Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
83/100
#3 most-complained of 13 Avalon years
The 2014 Toyota Avalon has a Complaint Index of 83, ranking 3rd worst of 13 model years, with 96 NHTSA complaints, 4 recalls, and a median failure mileage of 13,625 miles. It is rated Avoid relative to other Avalon years.
- Complaints
- 96
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 7 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 10 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 24.5
- 21 city / 30 hwy
Top 2014 Toyota Avalon problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Other23 (24%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras18 (19%)
- Structure & Body16 (17%)
- Visibility & Wipers13 (14%)
- Electrical System12 (13%)
- Airbags7 (7%)
- Brakes7 (7%)
- Engine7 (7%)
- Fuel System7 (7%)
- Steering6 (6%)
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in rear-end and side-impact crashes despite the pre-collision system being present.
- Drivers report the pre-collision system triggering unexplained sudden acceleration or braking at low speeds.
- The center console reportedly became extremely hot with a burning smell, with one dealer measuring over 140 degrees inside it.
- The accelerator pedal's rubber cover reportedly came loose, causing unintended acceleration and a crash.
- Owners describe glare off the chrome dashboard trim reflecting sunlight into the driver's eyes.
- Some drivers report the fuel system leading to sudden unintended movement at very low mileage.
2014 Toyota Avalon recalls
4 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.
- NHTSA 14V715000Nov 7, 2014Suspension, Wheels & Tires5,650 vehicles
Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2014 Toyota Camry, Camry HV, Avalon, and Avalon HV vehicles equipped with 16-inch and 17-inch rims. In the affected vehicles, the left-side front suspension lower arm may have been incorrectly manufactured. As a result, the left side lower arm may not have enough clamping surface area for one of the bolts that secures the lower arm to the lower ball joint.
Risk: Because of the insufficient clamping force, the lower arm may separate from the ball joint, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left side lower arm, free of charge. The recall began on December 12, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
2014 Toyota Avalon fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 30 MPG
- Combined
- 24.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,650
- 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.
2014 compared with other Avalon years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2014 Toyota Avalon a bad year?
- NHTSA data ranks it 3rd worst of 13 Avalon model years, with a Complaint Index of 83 and 96 owner complaints, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other years.
- What are the biggest problem areas for the 2014 Avalon?
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras leads with 18 complaints (19% share), followed by Structure & Body with 16 complaints (17%) and Visibility & Wipers with 13 complaints (14%).
- Does the 2014 Toyota Avalon have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2014 Avalon covering airbags, the pre-collision system, suspension lower arms, and fuel delivery pipes.
- How many complaints report crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA lists 7 crashes and 10 injuries among the 96 complaints for the 2014 Avalon, with no reported deaths and 1 fire.
- How does the 2014 Avalon compare to other years?
- Its Complaint Index of 83 is worse than 2015 (33), 2016 (25), 2018 (42), 2020 (8), 2021 (17), and 2022 (0), but better than 2013 (100) and 2011 (92).