2014 Toyota Avalon Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2014 Toyota Avalon has a Complaint Index of 59, ranking 8th worst out of 18 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. It has 96 NHTSA complaints, 4 recalls, and its top problem area is Collision Avoidance & Cameras.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 59/100
- #8 of 18 Avalon years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 96
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 7
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 10
- Top issue
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 24.5
- 21 city / 30 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 10 / 0
Top 2014 Toyota Avalon problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe the center console overheating to over 140 degrees with a burning smell coming from inside the cabin.
- Some drivers report sudden unintended acceleration or lurching at low speeds, including a fuel system incident at very low mileage that ended in a collision.
- Several owners say airbags failed to deploy during moderate-to-severe crashes, including side impacts and rollovers, resulting in injuries.
- One owner reported the accelerator pedal cover coming loose, causing unexpected acceleration into another vehicle.
- A driver reported repeated unexplained acceleration when applying light brake pressure, leading to a collision.
- An owner noted the information display screen going blank when sunlight hit it, which the dealer could not fix.
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 reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2014 Avalon has a Complaint Index of 59 and ranks 8th worst among 18 model years, earning a Caution verdict relative to other Avalon years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2014 Toyota Avalon?
- The top problem area is Collision Avoidance & Cameras, making up 19% of complaints, followed by Structure & Body at 17% and Visibility & Wipers at 14%.
- Does the 2014 Toyota Avalon have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2014 Avalon covering airbags, the pre-collision system, a suspension lower arm, and a fuel delivery pipe leak. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2014 Avalon compare to other model years?
- The 2014 Avalon's Complaint Index of 59 is worse than years like 2016 (12), 2018 (24), and 2020 (6), which are rated Best, but better than 2005-2008 and 2013, which are rated Avoid.
- What mileage do 2014 Avalon problems typically show up at?
- The median mileage at failure across complaints is 13,625 miles, though individual problem areas vary, such as fuel system issues at a median of 1,400 miles and brakes at 40,500 miles.