YearToAvoid

2019 Toyota Avalon Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 20 electrical system complaints for the 2019 Toyota Avalon, 29% of its 70 total complaints that year, the highest share among model years shown. A related recall (18V685000) covers a software error in the air bag ECU.

Electrical System complaints
20
29% of 70
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
4,060 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a high-pitched, painful noise emitted from the speakers when starting the vehicle, sometimes linked to a DCM module problem.
  • Blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert systems trigger repeated false malfunction alerts, reportedly worse in very cold or wet weather.
  • Headlights on low beam were described as failing to sufficiently illuminate the road at night, even after dealer adjustment.
  • Some owners report the vehicle hesitating when the accelerator was applied in stop-and-go traffic, traced to a software update issue.
  • One owner reported multiple dashboard warning lights illuminating, the engine seizing, and the vehicle failing to restart.
  • Owners report loss of communication between the vehicle and the Toyota remote connect mobile app, tied to a failed DCM module.

When 2019 Toyota Avalon electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 29, 2019, latest Jul 21, 2026.

2019 Toyota Avalon electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month2Jan 2019Apr 2019Jul 2020Jul 2023Sep 2024Mar 2026
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2019 to Jul 2026; peak Sep 2024 (2).

Electrical System recalls for the 2019 Toyota Avalon

  1. NHTSA 18V685000Oct 4, 2018Electrical System168,187 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may erroneously detect a fault during the vehicle start-up self check. If this occurs, the ECU may not deploy the airbags as intended, in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 214, "Side Impact Protection."

    Risk: If the air bags do not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0X. Note: 18V-122 was superseded by this recall. The software remedy also includes the updates to the software for 18V-122.

Electrical System complaints by Avalon model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200521 (9%)
  2. 200626 (7%)
  3. 200723 (9%)
  4. 2008224 (64%)
  5. 200932 (35%)
  6. 20107 (15%)
  7. 201127 (25%)
  8. 20124 (13%)
  9. 201316 (12%)
  10. 201412 (13%)
  11. 20154 (10%)
  12. 20163 (13%)
  13. 20172 (14%)
  14. 20182 (8%)
  15. 201920 (29%)
  16. 20200 (0%)
  17. 20211 (5%)
  18. 20221 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2019 Toyota Avalon have?
NHTSA lists 20 electrical system complaints for the 2019 Avalon, which is 29% of the 70 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2019 Toyota Avalon electrical system?
Yes. Recall 18V685000 covers a software error in the air bag electronic control unit that could erroneously deploy or disable air bags; Toyota updated the ECU software free of charge.
What mileage do electrical problems tend to show up at on the 2019 Avalon?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 4,060 miles at the time of failure for electrical system complaints on this model year.
Does the 2019 Avalon have more electrical complaints than other model years?
Yes. At 29% of complaints, the 2019 model year has the highest share of electrical system complaints among the years listed, compared to figures like 25% in 2011 and 12-14% in most other years.
Are the electrical problems linked to crashes or fires?
NHTSA records show 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries tied to the electrical system complaints for the 2019 Avalon.

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.