2011 Toyota Avalon
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Steering
Steering leads by volume: 31 of 106 complaints (29%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Driver Assistance & Speed Control include more reported injuries (4) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 46 in 2010 to 106 in 2011.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | vs. 2011 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,850 | 1,550–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24–40 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19 / 28 | 19 / 28 | 20 / 29 | 19 / 28 | 21–40 / 30–39 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 386 | 386 | 386 | 404 | 224–365 | |
| Complaints filed | 91 | 46 | 106 | 30 | 160 | |
| Recalls issued | 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 10 | 6 | 14 | 8 | 18 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 21 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2011 Toyota Avalon have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2011 Toyota Avalon?
Steering: 31 of 106 NHTSA complaints (29%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Toyota Avalon get?
EPA rates it 23 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2011 Toyota Avalon?
EPA estimates $2,700 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (1)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 20 mpg | 29 mpg | 23 mpg | $2,700 | 386 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 11 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · Campaign 15V047000 · Jan 28, 2015
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.