AI Damage2019 Toyota Avalon: common problems
Owners of the 2019 Toyota Avalon filed 71 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and fuel/propulsion system. The maker issued 167 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 71
- involving a crash
- 4
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 167
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 24% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 24% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 15% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 10% of all complaints
- 5 Forward collision avoidance 10% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 7 Backover prevention 6% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 17 complaints (24% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 38.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 17 complaints (24% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 11 complaints (15% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Engine: 7 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 19.
- Forward collision avoidance: 7 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 2.5 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- automatic, 8-speed
- CVT
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 71 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 17 | 0 | 38 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| Engine | 7 | 0 | 19 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 1 | 8 |
| Backover prevention | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Lane departure | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Structure | 2 | 1 | 32 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated while turning into her neighbors driveway, when the vehicle began to stall and then accelerated forward. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the neighbors metal fence. The contact stated an unknown red sign warning light was illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy.
I was restrained by the seat belt only. The failure of the airbags is of great concern.
My husband, an 84 year old, was driving the car and got into a double accident. First, he was parked in a parking lot and he got in the car and backed up. As he backed up he hit a vehicle parked behind him causing that vehicle to hit two other vehicles.
There is a design flaw that causes excess heat inside the transmission to burn transmission fluid resulting in premature transmission failure as well as stalling and other dangerous situations. I also noticed significant noise from the vehicle’s transmission assembly.
On two occasions, 8 months apart, our car started braking on its own while driving in traffic. In both instances, the on-screen alerts indicated the LDA and simultaneously the check engine light. Neither time were we trying to switch lanes. In fact, the first time we were on a one-way street.
On [XXX] car broke down Drive Belt had to be replaced, [XXX] [XXX] warning lights, dealership service technician couldn't figured out why engine was slowing down the vehicle, engine repair evac leak for gas cap, [XXX], while driving my car the vehicle, my car immediately stopped, it was towed to dealership of Larry H…
High pitched whining Erratic and hard shifting shuttering and hesitation Issue has been diagnosed by dealership Toyota Technician and independent service center ASE Certified technicians. Car is still drivable, with no warning lamps as of yet.
My car has 75,146 miles and my check engine light came on while I was driving down the interstate. I took it to the Toyota dealership and they confirmed that the transmission needed to be replaced. I was told it would cost $8,600.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 726 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 35% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Avalon has 24 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 71, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or…
Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. Toyota is…
- OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026
This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System…
Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- The specific condition covered by this program is for a small engine coolant leak that can occur from the…
The specific condition covered by this program is for a small engine coolant leak that can occur from the flow shut-off valve that can allow coolant to drip on other parts of the vehicle. This can cause "Engine…
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
- To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to…
To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to recover MMR data from the head unit. The following steps are instructions on how to retrieve the data from the…
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System…
Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software…
- The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master…
The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased and can never be reused…
- CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM 24TE04 Multiple Model & Model Year Toyota Vehicles Coverage for Flow Shut-off…
CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM 24TE04 Multiple Model & Model Year Toyota Vehicles Coverage for Flow Shut-off Valve Coolant Leak Frequently Asked Questions
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used…
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from…
NHTSA lists 167 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Toyota Avalon?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, fuel/propulsion system, powertrain. Total complaints: 71. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (20%), driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (14%), stalls while driving (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 Toyota Avalon?
NHTSA lists 167 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 Toyota Avalon from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.