AI Damage2021 Toyota Avalon: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Toyota Avalon filed 21 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. The maker issued 170 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 21
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 170
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 57% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 19% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 14% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 5 Forward collision avoidance 10% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
- 7 Backover prevention 5% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- Air bags: 12 complaints (57% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Engine: 4 complaints (19% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 26.
- Vehicle speed control: 3 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Forward collision avoidance: 2 complaints (10% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 2.5 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- automatic, 8-speed
- CVT
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 21 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 12 | 0 | 4 |
| Engine | 4 | 1 | 26 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 1 | 43 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 4 |
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 that while driving the instrument panel, warning lights illuminated, and the hybrid system overheated. The pull over somewhere safe message was displayed. The steering wheel was stiff. The brake pedal was stiff and failed to depress.
We have received a recall for the sensors and airbag on our car back in December of 2023. Every time we call the dealership they tell us they can't get a send because the parts are not available. I cannot seem to get any movement with this.
The contact stated that the air bag warning light was intermittently illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown.
Cruise control stopped working while driving interstate speed. Would not work and all lights on dashboard came on . Proceeded to Nearest dealership and was informed that I needed a brake switch. Did not fix the problem. Have been informed that I need a wiring harness! About to spend a total of 400.00
While driving our 2021 Avalon on a busy interstate,the engine failed on us unexpectantly. This cathostrophic failure without warning startled my finance and ruined xmas holidays.
Seats are not registering for air bag and the middle back seat belt alarm goes off saying to put seat belt on, but no one is sitting in back seat. So while I'm driving I have to pull over and plug seat belt in to get the seatbelt warning sound to stop.
The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate and stalled. The contact restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle drove as designed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired.
Stopped working with a message ' radar control in not available'
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 1,228 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 42% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Avalon has 24 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 21, about average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
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 February 27, 2026
This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
- 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…
- Some 2021 – 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 – 2024 Camry, 2019 – 2025 model year Corolla, 2022 – 2025 model…
Some 2021 – 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 – 2024 Camry, 2019 – 2025 model year Corolla, 2022 – 2025 model year Corolla Cross, and 2019 – 2025 model year RAV4 vehicles with A25A-FKS and M20A-FKS engines may have a MIL ON…
- Some 2018 – 2021 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with an A25A-FKS, A25A-FXS, or M20A-FKS engine may…
Some 2018 – 2021 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with an A25A-FKS, A25A-FXS, or M20A-FKS engine may exhibit a condition in which an “Engine Maintenance Required” message is displayed in the Multi-Information…
- 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 2021 model year Avalon, 2020 – 2022 model year Camry, and 2019 – 2022 model year RAV4 vehicles…
Some 2021 model year Avalon, 2020 – 2022 model year Camry, and 2019 – 2022 model year RAV4 vehicles equipped with an A25A-FKS engine may exhibit reduced engine power and/or a MIL ON condition with one or more of 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…
NHTSA lists 170 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 2021 Toyota Avalon?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, engine, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 21. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (19%), driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (5%), airbag warning light (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Toyota Avalon?
NHTSA lists 170 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 2021 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 2021 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.