Model-year record
2017 Toyota Avalon
See the complaints, recalls, crash rating, and fuel economy in the public record. Then check the mileage and history of the car you found.
This page shows records, not a buy or avoid call.
The same model year can include a well-kept car and a neglected one. Use these records to plan what to check. Use the specific-car check when you know the mileage.
Complaints filed
14
Reports to NHTSA, 2017
Safety recalls
2
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
24
EPA estimate
Known issues
Engine issues lead owner complaints (36% of 14 reports), followed by air bags (14%).
Share of all 14 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11233544, ODI 11220141, ODI 11220206, ODI 11220211, ODI 11220224.
Individual complaint reports(14)
Showing the 14 most recent reportsStructureDec 2022 · ODI 11497110Details +Close −
The torsion springs for the rear trunk are very weak. They have been that way since car was new. I have had multiple occasions where I opened the trunk and had it come down and hit me on the head. This has also happened to my wife.
- Reported
- Dec 2022
- Incident date
- Dec 2022
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Electrical SystemOct 2022 · ODI 11490639Details +Close −
Leaving a parking lot, the car jumped out of gear. Thought maybe I had bumped the gear selector but attempts at putting the car in gear resulted in grinding noises and the only option was to put it in PARK. Check engine light came on. Mechanic diagnosed a speed sensor. Had this happened on the freeway or while trying to pass another car on a two lane and a speed sensor disable the entire car to me is dangerous and should be addressed. Had the check engine light come on, I would have had the sensor replaced right away. I now feel this is an unsafe situation that could arise in other 2017 Toyota cars
- Reported
- Oct 2022
- Incident date
- Sep 2022
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Air BagsMay 2020 · ODI 11323260Details +Close −
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNNAMED DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Reported
- May 2020
- Incident date
- May 2020
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Air BagsJan 2020 · ODI 11301635Details +Close −
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN EMAIL CONFIRMATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS). THE NHTSA HOTLINE WAS CONTACTED AND AN INQUIRY WAS MADE IN REGARD TO THE STATUS OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PART NOT AVAILABLE.
- Reported
- Jan 2020
- Incident date
- Jan 2020
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
EngineJul 2019 · ODI 11233544 · 2 deathsDetails +Close −
TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO INSTALL AN AUTO-STOP CAUSED THE CARBON-MONOXIDE POISONING OF TWO (MORE) PEOPLE, MANY DOZENS OF SUCH DEATHS REPORTED. (DETAIL: THEY HAD LIKELY STOPPED THE ENGINE, BUT THE WIRELESS FOB CAN RE-START; AND THIS MODEL HAS AN AUTO STOP/START FUNCTION THAT CAN ALSO LEAD TO DEATH.] NOTE: NOT MY CAR, MY PARENTS.
- Reported
- Jul 2019
- Incident date
- May 2019
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- 2 deaths
Fuel/Propulsion SystemJun 2019 · ODI 11221412 · crash · 1 injuriesDetails +Close −
I WAS PULLING OUT OF A CHURCH PARKING SPOT VERY SLOWLY. ONCE OUT OF THE SPOT I STOPPED AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED AS IF IT SHIFTED INTO CURSE CONTROL. WE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET BEFORE HITTING A TREE. IT ALL HAPPENED SO SUDDENLY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO.
- Reported
- Jun 2019
- Incident date
- Jun 2018
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- Crash 1 injuries
EngineJun 2019 · ODI 11220141 · 2 deathsDetails +Close −
TOYOTA AVALON FAILS TO HAVE AN IGNITION AUTO SHUT OFF WHICH LED TO DEATH OF TWO INDIVIDUALS. THIS DESIGN FLAW DID NOT PREVENT THE CAR FROM IDLING INDEFINITELY AND FILLING THE HOUSE WITH CARBON MONOXIDE' A TOXIC FATAL GAS. THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE PROPER EXTERNAL WARNINGS LIKE A HONK TO ADVISE A DRIVER THEY MAY HAVE REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE CAR.
- Reported
- Jun 2019
- Incident date
- May 2019
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- 2 deaths
EngineJun 2019 · ODI 11220206 · 2 deathsDetails +Close −
TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO INSTALL AN ENGINE AUTO STOP CAUSED THE CARBON MONOXIDE DEATH OF TWO PEOPLE. FAILURE TO HAVE PROPER OUTSIDE WARNINGS LIKE A HONK TO WARN THE OPERATOR NOT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE CAR LED TO THESE DEATHS. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A GARAGE. PEOPLE WERE INSIDE THE HOME. HTTPS://WWW.LEGACY.COM/OBITUARIES/HERALDTRIBUNE/OBITUARY.ASPX?N=JAMES-LIVINGSTON&PID=192908732 HTTPS://WWW.LEGACY.COM/OBITUARIES/HERALDTRIBUNE/OBITUARY.ASPX?N=SHERRY-PENNEY&PID=192908731
- Reported
- Jun 2019
- Incident date
- May 2019
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- 2 deaths
EngineJun 2019 · ODI 11220211 · 2 deathsDetails +Close −
TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO INSTALL AN ENGINE AUTO STOP CAUSED THE CARBON MONOXIDE DEATH OF TWO PEOPLE. FAILURE TO HAVE PROPER OUTSIDE WARNINGS LIKE A HONK TO WARN THE OPERATOR NOT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE CAR LED TO THIS DEATH.
- Reported
- Jun 2019
- Incident date
- May 2019
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- 2 deaths
EngineJun 2019 · ODI 11220224 · 2 deathsDetails +Close −
TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO INSTALL AN ENGINE AUTO STOP CAUSED THE CARBON MONOXIDE DEATH OF TWO PEOPLE. CAR WAS STATIONARY. FAILURE TO HAVE PROPER OUTSIDE WARNINGS LIKE A HONK TO WARN THE OPERATOR NOT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE CAR LED TO THIS DEATH.
- Reported
- Jun 2019
- Incident date
- May 2019
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- 2 deaths
Vehicle Speed ControlJun 2018 · ODI 11101763 · crash · 1 injuriesDetails +Close −
I REPORTED NOISE WHEN I MADE TURNS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. I BOUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND ADVISED OF THE ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CHECK ALL COMPONENTS OF THE CAR AND CHANGE THE OIL AND ROTATE THE TIRES. THIS WAS AT 19,611 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING SOUND I HEARD WAS ELECTRIC AND THAT IT WAS FINE. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 3/10/18 AND THE CAR WAS CHECKED AGAIN AT 24,650 MILES. THE CAR WAS REPORTED FINE. THEN ON 4/26/18 I HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK OR ANY OF THE COMPUTER SAFETY FEATURES. I WAS STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT WAITING FOR ANOTHER CAR TO BACK OUT. THE CAR PASSED AND I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR TO PULL INTO THE SPACE. THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING ACCELERATING NOISES AND THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK. I RAN OVER THE YELLOW CONCRETE BLOCK AND OUT OF THE PARKING LOT INTO THE VACANT LOT NEXT DOOR. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN BY PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR IS DAMAGED AND I HAVE INJURIES. TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
- Reported
- Jun 2018
- Incident date
- Apr 2018
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- Crash 1 injuries
Electrical SystemJan 2018 · ODI 11062027Details +Close −
FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE (08/14/2017) I NOTICED A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE ANALOG SPEEDOMETER AND THE CENTER DIGITAL DISPLAY OF THE SPEED (MPH). CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. HE ADVISED THERE IS NO FIX. I NOTED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB. THE ERROR IS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 MPH AND VARIES WITH DIFFERENT SPEEDS. STARTING SPEED IS ZERO WITH THE ERRORS OCCURRING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I HAVE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS CHECKED THE ACTUAL SPEED AGAINST LOCAL "RADAR" WARNING SIGNS. IT APPEARS THAT THE DIGITAL DISPLAY IS THE MOST ACCURATE. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE DISCREPANCY AND SENT THEM TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE THEN AGREED TO GO FOR A TEST DRIVE WITH ME. HE CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE A TOYOTA TECH STREAM DEVICE. I ALSO HAD HIM ACTIVATE HIS GPS SPEED PROGRAM ON HIS CELL PHONE. THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT HIS TECH STREAM DEVICE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND/OR WAS DISPLAYING SPEEDS THAT WERE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE DIGITAL DISPLAY OR THE ANALOG DISPLAY (THE MAIN ROUND SPEEDOMETER NEXT TO THE TACHOMETER). HOWEVER, HIS GPS PHONE APP INDICATED THAT THE DIGITAL DISPLAY WAS THE MOST ACCURATE. THE RESULTS ALSO CONFIRMED THE DISCREPANCY OF 2-4 MPH BETWEEN THE ANALOG AND DIGITAL DISPLAYS. A COMPLAINT FILED WITH TOYOTA LAST WEEK BY ME RESULTED IN A PHONE CALL FROM THEM INDICATING THAT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE CALLER EVEN INDICATING THAT THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE TO BEGIN WITH. (JUST GOOGLE IT AND YOU WILL SEE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS.) NOW, THIS MIGHT NOT BE AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT SURE COULD GET ONE INTO A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. IF ONE THOUGHT HE OR SHE WAS GOING 66 MPH AND WAS ACTUALLY GOING 70 MPH IN A 65 ZONE, YOU COULD BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO RECEIVING A CITATION FOR DOING SO. I SHOULD KNOW, I'M A RETIRED STATE TROOPER.
- Reported
- Jan 2018
- Incident date
- Aug 2017
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Service BrakesSep 2017 · ODI 11025130Details +Close −
2017 TOYOTA BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED BY TOYOTA. ASKED MY DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ANSWER. PLEASE REFER TO THE TOYOTA OWNERS WEBSITE IT HAS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE.
- Reported
- Sep 2017
- Incident date
- Sep 2017
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Unknown Or OtherMay 2017 · ODI 10991236Details +Close −
SCOUT NAVIGATION SYSTEM WORKS WITH MY ANDROID PHONE. WHEN THE PHONE ENTERS TIME-OUT MODE, THE NAVIGATION ON THE VEHICLE IS FROZEN. TO RESTORE SERVICE, THE DRIVER HAS TO PICK UP THE DEVICE AND SWIPE THE SCREEN IN ORDER TO RE-ESTABLISH THE SCOUT APPLICATION. REMOVING YOUR EYES FROM THE ROAD AND HAND FROM THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING IS NOT A SAFE PROCEDURE AND SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED BY THE PRODUCT IN ORDER TO RUN.
- Reported
- May 2017
- Incident date
- May 2017
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Recalls(2)
Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.
TiresFeb 2017 · 17V295000Details +Close −
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
Risk: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.
Open full NHTSA recall record →Air Bags · 20V024000Details +Close −
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.
Open full NHTSA recall record →A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
1 NHTSA investigation on record
Investigations are agency reviews, not findings that a vehicle is defective.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
Crash-test ratings
2017 Toyota Avalon 4 DR FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon | 3.5L 6-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 21 | 30 | 24 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
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Compare the year-by-year record
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2017 Toyota Avalon: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2017 Toyota Avalon?
Owners filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the 2017 Toyota Avalon. This is raw owner-reported complaint volume with no production or exposure normalization, so it is not a reliability score or a best/worst-year ranking.
What are the most common problems on the 2017 Toyota Avalon?
The most-reported problem areas are Engine (36% of complaints) and air bags (14%).
How many recalls does the 2017 Toyota Avalon have?
2 recalls have been issued that affect the 2017 Toyota Avalon, covering components such as tires. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Toyota Avalon get?
The EPA rates the 2017 Toyota Avalon at 24 mpg combined.