2019 Toyota Avalon: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 69 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is fuel/propulsion system (23% of complaints); the 2017 and 2018 and 2020 and 2021 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · 1 new complaint in the last 90 days · latest recall Nov 2020
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The transmission needs to be replaced. 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. I was looking for any recalls on my car and saw there were multiple lawsuits involving the transmission in my car and other Toyota and Lexus models. The primary lawsuits involve millions of vehicles equipped with the UA80 8-speed automatic transmissions.”Owner report · Power Train · May 2026
“UA80 transmission issues. 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. Issue became more noticeable after I had the transmission fluid changed by dealership.”Owner report · Power Train · Apr 2026
“I am experiencing the same malfunction with my backup camera/parking assist software that a million other VINs were recalled for. I called Toyota and was essentially told that not enough people from my cars' "batch" have complained. The malfunction is inconsistent, sometimes the camera works fine, sometimes the screen is totally black, and sometimes it freezes or goes black in the middle of backing up. This is incredibly hazordous.”Owner report · Back Over Prevention · Feb 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“Recurring issue with blind spot and rear cross traffic malfunction alerts. Toyota had issued a service bulletin for this concern. Dealer had to reprogram the module under part: 39151 T-SB-0034-19. CODE C1AB4 and C1AB5.”Owner report · Lane Departure · Sep 2025
“When starting the vehicle, an extremely high pitched noise is emitted from the speakers. This high pitch seems like its comes out full volume out the speakers. Ear piercing noise leaves my ears ringing every time.”Owner report · Electrical System · Mar 2025
“When starting the vehicle, an extremely high pitched noise is emitted from the speakers. The safety of my young child is at risk every time I start the car because this could cause irreparable hearing loss. This is a known issue across many Toyota models as I've found through online forums. Toyota wants $1,200 to fix the DCM Module when it is a manufacturing issue and not caused by the consumer.”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2024
“After troubleshooting, the issue with my car cannot communicate with my mobile app through Toyota remote connect, cannot update vehicle software, and after a $130 diagnostic fee, the dealer states the DCM module is bad and needs replacing. My question is this is a safety issue, correct?”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2024
“I was pulling into a parking space when the car suddenly accelerated, jumped the curb and hit a tree. The car has auto-braking but this system did not function to stop the car.”Owner report · Forward Collision Avoidance · Oct 2023
“The car emitted a very loud, high pitched sound, lasting several seconds when starting the vehicle, which was very painful. At the same time, red and green lights are seen flashing a few times next to the SOS button. This has happened twice in the past month.”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2023
“I bought the car new in 2019. Car was fine for the first 2 years then it started skipping the gear on low speeds, it does not happen all the time but it does seems to jerk while changing gears in low speeds, occusionally. I have taken the car in to Toyota in Green Bay, WI location and I was told they can't duplicate the issue.”Owner report · Power Train · Jul 2023
When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 5 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
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."
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.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 19R1.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The fuel filler pipe may not have been properly reconnected to the fuel tank during an inspection after vehicle assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel filler pipe, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is K0I.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2019 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Avalon by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2019 Toyota Avalon reliable?
NHTSA has 69 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2019 Toyota Avalon. The most complained-about area is fuel/propulsion system (23% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2019 Toyota Avalon problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 6,029 miles or less.
Does the 2019 Toyota Avalon have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning electrical system:software. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.