Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Toyota Avalon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota Avalon. While driving less than 5 MPH to pull into an underground garage area, the accelerator pedal became stuck and failed to release. The brake pedal was applied with force, but the vehicle lunged forward and crashed into the garage door. Upon impact, a yellow piece associated with the front passenger side air bag fractured. None of the air bags deployed. The driver sustained injuries to the head and neck and sustained bodily scratches and bruising, which did not require medical attention. The insurance company was notified of the failure and planned to investigate the cause of the air bag and acceleration failures. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 10V017000 (vehicle speed control) and 09V388000 (vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was notified of the failures. …
While backing out of the driveway, in reverse, the car suddenly and without warning accelerated at a high rate on it's own without depression of the accelerator pedal. Brakes were applied at full force during the acceleration with out effect. Vehicle continued down the driveway, crossing over the street, then jumped the opposing curb, striking a stone wall.
Was driving on new jersey turnpike,at around exit 7 tried to avoid a car all of a sudden the car totally was uncontrollable , the brakes would not stop slow it down, ended up crashing against the jersey wall, backed up by itself and turned to face the traffic in the middle lane w/ the utmost effort finally stopped. My husband and I were injured and transported to hospital, when I complained to my insurance co. That what we experienced was beyond normal they suggested we should complain to Toyota, we contacted Toyota and complained asked them to investigate this occurrence and were assured that they will check the wrecked car. State farm insurance received my permission to release the car ,and documented the date of communication and the person at Toyota in charge of this investigation but Toyota is playing games or would not return our calls. …
I am in shock given the today?s news. I was in an accident on 12/01/08 in my 2006 Toyota Avalon. I could not stop the car and ran into the t-bar of a box truck in front of me. My car was totaled. After the accident we called the Toyota experience center, they created a claim #1001145755 and erika with Toyota said they would be in contact with us. We next heard from a [redacted] with Toyota who then told us to mail our complaint to Toyota motor sales claims department in torrance, ca. We mailed of the necessary documentation from the accident and never heard back from them. We called back on many occasions all to be never answered or given a run around, once told they were looking into it. Nothing ever came of it all. We didn't know what to so we gave up, at the time we could not afford a lawyer. So today?s news was frustrating. …
Tl contact owns a 2006 Toyota Avalon. The driver crashed into a post. The vehicle rolled onto the right side of the road. The driver died at the scene. A police report was taken. The contact stated that it was considered a high speed crash. After the crash occurred the contact received a recall notice from the manufacturer concerning the floor mats. The vehicle was destroyed. The insurance company notified the contact that there was nothing that could be done. Another driver stated that the vehicle previously accelerated multiple times. The current and failure mileages were 30,000. Updated 06/24/10 according to the police report, the driver drifted into the median striking a post. The driver overcorrected crossing both westbound travel lanes and the on ramp lane. …
My wife was driving her 2006 Toyota Avalon and came upon a four way stop . There were two vehicles in front of her that were stopped at the four way stop street. She experience sudden acceleration and the car was uncontrollable and crashed into the back end of a van in front of her that was standing still. It caused $9,000 damage to her car and she was taken to ma hospital for injuries to her leg and knee. The injury to her leg caused her to have a operation on it and daily medical attention for over two months. Now she has a knee problem that will require a replacement operation in the near future. We tried to trade in our Avalon into a Toyota dealer for a new Avalon and the dealer said he would have to reduce the trade value $8,000 due to the car being wrecked. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota Avalon. The contact had the repair done on feb 17th for the recall on the accelerator pedal. The contact did not have a problem until the repair was done, which was the placement of a metal shim that was put under the accelerator pedal. On February 28 there was an unintended acceleration with the vehicle. The contact was parking the vehicle and while backing up the vehicle accelerated, he then shifted the vehicle into drive and it went forward and hit the vehicle in front of him. The contact then put the vehicle in neutral and turned the it off and it stopped. The vehicle did not stop revving up until it was turned off. No one was injured, there was only bumper damage. A police officer was there and he took a report. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and contact was told to file a claim,#1003101250. The failure mileage was 31,859.
Car did not start for several tries. On about the 5th try, the moment I shifted into reverse, the throttle stuck and the car hurtled out of the garage. It veered to the left (as you face the garage) immediately after clearing the garage, cut under the branches of a big spruce tree on the corner of my neighbor's lot, crossed his driveway, across a small drainage ditch and slammed into the trunk of a huge spruce tree. Car stopped then, with extensive damage to rear, and engine died. Car was drivable and I drove it to the dealer, who chose to not examine anything. During the event, I had my foot on the brake pedal but the anti-lock brakes kept it from locking the wheels and I tried to kill the engine by hitting the start button (there is no key on this model car). That did not work and I hit the tree before I could think of anything else to do. I was not hurt.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Toyota Avalon limited. While driving 30 MPH the vehicle suddenly accelerated. As she applied the brakes and shifted into neutral gear the vehicle would not slow down until it crashed into the median. She was injured but did not go to the hospital. The police were not contacted. The vehicle accelerated previously prior to the crash and was inspected by the dealer who removed the floor mats but did not reinstall a new set. The damage was to the left front steering area. The repair cost was $3,000. The vehicle was towed to a local dealership for the repairs. The manufacturer was contacted and a representative inspected the vehicle and found no manufacturing defects within the vehicle. The insurance company assumed responsibility for the repairs. The failure mileage was 42,300 and the current mileage was 42,645.
On Sunday, September 6, 2009, my mother was driving my 2006 Toyota Avalon when she was involved in a crash due to an acceleration problem with the vehicle. She was also involved in a crash in my garage when the floor mat got stuck on the accelerator and cause her to run into the wall of the garage. I also have experienced several instances of acceleration after taking my foot off the gas pedal when attempting to brake which caused me to have to slam on the brakes to stop the vehicle. The insurance company deemed the car a total loss and it was only when I received the settlement papers from the insurance company did I find out there were problems with the airbags as Toyota never sent me any correspondence regarding the problem with the airbags, the floor mats or the accelerator.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 avalon, model year 2007-2010 camry, model year 2009-2010 corolla, corolla matrix, rav4, model year 2010 highlander, model year 2008-2010 sequoia, and model year 2007-2010 tundra vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal which will allow the pedal to operate smoothly. GM will notify owners for the Pontiac vibe please see 10v-018.
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Remedy: Toyota filed an amended defect report on November 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal.
Acceleration complaints in other Avalon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2006 Toyota Avalon?
NHTSA has 103 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2006 Toyota Avalon, 29% of the model year's 360 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Toyota Avalon acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 10V-017 (accelerator pedal, Jan 21, 2010); NHTSA recall 09V-388 (accelerator pedal, Oct 5, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota Avalon acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 39,000 miles, and 36% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 34 crashes, 0 fires and 17 injuries and 1 death to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.