Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
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 owned a 2006 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. The contact crashed into a cement barrier. The contact sustained bruises that did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota Avalon. While driving approximately 10 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate causing the vehicle to crash into another vehicle. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the diagnosis was unknown. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000. Updated 11/19/15
When vehicle needed to abruptly stop to avoid an accident it failed twice resulting in collision
On April 17, 2012 bayside Toyota replaced the brake master cylinder seal on the Avalon under recall# 10V499000. Almost exactly 3 years later on April 18, 2015 the brake master cylinder seal failed as I was backing the car out of my garage. I was able to use my parking brake to stop the vehicle. Toyota claims that although the original seal never failed after 6 years of service it was replaced because it was a safety concern. The new seal failed after 3 years and Toyota claims it is only covered by a 12 month component warranty and is an "inconvenience" but not a safety issue. Toyota gave me a case number but said there was nothing else they could do. Had I been driving the car at full speed the results would have been catastrophic. I am having the car repaired at my own cost but I have no faith that the brake system is safe.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed with extreme force but the vehicle failed to stop. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the master cylinder was leaking and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V499000 (service brakes,hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
My wife left work and experienced braking problems, had to pump brakes to stop. A few hundred feet later she came to an intersection and applied the brakes, which did not work. She rolled into the intersection with oncoming traffic. To avoid being t - boned she accelerated and ran off an ajacent roadway striking trees. The car was totalled, and she and my two sons had to be extricated from the vehicle, suffering only minor injuries. Her actions to protect herself and my children resulted in the collision, avoiding a river with high rapid running water.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota Avalon. While driving at approximate speeds of 20-30 MPH, the contact applied the brakes but they did not engage. The vehicle proceeded to crash into the rear of another vehicle. Two of the vehicle occupants were injured and a police report was filed accordingly. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where repairs were made to the front body damage. The failure mileage was 11,382 and the current mileage was 32,000. Updated 07/19/10. Updated 09/21/10
Sept. 27, 2009, I was driving my 2006 Toyota Avalon into my garage at a slow speed. When I hit the brake, the car accelerated causing me to drive into the workbench, braking it and some wallboard behind it as well as damaging the car before the car finally came to a stop.
When the vehicle is about to come to a full stop the brake feels like it push back towards me. It almost feel like the car is not going to stop. I brought the car to the dealership. The mechanic observe the same issue but was unable to determine the cause.
Right front caliper froze; did not retract piston. No braking as a result of brake pads destroyed.. After repair in 2012, same caliper again froze and required identical repair in April of 2015 at 58,000 miles.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 avalon, model year 2004-2006 highlander, model year 2004-2006 Lexus rx, and model year 2006 Lexus gs and is vehicles. Brake fluid containing polymers is used that acts as lubricants for certain brake system components.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seal with a newly designed one. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on November 15, 2010.
Brake complaints in other Avalon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2006 Toyota Avalon?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the brakes of the 2006 Toyota Avalon, 8% of the model year's 360 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › master cylinder (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Toyota Avalon brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 10V-499 (master cylinder, Oct 21, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota Avalon brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 30% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to brakes 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.