Most common 2011 Toyota Avalon problems
Share of the 106 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Avalon complaints by model year
Best Avalon years: 2017, 2020, 2022. Years to avoid: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 1998. Compare all years →
2011 Toyota Avalon recalls (1)
Electrical system
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles manufactured February 9, 2010, to October 22, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the sub-woofer speaker located in the trunk may experience an intermittent electrical short which may cause damage to the integrated…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the audio system amplifier and install a protective cover around the sub-woofer, free of charge. The recall began on July 1,2015.
What 2011 Toyota Avalon owners say
Steering all 31 →
While driving in heavy traffic on I-26 through columbia, s.c., the lever that holds the steering wheel in position after adjustment by drivers became dis-engaged causing the steering wheel quickly fall forward causing me to lose partial control and swerve slightly before I could regain full control. I reported this to the service manager at johnson city Toyota on my return home. I returned again a month later to report another incident and found the first report was not recorded. I, as well as my wife have had this dangerous situation occur at least once and sometimes twice a month for more than a year. I checked your data base and found that many other Avalon owners registered this same complaint.
While driving, the steering column telescopic lever comes loose and the column depresses. It has happened several times while pulling up on the bottom of the steering wheel, during sharp turns for example, and the lever unlocks. Then as soon as you press on the steering wheel, perhaps some time later, the steering wheel goes completely into the dash. It is almost as if the steering wheel is falling away from me, and I have partially gone through two (thankfully empty) intersections because I lost control of the car because the steering column collapsed unexpectedly.
Electrical system all 25 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Toyota Avalon. After briefly tapping the accelerator pedal, the vehicle made a loud abnormal noise and experienced a brief period of unintended acceleration. As a result, the contact struck a palm tree at 5 MPH. There were no warning indicators illuminated prior to or after the failure. The vehicle had to be towed from the scene of the crash and taken to the dealer where it could not be diagnosed. An independent mechanic repaired the vehicle. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
February 25, 2014, I arrived for my 2 p.m. Doctor's appt and drove very slowly into a parking space. I was constantly braking because the Toyota Avalon sport 2011 has lots of low trim in the front of the car and I did not want to scratch the car. I kept my foot on the brake, stopped the car, then opened the door to check the white line to see if I was in my parking space. Then, the motor began accelerating very rapidly. Before I could turn the engine off, the car lunged forward and I felt like I was airborne. Within seconds, the car hit the very tall heavy metal and glass doors of the doctor's office and stopped. The car was covered with glass. The metal doors of the office were damaged. Please note, the airbags did not deploy. The entire front of the car: grill, headlights, fenders and hood were damaged. Thankfully no one was injured.
Windows, wipers & sunroof
Failure of the Sun shade in the rear causes a problem with visability. Stays stuck in up or down position. Creates a loud distracting grinding noise when in operation and highly reduces visibility through the rear window. Particularly when it is stuck in the half way position.
The rear sunshade is stuck in the upright position without being activated and does not go down when the car in put in reverse. This is a very dangerous and potentially fatal situation at night when visibility is poor. There are a plethora of complaints about the sunshade on the internet. When I asked the dealership how much it would cost to repair, they only replace the device for $1000, and the defective sunshade even after replacement could repeat the hazardous situation. Toyota should replace the defective, hazardous part at no cost. It is a threat to safety for all passengers. The defect occurred randomly without provocation upon startup with the car parked. A grinding noise was heard, then the shade went up - unresponsive to the activating/deactivation control button. I had to drive in the slow lane due to poor visibility.
2011 Toyota Avalon engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Toyota Avalon a good car?
Based on 106 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Avalon rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Avalon at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Toyota Avalon?
The steering — 31 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about column. Next are the electrical system (25) and windows, wipers & sunroof (14).
How many recalls does the 2011 Toyota Avalon have?
There is 1 recall for the 2011 Toyota Avalon, the most recent from January 28, 2015 (electrical system). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Avalon?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2020 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 1998. See the full Toyota Avalon years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Toyota Avalon problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 35,000 miles; 68% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.