FaultScore

2011 Toyota Avalon acceleration problems

11 of the 130 complaints about the 2011 Toyota Avalon are about the throttle and cruise control — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 15,000 miles.

F

11

Complaints

8

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 10 90.9%
Accelerator Pedal 1 9.1%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Toyota Avalon year

1996 10 1.8%
1998 16 2.8%
1999 22 3.9%
2000 20 3.6%
2001 24 4.3%
2002 25 4.4%
2003 51 9.1%
2004 25 4.4%
2005 72 12.8%
2006 103 18.3%
2007 85 15.1%
2008 45 8.0%
2009 18 3.2%
2010 13 2.3%
2011 11 2.0%
2013 22 3.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 42,000 miles Leland, NC Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN THE CONTACT PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GENERATOR AND SPUN IN THE GARAGE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES AND NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. TOYOTA TOWED THE VEHICLE TO JEFF HENDRICKS TOYOTA: 228 S COLLEGE RD, WILMINGTON, NC 28403 (910) 791-2424, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INVESTIGATOR WHO TRAVELED FROM VIRGINIA. THE TEST WAS NOT COMPLETED AND THE RESULTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AS OF YET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA complaint #11221510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,000 miles Sarasota, FL Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH FROM PARKING SPOT TO FRONT OF RESTAURANT TO PICK UP PASSENGER, CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED VERY FAST WITHOUT DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL. BOTH FEET WERE APPLIED TO BRAKE PEDAL AND CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP UNTIL IT HIT CEMENT PILLAR CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, TOTALING THE CAR AND CAUSING INJURY TO DRIVER.

NHTSA complaint #10970748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,353 miles Dallas, TX Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE AT A VERY SLOW SPEED, WHILE APPLYING BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY WITH SO MUCH FORCE THAT IT OVERPOWERED THE BRAKE AND CAUSED A COLLISION INTO A CEMENT POLE WHICH CAUSED MAJOR FRONT IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND WAS NOT, AT THE SAME TIME, TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. THERE WAS NO OBSTRUCTION FROM THE FLOOR MAT. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING SLIGHTLY UPHILL INTO THE PARKING SPACE SO THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR, BUT AT THE TIME OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, THE FOOT HAD ALREADY BEEN APPLIED TO THE BRAKE.

NHTSA complaint #10967152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Santa Barbara, CA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10779059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 27,500 miles Nazareth, PA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING FORWARD INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 5 FEET CRASHING INTO A METAL POLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AS HIS FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO APPLY THE BRAKES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,500.

NHTSA complaint #10630723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles Wichita Falls, TX Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA complaint #10511294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,500 miles Tucson, AZ Crash 2 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BRUSH OF CACTUS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND A PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (REPORT NUMBER: 120223189). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR GARAGE WHERE THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO FURTHER INSPECT THE FAILURE BUT COULD NOT LOCATE A FAILURE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500. UPDATED 06/05/12

NHTSA complaint #10456327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Baton Rouge, LA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FROM A DEAD STOP, CAR IRREGULARITY HESITATES WHEN ONE IS BEGINNING TO MOVE FORWARD. FOR AN INSTANCE ONE GETS THE FEELING THE AUTOMOBILE IS GOING TO STALL. THIS IS A BIT UNNERVING.

NHTSA complaint #10451806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atlantic City, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

2011 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ON TWO OCCASIONS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS SLOWING DOWN, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP, WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. HE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 21, 2011 AS HE WAS ABOUT TO THE PARK, THE ENGINE REVVED AGAIN, AT A HIGH RATE, WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE REAR WINDOW SUN SCREEN WOULD ENGAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10449878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles Raleigh, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 03/14/12

NHTSA complaint #10448226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,000 miles Florissant, MO Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES TO HER ARM AND KNEE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PLACE TO VEHICLE INTO REVERSE WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A CHAIN LINK FENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DID NOT PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST YET REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD BE SENDING OUT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHIN THE NEXT THIRTY DAYS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE, WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED IN A FORWARD DIRECTION WITH HER FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. UPDATED EVOQ 02/22/11 THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE PUSHED IN THE FENCE AND THE FRONT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE WENT PARTIALLY UNDER IT. UPDATED EVOQ 03/04/11

NHTSA complaint #10375409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2011 Toyota Avalon problems

← Full 2011 Toyota Avalon report