Short answer
Among Toyota Avalon model years through 2024, 2022 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010 have the most (7). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Toyota Avalon: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 23 (2000–2022)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 32
- Fewest recalls
- 2022 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010 (7)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (17)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2013, 2014, 2015 and 7 more years
Toyota Avalon Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2021 | 2 | 5 stars | Air bags |
| 2020 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2019 | 4 | 5 stars | Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2018 | 2 | 5 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2017 | 2 | 5 stars | Air bags, Tires |
| 2016 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags |
| 2015 | 2 | 5 stars | Air bags, Forward collision avoidance |
| 2014 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Forward collision avoidance, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2013 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Equipment, Forward collision avoidance |
| 2012 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2011 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2010 | 7 | Not rated | Seats, Equipment, Vehicle speed control |
| 2009 | 7 | Not rated | Seats, Equipment, Vehicle speed control |
| 2008 | 6 | Not rated | Equipment, Seats, Vehicle speed control |
| 2007 | 6 | Not rated | Equipment, Seats, Vehicle speed control |
| 2006 | 7 | Not rated | Seats, Vehicle speed control, Air bags |
| 2005 | 7 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control, Air bags, Equipment |
| 2004 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Steering |
| 2003 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Steering |
| 2002 | 1 | Not rated | Steering |
| 2001 | 2 | Not rated | Steering, Structure |
| 2000 | 2 | Not rated | Steering, Suspension |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20220 recalls
- 20212 recalls
- 20203 recalls
- 20194 recalls
- 20182 recalls
- 20172 recalls
- 20163 recalls
- 20152 recalls
- 20144 recalls
- 20134 recalls
- 20124 recalls
- 20111 recall
- 20107 recalls
- 20097 recalls
- 20086 recalls
- 20076 recalls
- 20067 recalls
- 20057 recalls
- 20043 recalls
- 20032 recalls
- 20021 recall
- 20012 recalls
- 20002 recalls
Toyota Avalon: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Toyota Avalon recalls are air bags (17), equipment (13), seats (13), vehicle speed control (12) and steering (6). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 10 of these 23 model years, and 2013, 2014, 2015 and 7 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Toyota Avalon Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Toyota Avalon?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2022 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Toyota Avalon model years have the most recalls?
2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010 have the most, with 7 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Avalon", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy