2021 Toyota Avalon problems and recalls

57% of owner complaints on the 2021 Toyota Avalon related to the Air Bags (12 of 21).

21
Complaints
2
Recalls
1
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
0
Injuries
53.7
Severity index

Severity index 53.7 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 53.7p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 12 complaints (57.1%)12 57%EngineEngine: 4 complaints (19.0%)4 19%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 3 complaints (14.3%)3 14%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 2 complaints (9.5%)2 10%Service BrakesService Brakes: 2 complaints (9.5%)2 10%Seat BeltsSeat Belts: 1 complaints (4.8%)1 5%Power TrainPower Train: 1 complaints (4.8%)1 5%TiresTires: 1 complaints (4.8%)1 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS1257.1%
ENGINE419.0%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL314.3%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE29.5%
SERVICE BRAKES29.5%
SEAT BELTS14.8%
POWER TRAIN14.8%
TIRES14.8%

Complaints filed per year

0492021: 12022: 52023: 12024: 42025: 92026: 1 (partial year)2122232425926
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20211
20225
20231
20244
20259
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 2.3x those in 2021 to 2022 (14 against 6).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
20V73400025/11/2020AIR BAGS:FRONTALToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Toyota Avalon and 2020 Avalon Hybrid, RAV4, and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged d
23V86500020/12/2023AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H ve

Other Toyota Avalon model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 9 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.