KnownCarProblems2006 Toyota Avalon Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 360 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Toyota Avalon, most often about the speed control (29% of complaints, typically around 37,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Avalon model year since 2000 and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2006 Toyota Avalon problems
Speed control
103 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 37,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control.
My car has had the unintended acceleration since I purchased it. I have taken my car in for the repair but my car is still accelerating. While driving car sped up but slowed itself back down to normal speed. This is how its been since purchase. I notice this last time that the speedometer does not reflect the change…
My wife was driving her 2006 Toyota Avalon and came upon a four way stop . There were two vehicles in front of her that were stopped at the four way stop street. She experience sudden acceleration and the car was uncontrollable and crashed into the back end of a van in front of her that was standing still. It caused…
Engine
69 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
On wednesday, april 8th noticed that my car was leaking oil so I went to the service station and filled it with two quarts of oil. I realized there was a serious problem so I put another two quarts in my car and contacted a Toyota dealership in lancaster pennsylvania because I was out of town. They informed me that my…
Car has been fine up until this point. But when starting the car one morning, oil began streaming onto the ground. I filled the car with oil, drove the 2 miles to the repair shop and just under 2 quarts leaked out after that short drive. After they removed the inspection plate, they found no evidence of chaffing but a…
Transmission
52 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 16,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
: the contact stated while accelerating at 10 MPH, the automatic transmission was sluggish while shifting gears, and lurched forward without warning. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who was unable to duplicate the problem. The manufacturer was alerted. Updated 01/19/07.
The transmission hesitates, jumps, and bucks and acceleration is very uneven. When accelerating from 0 MPH (I.e. At a red light), the car hesitates, and then at approx. 20 MPH, while keeping the gas pedal steady, the RPM's rev up, and the car accelerates wildly. When the transmission shifts at around 20 MPH, it feels…
Steering
35 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 41,500 miles. Parts named most often: column, hydraulic power assist.
My 2006 Toyota Avalon(touring) has a loud knocking/clunking noise when turning steering wheel at low speeds. Dealer said this was a problem with the 2006 avalons and can be fixed by replacing the steering column at a cost of $700-800. Car had 42k miles just out of warranty and offered no Toyota help until I told him I…
Steering was binding on my 2006 Toyota Avalon under slow speed right hand turns. Dealer acknowledged this as a known safety issue with multiple Toyota models but refused to cover any of the cost of repairs.
Air bags
27 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, knee bolster.
Passenger airbag cover is cracking which may produce sharp or pointed projectiles in the event of activation. Cover appears to be bowing out towards passenger, pictures available. Vehicle has not been in accident.
I am in shock given the today?s news. I was in an accident on 12/01/08 in my 2006 Toyota Avalon. I could not stop the car and ran into the t-bar of a box truck in front of me. My car was totaled. After the accident we called the Toyota experience center, they created a claim #[phone] and erika with Toyota said they…
Brakes
26 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, fluid.
I am writing this for my brother who is the legal owner of the vehicle. (2006 Toyota Avalon) he had regular maintenance at laurel carmax Toyota on july 30th,2009. (including brake and fluid change) in sepetember 7th, he was driving on the road and the brake light turned on. He immediately lost brake and tried to pull…
1. I was at a stoplight, foot firmly on the brake, doing nothing but waiting for the light to change. Suddenly I realized my car was moving forward, so I pushed the brakes harder. The pedal went down further but the car kept moving forward. All of this took only a few seconds. Then I heard and felt the engine…
Other or unspecified
25 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 74,000 miles.
Electric rear window sun screen is stuck in the up position. This reduces visibility especially at night. When vehicle is place into reverse the motor tries to lower the shade but fails. I have seen many similar complaints on the edmunds forum. Since the average Avalon owner is 65 years of age the reduced visibility…
I have a Toyota Avalon that had a defected oil pipe. My car started leaking oil due to this defect, when I took the car to the dealership they were aware of the problem and new of the defect in avalons and camrys at that time the part was on backorder for 3 weeks. All the people that I know who own a Avalon 2006 to…
Body and structure
23 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Failure of the hinges and torsion bars that are mounted for the trunk lid of my 2006 Toyota Avalon, limited. The torsion bar rotates into the trunk space about 5 inches and can hit items in the trunk and dislodge the torsion bar and damage a weak mounting bracket. This failure is not graceful but immediate. Upon…
Defective vinyl dash this car has 48,305 miles and has almost always been garaged. It was purchased new in march of 2006. Recently, about july of 2013, when I first started noticing it, the complete dash of this car has become covered in a very sticky, shiny substance. No sealers, polishes or waxes have ever been…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2006 Toyota Avalon recalls
Seats: seat heater/cooler
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on july 14, 2016. Owners may contact set customer service at 1-866-405-4226. Set number for this recall is set16b.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4runner, highlander, sequoia, and sienna, 2005-2010 avalon and tundra, 2006-2008 camry solara, 2006-2010 highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 rav4 and tacoma, 2007-2010 fj cruiser, 2007-2011 camry hybrid, 2009-2010 venza, 2010-2012 prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Seats: seat heater/cooler
Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
Fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in january 2015. Owners may contact set customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 prius and corolla, 2009-2011 venza, 2006-2010 avalon, 2007-2010 fj cruiser, 2005-2011 sienna and sequoia, 2006-2011 tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, camry, highlander, tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 rav4 and 4runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
Brakes: master cylinder
Risk: A leak of brake fluid could lead to a change in brake pedal feel and overtime a degradation in braking performance increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331 and lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Full defect summary
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. If replacement brake fluid is used that does not contain such polymers, or that contains only small amounts, a part of the rubber seal located at the rear of the brake master cylinder may become dry, and the seal may curl during movement of the piston. If this occurs, a small amount of brake fluid could slowly leak from the seal into the brake booster.
Equipment: labels
Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: The accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal which will allow the pedal to operate smoothly. Gm will notify owners for the pontiac vibe please see 10v-018. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on february 5, 2010 and will be completed on march 15, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 avalon, model year 2007-2010 camry, model year 2009-2010 corolla, corolla matrix, rav4, model year 2010 highlander, model year 2008-2010 sequoia, and model year 2007-2010 tundra vehicles. Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the sliding surface of the lever may become smooth during vehicle operation. In this condition, if condensation occurs on the surface, as may occur from heater operation (without A/C) when the pedal assembly is cold, the friction when the accelerator pedal is operated may increase, which may result in the accelerator pedal becoming harder to depress, slower to return, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position.
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota filed an amended defect report on november 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned accelerator pedals will become available beginning in april 2010 and dealers will replace any modified pedal with the new pedal if desired. Also, dealers will replace any genuine toyota or lexus all-weather floor mats with redesigned all-weather mats, or repurchase the previous mats from owners who do
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Air bags
Risk: This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the specific SRS air bag. The recall began on april 6, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371, scion at 1-866-548-1851, or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Full defect summary
On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. In this condition, the expansion force of the gas may be insufficient to properly inflate the air bag when the SRS system is activated during a crash.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2006 Toyota Avalon
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Toyota Avalon?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: speed control (103 complaints, typically around 37,500 miles); engine (69 complaints, typically around 63,000 miles); transmission (52 complaints, typically around 16,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 Toyota Avalon have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 2, 2016 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2006 a bad year for the Toyota Avalon?
- It is the most complained-about Avalon model year since 2000, with 360 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.