Model year
2021 Toyota Avalon
NHTSA lists 2 recalls and 21 complaints for the 2021 Toyota Avalon (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 1 recall and 6 complaints under AVALON HYBRID. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are AIR BAGS (12), ENGINE (4), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (3). NHTSA rated 3 variants 5 stars overall. EPA rates it 25–44 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $1,500–$2,700, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2000 173 complaints
- 2001 134 complaints
- 2002 116 complaints
- 2003 293 complaints
- 2004 205 complaints
- 2005 228 complaints
- 2006 360 complaints
- 2007 243 complaints
- 2008 349 complaints
- 2009 91 complaints
- 2010 46 complaints
- 2011 106 complaints
- 2012 30 complaints
- 2013 137 complaints
- 2014 96 complaints
- 2015 41 complaints
- 2016 23 complaints
- 2017 14 complaints
- 2018 24 complaints
- 2019 71 complaints
- 2020 10 complaints
- 2021 21 complaints
- 2022 8 complaints
Recalls
23V865000 · Dec 20, 2023
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
Toyota 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…
20V734000 · Nov 25, 2020
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; STEERING:COLUMN
Toyota 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…
Complaints
21 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 1, fire flag on 0, injury field 0, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| AVALON HYBRID | 1 | 6 |
Investigations
No investigations are matched to this name.
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR AWD | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.105 | NHTSA photo |
| 4 DR FWD | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.105 | NHTSA photo |
| HYBRID 4 DR FWD | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.105 | — |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon XLE · 3.5L · Automatic (S8) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 | 32 | 26 | — | — | $2,600 |
| Avalon · 3.5L · Automatic (S8) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 | 31 | 25 | — | — | $2,700 |
| Avalon Hybrid · 2.5L · Automatic (AV-S6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · Hybrid | 43 | 43 | 43 | — | — | $1,550 |
| Avalon Hybrid XLE · 2.5L · Automatic (AV-S6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · Hybrid | 43 | 44 | 44 | — | — | $1,500 |
| Avalon AWD · 2.5L · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 | 34 | 28 | — | — | $2,400 |
| Avalon TRD · 3.5L · Automatic (S8) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 | 30 | 25 | — | — | $2,700 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2021 Toyota Avalon at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.