2019 Toyota Avalon: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the fuel system, electrical, and transmission. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2019- Owner complaints
- 68
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes reported
- 4
- 5 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2019 Toyota Avalon: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Avalon is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2019 Toyota Avalon. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cylGas | FWD | 26 mpg |
| 2.5L 4-cylHybrid | FWD | 44 mpg |
- The 2019 Toyota Avalon was sold in two versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
- On the hybrid, watch for the car moving off on electric power at low speed and for any hybrid system warning on the dash.
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Avalon that averages well under the EPA 26 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Stalling and rough running
10,000–40,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Toyota Avalon, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Fuel system192 crashes
Stalling while driving is the main pattern, often during turns or at intersections, with the car acting as if it is starved of fuel. Several owners hear the fuel pump humming from the rear after shutdown, and some report hard starts or rough running. Two crashes involve sudden acceleration while parking or turning, one right after a stall. Many filings are about waiting for a fuel pump recall repair, with dealers saying no parts or fix are available. A few describe a strong gasoline smell in the garage after every fill-up.
Most of these filings are about a delayed fuel pump recall repair, not new failures. Owners say dealers had no parts and the wait dragged on far too long. Where symptoms show up, the car stalls without warning at 35 to 40 mph, hesitates at idle with the check engine light on, or runs rough. Reported mileages range from 10,000 to 40,000. A stall in moving traffic leaves the driver at real risk of being hit.
Electrical15No crashes
Driver-assist warnings and module faults make up most of these complaints. Blind spot monitor and cross traffic alert malfunction messages keep coming back, and one side may miss vehicles entirely. The telematics module (DCM) draws repeated complaints: a painful squeal from the speakers at startup, flashing lights by the SOS button, lost remote connect, and battery drain. Dealers often quote a paid replacement. Other reports cover pre-collision and rear camera detection faults, a climate control panel that cuts out heat and defrost, and sudden stalls with warning lights. Dealers often cannot reproduce these faults.
Transmission9No crashes
Jerky, harsh shifting at low speed is the common complaint, mostly below 35 mph in stop-and-go city driving. Owners describe a hesitation before the car takes gear, rough downshifts, a dragging feel when coasting, shudder, whining, and grinding. Some say it started after the first 2 years or after a fluid change. Dealers often cannot reproduce it. One owner reports a transmission replacement at 75,146 miles after a check engine light. Stalling when pulling away from a light also appears, which leaves the car exposed to cross traffic.
Exterior lights3No crashes
Weak headlights are the complaint. Low beams fall short in full darkness and over dips, curves, and hills, so pedestrians and parked cars on the shoulder are hard to see. A dealer adjustment did not solve it. Discolored headlight units also reduce night vision. Reports come early, at roughly 4,500 to 14,000 miles. Poor night visibility raises the chance of hitting someone at the edge of the road.
Lane keeping2No crashes
Blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert malfunction alerts keep returning. Dealers point to a service bulletin. One reprogrammed the module, and another blamed poorly positioned sensors and told the owner to pay for the fix. When these systems drop out, a driver may assume the next lane is clear when it is not.
Acceleration and cruise control2No crashes
Adaptive cruise control misbehaves in two ways. In one, the car brakes hard for no reason on highways and city streets, which invites a rear-end collision. In the other, the system fails to sense a truck merging into the lane, and cruise does not release until the brake pedal is pressed several times. Both reports describe the problem happening more than once.
Suspension2No crashes
On concrete freeways the car wanders and follows the grooves in the pavement, even when the alignment checks out within spec. That drifting makes the car feel unsafe at highway speed. Body roll in corners on bumpy roads is also reported, and it improved after replacing the original Bridgestone tires. These filings also complain that the blind spot monitor misses fast-passing cars and vehicles at merging angles.
Engine2No crashes
Two separate problems appear. One is heavy oil use on a nearly new car: 2 quarts added by 2,000 miles with no visible leaks, then a low oil light at 3,100 miles, and the dealer tore down the engine. The other affects the hybrid with keyless ignition. The car can stay on silently in a garage with no warning, then start its engine as the battery drains, which creates a carbon monoxide risk.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Avalon owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
I was pulling into a parking space when the car suddenly accelerated, jumped the curb and hit a tree. The car has auto-braking but this system did not function to stop the car.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2023
After starting car, from being parked in parking garage from 8am-5pm, the Pre Collision warning system light turned on. Vehicle currently has 20k miles on the odometer. There are numerous records in the car's onboard history of this device failing during car startup. Drove home, started next day with no incident. System is unreliable. According to the Infotainment system, the car seems to report the failure every few months.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2022
When starting the vehicle, an extremely high pitched noise is emitted from the speakers. The safety of my young child is at risk every time I start the car because this could cause irreparable hearing loss. This is a known issue across many Toyota models as I've found through online forums. Toyota wants $1,200 to fix the DCM Module when it is a manufacturing issue and not caused by the consumer.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2024
UA80 transmission issues. High pitched whining Erratic and hard shifting shuttering and hesitation Issue has been diagnosed by dealership Toyota Technician and independent service center ASE Certified technicians. Car is still drivable, with no warning lamps as of yet. Issue became more noticeable after I had the transmission fluid changed by dealership.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2026
I bought the car new in 2019. Car was fine for the first 2 years then it started skipping the gear on low speeds, it does not happen all the time but it does seems to jerk while changing gears in low speeds, occusionally. I have taken the car in to Toyota in Green Bay, WI location and I was told they can't duplicate the issue.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2023
How the 2019 compares with other Avalon years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2019 has the most owner complaints of the 5 Avalon years we cover, about 4.3 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Fuel system192
- Electrical150
- Transmission90
- Exterior lights30
- Lane keeping20
- Acceleration and cruise control21
Where the 2019 fits in the Avalon's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2019 is the first model year of the Avalon's fifth generation (2019–2023). First years of a redesign often carry teething problems that Toyota fixes in later years, so the checks above matter more than usual.
Toyota updated the Avalon for 2022, so a 2019 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2022 (not on a 2019)
- Enhanced driver assistance features
Should you avoid the first year of a redesign? See the 45-car study.
Recalls to confirm (4)
Recall repairs are free at any Toyota dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
20V682000Fuel systemNov 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
20V012000Fuel systemJan 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
19V244000EquipmentMar 2019
Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims.".
Risk: If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 19R1.
18V685000ElectricalOct 2018
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may erroneously detect a fault during the vehicle start-up self check. If this occurs, the ECU may not deploy the airbags as intended, in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 214, "Side Impact Protection.".
Risk: If the air bags do not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0X. Note: 18V-122 was superseded by this recall. The software remedy also includes the updates to the software for 18V-122.
Also looking at these instead of a Avalon?
Cars shoppers compare with the Toyota Avalon, with their own 2019 checklists.
2019 owner complaints, side by side
- Nissan Maxima18
- Genesis G8027
- Chevrolet Impala28
- 2019 Toyota Avalon68
