2017 Toyota Avalon reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2017 Toyota Avalon holds 14 complaints after 10 years, a rate of 3 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Avalon years here — under the median of the other years, which is 4. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Air bag control module and Temporary spare tire.

2016 Toyota Avalon — Photo by aneekr, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons Public domain

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (6 of 14), then Speed control (3) and Air bags (2). The most filings arrived in 2019 (6 of 14). Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 2 that report an injury, and 5 that report a death.

Next to 2016 and 2018

The 2016 Avalon has 23 complaints, 3 per year, and the 2018 has 24 complaints, 5 per year. The 2017 has more complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2017 Toyota Avalon. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (2)

Recall air bags, air bag control module 2020-01-17 · NHTSA campaign 20V024000

Summary Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.

Remedy Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.

Recall tires, temporary spare tire 2017-05-02 · NHTSA campaign 17V295000

Summary Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.

Remedy Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.

Complaints by component (14 total)

Engine

Speed control

Air bags

Electrical system

Fuel and propulsion system

Service brakes

Structure

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"The torsion springs for the rear trunk are very weak. They have been that way since car was new. I have had multiple occasions where I opened the trunk and had it come down and hit me on the head. This has also happened…"
Structure · filed 2022-12-12
"Leaving a parking lot, the car jumped out of gear. Thought maybe I had bumped the gear selector but attempts at putting the car in gear resulted in grinding noises and the only option was to put it in PARK. Check engine…"
Electrical system, Speed control, Engine · filed 2022-10-24
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE…"
Air bags · filed 2020-05-04
"TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN EMAIL CONFIRMATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS). THE NHTSA HOTLINE WAS CONTACTED AND AN INQUIRY WAS MADE IN REGARD TO…"
Air bags · filed 2020-01-24
"TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO INSTALL AN AUTO-STOP CAUSED THE CARBON-MONOXIDE POISONING OF TWO (MORE) PEOPLE, MANY DOZENS OF SUCH DEATHS REPORTED. (DETAIL: THEY HAD LIKELY STOPPED THE ENGINE, BUT THE WIRELESS FOB CAN RE-START;…"
Engine · filed 2019-07-20

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2017 Toyota Avalon 4 DR FWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2017 Toyota Avalon Hybrid 4 DR FWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Avalon	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	21	30	24 MPG	$2700
Avalon hybrid	2.5L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AV-S6)	Front-wheel drive	40	39	40 MPG	$1600

Specs and fitment

4th generation (XX40), 2012–2018

Body styles Sedan

Oil 5W-30 (3.5L V6, 2012 only); 0W-20 (3.5L V6, 2013–2018; 2.5L Hybrid, 2013–2018) , 6.4 qt capacity

Tire size 215/60R16 (2012 Base), 215/55R17 (XLE and most trims), 225/45R18 (2016 Limited/Touring)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 20V-024 covers certain 2012–2018 Avalon and 2013–2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles (along with other Toyota models). During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit may malfunction and may disable deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners; dealers inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness when needed, free of charge. Recall 15V-728 covers certain 2013–2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles with the optional Pre-Collision System: the PCS may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object, increasing the risk of a crash; dealers replace certain PCS components, free of charge (Toyota campaign numbers F1V and F2E). Recall 14V-715 covers certain 2014 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles equipped with 16-inch and 17-inch rims in which the left-side front suspension lower arm may have been incorrectly manufactured, so the lower arm may separate from the ball joint; dealers replace the left lower arm, free of charge.

Compare

Previous year 2016 Toyota Avalon Next year 2018 Toyota Avalon See every Toyota Avalon model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Toyota Avalon reliable?

What are common problems with a 2017 Toyota Avalon?

Is the 2017 Toyota Avalon more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2016 Avalon has 23 complaints, 3 per year, and the 2018 has 24 complaints, 5 per year. The 2017 has more complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018.

Has the 2017 Toyota Avalon been recalled?

The 2017 Toyota Avalon has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2017 Toyota Avalon?

Owners have filed 14 complaints about the 2017 Toyota Avalon with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2017 Toyota Avalon get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2017 Toyota Avalon is 32 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

When was the Toyota Avalon discontinued in the US?

Toyota ended US Avalon production after the 2022 model year; the fifth-generation car was built in Georgetown, Kentucky through that run.

What generation is a 2016 Toyota Avalon?

4th generation XX40 (2012–2018 in this catalog).

Does the Avalon Hybrid use the same engine oil as the V6?

Both use 0W-20 in the XX40 and XX50 generations, but oil capacity differs: about 4.6 qt with filter on the 2.5L Hybrid versus about 6.4 qt on the 3.5L V6 (XX40); confirm on the dipstick for your engine.