Reliable Auto DB

2020 Toyota Avalon reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Toyota Avalon holds 10 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 2 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 3 recalls on file, including Occupant classification, Frontal, and Fuel pump.

2019 Toyota Avalon XSE
Photo by Elise240SX, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

10

Per year

2

Recalls

3

Years on the road

7

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Fuel and propulsion system (5 of 10), then Forward collision avoidance (2) and Air bags (1). The most filings arrived in 2021 (5 of 10). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 Avalon has 70 complaints, 14 per year, and the 2021 has 21 complaints, 2 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021.

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 2020 Toyota Avalon. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall air bags, sensor, occupant classification 2023-12-20 · NHTSA campaign 23V865000
Summary 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 vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
Recall air bags, frontal 2020-11-25 · NHTSA campaign 20V734000
Summary 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 during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Remedy Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB17/20TA17.
Recall Fuel pump 2020-11-04 · NHTSA campaign 20V682000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (10 total)

Fuel and propulsion system
5
Forward collision avoidance
2
Air bags
1
Service brakes
1
Speed control
1
Steering
1
Visibility
1
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

1

Complaints filed per year

5202112022120232202412025
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "A couple of months ago, my car started running a little rough as it would sit in idle mode. When suddenly my check engine light came on. I checked the codes and they seemed to be P0445 Evaporitive emission system leak…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-12-08
  • "To Whom It May Concern, I am filing this complaint to report Right Toyota in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Toyota Motor Corporation for their mishandling of a critical airbag safety recall (23TA15) on my 2020 Toyota Avalon…"
    Air bags · filed 2024-11-18
  • "TIE ROD LOOSE I heard a clunking noise while turning the steering wheel to the left at very low speeds. Took car in for service Service Mechanic found left outer tie rod end "with play, loose" Safety issue: potential…"
    Steering · filed 2024-07-15
  • "When refueling vehicle, gasoline backs up immediately, doesn't shut off gas hose and pours out all over vehicle and feet of person refueling. Today is the 4th time it's happened. It's been to Gettle Toyota of Lakewood…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2023-11-25
  • "on 3 lane expressway (US422)about 1/4 mile from where the lanes split( see attached). No cars in front of me but cars in the lane to my left slowed. My car suddenly braked causing the car behind me to swerve to my right…"
    Speed control, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2022-07-31

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2020 Toyota AVALON 4 DR FWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2020 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 (8-speed) Front-wheel drive 22 31 25 MPG $2600
Avalon hybrid 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Front-wheel drive 43 43 43 MPG $1500
Avalon hybrid XLE 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Front-wheel drive 43 44 44 MPG $1450
Avalon XLE 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Front-wheel drive 22 32 26 MPG $2500

Specs and fitment

5th generation (XX50), 2019–2022
Body styles Sedan
Oil 0W-20 , 4.8 qt capacity
Tire size 215/55R17 (XLE), 235/45R18 (Limited and Hybrid Limited), 235/40R19 (XSE, Touring, TRD)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 20V-682 covers certain 2019–2020 Avalon vehicles (among many other Toyota and Lexus models). The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail; if it fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash; dealers replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Recall 18V-685 covers certain 2019 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles in which the air bag electronic control unit may erroneously detect a fault during the vehicle start-up self check, so the ECU may not deploy the air bags as intended in a crash; dealers update the air bag ECU software, free of charge (Toyota campaign J0X; NHTSA notes 18V-122 was superseded by this recall).

Compare

Previous year 2019 Toyota Avalon Next year 2021 Toyota Avalon See every Toyota Avalon model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Toyota Avalon reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Toyota Avalon holds 10 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 2 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 3 recalls on file, including Occupant classification, Frontal, and Fuel pump.

What are common problems with a 2020 Toyota Avalon?

The complaints owners file most often name Fuel and propulsion system (5 of 10), then Forward collision avoidance (2) and Air bags (1). The most filings arrived in 2021 (5 of 10). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports a death.

Is the 2020 Toyota Avalon more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 Avalon has 70 complaints, 14 per year, and the 2021 has 21 complaints, 2 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021.

Has the 2020 Toyota Avalon been recalled?

The 2020 Toyota Avalon has 3 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 2020 Toyota Avalon?

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2020 Toyota Avalon with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Toyota Avalon get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Toyota Avalon is 34.5 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.