What are the most common problems with the 2006 Toyota Avalon?

Speed control has the most complaints at 103, followed by engine at 69 and power train at 52. In a sample of complaints we read, owners describe throttle hesitation, an engine oil line leak and steering column problems.

How many recalls does the 2006 Toyota Avalon have?

NHTSA lists 7 recalls, covering seat heaters, brake master cylinder seals, tire labels, the accelerator pedal, floor mat entrapment and an air bag inflator.

What is the gas mileage of a 2006 Toyota Avalon?

EPA rates the 3.5L 6-cylinder automatic at 20 MPG city, 28 highway and 23 combined.

Is the 2006 Toyota Avalon a bad year?

It has the most complaints of any Avalon year listed, 360, and ties for the most recalls at 7. Complaints are unverified and not adjusted for sales, so read them as a reason to check recalls and test drive carefully.

How big is the 2006 Toyota Avalon?

Canadian-market specifications list 197 in long, 73 in wide, 59 in tall, with a 111 in wheelbase and 3,560 lb curb weight.

2006 Toyota Avalon Problems, Recalls and MPG

The 2006 Avalon has 360 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, more than any other Avalon model year listed^[1]^[2]. It also has 7 recalls, so check that each one was done before you buy^[2].

360owner complaints^[1]

7recalls^[2]

23MPG combined (EPA)^[3]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Complaints are unverified reports sent to NHTSA by owners, and one complaint can name several parts. Of the 360 on file, 54 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 35 injuries and 2 deaths^[1]. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

The biggest groups are:

Component group	Complaints	Median mileage at failure
Speed control^[4]	103	37,375
Engine^[5]	69	62,833
Power train^[6]	52	12,090
Steering^[7]	35	41,500
Air bags^[8]	27	45,000
Brakes^[9]	26	47,571

We read a sample of 12 complaint texts from each of the top four groups. This is a small sample, so treat it as a description and not a measure of how common anything is.

Speed control. This group has 34 crashes and 17 injuries^[4]. In the sample, 4 of 12 texts describe hesitation when accelerating, 4 describe unintended acceleration or a pedal that stayed down, and 4 describe the cruise control surging forward, accelerating suddenly or failing^[4].

Engine. In the sample, 5 of 12 texts^[5] describe an engine oil line that leaked or ruptured and let the oil run out. Owners call it the VVT-i oil line^[5].

Power train. The median mileage here is low at 12,090 miles^[6]. In the sample, 11 of 12 texts^[6] describe a delay when pressing the gas, often followed by a lurch or surge. In the sample, some owners say the dealer could not reproduce it^[6].

Steering. None of the 35 steering complaints mention a crash^[7]. In the sample, 5 of 12 texts describe the telescoping steering column loosening, dropping or collapsing, and 5 describe clunks, clicks or vibration when turning^[7].

Recalls

NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2006 Avalon^[2]. Newest first:

Aftermarket seat heaters (16V396). Recalled 2016-06-02^[10]. Some Avalons from 2005 to 2010 have aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand element. The wiring can be damaged when the cushion is compressed and short out, which raises the risk of a fire. Dealers disconnect the heaters and refund the purchase price^[10].
Seat heater wiring (14V743). Recalled 2014-11-19^[11]. Compression of the seat cushion may damage the heater wiring, which could short and burn the seat. The fix is to disconnect heaters with copper strand elements and refund the price. The recall was expected to begin in January 2015^[11].
Brake master cylinder seal (10V499). Recalled 2010-10-21^[12] for 2005 and 2006 Avalons^[12] among other models. If brake fluid without the right polymers is used as replacement fluid, a rubber seal can dry and curl, and fluid can slowly leak. That can change pedal feel and, over time, reduce braking, which raises crash risk. Dealers replace the seal with a new design for free^[12].
Tire load labels (10V036). Recalled 2010-02-03^[13]. Cars were sold without the required load carrying capacity labels, so a driver could overload the car and raise the risk of a crash. Dealers mail the corrected label or install it for free^[13].
Accelerator pedal friction (10V017). Recalled 2010-01-21^[14]. The sliding surface in the pedal sensor can become smooth, and with condensation the pedal may be hard to press, slow to return or stuck partly down, which raises crash risk. Dealers install a reinforcement bar for free. The recall was expected to begin February 5, 2010^[14].
Pedal and floor mat entrapment (09V388). Recalled 2009-10-05^[15]. The accelerator pedal can get caught by a loose or ill-fitting driver's floor mat and stick wide open, and NHTSA says this could lead to a crash, serious injury or death^[15].. Dealers modify the pedal and on some vehicles reshape the floor surface under it. Avalon models also get software so the brake overrides the accelerator when both are pressed^[15].
Air bag inflator (06V096). Recalled 2006-04-03^[16]. NHTSA lists 133 potentially affected vehicles in this recall. Some inflators for the side, curtain shield and knee air bags were made with too little heating agent, so a bag might not inflate properly in a crash. Dealers replace the specific air bag^[16].

Fuel economy

EPA rates the 3.5L 6-cylinder, front-wheel-drive Avalon with an Automatic (S5) on regular gas at 20 MPG city, 28 highway and 23 combined^[3]. EPA estimates annual fuel cost at $2,900, using its current fuel price assumptions and not prices from when the car was new^[3].

Safety ratings

NHTSA lists its 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 4 DR FWD as not rated^[17]. That means we have no star rating to share for this car.

Engine and size

The EPA listing is for a 3.5L 6-cylinder engine^[3]. Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications for the AVALON 4DR SEDAN XL/XLS and can differ slightly from US models^[18].

Measure	Value
Length^[18]	197 in
Width^[18]	73 in
Height^[18]	59 in
Wheelbase^[18]	111 in
Curb weight^[18]	3,560 lb

How 2006 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Avalon model year. The 2006 is highlighted^[2].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	80	0
1996	109	0
1997	125	1
1998	178	1
1999	92	1
2000	173	2
2001	134	2
2002	116	1
2003	293	2
2004	205	3
2005	228	7
2006	360	7
2007	243	6
2008	349	6
2009	91	7
2010	46	7
2011	106	1
2012	30	4
2013	160	4
2014	114	4
2015	53	2
2016	25	4
2017	14	2
2018	25	2
2019	72	5
2020	10	4
2021	27	2
2022	8	0

NHTSA lists model years 1995 to 2022 for the Avalon. The 2006 year has the most complaints of any of them at 360^[2]. The next highest are 2008 with 349 and 2003 with 293^[2]. Its 7 recalls tie 2005, 2009 and 2010 for the most^[2].

Nearby years look different. 2005 has 228 complaints, 2007 has 243 and 2009 has 91^[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so use them to compare Avalon years with each other and not with other models.

Should you buy a used 2006 Avalon?

The record is mixed. This year has the highest complaint count of any Avalon year and a long recall list^[2]. The themes owners describe in our sample are throttle response, an engine oil line, and the steering column^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]. Before buying, ask for proof that the accelerator pedal, brake master cylinder and other recalls were done^[12]^[14]^[15]. On a test drive, pay attention to how the car responds when you press the gas from a slow roll, and keep in mind that complaints are unverified and our samples are small.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Toyota Avalon?: Speed control has the most complaints at 103, followed by engine at 69 and power train at 52^[4]^[5]^[6]. In a sample of complaints we read, owners describe throttle hesitation, an engine oil line leak and steering column problems^[4]^[5]^[7].
How many recalls does the 2006 Toyota Avalon have?: NHTSA lists 7 recalls, covering seat heaters, brake master cylinder seals, tire labels, the accelerator pedal, floor mat entrapment and an air bag inflator^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16].
What is the gas mileage of a 2006 Toyota Avalon?: EPA rates the 3.5L 6-cylinder automatic at 20 MPG city, 28 highway and 23 combined^[3].
Is the 2006 Toyota Avalon a bad year?: It has the most complaints of any Avalon year listed, 360, and ties for the most recalls at 7^[2]. Complaints are unverified and not adjusted for sales, so read them as a reason to check recalls and test drive carefully.
How big is the 2006 Toyota Avalon?: Canadian-market specifications list 197 in long, 73 in wide, 59 in tall, with a 111 in wheelbase and 3,560 lb curb weight^[18].

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 360 owner complaints on file for the 2006 Toyota Avalon (54 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 35 injuries, 2 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Toyota Avalon model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Avalon, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S5), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
103 complaints name the speed control component group (34 crashes, 0 fires, 17 injuries, median mileage at failure 37,375). NHTSA vehicle records
69 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 62,833). NHTSA vehicle records
52 complaints name the power train component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 12,090). NHTSA vehicle records
35 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 41,500). NHTSA vehicle records
27 complaints name the air bags component group (14 crashes, 0 fires, 13 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
26 complaints name the brakes component group (6 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 47,571). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 16V396, filed June 2, 2016: Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater / Cooler. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V743, filed November 19, 2014: Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater / Cooler. NHTSA recall database
Recall 10V499, filed October 21, 2010: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder. NHTSA recall database
Recall 10V036, filed February 3, 2010: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
Recall 10V017, filed January 21, 2010: Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal. NHTSA recall database
Recall 09V388, filed October 5, 2009: Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal. NHTSA recall database
Recall 06V096, filed April 3, 2006: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, AVALON 4DR SEDAN XL/XLS: length 197 in, width 73 in, height 59 in, wheelbase 111 in, curb weight 3,560 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2006 Toyota Avalon: problems, recalls and fuel economy