Model year record

2015 Toyota Avalon Hybrid recalls & problems

The 2015 Toyota Avalon Hybrid has 2 safety recalls and 12 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes (5 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints12filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints

NHTSA overall5 ★crash-test stars

Safety recalls

Air bagsJan 17, 2020

Air bag/restraint control module

Recall 20V0240002,891,976 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.

Forward collision avoidanceNov 3, 2015

Crash imminent braking

Recall 15V72800030,812 vehicles

Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a Pre-Collision System (PCS) as optional equipment. In these vehicles, the PCS may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object.
Risk: A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this campaign are F1V and F2E.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2015 Toyota Avalon HYBRID 4 DR FWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	10.7%

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: No

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Avalon Hybrid Hybrid

40mpg combined

City / highway	40 / 39 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (AV-S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $1,700/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes	5	0	0	—
Electrical system	3	0	0	—
Engine	2	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	2	0	0	—
Electronic stability control (esc)	2	0	0	—
Forward collision avoidance	1	0	0	—
Air bags	1	1	1	—
Unknown or other	1	0	0	—
Exterior lighting	1	0	0	—
VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2015 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE HYBRID ENGINE ON THE VEHICLE SWITCHED FROM ELECTRIC TO GASOLINE OPERATION WHICH CAUSE A FASTER ACCELERATION AND JERKING MOTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO FITZGERALD TOYOTA GAITHERSBURG (907 N FREDERICK AVE, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20879) WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO FAILURE WITH VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD A THIRD-PARTY INVESTIGATOR INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND IDENTIFIED THE ACCELERATION AND JERKING IN THE VEHICLE WHEN…
Dec 1, 2019 · 89,696 miles
Service brakes
THE AVALON HYBRIDS COVERED ONLY BY WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT ZKK ARE SUFFERING THE SAME DANGERS AND FVMSS NONCOMPLIANCE DUE TO BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILURES AS THOSE TOYOTA COVERED BY SAFETY RECALLS (D0H & K0L). BY EXCLUDING AVALON HYBRIDS WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES FROM THE D0H AND K0L SAFETY RECALLS, TOYOTA IS LEAVING THE OWNERS TO HELPLESSLY EXPERIENCE LIFE-THREATENING BRAKE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION BEFORE TOYOTA WILL PROVIDE THE REPLACEMENT BRAKE COMPONENTS NEEDED TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE. THE LAW REQUIRES TOYOTA TO PREVENT THE LIFE-THREATENING DANGERS OF THIS BRAKE DEFECT BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURS. TOYOTA'S COST-CUTTING STRATEGIES ARE CAUSING CRASHES AND INJURIES. INJURIES AND CRASHES…
Sep 18, 2019
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED NEWARK TOYOTA WORLD (230 E CLEVELAND AVE, NEWARK, DE 19711) AND SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR APPOINTMENT FOR JUNE 24, 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Jun 22, 2019 · 40,000 miles
Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD BEFORE STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DAYTONA TOYOTA 1700 (451 N NOVA RD, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114, (386) 255-7475), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNLESS THE BRAKE FAILURE COULD BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,251. *JS *LN *TT
Apr 13, 2018 · 16,251 miles
Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH SHORTED OUT THE DISPLAY PANEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER (DON MCGILL TOYOTA, 11800 KATY FWY HOUSTON, TX 77079, (281) 496-2000) WAS NOTIFIED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Apr 14, 2018
Electronic stability control (esc)
TIME TO TIME EVERYTHING ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR SHUTDOWN (LIGHTS, NAVIGATION, STEREO SYSTEM E.T.C. ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES, IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN I DRIVE, ALSO THE DASHBOARD MAKES A NOISE WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A CLICK. ABOUT AN YEAR AGO I GOT A RECALL FOR BUT WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA OF NOHO THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM, SO NOTHING HAS BEEN REPLACED AND I STILL HAVE BOTH PROBLEMS WHICH HARD TO FIND OUT BY DRIVING COUPLES OF MILES, HOW A TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED TO ME. SO PLEASE REQUEST A REPLACEMENT OR FIX THEM, BECAUSE IT'S DANGEROUS WHEN POWER GOES OFF WHILE YOU ARE ON FREEWAY. I HAVEN'T MENTIONED THAT I GOT LOST MANY TIMES BECAUSE THE NAVIGATION STOPPED WORKING,…
Nov 29, 2017 · 28,000 miles
Unknown or other
NOTHING HAPPENED. CAR WORKS FINE. GOT THIS RECALL LAST NOVEMBER 2015 FROM TOYOTA AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM SINCE. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 15V728. ALMOST A YEAR LATER AND I'M STILL WAITING.
Nov 3, 2015
Service brakes
PRE-COLLISION RADAR SYSTEM (SAFETY RECALL)THE VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN SITUATIONS, THE PCS (PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM) COULD INTERPRET A STEEL JOINT OR PLATE IN THE ROADWAY AS AN OBJECT THAT TRIGGERS PCS ACTIVATION. IF THIS OCCURS, THE PCS WARNING BUZZER SOUNDS AND THE SYSTEM WILL APPLY THE SERVICE BRAKE AUTOMATICALLY. UNEXPECTED BRAKING COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH OR VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
Sep 2, 2015 · 19,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Brake Actuator Valve WearOpen
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received a petition dated September 19, 2023 from the owner of a 2012 Toyota Prius V requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP19-004. In the letter, the petitioner reported experiencing an unexpected and complete loss of brake power while driving, accompanied by multiple dashboard warning lights. This petition is based on the petitioner's direct experience and assessment that ODI closed DP19-004 because its prompting petition was withdrawn by that petitioner. ODI will review the work conducted during DP19-004 and a review of any additional related complaints and crashes via a new defect petition The petition and related materials can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ODI number:11553736.
DP23005 · opened Nov 22, 2023
Pedestrian alert soundsClosedLed to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review…
DP22005 · opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023
Brake Actuator Valve WearClosed
On September 19, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Roger Hogan requesting that the Agency investigate and recall certain Toyota Prius, Prius PHV, Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid vehicles for a brake actuator valve wear condition covered under Toyota Customer Support Programs ZJB and ZKK (subject CSP?s). In support of his request, the petitioner identified 117 NHTSA complaints allegedly related to the subject CSP condition, including 60 reporting crashes. On September 30, 2019, ODI opened Defect Petition DP19-004 to evaluate the petitioner?s request for an investigation. In August 2020, the petitioner notified the Agency that he was withdrawing his petition. Because the petitioner has withdrawn the petition, we are denying the petition as moot and no further analysis of this petition is necessary.NHTSA is authorized to issue an order…
DP19004 · opened Sep 30, 2019 · closed Jan 21, 2021
Electrical overstressClosedLed to recall 20V024
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.Â During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. Â The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. Â The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal,…
EA19001 · opened Apr 19, 2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024