2005 Toyota Avalon Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Toyota Avalon.

20042006
Complaints
303
Crashes
50
Fires
3
Injuries
32
Fatalities
1
Recalls
4

Worst 2005 Toyota Avalon Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#159 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:59,895 mi
Crash-related:20
#232 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:56,791 mi
#314 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:68,500 mi
Crash-related:1
Considering a 2005 Toyota Avalon?

Check the actual VIN — every car is different.

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

Check VIN Free

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2005 Toyota Avalon.

Unintended Acceleration
59
complaints
Crashes
20
Fires
Avg Miles
59,895
Steering Defects
32
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
56,791
Transmission / Drivetrain
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
68,500
Hydraulic Brakes
13
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
66,194
Automatic Transmission
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
24,980
Electrical Faults
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
40,012
Airbags
10
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
109,870
Steering:Column
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
35,593
Engine & Cooling
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
52,978
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
35,372
Structural Problems
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
31,044
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
8
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
40,009
Engine Problems
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
69,416
Brakes
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
168,000
Body Structure
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
80,765
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
5,430
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Horn
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Rear
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2005 Toyota Avalon. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2005 Toyota Avalon

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~3,120,372 vehicles.

16V396000Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
~7,749 affected

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

10V499000Brake Master Cylinder
~728,544 affected

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 LEXUS RX, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 LEXUS GS AND IS VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS LUBRICANTS FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

10V036000Equipment:other:labels
~153,418 affected

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

10V017000Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
~2,230,661 affected

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 AVALON, MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 CAMRY, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX, RAV4, MODEL YEAR 2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SEQUOIA, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 TUNDRA VEHICLES. DUE TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FRICTION LEVER INTERACTS WITH THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSIDE THE PEDAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY, THE SLIDING SURFACE OF THE LEVER MAY BECOME SMOOTH DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IN THIS CONDITION, IF CONDENSATION OCCURS ON THE SURFACE, AS MAY OCCUR FROM HEATER OPERATION (WITHOUT A/C) WHEN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS COLD, THE FRICTION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS OPERATED MAY INCREASE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMING HARDER TO DEPRESS, SLOWER TO RETURN, OR, IN THE WORST CASE, MECHANICALLY STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION.

Other Toyota Avalon Years

2005 Toyota Avalon — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2005 Toyota Avalon reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2005 Toyota Avalon has 303 NHTSA complaints, 50 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 59 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2005 Toyota Avalon?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (59 complaints, avg 59,895 mi); Steering Defects (32 complaints, avg 56,791 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (14 complaints, avg 68,500 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2005 Toyota Avalon?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 58,743 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2005 Toyota Avalon?
NHTSA complaints for the 2005 Toyota Avalon include 50 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 32 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2005 Toyota Avalon have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,120,372 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2005 Toyota Avalon?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (unintended acceleration) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Toyota Avalon reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2005 Toyota Avalon

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

Check Any VIN — $4.99