NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2012 Toyota Avalon; the most frequently affected component is electrical system. Owners filed 30 complaints, most often about air bags. Among the 23 model years of this model in the database, 2012 ranks #7 for number of recalls.
Air bags — Air bag/restraint control moduleCampaign 20V024000 · 17 Jan 2020
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.
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.
Air bagsCampaign 18V569000 · 29 Aug 2018
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles. During a vehicle repair, the seat belt inner buckles may have been replaced with parts that may incorrectly tell the air bag management system that the seat belt is always buckled.
Risk: If the seat belt is falsely interpreted as being buckled, in the event of a crash, the air bags may not deploy appropriately, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the seat belt assembly to verify that it is properly detecting being unbuckled, replacing the inner seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0S.
Electrical systemCampaign 15V047000 · 28 Jan 2015
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles manufactured February 9, 2010, to October 22, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the sub-woofer speaker located in the trunk may experience an intermittent electrical short which may cause damage to the integrated circuit (IC) in the audio amplifier. In some cases, the damaged IC may allow a constant electrical current flow to the sub-woofer.
Risk: A constant electrical current flow may cause the sub-woofer to overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the audio system amplifier and install a protective cover around the sub-woofer, free of charge. The recall began on July 1,2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
Electrical systemCampaign 13V442000 · 17 Oct 2013
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air conditioning condenser unit housing. The accumulated water may then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module.
Risk: A short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
What owners complain about
Share of the 30 most recent complaints stored for this model year, by component. Owners can list more than one component.
Air bags6 · 20%
Structure6 · 20%
Electrical system4 · 13%
Vehicle speed control4 · 13%
Visibility/wiper3 · 10%
Service brakes3 · 10%
Unknown or other2 · 7%
Seats1 · 3%
When complaints were filed
20134
20143
201510
20162
20172
20182
20192
20202
20222
20231
From owner complaints
My vehicles airbags did not deploy i was hit by an 18 wheeler at a high rate of speed. The vehicle had at least 2 rear end hits by this 18 wheeler estimated at a speed in excess of 25 miles per hour faster than mine (i was going at 70mph northbound on us 75, nine miles south of tulsa oklahoma on a sunny monday at…
Driving on interstate at speed limit. Loud explosion type sound. Sun roof had shattered. Didn't think to take a picture. Was 1,000 mi from home, so covered with plastic and cardboard, and drove home. Pictures are from inside vehicle, unfortunately not showing much.
Rear deck sunscreen activates and comes up without operator activating it. And it will not go back down without manual assistance. With assistance when it does go down there is a loud grinding noise and then it will come back up. To correct this situation requires replacement of complete assembly. (dealer quoted…
Air bag on passanger side of vehicle is disabled and will not reset/activate. Vehicle air bags have never been deployed. Dealer stated we would have to pay out of pocket to have system troubleshooting completed.
Recall and complaint records from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A recall listed here may not apply to every vehicle of this model year — always check your VIN with NHTSA or a dealer.