"How reliable is the 2012 Toyota Avalon?"

"Based on 35 NHTSA complaints, the 2012 Toyota Avalon has a median complaint mileage of 35000 miles. The most common issue is AIR BAGS."

"What are common problems with the 2012 Toyota Avalon?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Toyota Avalon is AIR BAGS, accounting for a significant portion of the 35 total complaints filed."

2012 Toyota Avalon: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 35 complaints

Total Complaints

35,000mi

Median Mileage

AIR BAGS

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

16,750 25th Percentile

35,000 Median Mileage

62,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS

STRUCTURE:BODY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BRAKES

VISIBILITY/WIPER

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

SUSPENSION

SEATS

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A SCOOTER, A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOOR AND A WALL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE ENGINE RPMS CONTINUED TO RACE UNT..."

"PURCHASED USED CERTIFIED-USED AVALON WITH 28.3K MILES ON JUNE 8. ON JUNE 15, THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED FROM PARKING LOT TO STOP SIGN. APPLIED BRAKES AND NO RESPONSE. AVALON SPED UP AND HAD TO TURN THE CAR TO AVOID ACCIDENT. APPLIED BRAKES AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. CONTINUED HOME AND ..."

"2ND COMPLAINT (FIRST COMPLAINT - #10522765) - ON JULY 2, 2013, AROUND 5:20 P.M., MY FOURTH INCIDENT OF BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED. I WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MILES AND APPLIED BRAKES. BRAKES FAILED AND ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS RACING. I CRASHED INTO A THE REAR OF A SEDAN WHICH WAS STOPPED. NO INJURIES WE..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28