Toyota Avalon 2021 recalls, problems, complaints and safety
NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls issued for the Toyota Avalon 2021 and 21 complaints filed by owners. It has 14% fewer complaints than the average Toyota Avalon from 2016–2022 (24 per year).
These are recalls issued for this model and year, not for your specific car. A car may already be repaired or may not be included. Confirm with your VIN on NHTSA.
Own or buying a Toyota Avalon 2021? Enter its VIN to see its exact trim and engine, and confirm on NHTSA whether its recalls were repaired.
Recalls issued for the Toyota Avalon 2021
Air bags
NHTSA campaign 23V865000 · 2023-12-20
What happens
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Consequence
An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Air bags
NHTSA campaign 20V734000 · 2020-11-25
What happens
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Toyota Avalon and 2020 Avalon Hybrid, RAV4, and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence
In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB17/20TA17.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Complaints from other owners
21 complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of this model.
1 with a crash
Most reported problems on the Toyota Avalon 2021
- Air bags: 12 (57% of complaints)
- Engine: 4 (19% of complaints)
- Throttle and cruise control: 3 (14% of complaints)
- Forward collision avoidance: 2 (10% of complaints)
- Brakes: 2 (10% of complaints)
Complaints are written by owners and NHTSA doesn't verify each one. They're useful to spot trends.
What to check before buying a Toyota Avalon 2021
- Confirm by VIN on NHTSA that the recalls on this list were repaired.
- The air bag light should come on for a second at start-up and go off. Confirm by VIN that air bag recalls were done.
- Start it cold, listen for noises, look for oil or coolant leaks and exhaust smoke.
- Test cruise control and smooth throttle response.
- Get an inspection from an independent mechanic before paying.
Safety rating (NCAP)
| Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Toyota AVALON 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2021 Toyota AVALON 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Toyota Avalon recalls by year
- 2016 : 3 recalls · 23 complaints
- 2017 : 2 recalls · 14 complaints
- 2018 : 2 recalls · 24 complaints
- 2019 : 4 recalls · 71 complaints
- 2020 : 3 recalls · 10 complaints
- 2021 : 2 recalls · 21 complaints
- 2022 : 0 recalls · 8 complaints
Guides for this check
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Toyota Avalon 2021 have?
NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls issued for the Toyota Avalon 2021. That doesn't mean every car has them open: confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The repair is free at the dealer.
What is the most common problem with the Toyota Avalon 2021?
In complaints filed with NHTSA, the most mentioned component is: air bags (12 of 21 complaints). Complaints aren't verified one by one, but they show trends.
Model-level information from official NHTSA sources. Confirm by VIN on NHTSA. Not a substitute for a mechanical inspection.
Last updated: October 26, 2026. Sources: NHTSA vPIC (decoding), NHTSA Recalls, NHTSA Complaints and NHTSA NCAP (5-Star Safety Ratings).