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2021 Toyota Avalon

HybridGas

Midsize Cars
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

84 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns2

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA27

Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA44 mpg

2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2021 Toyota Avalon is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize car with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Avalon Hybrid XLE, is EPA-rated at 44 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 27 complaints, most often about the air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Avalon Hybrid XLE	Hybrid	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl + 259V Li-Ion	43	44	44	$1,400
Avalon Hybrid	Hybrid	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl + 259V Li-Ion	43	43	43	$1,450
Avalon AWD	Gas	AWD	2.5L 4-cyl	25	34	28	$2,250
Avalon XLE	Gas	FWD	3.5L 6-cyl	22	32	26	$2,400
Avalon	Gas	FWD	3.5L 6-cyl	22	31	25	$2,500
Avalon TRD	Gas	FWD	3.5L 6-cyl	21	30	25	$2,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42945, 42944, 42946, 42942, 42943, 42947.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Air Bags

23TA15, 23LA03

999,901 vehicles

ProblemToyota 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.RiskAn air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.FixDealers 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.

NHTSA campaign 23V865000reported Dec 20, 2023Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

▲high

Steering

20TB17/20TA17

161 vehicles

ProblemToyota 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."RiskIn the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.FixToyota 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.

NHTSA campaign 20V734000reported Nov 25, 2020Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

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 matt

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

27complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 9 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Air Bags18

Engine4

Vehicle Speed Control3

Forward Collision Avoidance3

Service Brakes2

Back Over Prevention1

What owners describe

“We have received a recall for the sensors and airbag on our car back in December of 2023. Every time we call the dealership they tell us they can't get a send because the parts are not available. I cannot seem to get any movement with this. I've tried to contacting Toyota corporate but their website leaves much to be d…”Apr 9, 2026 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Avalon. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was intermittently illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated t…”Nov 14, 2025 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

“There is no remedy available to fix the OCS sensor in front passenger seat of our 2021 Toyota Avalon. We are scared to drive it. What are our options since Toyota will not help.”Aug 5, 2025 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other Avalon model years

2022 Toyota Avalon

0 recalls · 8 complaints

2020 Toyota Avalon

4 recalls · 10 complaints

2019 Toyota Avalon

5 recalls · 71 complaints

2018 Toyota Avalon

2 recalls · 25 complaints

2017 Toyota Avalon

2 recalls · 14 complaints

2016 Toyota Avalon

4 recalls · 25 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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