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2005 Toyota Avalon Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2005 Toyota Avalon has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Telescoping steering wheel lever failure.” Toyota's owner's manual splits service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1 because it covers short trips, extreme temperatures, dusty roads, or heavy idling. The intervals below reflect Schedule 1 — the schedule Toyota recommends for typical real-world use.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2005 Toyota Avalon.

Reported to NHTSA

Telescoping steering wheel lever failure

STEERING

30 NHTSA complaints · 2007-04 → 2018-11

“MY 2005 TOYOTA AVALON (TOURING MODEL) HAS A DEFECTIVE LOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE STEERING COLUMN. ABOUT EVERY HALF AN HOUR IT WILL COME LOSE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL DROP OUT OF MY HANDS AND THE LOCK WILL JAM AGAINST MY LEG, CUTTING ME”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10254968
“JUST ADDING MY SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. THE LEVER AT THE LEFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN DOES NOT HOLD AND DROPS DOWN PERIODICALLY. IT HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10336127
“TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL COLASPSES WHEN DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11152394

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission hesitation and surge on downshift

POWER TRAIN

12 NHTSA complaints · 2006-11 → 2018-08

“SINCE PURCHASING IN DEC., 2005, TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN PROCEEDING FROM IDLE AT SLOW SPEEDS AND SOMETIMES BETWEEN GEARS AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. HAVE NEARLY BEEN REAR-ENDED INNUMERABLE TIMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10202063
“I OWN A 2005 AVALON THAT HAS A TRANSMISSION/THROTTLE PROBLEM. SLOWING FROM SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH, THEN ACCELERATING MODERATELY, THE ENGINE WILL INCREASE RPM TO 2500-3000 RPM AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL UNTIL THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL DECIDES TO SHIFT TO A”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10174686
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE GEARS SHIFTED WITHOUT WARNING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11123789

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unintended acceleration

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

65 NHTSA complaints · 2006-04 → 2024-10

“The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated while attempting to make a left turn, the accelerator pedal was depressed and became inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11618530
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING 3 MPH FROM A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO TWO PARKED VEHICLES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10402397
“ON 1/17/2009 MY MOTHERS CAR LEFT THE PAVED ROADWAY AT APPROX. 70 MPH AND STRUCK A BRICK WALL. NO SKID MARKS WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME AND WE NOW BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND CAUSED THE CRASH AND SUBSEQUENT DEATH OF MY MOTHER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10317651

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake master cylinder failure

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

15 NHTSA complaints · 2010-02 → 2020-06

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND BECAME SOFT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES TO FIX THE ISSUE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11327246
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10435708
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V499000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: MASTER CYLINDER) AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO INQUIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10372101

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Dashboard cracking near airbag area

STRUCTURE

10 NHTSA complaints · 2011-07 → 2023-01

“Dashboard and airbag covers including dash are badly cracked, airbag safety is potentially compromised if deployed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11501502
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD CRACKED DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE DASHBOARD CRACK INITIATED IN THE AIR BAG AREA AND SPREAD ACROSS THE DASHBOARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10465242
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD'S VINYL COVER FRACTURED. THE CRACK INITIATED AT THE DRIVER SIDE AND SPREAD TO THE AIR BAG AND GLOVE COMPARTMENT AREA”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10629436

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

VVTi oil line leak at timing chain cover

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

15 NHTSA complaints · 2006-04 → 2010-10

“VVTI HIGH-PRESSURE OIL RUBBER HOSE LEAKAGE PROBLEM ON 2005 AVALON AT 29,500 MILES: HEARD STRANGE ENGINE NOISE; SAW VERY LITTLE OIL ALTHOUGH I HAD CHANGED OIL ONLY 300 MILES AGO AND NO SIGN ON DASHBOARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10307358
“TOYOTA AVALON 2005 MODEL OIL LINE FAILURE CAUSING OIL TO SPILL OUT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ONTO THE TIRES, BRAKES AND ROADWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10285081
“MY 2005 AVALON WITH LESS THAT 40,000 MILES -STILL UNDER WARRANTY -WITHOUT ANY WARNING FROM DASHBOARD LIGHTS BEGAN TO LOSE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY-THEN IT SHUT DOWN-I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND THE CAR WAS ON FIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10313601

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front airbag non-deployment in crash

AIR BAGS

8 NHTSA complaints · 2007-09 → 2018-12

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HIS 95 POUND WIFE SITS IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE AIR BAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE. HE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS SET TO ACTIVATE AT 60 POUNDS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10203544
“A COACH BUS TRAVELING AT 60 KM + (40 + MILES PER HR) RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT MY AVALON 2005 XLS TURNING LEFT. MY SPEED WAS BETWEEN 20KM - 25 KM (12- 15 MILES) AN HOUR. NOT ONE OF MY 12 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10291204
“SEPTEMBER 13, 2017 MY DAUGHTER HAD A WRECK. SHE RAN OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OVERCORRECTED RUNNING INTO SEVERAL CULVERTS AND A DITCH SLAMMING INTO A UTILITY POLE ALMOST DEAD CENTER OF THE CAR. DOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 55 OR LESS NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED NOR DID THE SEAT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11023903

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1, or 10,000 miles under Schedule 2. Toyota covers the first 2 oil changes through ToyotaCare.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends rotation at every oil change to maximize tire life on FWD and AWD models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 5,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends measuring pad thickness at each service.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 36 months. Critical for the integrity of the ABS, VSC, and brake assist systems.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Earlier under Schedule 1 if driven on unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Toyota labels ATF as 'lifetime fill' on most automatics, but recommends inspection and replacement every 60,000 miles under severe service. Use Toyota WS or Type-IV — no substitutes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 120,000 mi

Toyota iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated for 120,000 miles. Earlier replacement reduces fuel economy and can cause misfires on direct-injection engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Super Long Life Coolant (SLLC)

Every 50,000 mi

Toyota SLLC (pink): first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000 miles. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it will damage the cooling system seals.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner in dusty climates. Located behind the glove box on most Toyota and Lexus models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Serpentine / Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect the serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Toyota uses long-life EPDM belts that rarely fail before 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Timing Chain — No Replacement

On condition / lifetime

Toyota's 2AR-FE, 2GR-FKS, A25A-FKS, and most Toyota engines built since 2010 use a timing chain rated for the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Pro only

Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

86 crashes 1990–2024

How the 86 occupant deaths break down

67

driver deaths

19

passenger deaths

86

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2005 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

36

complaints mentioning a crash

3

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2005 Toyota Avalon reflects Toyota's published service intervals and the Maintenance Required Light system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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