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2019 Toyota Avalon Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2019 Toyota Avalon carries 4 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering fuel pump. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Transmission shuddering and hard shifting at low speed.” 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.

4 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Campaign #20V682000 · Apr 11, 2020

Issue: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Campaign #20V012000 · Jan 13, 2020

Issue: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Campaign #18V685000 · Apr 10, 2018

Issue: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may erroneously detect a fault during the vehicle start-up self check. If this occurs, the ECU may not deploy the airbags as intended, in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 214, "Side Impact Protection."

Risk: If the air bags do not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0X. Note: 18V-122 was superseded by this recall. The software remedy also includes the updates to the software for 18V-122.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Campaign #19V244000 · Mar 27, 2019

Issue: Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 19R1.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2019 Toyota Avalon.

Reported to NHTSA

Transmission shuddering and hard shifting at low speed

POWER TRAIN

6 NHTSA complaints · 2019-11 → 2026-06

“UA80 transmission issues. High pitched whining Erratic and hard shifting shuttering and hesitation Issue has been diagnosed by dealership Toyota Technician and independent service center ASE Certified technicians. Car is still drivable, with no warning lamps as of yet. Issue”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11746113
“The transmission needs to be replaced. My car has 75,146 miles and my check engine light came on while I was driving down the interstate. I took it to the Toyota dealership and they confirmed that the transmission needed to be replaced. I was told it would cost $8,600. I was”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11743610
“THESE ISSUES OCCUR CONSISTENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL SIDE STREETS AT LOW SPEEDS, BETWEEN 0-35 MPH. (1) WHEN EXECUTING A STOP AND GO EITHER AT A STOP LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, MY 2019 AVALON XLE EMITS A "JERKING" MOTION BEFORE IT DECIDES TO KICK INTO GEAR. THE "JERKING" CAN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11282119

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Blind spot monitor and rear camera detection fault

LANE DEPARTURE, BACK OVER PREVENTION

8 NHTSA complaints · 2019-01 → 2026-02

“I am experiencing the same malfunction with my backup camera/parking assist software that a million other VINs were recalled for. I called Toyota and was essentially told that not enough people from my cars' "batch" have complained. The malfunction is inconsistent, sometimes the”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11719450
“Recurring issue with blind spot and rear cross traffic malfunction alerts. Toyota had issued a service bulletin for this concern. Dealer had to reprogram the module under part: 39151 T-SB-0034-19. CODE C1AB4 and C1AB5”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11687086
“A year ago my 2019 Toyota Avalon started displaying a message that the RCD (rear camera detection) was unavailable. I tried working with the dealership that sold me the car, but they ignored me. I went to another Toyota dealership and they said it would cost approximately $2000”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11549096

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

DCM module failure with high-pitched startup noise

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

5 NHTSA complaints · 2023-09 → 2026-03

“I am writing to formally report a serious and ongoing safety issue involving the Telematics / Data Communication Module (DCM) installed in Toyota vehicles. This issue presents a clear risk to driver and passenger safety and warrants immediate corrective action. The DCM is”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11726374
“When starting the vehicle, an extremely high pitched noise is emitted from the speakers. The safety of my young child is at risk every time I start the car because this could cause irreparable hearing loss. This is a known issue across many Toyota models as I've found through”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11615414
“The car emitted a very loud, high pitched sound, lasting several seconds when starting the vehicle, which was very painful. At the same time, red and green lights are seen flashing a few times next to the SOS button. This has happened twice in the past month”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11545731

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Low-beam headlight illumination inadequate at night

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

3 NHTSA complaints · 2019-02 → 2020-02

“THE HEADLIGHTS, WHEN ON LOW BEAM, IN NON AMBIENT LIGHT CONDITIONS (TOTAL DARKNESS) DO NOT PROJECT FAR ENOUGH TO DETECT PERSONS WALKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR CARS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY IF THE ROAD IS UNDULATING (DIPS, CURVES, HILLS). HEADLIGHT PROJECTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11307980
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS OR AT DUSK, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT ILLUMINATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOSEPH AIRPORT TOYOTA (1180 W NATIONAL RD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11288116
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA AVOLON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS DISCOLORATION ON THE HEADLIGHT UNITS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD CLEARLY AT NIGHT AND HIS VISION WAS IMPAIRED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11181381

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel pump failure and stalling under campaign 20V012000

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

17 NHTSA complaints · 2020-03 → 2026-03

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING INTO HER NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11367055
“THE FUEL PUMP FAILED, MY 2019 TOYOTA AVALON STALLED IN TRAFFIC PUTTING EVERYONE IN HARMS WAY. AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET TO SAFETY, MANY WERE AT RISK, WHY? THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND STOPPED! IT WAS A TURN AFFECTING DRIVERS BEHIND ME, IN FRONT OF ME, INVOLVING TRAFFIC ON TWO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11323813
“NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET, BUT I HAVE A NEW CAR, 4800 MILES ON IT, 3/17/20 I REC'D A RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE ITS FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, TOYOTA SAYS, MAY SUDDENLY STOP WORKING WHILE I AM DRIVING AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR ASSUMING I HAVEN'T BEEN KILLED. I DO NOT WANT A”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11319947

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

AEB and adaptive cruise control malfunction

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

6 NHTSA complaints · 2019-04 → 2025-09

“I was pulling into a parking space when the car suddenly accelerated, jumped the curb and hit a tree. The car has auto-braking but this system did not function to stop the car”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11552788
“This incident has happened twice in three years. Hence it is a very rare occurrence. Both times involved the same events. Cruise control was on. I was traveling in the left lane of the interstate highway, approaching an 18-wheel truck which was in the right lane. When I was”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11417486
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DYNAMIC CRUISE CONTROL HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE DYNAMIC CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED AND THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11384521

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

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

7 crashes 2010–2024

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

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.

4

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls 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 2019 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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