Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2021 Toyota Avalon. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗OCS Sensors May Short Circuit
- Summary
- 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.
Steering Column Damage Affects Air Bag Performance
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (21)
21 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The air bags is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 21 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 12 | 57.1% |
| Engine | 4 | 19% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 14.3% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 9.5% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 9.5% |
| Back over prevention | 1 | 4.8% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 4.8% |
| Power train | 1 | 4.8% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 4.8% |
| Tires | 1 | 4.8% |
How 2021 compares with other Avalon years
Best and worst Avalon years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 137 | 4 |
| 2014 | 96 | 4 |
| 2015 | 41 | 2 |
| 2016 | 23 | 3 |
| 2017 | 14 | 2 |
| 2018 | 24 | 2 |
| 2019 | 71 | 4 |
| 2020 | 10 | 3 |
| 2021 | 21 | 2 |
| 2022 | 8 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2021 Toyota Avalon 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 44 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,500
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 201 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 44 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S6 CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 43 / 44 / 44 | $1,500 | 201 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 25 / 34 / 28 | $2,400 | 315 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 32 / 26 | $2,600 | 341 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 31 / 25 | $2,700 | 352 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 30 / 25 | $2,700 | 361 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2021 Avalon for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2021 Toyota Avalon FAQ
How many recalls does the 2021 Toyota Avalon have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 23V865000 (air bag), 20V734000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2021 Toyota Avalon problems?
Owners filed 21 complaints with NHTSA. Air bags (12), Engine (4), Vehicle speed control (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2021 Toyota Avalon get?
EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · AV-S6 CVT version at 43 city, 44 highway and 44 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2021 Toyota Avalon get?
NHTSA rated the 2021 Toyota Avalon 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.5% rollover risk).
How does the 2021 Avalon compare with other years?
Among the 2013–2021 Toyota Avalon model years at least five years old, the 2020 drew the fewest complaints (10) and the 2013 the most (137). The 2021 drew 21. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.