2006 Toyota Avalon: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2006 Toyota Avalon: 7 recalls, 360 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
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Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #06V096000 · 2006 · 133 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. In this condition, the expansion force of the gas May be insufficient to properly inflate the air bag when the SRS system is activated…
Why it matters: This May increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the specific SRS air bag. The recall began on April 6, 2006.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #09V388000 · 2009 · 4,445,056 vehicles
What's wrong: The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Why it matters: A stuck open accelerator pedal May result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
The fix: Toyota filed an amended defect report on November 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned…
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #10V017000 · 2010 · 2,230,661 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the sliding surface of the lever May become smooth during vehicle operation. In this condition, if condensation occurs on the surface, as May occur from heater operation (without a/c) when the pedal assembly is cold, the friction when the accelerator pedal is operated May…
Why it matters: The accelerator pedal May become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal which will allow the pedal to operate smoothly. Gm will notify owners for the Pontiac vibe please see 10v-018. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on February 5, 2010 and will be…
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V036000 · 2010 · 153,418 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: A driver May overload a vehicle which May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #10V499000 · 2010 · 728,544 vehicles
What's wrong: Brake fluid containing polymers is used that acts as lubricants for certain brake system components. If replacement brake fluid is used that does not contain such polymers, or that contains only small amounts, a part of the rubber seal located at the rear of the brake master cylinder May become dry, and the seal May curl during movement of the piston. If this occurs, a small amount of brake fluid could slowly leak…
Why it matters: A leak of brake fluid could lead to a change in brake pedal feel and overtime a degradation in braking performance increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seal with a newly designed one. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on November 15, 2010.
Seats Vehicle recall #14V743000 · 2014 · 3,233 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May experience compression of the seat cushion which May damage the seat heater wiring.
Why it matters: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015.
Seats Vehicle recall #16V396000 · 2016 · 7,749 vehicles
What's wrong: The electrical wiring in the seat heaters May be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Why it matters: If damaged, the copper strand heating element May short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 4 mention a fire, 35 injuries and 2 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Speed control / throttle (103): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (32).
- Engine & cooling (57): the most common themes are leaks (21), noise or vibration (14), warning light on (14).
- Transmission & drivetrain (52): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (34), noise or vibration (7).
- Steering (35): the most common themes are steering problems (33), noise or vibration (10).
The 2006 Toyota Avalon has 360 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 28 Avalon model years for complaints (3.0× the average Avalon year). Complaints peaked in 2010 (105 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 45,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2005 (228 complaints, 7 recalls), 2007 (243 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 28 | 23 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2006 Toyota Avalon.
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FAQ
Does the 2006 Toyota Avalon have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2006 Toyota Avalon. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2006 Toyota Avalon problems?
Owners have filed 360 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are speed control / throttle (103), engine & cooling (57), transmission & drivetrain (52).
What gas mileage does the 2006 Toyota Avalon get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (3.5 L, Automatic (S5)), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2006 Toyota Avalon repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.