Toyota Avalon Hybrid: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Toyota Avalon Hybrid: 10 model years scored from 181 NHTSA owner complaints and 14 recall campaigns. Worst year 2013, best year 2019.
Toyota Avalon Hybrid: which years to avoid
Across 7 scored model years the Toyota Avalon Hybrid ranges from 46/100 in 2013 to 91/100 in 2018 — a 45-point spread, so which year you buy matters more than whether you buy an Avalon Hybrid at all. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Structure (25 of them).
Avoid: 2013 — scored below 45 on the complaint and recall record.
Safest years: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 — scored 70 or better.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2019 (score 87). Worst: 2013 (score 46, AVOID).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | DATA PENDING | $2,400 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 88 | BUY | $2,562 | 6 | 1 |
| 2020 | 86 | BUY | $2,680 | 0 | 3 |
| 2019 | 87 | BUY | $2,822 | 1 | 3 |
| 2018 | 91 | BUY | $3,062 | 1 | 1 |
| 2017 | 87 | BUY | $3,229 | 14 | 1 |
| 2016 | 78 | BUY | $3,385 | 24 | 2 |
| 2015 | — | DATA PENDING | $3,480 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | — | DATA PENDING | $3,620 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 46 | AVOID | $3,957 | 135 | 3 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Avalon Hybrid sub-models & family
What goes wrong on the Toyota Avalon Hybrid
Across every Avalon Hybrid model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Structure29 complaints across all Avalon Hybrid years · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair$1,070–$2,920
- Unknown Or Other26 complaints across all Avalon Hybrid years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Vehicle Speed Control25 complaints across all Avalon Hybrid years · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement$520–$1,150
- Air Bags25 complaints across all Avalon Hybrid years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
- Visibility/Wiper21 complaints across all Avalon Hybrid years · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement$490–$1,200
- Electrical System20 complaints across all Avalon Hybrid years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
Which Toyota Avalon Hybrid years should I avoid?
On the NHTSA record the years to avoid are 2013 — each scores below 45 out of 100 on complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. The 2013 is the weakest at 46/100, with its complaints concentrated in Structure.
What are the best Toyota Avalon Hybrid years to buy?
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2018 at 91/100, on 1 complaints and 1 recall campaigns.
What is the most common Toyota Avalon Hybrid problem?
29 of the complaints filed against the Avalon Hybrid across all its model years sit in the Structure group — more than any other component.
Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04