Toyota Avalon harsh shifting problems

Filed Jun 24, 2026 · Transmission · MD

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 became more noticeable after I had the transmission fluid changed by dealership.

Filed Jul 15, 2024 · Steering · CA

TIE ROD LOOSE I heard a clunking noise while turning the steering wheel to the left at very low speeds. Took car in for service Service Mechanic found left outer tie rod end "with play, loose" Safety issue: potential loss of steering ability while driving Vehicle has been inspected and repaired - (my cost $1308.94) - images attached No warning messages / appeared about a month before I went in... it became progressively worse with time

Filed Nov 25, 2021 · Body · CA

The body of the car, clunks when making a right or left turn while leaving the road and entering a slightly raised or lowered entry. A very clear clunk sound occcurs emanating from the overhead, just behind the driver's seat. It doesn't happen every time, but is increasing in frequency. I don't know if this is or will be a safety risk. This has not been witnessed or confirmed by Toyota and cannot be verified by inspection because it is inaccessible, behind the overhead. It first occurred and was reported around the 50,000mi servicing.

Filed Jul 8, 2014 · Suspension · 134,000 miles · MD

At highway speed, felt vehicle push to the left, as if by a strong gust of wind. Heard intermittent clunking sound under rear of car. Upon parking, noticed rear right wheel canted inwards. After removing the rear right wheel noticed the right rear suspension arm assembly number 2 disengaged and hanging loose. Inspected the threads on the assembly and they were rusted and worn down. I googled this part failure and this failure seems exactly like that described for the toyota rav 4 that resulted in a recall.

Filed Jan 28, 2014 · Suspension · 16,000 miles · MA

I purchased the avalon at the end of the 2012 year. It now has 16,000 miles on it. The car is garaged outside in massachusetts. On november 10, 2012 (month after purchase) and yesterday, january 28, 2014, the car was brought back to the dealership for a rear suspension clunking noise that happens during cold weather (32 to -10 degrees fahrenheit). Both times the mechanics say they cannot find anything wrong, nothing is lose with the suspension, and there are no recalls about it. The best way to describe the noise is when going over pot holes in cold weather, I hear a clunk from rear suspension (both left and right side) like something is loose in the trunk (trunk was completely empty yesterday). The sound is not too loud, but audible enough to notice. The rear struts perform well, and the car does not bottom out. As soon as the weather warms up, the noise goes away. It is very really annoying to hear this clunk and the dealership not be able to identify the problem.

Filed Jan 13, 2012 · Steering · 42,000 miles · IN

My 2006 toyota avalon(touring) has a loud knocking/clunking noise when turning steering wheel at low speeds. Dealer said this was a problem with the 2006 avalons and can be fixed by replacing the steering column at a cost of $700-800. Car had 42k miles just out of warranty and offered no toyota help until I told him I had an extended warranty with toyota repair was made. 15k-20k later ,same problem. Second steering column replaced.15k-20k later..same problem..dealer lub the linkage,15k-20k later same problem,dealer lub the linkage again. At 98000,same problem,my toyota warranty had expired at 96k and the dealer wanted $800 to replace the steering column,his cost amount.area toyota repr.said it was not a safety issue ,more of a nuisance factor. Should be a toyota recall to find the fix. Just replied to a toyota survey. Have not replaced the steering column..waiting for an update on the survey. Likely will not be contacted.

Filed Nov 22, 2010 · Steering · 17,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota avalon xls. While driving 5 MPH, the contact noticed that the steering column made a clunking noise. The dealer offered no assistance when contacted. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified. The current mileage was approximately 27,000. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000. Updated 01/24/11 *bf updated 02/03/11

Filed Jan 3, 2010 · Brakes · 65,614 miles · KS

Car had been parked in garage for 2 days. Drove vehicle about 1/4 mile and stopped for stop light. When entering intersection, heard a loud clunk. Car was very sluggish and noticed smoke through rear window. Stopped and found brakes locked and ABS/vsc indicators on dash lit. Had car towed to toyota dealer who found "master cylinder seized code c1246 pressure sensor malfunction". They replaced master brake cylinder. Told them I wanted part back but they said toyota had priority over part and kept it. Vehicle had 65,614 miles on it at time of incident. Also, brake system flush had been performed by toyota dealer 4000 miles and 4 months previous.

Filed Dec 8, 2009 · Transmission · 40,534 miles · HI

My 2005 toyota avalon with the 2gr-fe v6 engine revs high, even when it's warmed up. In traffic, many times it revs high and lunges forward. Several times I braked hard to avoid read ending the car in front of me. This has been ongoing since I bought the car in 2005 as I am the original owner. I've taken it in to toyota service and the mechanics found nothing. Once I showed them a technical service bulletin from toyota which stated the exhaust manifold, oxygen sensors needed replacement and the ECM needed to be reprogrammed. It worked for a year (2007) then back to the same problem, high revving of the engine, hard shifting and lunging forward or reverse. The latest incident was today, 12/7/09 where I almost hit a pedestrian since the car revved high and lunged into the crosswalk. I had to press the brakes hard to prevent hitting the pedestrian.

Filed Nov 18, 2009 · Steering · 35,000 miles · VA

I have begun to notice a clunking noise when turning the steering wheel at low speeds, going forward or in reverse. I am now reading about this happening to other avalon 2006 owners. The car has 35,000 miles on it and this started showing up at around 30k. At first I thought it was the brake pads knocking, but I'm almost certain it is the steering shaft from what others are describing. It goes in the shop tomorrow for the vvt oil recall fix and I will discuss this unacceptable and perhaps dangerous condition with the toyota service department.