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 S…
2005 Toyota Avalon powertrain problems
moderate 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
SINCE PURCHASING THE AVALON IN EARLY JUNE, I HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED WITH HOW THE CAR OPERATES BETWEEN 20 AND 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR DOES NOT ALWAYS KNOW WHAT GEAR IT NEEDS TO SHIFT INTO. IT WILL FREQUENTLY RACE 1000 RPM AHEAD WITHOUT ANY CHANGE IN SPEED. THEN SUDDENLY IT WILL ACCELERATE AND THE RPM'S WILL DROP BACK TO NORMAL RPM. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOST OFTEN IN RUSH TRAFFIC WHEN TRYING TO C…
After the alternator and battery dies the car went right back to accelerating by itself into traffic, I contacted Toyota and explained that after the battery and alternator died the problem came right back but they seem not to care
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2005 Toyota Avalon?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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