TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections have been updated. October 30, 2017 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2018 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes SB No. T-SB-0012-13. Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0012-13 is obsolete and any printed versions should be discarded. Be sure to review the entire content of this bulletin before proceeding. Flash reprogramming allows the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) software to be updated
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Toyota Avalon powertrain problems
moderate 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 21 powertrain complaints filed for the 2005 Toyota Avalon, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Toyota Avalon in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 16 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been interrupted.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: World Standard (WS) Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) was introduced to reduce maintenance costs and increase the mileage between scheduled maintenance checks. Here are some important tips when working with ATF-WS in Toyota vehicles requiring it's use.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or transmission damage. Use the information in this bulletin when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL ?ON,? shifting issues, and/or transmission damage. Use the information in this bulletin when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2005 Avalon's powertrain shows three distinct failure patterns across these 21 complaints.
Transmission hesitation dominates the complaints. Multiple owners describe a 2–3 second delay between pressing the accelerator and actual engagement, particularly between 20–40 mph and during highway merges. Some report the transmission revving RPMs while holding speed, then suddenly surging forward. Dealers confirm the car is mechanically sound but attribute the issue to drive-by-wire programming; one service department explicitly told an owner Toyota has no plans to fix it. Owners report hard braking to avoid rear-ending other vehicles and one owner bumped into a truck.
High revving and unintended acceleration hit several owners even after recall service for the accelerator pedal. One original owner reports this since 2005, with a TSB fix (exhaust manifold, O2 sensor, ECM reprogram) that worked only about a year before recurring. Another owner nearly hit a pedestrian.
Engine failure appears in one complaint: sudden loss of power and smoke at 142,000 miles, requiring complete engine replacement due to blown head gasket—with no warning light or symptoms beforehand.
One owner reports front axle breakage with wheel separation; another describes transmission shifting into neutral without warning. Dealers cannot replicate or repair most transmission issues, and owners cannot get manufacturer support.
Same Toyota Avalon powertrain reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Head gasket failure with catastrophic engine damage
Sudden loss of power and heavy smoke from under the hood, leading to blown head gasket diagnosis and complete engine replacement. Reported without advance warning or check engine light.
When: 142,000 miles; May 2016 (11 years after purchase)
Symptoms owners cite: sudden loss of power; heavy smoke from under hood; dashboard warning lights illuminated
Codes mentioned: System Too Lean (P0171 family, per prior service)
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required after head gasket failure; prior service (Nov 2015) included intake manifold gasket, throttle body gasket, plenum gaskets, and spark plugs
Automatic transmission hesitation and delayed engagement
Transmission fails to respond predictably to throttle input, with delays ranging from several seconds to 3 seconds before engagement. Shifts erratically between gears at low speed (20–40 mph) and highway speeds. No mechanical defect found; issue attributed to drive-by-wire computer control and transmission learning algorithm.
When: Early in ownership (600–121,500 miles reported); present from Dec 2005 onward
Symptoms owners cite: delayed acceleration response; hesitation at low speeds; unpredictable upshifts to higher gears; racing RPMs without corresponding speed change; sudden lurching when transmission finally engages; loss of acceleration for 3+ seconds; gears shift without warning; transmission slips to neutral then re-engages
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable or unwilling to repair; computer reset to factory default attempted; problem recurs; one owner bumped into a truck as a result
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota service department stated no TSB issued to fix the problem; technical support stated no current plans to address; dealership told owner to 'train' the car computer; issue attributed to drive-by-wire design
High engine revving and unintended acceleration
Engine revs excessively even when warmed up, particularly in traffic. Vehicle lunges forward or in reverse without full throttle input, forcing hard braking to avoid rear-ending other vehicles or hitting pedestrians. Recurs after TSB service.
When: 2005–2009 (original owner since purchase); recurring after Dec 2007
Symptoms owners cite: high engine revving when warmed up; lunging forward in traffic; unintended acceleration in reverse; hard downshifting
Repairs/costs cited: TSB service (exhaust manifold replacement, oxygen sensor replacement, ECM reprogramming) provided temporary fix lasting ~1 year (2007), then problem returned
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB AOA (Accelerator Pedal Reinforcement) recall performed; owner reported sudden acceleration after recall service
Transmission shifting into neutral without warning
Vehicle independently shifts into neutral while driving at various speeds, accompanied by jerking and loss of power. Dealer unable to duplicate or diagnose the fault.
When: 20 miles reported; current mileage 21,500
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle shifts to neutral without warning; violent jerking; gears shift without warning; loss of power
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired by dealer despite multiple visits
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated no recall on vehicle
Front axle structural failure
Front axle broke and separated from vehicle mid-road, resulting in complete wheel detachment.
When: Mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: front axle broke in middle of road; entire wheel came off with axle
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
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…
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…
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
Had powertrain trouble with your 2005 Toyota Avalon?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
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?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 25,000 and 104,371 miles, with the median around 53,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,000; a quarter make it past 104,371. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Toyota/Avalon.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.