Tl*the contact owns a 2006 Toyota avalon. While driving 10 MPH, the contact engaged the brake to make a right turn and the vehicle surged. The vehicle accelerated so forcefully that the contact had to make a left turn. The contact turned the vehicle off and it coasted to a stop. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The contact called the dealer who stated that the failure was…
2006 Toyota Avalon cruise control problems
critical 78 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
78
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
26crashes
9injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 78 cruise control complaints filed for the 2006 Toyota Avalon, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Of the 12 model years of Toyota Avalon we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 78.
Owners have filed 78 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2006 Avalon has serious documented acceleration control issues affecting safety—sudden unintended acceleration, brake override failures, and cruise control surges that persist even after recalls. Multiple owners report these problems continue or recur after official repairs, and dealers often can't diagnose them.
The 2006 Avalon's acceleration and cruise control issues span multiple distinct problems that go beyond the floor mat theory. Owners report sudden unintended acceleration at both low speeds (parking, intersections, reversing) and highway speeds, often with brakes becoming completely unresponsive or ineffective. Multiple owners have had crashes, injuries, and totaled vehicles. The problem occurs even when floor mats are properly secured or absent, and persists after recalls 09V388000 and 10V017000 were performed.
A separate failure involves brake override: one owner experienced total brake loss at 30 MPH while using cruise control to slow down, requiring neutral and engine shutdown to stop. The laser-guided cruise control exhibits aggressive, uncontrolled surges when accelerating on hills or resuming after following distance adjustment—owners describe it feeling like the accelerator was "floored" or "punched," scaring them enough to disable the feature.
Idle surges cause vehicles to lunge forward at traffic lights and stop signs without driver input, with engine RPM jumping to 1500+ from normal idle. Some owners report the accelerator feels stuck mechanically, while others (especially the dealer-modified ones) experience the same symptoms after repair. Dealer technicians frequently cannot reproduce failures during testing, complicating diagnosis. One owner's detailed observations suggest spontaneous RPM surge when engine is warm and foot is off the pedal—not normal coasting behavior. Owners consistently believe the root cause is electronic, not mechanical floor obstruction.
Same Toyota Avalon cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden unintended acceleration
Vehicle accelerates on its own without driver input, often without warning and at various speeds and driving conditions. Owners report the vehicle continues to accelerate even when brakes are applied, requiring extreme brake pressure or shifting to neutral and turning off the engine to regain control.
When: Occurs at low speeds (parking, intersections, 5-30 MPH), highway speeds (55-80 MPH), during passing attempts, while backing up, and sometimes spontaneously during normal driving. Reported across full vehicle lifespan starting shortly after purchase.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without driver pressing accelerator pedal; Brake pedal loses effectiveness or becomes unresponsive when sudden acceleration occurs; Extreme brake pressure required to slow vehicle; Vehicle continues accelerating even with brakes applied; RPM gauge shows unintended increases; Accelerator pedal physically stuck or feeling stuck; Engine sounds like 'jet taking off' during idle or low-speed situations
Codes mentioned: P1578 (brake system malfunction relating to cruise control brake switch)
Repairs/costs cited: Recalls 09V388000 (floor mat removal) and 10V017000 (accelerator pedal modification/shim installation) performed on many vehicles, but owners report the problem persists even after repairs. One owner had throttle actuator control motor replaced. Dealer technicians often unable to reproduce the failure during testing.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 09V388000 (floor mat removal/replacement); Recall 10V017000 (accelerator pedal shim/modification); manufacturer denies electronic control system involvement and attributes issue to floor mats despite owner claims mats were secure or absent; some dealers told owners the problem was 'fuel energy saving device' or impossible to occur
Brake override system / cruise control brake interaction failure
When cruise control is engaged and driver applies brakes to slow the vehicle, brakes may become unresponsive or fail entirely, resulting in total brake loss. Drivers report needing to shift to neutral and kill the engine to stop the vehicle.
When: Occurs when using cruise control at highway speeds (60-80 MPH) and applying brakes; once occurred after cruise control disengagement at 30 MPH
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor with no response; Brakes unresponsive when cruise control active; Brakes responsive again after engine turned off and restarted; Vehicle continues at speed or accelerates despite brake application
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle involved in serious intersection crash; owner had to shift to neutral and turn off engine to stop. Dealer found misaligned IR laser sensor but stated it would not cause brake failure. No service bulletins or specific repairs documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota dealer reported calling Toyota and being told they have no experience with this type of failure; no recall or TSB identified
Laser-guided cruise control surge / aggressive acceleration
When cruise control is actively managing speed (accelerating to maintain set speed or accelerating after approaching a slower vehicle), the system causes abnormally forceful or sudden acceleration that feels like the accelerator pedal was floored. The surge can be frightening and dangerous, especially when changing lanes.
When: Occurs when cruise control resumes after being reduced for following distance, when accelerating uphill, when cruise control accelerates to maintain set speed on hills, when resuming cruise after speed adjustment
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle surges forward with excessive force when cruise control accelerates; Sudden downshift and aggressive acceleration when vehicle/object leaves detection zone; On hills: excessive acceleration despite only modest speed increase; Feels like accelerator was 'floored' or 'punched' for passing; Owner felt 'gremlin' pushing engine forward
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report disabling or no longer using cruise control due to safety concerns. No repairs documented as effective.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented; owners believe problem is in cruise control computer/control mechanism, not floor mats as Toyota claims
Idle speed surge / RPM spike at stop
When stopped or at low speeds, engine RPM suddenly increases above normal idle, causing vehicle to lunge forward. Engine sometimes sounds like a jet taking off. Vehicle may buck or bolt forward unexpectedly at traffic lights or during parking.
When: Occurs when stopped at traffic lights, stop signs, intersections, while idling, at speeds under 30 MPH, and when yielding without stopping at intersections
Symptoms owners cite: RPM suddenly increases excessively while stopped; Engine RPM increases to 1500+ from idle without driver input; Vehicle lurches or lunges forward at traffic light; Engine sounds like jet engine during idle; Vehicle rocks or bucks forward without accelerator input; Vehicle will not maintain steady idle
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to duplicate or diagnose in many cases. One vehicle had throttle actuator control motor replaced and problem resolved.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota and dealers unable to diagnose; one technician attributed surge to 'fuel energy saving device'; no recall or TSB specific to this symptom
Delayed or hesitant acceleration response
When driver presses accelerator, vehicle hesitates or does not respond smoothly. Vehicle may move 10 feet, pause for 1-2 seconds, then accelerate normally. Particularly problematic during heavy traffic or low-speed driving.
When: Occurs when accelerating from a complete stop, during heavy traffic at speeds under 35 MPH, when exiting highway or during low-speed maneuvers, at stop signs
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle hesitates when accelerator pressed; Vehicle moves 10 feet then pauses 1-2 seconds before accelerating normally; Vehicle 'jumps' forward after hesitation; Vehicle acts like it will stall during deceleration; Poor response to throttle input during low-speed driving
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Service advisors confirmed other customers report same condition. Dealers unable to repair or diagnose.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall or manufacturer response documented
Spontaneous engine surge even when foot off gas pedal
Engine RPM increases on its own without driver depressing accelerator. When driver releases accelerator pedal, engine does not smoothly return to idle but instead spontaneously surges to mid-range RPM (around 1500). Occurs mainly when engine is warm.
When: Occurs with engine warm, at speeds around 30 MPH in manual or manual-mode transmission, after releasing accelerator pedal
Symptoms owners cite: Engine RPM drops to idle (~1000) when foot released from gas; Then spontaneously surges upward to ~1500 RPM; Something appears to limit RPM from increasing further; Does not behave like normal engine braking or coasting
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission computer was reprogrammed to adjust shift points, but surge problem persisted. Owner describes it as 'gremlin in the works' pushing engine.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota dealer suggested transmission 'gear shift set points' was the cause; reprogramming did not resolve issue
Brake system fighting accelerator / dual-pedal conflict
Driver feels like brake pedal and accelerator are fighting each other, as if driving a manual transmission on a hill where clutch and gas are engaged simultaneously. Occurs intermittently.
When: Occurs about once every three months at speeds under 30 MPH, from low speeds to stopping at stop lights
Symptoms owners cite: Brake and gas pedals feel like they are fighting each other; Vehicle difficult to stop smoothly; Must press brake pedal to floor to stop vehicle; Feels like brake is trying to stop while engine is trying to accelerate
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Owner has brought vehicle to dealer multiple times starting at 23,000 miles; no problems found despite consistent reports of issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer unable to find any problems despite repeated visits
Synthesized from 78 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota avalon. The contact stated that the vehicle rapidly accelerated while attempting to shift into the park position. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 70,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 Toyota avalon. The contact stated that he received a recall notice. When he called the authorized dealer to make an appointment, he was informed that the parts were backordered until january 2011.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota avalon. The contact stated when sitting at a traffic light the RPM's increase excessively causing the vehicle to lunge forward as if it want to take off. Also whenever he was getting on an exit and the accelerator pedal was being depress the vehicle would hesitate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated there was no problem with the vehicle and they…
When accelerating from a stop the vehicle will sometimes move about 10 feet and then hesitate for about 1 to 2 seconds. It will then accelerate normally. When driving in heavy conditions at speeds under 35 the car hesistates badly when you try to accelerate and then "jumps" forward. Same thing happens on the downside to the point that it feels like its going to stall. The service advisor also…
Sudden acceleration. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota avalon. While driving the vehicle suddenly accelerated without intention. Consequently she crashed into cement and a fence inside of a parking lot. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop. She was advised by the manufacturer to remove the floor mats. The current and failure mileages were approximately 12,000.
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 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 cruise control problem on the 2006 Toyota Avalon?
It's a serious issue. 78 complaints have been filed, including 26 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 64 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 22,500 and 60,857 miles, with the median around 42,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 22,500; a quarter make it past 60,857. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/2006/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.