TSB: The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to reset a vehicle Immobilizer or Smart Key system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Toyota Avalon electrical problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 14 electrical complaints filed for the 2007 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
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 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 electrical 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.
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 Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0012-13 is obsolete and any printed versions should be discarded.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 ↗TSB: REVISION NOTICE November 22, 2017 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2014 ? 2018 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. In the event that a Toyota vehicle becomes submerged in water, many components may be physically damaged. Electrical and electronic components, including wiring harnesses, are particularly susceptible to corrosion and subsequent malfunction. Although any flooding can be damaging, salt water flooding elevates the potential for abnormal conditions and may increase risks due to its highly corrosive and conductive nature. Salt residue also continues to corrode and remain conductive even after a vehicle dries.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Warranty Policy Bulletin POL14-11: Rev Toyota has received reports where some vehicles may exhibit cracked and/or sticky/melting dashboards as a result of heat or humidity.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Daily: Voluntary Extension of Warranty Coverage for Cracked and/or Sticky/Melting Dashboards (Instrument Panels) as a Result of Heat or Humidity.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners cite a cluster of distinct electrical failures on the 2007 Avalon. The most dangerous: alternator diodes fail progressively without triggering a warning light, causing sudden engine shutdown on the highway with no advance notice. One owner's radio faded, dashboard displayed "FAIL," and the engine cut off at 35 mph while the battery and charge warning lights sat dormant.
Several owners describe bizarre electrical cross-talk where honking the horn triggers the radio to blast on and the AC to run full force, or braking causes the radio to activate, or turn signals trigger the heating system. These glitches are difficult to replicate and worsen over time.
Other reported failures include all lights cycling on and off unpredictably while driving, doors locking unexpectedly when the car is empty, and an ABS control module computer that shorts out the entire digital bus, killing the AC and temperature gauge while leaving the driver with illuminated warning lights and non-functional gauges.
Push-button starters fail and reprogramming does not hold. Ignition switches bend keys repeatedly—one owner replaced keys three times with no root cause found.
Coil packs fail repeatedly; one owner reports the same cylinder requiring replacement three times in seven years, causing misfiring, stalling, and uneven power delivery. Dealers often cannot identify root causes or provide lasting repairs.
Same Toyota Avalon electrical reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Alternator failure with inadequate warning
Alternator diodes fail progressively, causing radio fade, dashboard console shutdown display ('F' for FAIL), and complete engine shutdown while driving. Battery warning light and charge indicator do not trigger despite alternator failure, leaving driver with no advance notice of the loss of power.
When: 32,650 miles on one vehicle; timing varies by owner
Symptoms owners cite: Radio fading in and out; Dashboard console shutting down with 'F' display; Engine shuts down while driving; No battery warning light despite alternator failure; Emergency flashers non-functional
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replacement required; battery does not need replacement. Alternator has three diodes; failure of one or two can still provide charge until all three fail.
Electrical system cross-talk causing unintended component activation
Electrical gremlins cause multiple systems to activate involuntarily and unpredictably, including horn triggering radio and AC, turn signals triggering AC and heater, braking triggering radio, and AC activation triggering horn. Glitches are difficult to replicate and worsen over time.
When: 95,000 miles on one vehicle; glitches become more frequent over time
Symptoms owners cite: Horn honking triggers radio to blast on loudly; Horn honking triggers AC to blast at full force; Right turn signal triggers radio to turn on; Braking triggers radio to turn on; AC activation triggers horn to honk; Turn signals trigger AC and heater to activate; Heater unable to maintain constant temperature; Hard to replicate; new glitches appear without warning
Unexpected door locks while vehicle unoccupied
Doors lock unexpectedly when occupants briefly exit the vehicle, creating potential safety hazard if engine is running, keys are inside, or a child is in a car seat.
When: Occurred on vehicle with 95,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Doors locked twice unexpectedly when occupants were out of car; Potential hazard if car running or child left strapped in seat
Lights shutting off and on intermittently while driving
All lights suddenly shut off during highway driving at 35 mph, then cycle on and off repeatedly over several minutes before shutting off again. Lights can be manually reactivated but fail again within ten minutes. Authorized dealer diagnostic test unable to identify cause.
When: 32,650 miles
Symptoms owners cite: All lights shut off suddenly while driving; Lights cycle on and off for brief seconds; Manual light activation provides temporary relief before failure recurs; Failure repeats within ten minutes
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated a representative would inspect the vehicle; inspection status unknown at time of complaint
ABS control module computer shorting out digital bus
ABS control module computer shorts out the vehicle's digital bus system, disabling AC, temperature gauge, and engine cooling fans. When ABS computer is unhooked, these functions restore but speedometer, odometer, and trip indicators cease working, and check engine, ABS, and brake lights illuminate.
When: Faults noted on next startup after normal operation; specific mileage not provided
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light on; Brake light on; AC blowing hot air; Temperature gauge not working; Engine electric fans not working; Check engine light on; Speedometer inoperative (after ABS computer disconnected); Odometer inoperative (after ABS computer disconnected); Trip indicators inoperative (after ABS computer disconnected)
Repairs/costs cited: ABS control module computer was shorting out digital bus; disconnecting it restores AC, temperature gauge, and fan function but disables instrument cluster displays
Push-button starter failure and reprogramming issues
Push-button starter fails to start vehicle. Dealer reprogrammed starter, but failure recurred the following day. Second reprogramming attempt with vehicle computer also failed to resolve the issue.
When: At very low mileage (200 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start via push-button starter; Failure recurs immediately after reprogramming; Reprogramming with vehicle computer ineffective
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer reprogrammed push-button starter twice without permanent resolution
Ignition switch causing repeated key bending
Ignition switch bends keys repeatedly; owner has replaced keys three times. Dealer unable to diagnose root cause. Owner concerned vehicle may fail to start if key bending continues.
When: 39,316 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Keys bend inside ignition switch; Repeated key replacement required (three times); Dealer unable to determine cause
Repairs/costs cited: Keys replaced three times; no repair to ignition switch noted
Coil pack failures causing rough running and stalling
Coil packs fail repeatedly—replaced at least three times on one vehicle over seven years. Engine misfires, check engine light illuminates, engine stalls, and power delivery becomes uneven. One owner reports coil pack replacement in 2008 (for cylinder 6) with recurrence by later service date.
When: Timing varies; one vehicle had cylinder 6 coil pack replaced in 2008 and required replacement again by 2015 approximately
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light on; Engine misfiring; Engine stalls; Power does not stay even; speed fluctuates; Engine running rough
Repairs/costs cited: Coil pack replacement required; one owner reports same cylinder coil pack replaced multiple times over seven years
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 Toyota avalon. The contact stated the ignition switch caused the keys to bend and they have been replaced three times. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who was unable to determine what caused the keys to bend when they were inside the ignition. The contact stated this was a safety issue because the vehicle could fail to start if the key continued to bend. The…
Had electrical trouble with your 2007 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 electrical problem on the 2007 Toyota Avalon?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 52,496 and 98,000 miles, with the median around 83,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 52,496; a quarter make it past 98,000. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2007/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.