Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Toyota avalon. The contact stated that while braking to a complete stop, he was able to remove the key from the ignition switch while the vehicle was still in drive. As a result, the vehicle began to roll backward. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 30,000. Updated 01/09/14*lj
2007 Toyota Avalon powertrain problems
severe 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 21 powertrain 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
Among the 6 model years of Toyota Avalon in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple owners report complete transmission failure, unintended acceleration, and inability to stop—hazards that can strand you on a highway or cause crashes. Budget for potential $5,000+ transmission work if out of warranty.
The 2007 Avalon's powertrain generates consistent complaints across transmission and throttle control. Unintended acceleration incidents forced drivers to turn off engines mid-highway to regain control; one owner had the accelerator stick to the floor twice during passing maneuvers after the car was supposedly recalled for this. Transmission failures strike without warning—one at 57,000 miles caused complete loss of power on the interstate (repair: $5,100), another at low mileage left the driver unable to move from a traffic light. Parts have detached audibly during normal driving. Shuddering during shifts sometimes becomes violent enough to cause loss of vehicle control. Owners report unwanted acceleration every time they coast and downshift, cruise control resume causing neck-snapping surges, and transmission slipping so badly the car won't move until it suddenly lurches forward. Some vehicles shift into neutral on their own during highway driving. A serious design flaw: drivers can remove the key and exit while the transmission is still in Drive, allowing the car to roll away. Brakes have proven ineffective in some cases, requiring drivers to shift into Park while rolling. Dealers have repeatedly told owners nothing is wrong despite identical symptoms recurring across multiple vehicles and model years.
Same Toyota Avalon powertrain reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration
Engine surges to full throttle without driver input, occurring during normal driving or passing. Owner reports throttle stuck to floor; turning off ignition and cycling transmission allowed manual repositioning. One incident involved accelerator going to floor around 65 mph during passing, second at 68 mph on divided highway. Separate incidents report sudden revving while stopped with foot on brake, and vehicle accelerating without warning resulting in collision.
When: 24,000 miles; 168,000 miles; variable low mileage on recent purchase
Symptoms owners cite: throttle goes to floor uncommanded; accelerator locked in full throttle position; engine surges to full rpm while stopped; sudden acceleration without driver input
Repairs/costs cited: Repaired under recall 2/16/2010; no repair details provided for other incidents
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for stuck accelerator problem (SUA); vehicle at 24K miles was recalled and repaired. Dealership tested one vehicle and advised it performed normally.
Transmission failure and loss of power
Complete transmission failure resulting in inability to move or loss of all power on highway. One incident at 57,000 miles: speed dropped from 67 mph to 0 in seconds on I-90; transmission system failure diagnosed and repaired for $5,100. Another at low mileage showed no movement at traffic light despite running engine; week later power loss on interstate required transmission replacement. A third showed transmission parts detaching audibly at 30 mph and refusal to shift into reverse at 127,000 miles.
When: 57,000 miles; low mileage (9-2,000 miles); 127,000 miles; 168,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: speed dropped from 67 mph to 0 in seconds; car would not move despite engine running; power loss while driving highway; transmission parts detaching from undercarriage; inability to shift into reverse; transmission failed
Repairs/costs cited: $5,100 transmission repair at 57K miles; transmission replacement required in other incidents; not repaired in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer acknowledged failure in one complaint but took no action; refused acknowledgment of defect; advised vehicle out of warranty
Transmission shudder and violent vibration
Severe shuddering during gear shifts, occasionally violent enough to cause loss of vehicle control. One report at 38,000 miles with 10,000 miles of shuddering history; two episodes of violent vibration during highway passing caused loss of control. Dealership reprogrammed transmission computer with no effect. Separate complaint of rough, loud gear changes and stuck feeling during shifts followed by hard bump when switching gears.
When: 38,000 miles (shudder for 10,000 miles); variable low mileage
Symptoms owners cite: shudder when shifting; severe vibration during gear changes; loss of vehicle control from vibration; rough and loud gear changes; stuck feeling during shifts followed by hard bump
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission computer reprogrammed; no effect on shudder
Unwanted acceleration during downshifts
Car accelerates 4–5 mph when downshifting during coast-down with foot off accelerator, repeating at each downshift. Multiple owners report this behavior reported to dealer and Toyota customer service with no action. One owner noted this occurs every time vehicle is driven. Separate report of sudden acceleration when cruise control resume is depressed, described as neck-snapping.
When: Variable; ongoing issue reported during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: car speeds up during downshift while coasting; acceleration at every shift point without accelerator input; sudden acceleration when cruise control resume depressed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated 'nothing wrong' on multiple inspections; Toyota Technical Service Manager reported 'nothing wrong'; Toyota Customer Service promised to contact but did not follow up
Transmission shifts to neutral unexpectedly
Transmission independently shifts into neutral during highway driving at 55 mph with extreme hesitation and inability to re-engage. Occurred on numerous occasions. Vehicle required transmission replacement.
When: 90,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: transmission shifts to neutral without driver input; extreme hesitation when trying to re-engage; repeated failures
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure
Transmission slipping and lurching
Transmission slips so car does not move when accelerator engaged, then suddenly jerks forward hard. Also reported as transmission racing but vehicle failing to move while slowing, with lunging forward after stopping at intersections. Condition worsening progressively and creating safety hazards in traffic.
When: Variable; progressive deterioration
Symptoms owners cite: transmission slipping when accelerating; sudden hard jerk after slip; transmission races but vehicle fails to move; lunges forward after stopping
Brakes ineffective with transmission stuck in gear
Vehicle does not stop even with brake applied; driver must shift to Park while moving on road to stop vehicle. Transmission stays in one gear despite brake application.
When: Variable
Symptoms owners cite: car does not stop with brakes applied; transmission unresponsive to brake application; transmission stuck in one gear
Gear shift selector does not engage properly
Gear selector requires multiple attempts before shifting into Drive position; failure occurs intermittently. Related brake safety switch failure also prevented rear brake light illumination.
When: 40,300 miles
Symptoms owners cite: difficulty engaging Drive position; intermittent shifting failure; rear brake lights not illuminating
Repairs/costs cited: Brake safety switch replaced after two-week parts wait
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership identified as common problem; part eventually became available
Vehicle can roll away while in Drive with key removed
Driver able to remove key from ignition while vehicle still in Drive gear, allowing vehicle to roll backward. Occurs at very low mileage (500 miles on one vehicle, 30,000 on another, 3,993 on third). Keyless entry system does not prevent this.
When: 500 miles; 3,993 miles; 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: key removable while transmission in Drive; vehicle rolls away after driver exits; no way to determine if vehicle is in Park with keyless entry
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed; dealer stated repair impossible due to design
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated failure was dangerous but vehicle was designed that way; manufacturer stated nothing could be done about the design
Violent downshift with loud bang
Transmission downshifts violently with loud bang when coming to a stop. Also reports transmission failing to shift properly at low speed (5 mph). Engine mounts were replaced in attempt to address but failure persisted and dealer unable to locate root cause.
When: 7,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: violent downshift; loud bang during downshift; transmission fails to shift properly at low speed
Repairs/costs cited: Engine mounts replaced without resolving issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; dealer unable to locate failure
Driveshaft bolts sheared and damaged engine
Bolts securing driveshaft sheared off during operation, with bolt pieces shooting into engine and engine cover, causing engine failure by bending piston parts.
When: Unknown
Symptoms owners cite: driveshaft bolts sheared; bolt fragments entered engine; piston parts bent; engine failure
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2007 Toyota Avalon?
It's a meaningful issue. 21 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 30,000 and 86,000 miles, with the median around 53,322. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 86,000. 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 $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/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.