Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Toyota Avalon body problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Toyota Avalon have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Avalon | 6 |
| 2013 Avalon | 23 |
| 2014 Avalon (this page) | 10 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 10 body complaints filed for the 2014 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
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 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 body 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.
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint and appears as pitting or water spots. As acid rain droplets on the vehicle surface evaporate, the concentration strength of the acid increases, causing deeper and more rapid damage. This evaporation and corrosive action also occur more rapidly on dark colored cars as direct sun heat increases. It
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brushing a hand across horizontal body surfaces such as the hood, roof, or deck lid. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to clean vehicles that may have been subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles such as rail dust during rail transportation or extended storage near industrial ar
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report recurring water intrusion from detached sunroof drain tubes, leading to interior humidity, musty smells, and mold risk. One owner had water pooling in the trunk after rain; dealers re-attached the drain but owners suggest the design or materials need rethinking.
Two separate complaints describe sunroof glass suddenly shattering during normal driving without impact, producing large shards—a safety hazard despite closed shades.
Multiple owners cite dangerous glare from chrome and reflective trim on the dashboard, particularly around the speedometer. Sunlight reflects directly into drivers' eyes during midday driving, creating blinding intensity described as "welder-bright." One driver nearly ran a red light; owners note the problem is worse for those wearing prescription glasses.
Headliner fabric near the sunroof detaches repeatedly—one owner reports replacement, re-gluing with extra tape, and failure again within weeks. Dealers acknowledged this as common on 2013-2014 Avalons but made no design changes.
One owner reported sticky, odor-emitting leather surfaces on the dashboard, shift knob, console, and steering wheel; Toyota refused repair. Another noted dashboard material degrading and becoming shiny, creating windshield glare.
A single complaint alleges the accelerator pedal rubber cover loosened and caused unintended acceleration and collision at 79,900 miles.
Same Toyota Avalon body reports on nearby years: 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Sunroof drain detachment/blockage
Sunroof drain tubes become detached or fail to drain properly, allowing water to accumulate inside the vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: Interior humidity and steam buildup; Musty scent in cabin; Water pooling in trunk (left side noted in one case); Fogging of driver's glasses due to humidity; Mold risk from trapped moisture
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer re-attached detached drain tube. Owner suggests better drain materials or redesign of sunroof drain system needed.
Sunroof glass spontaneous shattering
Sunroof glass explodes or shatters without apparent impact or defect, creating large shards despite shade being closed.
When: During highway driving (one case); unknown mileage/timing for second case
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loud explosion noise; Large glass shards produced; Safety hazard from broken glass
Repairs/costs cited: Repair performed by Toyota dealer; insurance covered cost in one case. No root cause stated.
Chrome/reflective dashboard trim glare
Shiny chrome trim and reflective finishes on dashboard cause intense sun glare that bounces directly into driver's eyes during daytime driving, creating dangerous visibility loss.
When: Daytime, sunny conditions; midday sun angle most problematic
Symptoms owners cite: Blinding glare from multiple spots on dashboard simultaneously; Reflection occurs around and under speedometer area; Glare intensifies for drivers wearing magnifying/prescriptive glasses; Nearly caused collision (one case: driver almost ran red light); Described as 'welder-bright' intensity
Headliner detachment by sunroof
Headliner fabric separates and sags near sunroof opening. Repeated failures occur even after replacement.
When: Early ownership (one month on new vehicle noted; few weeks after replacement)
Symptoms owners cite: Headliner falling/sagging by sunroof; Failure persists after initial replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota replaced headliner; repeated failure. Dealer applied double-sided tape over existing tape on second repair attempt. Owner states Toyota indicated no design changes made. Problem reported as common in 2013-2014 Avalons.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No design changes acknowledged by dealer.
Sticky/degraded leather surfaces
Leather and leather-like surfaces throughout cabin (dashboard, seat covers, shift knob, center console, steering wheel) become sticky and emit odor/mold smell.
Symptoms owners cite: Sticky coating on all leather touch surfaces; Musty odor and mold/mildew smell; Difficult vehicle operation due to sticky controls
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota refuses to repair.
Dashboard melting/reflective degradation
Dashboard surface deteriorates and becomes excessively shiny/reflective, creating windshield glare similar to the chrome trim issue.
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard develops shiny finish; Reflection glare on windshield; Reduced visibility of other vehicles, road lines, traffic signs
Accelerator pedal rubber cover loosening
Rubber cover on accelerator pedal becomes loose, owner alleges this caused unintended acceleration and collision.
When: At 79,900 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loose pedal rubber cover; Claimed spontaneous acceleration; Vehicle crashed into another car
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealer but not diagnosed or repaired. Police report filed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not contacted per complaint.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I bought a new Toyota avalon. After about a month I noticed the headliner falling off by the sun roof. Toyota replaced the headliner. The new headliner did the same thing after a few weeks. Brought the car back to Toyota and the put double sided tape on top of the double sided tape which is put on to hold the headliner up. The headline came down again. Toyota want to replace the headliner…
Had body trouble with your 2014 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 body problem on the 2014 Toyota Avalon?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 40,167 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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/2014/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.