The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Toyota Avalon electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Toyota Avalon have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Avalon | 23 |
| 2012 Avalon | 4 |
| 2013 Avalon | 14 |
| 2014 Avalon (this page) | 11 |
| 2015 Avalon | 6 |
| 2016 Avalon | 3 |
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 11 electrical 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 electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 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: 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 ↗TSB This Service Bulletin includes guidelines meant to help determine whether to repair or replace a wire harness assembly based on damage type. This Service Bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Electronic Wiring Diagram (EWD) and/or Repair Manual.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ?Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗OBSOLETE NOTICE August 12, 2020: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the pre-collision system engaging randomly without any obstacle or vehicle in front, causing sudden hard braking, seatbelt tensioning, and warning alarms at highway speeds. One case occurred at 6,572 miles; dealers tested the system and confirmed it was set to manufacturer standards but still could not stop it from false triggering. Another owner faced a $1,000+ computer replacement bill after the system's warning light came on, not covered by any warranty.
Battery drain is another recurring complaint. One owner had to jump-start the vehicle twice daily despite a new battery and good alternator; replacing the key fob battery provided only temporary relief before complete system drain.
The AC blower motor fails to cool when the vehicle is stationary, blowing hot air instead, though it works fine while driving—a $980 repair in one case, denied warranty coverage. Door lock actuators on the driver side don't respond electrically, and the center console has overheated to over 140 degrees with burning odor. The instrument cluster display blacks out in bright sunlight. One owner reported the engine cranking on its own while parked with doors locking automatically. Bluetooth connectivity is inconsistent, and door panels rattle during playback. One purchase involved suspected odometer fraud (mileage jumped from 93k to 362k).
Same Toyota Avalon electrical reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Pre-Collision System False Engagement
The pre-collision system activates and engages emergency braking, seatbelt tensioning, and warning alerts without any actual obstacle, vehicle, animal, or barrier in front of the vehicle. Multiple owners reported this occurring at highway speed with clear road ahead.
When: One complaint at 6,572 miles; another at highway speed
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden hard braking without cause; Vehicle deceleration of 20-30 mph in short distance; Warning beeps and instrument panel light activation; Seatbelts locked and tightened forcefully; System engages and disengages independently
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to remedy; dealer stated feature was set to manufacturer standards
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but provided no remedy
Blower Motor Failure
Air conditioning blower motor and switch fail, causing the AC system to blow hot air when the vehicle is stopped, though it functions correctly while moving. Owner incurred $980 repair cost not covered by warranty.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: AC blows hot air when vehicle is stopped; AC works normally when vehicle is moving; Blower switch/motor malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: $980 blower motor and switch replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated this is rare for Toyota but offered no assistance; not covered under Toyota warranty or additional warranty
Center Console Overheating
Center console becomes dangerously hot to the touch with a burning odor present in the vehicle. Dealer testing measured interior console temperature exceeding 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
When: At 10,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Center console extremely hot to the touch; Burning odor inside vehicle; Interior console temperature exceeding 140 degrees Fahrenheit
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not repaired; manufacturer not notified
Battery Drain
Vehicle experiences complete battery drain requiring jump starts multiple times per day. New battery and alternator tested good. Issue traced to key fob battery, but replacing it did not resolve the problem. Eventually all vehicle systems drained completely.
When: November 13-22, 2017; new battery installed two months prior
Symptoms owners cite: Difficulty starting vehicle; Requires jump starts twice daily; Complete battery drain with all systems off; All interior lights and instrument panel dark
Repairs/costs cited: New car battery installed two months prior to problem; alternator tested good; key fob battery replaced
Information Center Display Failure
Instrument cluster information center becomes blank when sunlight reflects on the screen, rendering it unreadable in bright conditions. Dealer stated unable to alter design.
When: At 200 miles, issue continued at 300 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Information center display becomes blank with sun reflection; Display unreadable in bright light conditions
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated vehicle performing to standard and unable to alter design
Door Lock Actuator Failure
Power door lock actuators on driver-side front and rear doors fail to engage, preventing doors from locking or unlocking electrically.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side front door lock actuator inoperative; Driver-side rear door lock actuator inoperative; Doors do not lock or unlock via power lock system
Spontaneous Engine Cranking
Engine starts running on its own while the vehicle is parked and unoccupied, with doors automatically locking. Owner drove vehicle to residence without diagnosis or repair attempt.
When: At approximately 4,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine starts running independently; Doors lock while engine running unattended; Occurs 15 minutes after parking and exiting vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired
Pre-Collision System Computer Failure
Pre-collision system warning light activates, requiring replacement of the system computer module at dealer. Repair not covered by warranty or extended warranty.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Pre-collision system warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Computer system replacement required, cost over $1,000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not covered by warranty or extended warranty
Door Panel Rattle and Bluetooth Issues
Door panel rattles audibly during normal audio playback and conversation, indicating inadequate insulation. Bluetooth connectivity works inconsistently with asymmetrical audio—caller cannot hear driver but driver can hear caller clearly.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Door panel rattling during music or speech playback; Bluetooth caller cannot hear driver; Bluetooth audio asymmetrical; Inadequate door panel insulation
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Since the 13th of november until november 22,2017 I have been having problems with starting my car. Two months prior I had just purchased a new battery so when the problem started I had the battery retested twice by two separated companies .the battery was found to be good and charging like it should.the alternator was good but yet the car continued to be jumped twice a day. I took the car back…
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Toyota avalon. The contact stated that the center console became extremely hot to the touch and a burning odor was present inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose the failure. The contact mentioned that the dealer tested the temperature inside the center console, which read more then 140 degrees. The vehicle was not repaired.…
The door panal rattles with no bass on at all. It's not the speakers, it's not insulated well and through make a rattling sound when music or talking is played. The bluetooth also works inconsistently. The person can not hear the driver but the driver can hear the caller well.
Pre collosion system warning light came on and took the vehicle to the Toyota dealer and was told they needed to replace a computer in the system at a cost of over $1000. Which was not covered by the warranty or my extended warranty.
Had electrical 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 electrical problem on the 2014 Toyota Avalon?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 74,440 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 $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/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.