Model year guide

2012 Toyota Avalon

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Toyota Avalon is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 39 on record.

2012 Toyota Avalon — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Toyota Avalon at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints30
Combined22 mpg
Typical price$17,688

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Toyota Avalon recalls 4

Air Bags NHTSA Campaign #18V569000 · 29/08/2018

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles. During a vehicle repair, the seat belt inner buckles may have been replaced with parts that may incorrectly tell the air bag management system that the seat belt is always buckled.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the seat belt assembly to verify that it is properly detecting being unbuckled, replacing the inner seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. …

Electrical System NHTSA Campaign #15V047000 · 28/01/2015

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles manufactured February 9, 2010, to October 22, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the sub-woofer speaker located in the trunk may experience an intermittent electrical short which may cause damage to the integrated circuit (IC) in the audio amplifier. In some cases, the damaged IC may allow a constant elec…

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the audio system amplifier and install a protective cover around the sub-woofer, free of charge. The recall began on July 1,2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

Electrical System NHTSA Campaign #13V442000 · 17/10/2013

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air conditioning condenser unit housing. The accumulated water may then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a sh…

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module NHTSA Campaign #20V024000 · 17/01/2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Toyota Avalon common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Visibility/wiper
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

2012 Toyota Avalon MPG & running costs

Combined22 mpg
City19 mpg
Highway28 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,800

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Toyota Avalon worth?

Low
$12,000
Typical price
$17,688
High
$21,600

From 37 comparable 2012 Toyota Avalon listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Toyota Avalon costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,000
Depreciation (5 yrs)$9,650
Total$23,650
Per mile$0.32

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($17,688) with the same model 5 model-years older ($8,057), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Toyota Avalon trims & engines on record

Trims
Base · Limited
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl 268 hp

2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles on record

Other Toyota Avalon model years

2012 Toyota Avalon — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Toyota Avalon have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2012 Toyota Avalon. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota Avalon?

Based on 30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, visibility/wiper, structure.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Avalon get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Toyota Avalon at about 22 mpg combined (19 city / 28 highway).

How much is a 2012 Toyota Avalon worth?

Comparable 2012 Toyota Avalon listings run roughly $12,000–$21,600, typically around $17,688 (from 37 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.