2012 Toyota Avalon
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2012 models.

- Class
- Large Cars
- Body styles
- 4dr Sedan Xls
- Engines
- 3.5L 6-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 22 combined · 19 city / 28 hwy
- Length
- 197.2 in
- Curb weight
- 3,561 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 4 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 22 MPG combined — 16% better than the average 2012 large car (18.9 MPG).
- Few owner complaints23 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 240 for similar models.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 23 similar 2012 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2012 Toyota Avalon is a large car offered with a 3.5L 6-cyl engine and front-wheel drive.
It measures about 197 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 111-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,561 lb.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 22 MPG combined (19 city / 28 highway), 16% better than the 2012 large car average of 18.9 MPG, for an estimated $3,050 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 4 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.
What changed for 2012
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2011 Avalon — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2011; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2011 Avalon →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr Sedan Xls | 197.2 in | 72.8 in | 57.9 in | 111 in | 62.2 / 61.8 in | 3,561 lb | 61/39 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 28 / 22 | +16% | $3,050 | 404 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2012 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2012 Toyota Avalon.
Similar 2012 large cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Toyota Avalon (this car) | 22 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2012 Ford Mustang | 23 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2012 Honda Accord | 27 MPG | Not rated | 8 |
| 2012 Chevrolet Impala | 22 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2012 Toyota Camry | 40 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2012 Chevrolet Camaro | 22 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2012 Dodge Charger | 23 MPG | Not rated | 15 |
Recalls (4)
Air Bags › Air Bag/Restraint Control Module · Jan 17, 2020
NHTSA campaign 20V024000 · 2,891,976 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.
- 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 be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.
Seat Belts · Aug 29, 2018
NHTSA campaign 18V569000 · 19,354 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- If the seat belt is falsely interpreted as being buckled, in the event of a crash, the air bags may not deploy appropriately, increasing the risk of injury.
- 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. Toyota's number for this recall is J0S.
Electrical System · Jan 28, 2015
NHTSA campaign 15V047000 · 51,495 vehicles
- Problem
- 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 electrical current flow to the sub-woofer.
- Risk
- A constant electrical current flow may cause the sub-woofer to overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
- 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.
Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner · Oct 17, 2013
NHTSA campaign 13V442000 · 802,769 vehicles
- Problem
- 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 short circuit of the module.
- Risk
- A short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.
- 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.
Not every 2012 Toyota Avalon is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2012 Toyota Avalon buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 4 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Air Bags — 5 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Structure › Body — 4 owner reports. Open and close every door, the hood and tailgate; look for rust or misaligned panels.
- Electrical System — 4 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 50,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2012 Toyota Avalon. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Avalon years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Avalon | 44 | 196.1 in | ★★★★★ | 0 | 8 |
| 2021 Avalon | 44 | 196.1 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 27 |
| 2020 Avalon | 44 | 196.1 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 10 |
| 2019 Avalon | 44 | 196.1 in | ★★★★★ | 5 | 72 |
| 2018 Avalon | 40 | 195.3 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 25 |
| 2017 Avalon | 40 | 195.3 in | Not rated | 2 | 14 |
| 2016 Avalon | 40 | 195.3 in | Not rated | 4 | 25 |
| 2015 Avalon | 40 | 195.3 in | Not rated | 2 | 54 |
| 2014 Avalon | 40 | 195.3 in | Not rated | 4 | 100 |
| 2013 Avalon | 40 | 195.3 in | Not rated | 4 | 103 |
| 2011 Avalon | 23 | 197.2 in | Not rated | 1 | 62 |
| 2010 Avalon | 23 | 197.2 in | Not rated | 6 | 16 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Toyota. How we calculate this →