The 2013 Avalon is Toyota's full-size sedan built on a refined Camry platform, offered with a solid 3.5L V6 (most common) or 2.5L hybrid. Generally reliable, but the V6 has a known oil consumption defect and transmission cooler issues that can escalate quickly.
Excessive Oil Consumption (3.5L V6 2GR-FE Engine)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: burning a quart every 1,000-2,000 miles, blue smoke on startup or acceleration, low oil warning light, fouled spark plugs
Fix: Toyota issued TSB and extended warranty to 10yr/150k on certain VINs. Proper fix is piston ring replacement or short block (~18-24 hours labor), though some dealers attempt piston cleaning first (~12 hours). If outside warranty, owners often just add oil between changes until engine fails, then face full rebuild.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: transmission fluid leaking onto subframe, pink fluid puddles under vehicle, delayed shifts or slipping, overheating transmission
Fix: Factory cooler lines crack at crimped fittings or corrode through. Replace both lines and flush system (~2.5 hours). Critical to catch early—if ATF mixes with coolant via external cooler, you're replacing radiator and transmission (~12+ hours total).
Estimated cost: $400-800
Front Lower Control Arm Bushings
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking over bumps, steering wander or vague feel, uneven tire wear on inside edges, alignment won't hold
Fix: Front lower control arm rear bushings split and separate. Most replace entire control arm assemblies rather than pressing bushings (arms are $150-200 each, pressing is fiddly). Both sides, alignment included: ~3.5 hours.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Water Pump Leak (3.5L V6)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 100,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: coolant seeping from weep hole, pink residue on timing cover, slow coolant loss, sweet smell from engine bay
Fix: Timing cover must come off for pump access (~5 hours labor). Always do timing belt, tensioner, idler pulleys, drive belts, and thermostat at same time since you're there. Not an interference engine, so rarely catastrophic if caught early.
Estimated cost: $1,200-1,800
Transmission Mount Collapse
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: clunk or thud on shifts or acceleration, excessive engine movement visible from outside, vibration at idle in drive
Fix: Rear transmission mount (torque rod type) fails from fluid leakage or rubber deterioration. Simple replacement from underneath (~1.2 hours). Sometimes confused with engine mounts, so inspect all three.
Estimated cost: $250-400
EVAP System Canister / Purge Valve Failures
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: check engine light P0441, P0446, P0456, fuel smell near rear of vehicle, difficulty fueling or pump clicking off repeatedly, rough idle after refueling
Fix: Charcoal canister saturates or purge valve sticks. Canister replacement is straightforward near fuel tank (~1.5 hours). Purge valve on engine is easier (~0.8 hours). Diagnose with smoke test to avoid throwing parts.
Estimated cost: $300-700
Owner tips
Check oil level every 500 miles on the V6—oil consumption can start suddenly and destroy the engine in under 1,000 miles if ignored
Inspect transmission cooler lines annually on high-mileage examples; preventive replacement at 100k saves thousands in transmission damage
If buying used, verify VIN eligibility for Toyota's oil consumption remedy program (some still covered) and request consumption test documentation
Hybrid models (2.5L) skip the oil consumption issue entirely—consider them if available, though battery replacement looms at 150k+
Solid daily driver if you avoid high-mileage V6s with oil consumption history—hybrids or verified low-consumption V6s are the smart buy used.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: Battery located in trunk on passenger side
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Every control module on the 2013-2017 Toyota Avalon — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
⚠️ Mileage programming required and legally restricted; VIN registration mandatory
Multiplex Network Door ECU / Power Window Master Switch (DOOR ECU)0.8 hr R&Raftermarket tool +0.2 hr▸ programming details
📍 Driver door, integrated with master window switch assembly
🔧 Techstream or Autel/Launch
⚠️ Window auto up/down initialization required after replacement
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE · 20V024000
2020-01-17 · EA19001
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a Pre-Collision System (PCS) as optional equipment. In these vehicles, the PCS may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object.
Consequence: A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this campaign are F1V and F2E.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · 13V442000
2013-10-17
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Toyota Motor Engineering & manufacturing North America, Inc. (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Camry and Camry HV, model year 2013 Avalon and Avalon HV and model year 2014 Corolla vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the windshield wiper switch assembly may short circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems."
Consequence: A short circuit could cause inoperative windshield wipers, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper switch assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
21mpg
Highway
30mpg
Combined
25mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
Capability & size
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Wiper blades
Fourth generation (XX40) began 2013, sedan, no rear wiper
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2013 Toyota Avalon 3.5L V6 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.