2021 Toyota Avalon

The 8-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission in the 2019 Avalon can exhibit harsh or delayed shifts, particularly between 1st and 2nd gear at low speeds. Owners describe a noticeable lurch or clunk during light acceleration and deceleration in stop-and-go traffic. Cold weather tends to exaggerate the behavior.

Toyota released multiple TCM software updates to refine shift logic and torque converter lockup timing. Visit the dealer for the latest transmission calibration. TSB 0035-19 addresses harsh low-speed shifting on 2019+ Avalon models. A transmission fluid drain and refill with Toyota WS fluid may also improve shift quality.

The dashboard surface produces a strong glare that reflects onto the windshield, significantly reducing forward visibility in bright sunlight. The reflection is especially distracting with a light-colored dashboard and can make daytime driving fatiguing and potentially unsafe.

Toyota has not issued a formal fix for this design issue. Owners commonly purchase a vehicle-specific dashboard cover or non-reflective mat to mitigate the glare. Polarized sunglasses also help. Some owners have had the dealer apply an anti-glare vinyl wrap on the dashboard top surface.

The electric water pump on the 2.5L A25A-FKS engine can leak or fail prematurely, resulting in coolant loss and engine overheating. Symptoms include a low-coolant warning, visible coolant around the water pump area, and in severe cases the engine temperature gauge rising rapidly. The failure is caused by an internal seal degradation.

Replace the electric water pump assembly. Toyota addressed this in TSB T-SB-0087-21 for A25A engines with DTCs P26CA14 and P26CA31. This repair is covered under the powertrain warranty (5 years/60,000 miles). Have coolant level checked regularly at service intervals.

The Entune 3.0 infotainment system can experience sluggish response times, screen freezes, and intermittent Apple CarPlay or Android Auto disconnections. Bluetooth audio may cut out or develop a noticeable delay. Some owners report the system failing to boot after starting the vehicle, requiring a manual reboot.

Perform a hard reset by holding the power button for 10-15 seconds. Update the Entune system to the latest firmware at the dealer. Toyota released over-the-air and dealer-applied software updates throughout 2019-2020 that improved system responsiveness. If the issues persist, the head unit may need replacement.

Some 2019 Avalon owners report brake pulsation and vibration felt through the steering wheel during moderate braking, beginning as early as 15,000-20,000 miles. The issue is caused by uneven rotor thickness variation (lateral runout) from the factory or from improper lug nut torque during tire rotations.

Have the front rotors measured for lateral runout and thickness variation. Resurfacing is possible if the rotors are within minimum thickness specs, but replacement with quality aftermarket or OEM rotors is preferred. Always torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs with a torque wrench, not an impact gun, to prevent future warping.