ToyotaAvalon2012Overview/toyota/avalon/2012/base/

2012 Toyota Avalon

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Avalon.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2012 Toyota Avalon is a full-size passenger car equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission, calling for 6.4 quarts of 5W-30 API oil and delivering an EPA-estimated 22 mpg combined. With just 30 owner complaints and 4 recalls, this model year sits far below the Avalon’s complaint peak of 359 in 2006, marking it as a notably dependable choice within the nameplate’s long history.

Model year202220212020201920182017201620152012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/28/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9672335028. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24F · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHEADOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-55R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9672335028 alt 9030179006
Engine air filter17801YZZ06
Fuel filter233000A020
Spark plug9091901247
Front wiper blades85212AC011 alt 85222AC012
Serpentine belt90916A2010
Thermostat90916A3002 alt 1632562010
Cabin air filter8713907010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length197.2 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase111 in
Curb weight3560 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 28 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume107 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Avalon of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.0–6.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.00 sec — 2005 Touring
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2011Limited 3.5L V66.20 sec14.70 sec268 hpFWD
2011Limited 3.5L V66.60 sec15.00 sec268 hpFWD
2011Limited 3.5L V66.90 sec15.20 sec268 hpFWD
2006Touring 3.5L V66.20 sec14.80 sec280 hpFWD
2005Touring 3.5L V66.00 sec14.60 sec280 hpFWD
2005Limited 3.5L V66.50 sec14.90 sec280 hpFWD
2005Touring 3.5L V66.50 sec15.00 sec280 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 30.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantHOAT
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.4 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts184 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts61 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft-lbs
Main Bearings16
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs7 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039
Spark Plug Torque18 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing8-12, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.90-1.25 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.95 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca
Optional BCI Group Number35

Service checks

Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief10-16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Injector Primary Resistance0.3-100 ohms
Injector Primary Resistance11.6-12.4 @ 68 degreesF ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs / 20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle79 ft-lbs / 46 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in / 0.0059 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.39 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.39 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.983 in / 0.334 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 127 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9018 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
127 ft. lbs.27 ft. lbs
290 degrees.90 degrees
390 degrees.; Bolts 9-10: 22 ft. lbs.; Lightly lubricate new cylinder head bolt, threads and flanges with engine oil.90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Toyota Avalon recorded 30 complaints, 4 recalls, 1 investigation, and 292 TSBs—positioning it as a relative lull between two periods of elevated concern. Complaint volume dropped sharply from 106 in 2011, but this valley was followed by a significant spike in 2013 with 160 complaints, 4 investigations, and the generation's highest TSB count of 511. The 2012 model had one open NHTSA investigation and the top complaint categories were Structure (6), Electrical System (4), Visibility/Wiper (3), and Air Bags (3), with 8 crash-related complaints and 1 fire-related complaint recorded. Across the generation, complaints peaked during 2003–2008 (ranging 205–359 annually) before dropping to very low levels in 2009–2010, then fluctuated. The 2012 model sits mid-arc in this pattern as a lower-complaint year, but the subsequent 2013 spike suggests latent issues may have surfaced as vehicles aged. The 4 recalls on the 2012 (versus only 1 in 2011) indicate the manufacturer was already addressing known problems by model year, though the data does not specify root causes. **Concrete takeaway:** The 2012 Avalon's low complaint count and established recall history are encouraging, but the burst of TSBs and the 2013 escalation in complaints and investigations suggest the generation carried unresolved issues that surfaced shortly after this model year—buyers should verify all recall work was completed and scrutinize the structural and electrical systems closely.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
292
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
30
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 30 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure6
Electrical System4
Visibility/Wiper3
Air Bags3
Unknown Or Other2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Power Train1
Air Bags,Seat Belts1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V569000Air BagsReported 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… Remedy: 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…

15V047000Electrical SystemReported 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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 292 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0055-24 Rev22026-01-07Unknown Or OtherSome 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
T-SB-0035-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…
T-SB-0038-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureTo prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film…
T-SB-0039-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureThe condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the…
T-SB-0061-23 Rev22024-12-05StructureToyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Avalon. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Avalon take?

6.4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Avalon have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Avalon get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined mpg.