The Toyota Avalon was equipped with the A541E transmission in most models. But they aren’t without their problems though, so let’s look at some of the most common Toyota Avalon transmission problems, look at cost estimates and figure out what you can do about them.
What Transmission Do I Have?
Toyota Avalon Transmission Models
Toyota Avalon: A541E Transmission
Toyota Avalon Transmission Replacement Cost Estimate
Pricing varies by model. To be 100% sure on pricing, have your VIN# handy and use our Get An Estimate feature to look up your transmission by VIN#.
What are the DTC codes related to Toyota Avalon transmission problems?
| Trouble Code | Description |
|---|---|
| P0753 | Shift Solenoid 'A' Electrical |
| P0755 | Shift Solenoid 'B' |
| P0770 | Shift Solenoid 'E' |
| P0773 | Shift Solenoid 'E' Electrical |
| P1705 | Nissan DTC: Throttle Position Sensor Circuit Malfunction |
Toyota Avalon Transmission Recalls
None Found
Toyota Avalon Technical Service Bulletins (TSB)
TSB TC002-02 – Harsh 2-3 shift at high altitude
2002 Lexus ES300
Problem – Drivers may experience an unusually harsh 2-3 upshift during wide open throttle acceleration at elevations above 3000 feet.
Solution – A revised valve body has been developed to correct this issue.
Common Toyota Avalon Transmission Problems
Lack of Response
Leaking Fluid
Low Fluid
Burning Smell
Grinding or Shaking
Whining, Clunking or Humming
Refuses to Go Into Gear
Torque Converter Issues
Valve Body Issues
Transmission Noisy in Neutral
Gears Slipping
No 3rd or 4th Gear
No 1st or 2nd Gear
No Reverse
Dragging Clutch
Trouble Codes / Check Engine Light
Can I drive with a transmission problem?
If your Toyota Avalon can still make it up and down the road, you might say “It’s fine, I’ll just drive it until I can get it fixed”. But that is not always a good idea, depending on the symptoms. You see, there are a lot of (very expensive) moving parts inside of a transmission, and if something isn’t right, continuing to drive with a transmission problem could damage something else.
How often does a Toyota Avalon transmission need to be replaced?
The overall lifespan of a Toyota Avalon transmission largely depends on how well it was maintained. Factory design flaws also factor into this equation, along with how/how hard you drive. But on average, we’ve seen the Toyota Avalon transmission last for between 130,000-180,000 miles. A high quality replacement transmission however, can last considerably longer if all of the factory design flaws have been addressed and the vehicle has been maintained.
How are Toyota Avalon transmission issues diagnosed?
It is fairly easy to guesstimate what the root cause of your Toyota Avalon transmission problems might be, but you won’t truly know unless you have the right tools and experience. A good mechanic or transmission repair center will be able to connect your truck to a computer and find out which diagnostic trouble codes (DTC’s) have been stored. Once they know what to look for, they can perform a visual inspection to verify the problem.
How is a Toyota Avalon transmission replaced?
In order to replace your Toyota Avalon transmission, the truck has to be lifted from the ground in order to gain access to all of the parts that will need to be unbolted. Then the transmission can be lowered to the ground (typically with a transmission jack), so the new transmission can be installed.
Recommendations for Toyota Avalon transmission issues?
To save time and get back on the road faster, have your 17-digit truck VIN# handy and you can get an online quote for a reman Toyota Avalon transmission here, then find a local shop using our Find a Shop guide to install it for you.
How to Solve Toyota Avalon Transmission Problems
Solution A: Buy a Used Toyota Avalon Transmission
The quickest way to fix your transmission problems is to simply buy a used transmission or used transmission. These can be found at most junk yards, and they often come with a 30-90 day warranty. However, there’s no way to determine the actual condition of the internal components, so you could be spending a bunch of money to have the exact same problems. Plus, that warranty only covers the transmission if it’s defective, not the labor costs that you’ll have to pay.
Solution B: Buy a Rebuilt Toyota Avalon Transmission
Another option would be a rebuilt transmission or rebuilt transmission. A local repair shop will remove your transmission, then install a bunch of new parts during the rebuild. The problem here is, the skills and experience of each transmission rebuilder will vary widely from shop to shop, so you could have problems from something that wasn’t adjusted properly. And the 1-2 year warranty might only cover you at certain transmission repair shops, in a specific geographical area.
Solution C: Buy a Remanufactured Toyota Avalon Transmission
Many owners depend on their vehicle to commute and get things done. Their gasoline engines are designed to go 100’s of thousands of miles, so it makes sense to invest in a remanufactured transmission.
What Transmission Do I Have?
What Problem Does Your Toyota Avalon Have?
Let us know the year, mileage and problem you’re having as well as any trouble (OBD) codes you’ve found. If you’ve been given a quote or paid for a repair, we’d like to hear about that too!
I’m a girl now ok, but let me say,I was driving on the freeway I was getting off the freeway my RPM STARTED IT LOOKING LIKE THEY SPINED ALL THE WAY AROUND ON THE GAUGE, made a noise like something hit the fan but it wasn’t the fan it then sounded like it dropped in a can my 1st thought was transmission.so I pulled over for a good 45 min.drove over to the gas station got transmission fueled,put the whole bottle in before checking the transmission to see if I even needed it now I feel or see that theys to much fueled now. Can I take some out and how?? Remember I said,I’m just a girl..Lol thank u for ur time I hope I learn something after this??
My transmission wines and slips on takeoff and has a roaring nose like a wheel bearing going bad. But the bearing checks good. I have made two out of town trips with no problems except the noise and slipping.wants it’s going it goes without hesitation.2005 Alvalon with 154 k miles
Not shifting till around 30 mph the it’s a hard shift…also a burning smell
Not shifting till are 30 mph then hard
o/d off light comes on after driving for a while and now throwing code p0770
I drive a 2004 Toyota Avalon XL, it has 265,000.
At the start of 2022, my car’s transmission started acting weird, sometimes it would jerk a bit when shifting through gears, nothing to complicated.
I went to take my car to a mechanic shop, said it need to get all mounts replaced, so I did that. It helped a bit, but I was still getting that little bit of jerkiness.
Lately it has been an issue on long drives (1hr) that I get a burning smell, it smells like transmission fluid is burning, a lot of vapor comes out. And there’s a bit of hard shifting after that, but not at the start of my journey.
Pressure control solenoid went bad “stuck off”. Code P0746, car was driving fine then stop going into gears. It doesn’t move only reverse. Can I replace valve body or solenoid to fix the issue?
P0776 code pop up. Also transmission has a clunk at 1st or 2nd gear. Slow take off clunk then it runs fine.
Between 45 and 50 going up a slight hill, the transmission shudders a bit for about a second or two.
No reverse
Машина дергется
Slipping in gear. Fluid looks/smells OK. Only two codes showing which concern the air-fuel sensor heating element. No tranny codes.
2004 toyota avalon lx
Would not shift into gears after backing up. Then reverse didn’t work. Code 0171 and a secondary 0741..changed sensor .can’t find other solenoid to change on car