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Top issues
12 known problems · 3 high
high
Takata airbag recall compliance
All engines
high
VVT-i oil supply hose rupture (pre-2009 builds)
3.5L 2GR-FE V6 petrol
high
VVT-i oil supply hose rupture (early 2GR-FE)
3.5L 2GR-FE TRD supercharged V6 (3500S/3500SL)
Recalls
2 on recordREC-003451
2012-10-11
Defect: The sliding electrical contact module in the driver's-side power window master switch may have non-uniform lubricating grease, wearing the internal sliding contact points.
Hazard: Switch may become inoperative; if a non-approved lubricant is applied to try to fix it, the switch assembly may overheat and melt.
Remedy: Toyota dealer inspects/replaces the master window switch, free of charge.
Affected: Shared notice with Camry, Corolla, Yaris, RAV4, Kluger (PRA 2012/13327, campaign 2611H); exact Aurion build years within this notice not confirmed (unverified)
Official notice: www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au · details checked 2026-09-30
REC-001280
2015-11-08
Defect: The sliding electrical contacts in the driver's-side power window master switch may have insufficient lubricating grease, allowing wear residue to accumulate between terminals.
Hazard: Switch may become inoperative or, in the worst case, overheat.
Remedy: Toyota dealer inspects/replaces the master window switch, free of charge.
Affected: 260,864 units shared with Camry, Corolla, Yaris, RAV4, Kluger (PRA 2015/14999, campaign BGG55); exact Aurion build years within this notice not confirmed (unverified)
Official notice: www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au · details checked 2026-09-30
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Before and after
Before: Toyota Avalon (MCX10, 2000-2005)
After: Toyota Camry V6 (XV70, 2017-)
Price (AUD)
$6k-$28k
Body styles
4-door sedan
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive (FWD)
Origin
Australia
Built in
Australia (Altona, Victoria)
Overview
Australia's home-grown big-six sedan, designed and built at Toyota's Altona plant in Victoria as the V6 sibling to the locally-made Camry. The Aurion was deliberately simple: ONE engine - the 3.5L 2GR-FE quad-cam V6 - paired exclusively to a six-speed U660E automatic, driving the front wheels, across BOTH the XV40 (2006-2012, sold as AT-X, Prodigy, Touring SX6/ZR6, Presara) and the facelifted XV50 (2012-2017, AT-X, Sportivo, Presara). The only mechanical outlier is the Australia-only TRD Aurion 3500S/3500SL (2007-2009), which bolted an Eaton Twin Vortices supercharger onto the same V6 for 241kW/400Nm in a doomed front-drive V8-fighter that TRD Australia killed off in March 2009. The 2GR-FE is one of Toyota's most durable engines and the Aurion is a genuinely reliable, cheap-to-run used buy; the catches are the pre-2009 VVT-i oil hose that can dump all the oil in seconds, the U660E auto's cold-shift flare/lock-up shudder, torque steer (savage on the TRD), and Takata airbag recall compliance. Diesel was never offered.
Engines & variants
3.5L 2GR-FE V6 petrol
Engine
3.5L DOHC dual VVT-i V6 (ACIS, port injection)
Engine code
Config
V6 NA
Displacement
3456cc
Power
200kW @ 6200rpm (up to 204kW on 95 RON)
Torque
336Nm @ 4700rpm
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive (FWD)
Economy
9.3 L/100km combined (ADR), ~10-12 L/100km real world
Transmission
6AT (U660E)
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven
Pros
- 2GR-FE is a proven, long-lived Toyota V6 - 300k+ km routinely
- Strong, smooth and quick for the money (0-100 ~7.4s)
- Cheap to buy, simple FWD layout, huge parts support
- Locally built and tuned for Australian roads
Cons
- Pre-2009 VVT-i oil hose can rupture and drain oil in seconds
- U660E auto prone to cold-start shift flare and lock-up shudder
- Noticeable torque steer under hard acceleration (FWD V6)
- Thirstier than a four; weak resale, depreciates hard
Known problems
high
VVT-i oil supply hose rupture (pre-2009 builds)
2GR-FE engines built up to around April 2008 use a rubber-section VVT-i oil supply hose that perishes and can split, draining engine oil in as little as 30 seconds and risking catastrophic engine damage. Toyota superseded it with a solid metal line on late-2008/2009-onward engines.
Fix: Replace preventively with the updated full-metal line; if it still has the original rubber-section hose, do it now regardless of km. Confirm the yellow-tag/updated part is fitted before purchase.
medium
U660E cold-start shift flare and torque-converter shudder
The six-speed U660E auto commonly flares (sharp RPM rise) on the 3-4 upshift in the first ~10 minutes after a cold start, and develops a lock-up shudder at light/moderate throttle around 60-90km/h. Usually caused by deteriorated/incorrect fluid and valve-body/lock-up solenoid wear; Toyota released a revised valve body to address it.
Fix: Fresh genuine Toyota WS fluid and a drain/fill; revised valve body or lock-up solenoid if it persists. Avoid examples that have never had a transmission service.
medium
Water pump seepage
The 2GR-FE water pump can weep coolant from the weep hole/seal with age and km, eventually dripping under the car.
Fix: Replace the water pump (and check thermostat/hoses while in there); not urgent until it leaks consistently.
low
Torque steer / front tyre wear
200kW through the front wheels produces pronounced torque steer under hard acceleration and accelerates front tyre wear, especially on the firmer-suspension Sportivo/SX6 grades. Not a fault.
Fix: Quality tyres, sensible throttle from standstill; regular rotation and alignment.
3.5L 2GR-FE TRD supercharged V6 (3500S/3500SL)
Engine
3.5L DOHC V6 with TRD Eaton Twin Vortices Series supercharger
Engine code
Config
V6 supercharged
Displacement
3456cc
Power
241kW @ 6400rpm
Torque
400Nm @ 4000rpm
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive (FWD)
Economy
10.9 L/100km combined (ADR), ~13-15 L/100km real world
Transmission
6AT (U660E, sequential)
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven
Pros
- Genuinely fast Australian-built sleeper - 241kW/400Nm
- Rare collectible: TRD Australia made very few before closing in 2009
- Same robust 2GR-FE bottom end under the blower
- World-first production Eaton TVS supercharger
Cons
- Savage torque steer - 400Nm through the front wheels is a handful
- Supercharger and ancillaries add cost and parts-availability risk
- Premium-fuel thirst and harder life on driveline/tyres
- Same pre-2009 VVT-i oil-hose and U660E auto caveats as the standard car
Known problems
medium
Supercharger and intercooler ancillaries
The Eaton TVS supercharger needs its own oil and a healthy supercharger/intercooler belt, pulley, idler and coupler; neglected examples can whine, leak or shed belts. TRD-specific parts are scarce now that TRD Australia is long gone.
Fix: Verify supercharger oil and belt service history; source TRD/Eaton parts through specialists. Avoid modified/over-boosted examples.
medium
Severe torque steer and front-end wear
400Nm through the front wheels produces strong torque steer and chews front tyres, CV joints and bushes faster than the standard Aurion, particularly if driven hard.
Fix: Quality tyres and alignment; inspect CVs, ball joints and bushes; sympathetic throttle use.
high
VVT-i oil supply hose rupture (early 2GR-FE)
Built within the affected 2007-2008 window, TRD Aurions can carry the same perishable rubber VVT-i oil hose that splits and drains oil in seconds.
Fix: Replace with the updated full-metal line preventively; confirm it has been done before buying.