Every 2016 Toyota Avalon recall
Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.
Air Bags · NHTSA 20V024000
Jan 17, 2020Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Full recall details for 20V024000 →Power Train · NHTSA 17V462000
Jul 20, 2017Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
- Problem
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The front drive shaft may separate.
- Risk
- A front driveshaft separation would result in a loss of propulsion while driving, and if the driver exits the vehicle without applying the parking brake, the vehicle may roll. Both scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the serial number of the vehicle's drive shaft, replacing any that are affected, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0M.
Full recall details for 17V462000 →Air Bags · NHTSA 16V906000
Dec 16, 2016Air Bags:Knee Bolster
- Problem
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Avalon, and 2017 Camry vehicles manufactured August 3, 2016, to September 12, 2016. The front passenger knee air bag module may have been attached to the lower instrument panel with incorrect fasteners.
- Risk
- If the air bag was installed with incorrect fasteners, the fasteners may become loose over time, affecting the air bag deployment and increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fasteners, and if necessary, replace the instrument panel brace and body bracket and reattach the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 8, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G05.
Full recall details for 16V906000 →Air Bags · NHTSA 16V215000
Apr 14, 2016Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
- Problem
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Avalon and Camry vehicles manufactured November 30, 2015 to March 4, 2016. The occupant classification system (OCS) that activates or deactivates the front passenger seat air bag system may have been improperly calibrated. As a result, the front passenger air bag and the front passenger knee air bag may not deploy as intended in certain crash scenarios. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- Air bags that do not deploy as intended during a crash increase the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the OCS, free of charge. The recall began by May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0J.
Full recall details for 16V215000 →
2016 Toyota Avalon complaints and service bulletins
Owners filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Avalon, reporting 2 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries. Toyota has issued at least 266 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.
Most-reported components
- Unknown Or Other5
- Air Bags4
- Engine4
- Electrical System3
- Power Train3
- Structure3
Service bulletins by component
- Equipment (197)
- Structure (130)
- Electrical System (94)
- Equipment Adaptive/Mobility (27)
- Engine (12)
- Visibility (12)
Read Toyota Avalon owner complaints and bulletins, every year
What people reported
Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Avalon. A few in their own words, shortened. Complaints are unverified and are not proof of a defect or of any recall.
Injury reportedCrash
“TRAVEL ON THE STREET AND MAY HIT AN OBJECT (COULD BE AN EMPTY TRASH CONTAINER. VEHICLE LEFT THE TRAVEL LANE, GOING UP ON THE SIDEWALK, STUCK 2 GARBAGE CANS AND THROUGH THE NUMEROUS BUSHES.”
2016 TOYOTA AVALONOct 1, 2020
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11362196
“TRANSMISSION SLIPS UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION BUCKING VIBRATION VERY HIGH RPM(4500-5500) JERKS NOT PICK UP ENGINE POWER PROPERLY .VEHICLE NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY”
2016 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRIDFeb 20, 2016
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 10837276
Injury reportedCrash
“ON OCTOBER 1, 2018, AT 8:25 A.M.I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT WORK IN MY 2016 AVALON (12,141 MILES). I WAS 'RIDING THE BRAKE' TO PULL ALL THE WAY INTO THE PARKING SPACE. THE CAR TOOK OFF INTO LANDSCAPE, CROSSED A ROAD AND WENT DOWN A HILL. I HIT THE PARKING LOT AND WAS KNOCKED TO MY SIDE.”
2016 TOYOTA AVALONMar 17, 2019
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11187352
Fire
“THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 TOYOTA AVALON. APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AFTER PARKING AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, FLAMES WERE DISCOVERED COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE CARPET. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.”
2016 TOYOTA AVALONMay 24, 2018
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11097832
“The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the sunroof glass shattered. The contact stated that there was no glass inside the vehicle because the sunroof shade was in the closed position. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.”
2016 TOYOTA AVALONOct 3, 2025
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11691211
Check your Avalon by VIN
Not every 2016 Toyota Avalon is in every recall. Enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact vehicle, then confirm which are still open at NHTSA.gov or with any Toyota dealer.
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