Toyota Avalon 2016 recalls, problems, complaints and safety
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls issued for the Toyota Avalon 2016 and 23 complaints filed by owners. It has 6% fewer complaints than the average Toyota Avalon from 2016–2022 (24 per year).
These are recalls issued for this model and year, not for your specific car. A car may already be repaired or may not be included. Confirm with your VIN on NHTSA.
Own or buying a Toyota Avalon 2016? Enter its VIN to see its exact trim and engine, and confirm on NHTSA whether its recalls were repaired.
Recalls issued for the Toyota Avalon 2016
Air bags
NHTSA campaign 20V024000 · 2020-01-17
What happens
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.
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Air bags
NHTSA campaign 16V906000 · 2016-12-16
What happens
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.
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Air bags
NHTSA campaign 16V215000 · 2016-04-14
What happens
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."
Consequence
Air bags that do not deploy as intended during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
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.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Complaints from other owners
23 complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of this model.
2 with a crash · 1 with a fire · 2 injuries
Most reported problems on the Toyota Avalon 2016
- Engine: 4 (17% of complaints)
- Air bags: 3 (13% of complaints)
- Structure and body: 3 (13% of complaints)
- Visibility (glass and mirrors): 2 (9% of complaints)
- Lane departure assist: 2 (9% of complaints)
Complaints are written by owners and NHTSA doesn't verify each one. They're useful to spot trends.
What to check before buying a Toyota Avalon 2016
- Confirm by VIN on NHTSA that the recalls on this list were repaired.
- Start it cold, listen for noises, look for oil or coolant leaks and exhaust smoke.
- The air bag light should come on for a second at start-up and go off. Confirm by VIN that air bag recalls were done.
- Look for frame rust, welds or uneven paint that point to accidents.
- Get an inspection from an independent mechanic before paying.
Safety rating (NCAP)
| Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Toyota Avalon 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Toyota Avalon recalls by year
- 2016 : 3 recalls · 23 complaints
- 2017 : 2 recalls · 14 complaints
- 2018 : 2 recalls · 24 complaints
- 2019 : 4 recalls · 71 complaints
- 2020 : 3 recalls · 10 complaints
- 2021 : 2 recalls · 21 complaints
- 2022 : 0 recalls · 8 complaints
Guides for this check
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Toyota Avalon 2016 have?
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls issued for the Toyota Avalon 2016. That doesn't mean every car has them open: confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The repair is free at the dealer.
What is the most common problem with the Toyota Avalon 2016?
In complaints filed with NHTSA, the most mentioned component is: engine (4 of 23 complaints). Complaints aren't verified one by one, but they show trends.
Model-level information from official NHTSA sources. Confirm by VIN on NHTSA. Not a substitute for a mechanical inspection.
Last updated: October 26, 2026. Sources: NHTSA vPIC (decoding), NHTSA Recalls, NHTSA Complaints and NHTSA NCAP (5-Star Safety Ratings).