NHTSA vehicle safety data

2016 Toyota Avalon Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2016 Toyota Avalon has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 23 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Toyota dealer.

NHTSA also files the 2016 Toyota Avalon separately as Avalon Hybrid — 2 recall campaigns.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2016 Toyota Avalon, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2016 Toyota Avalon owner complaints

Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota Avalon, describing incidents dated January 30, 2016 to September 30, 2025.

Most-cited components

Unknown or Other 5 complaints
Air Bags 4 complaints
Engine 4 complaints
Electrical System 3 complaints
Structure 3 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 3 complaints

Of the 23 complaints on file, 2 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 23 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11691211 · Filed October 3, 2025
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. The…
ODI #11576871 · Filed March 12, 2024
The manufacturer is no longer producing OEM windshield that comply with the a DAS features which are now in operable because my windshield will not calibrate after replacement because there is not an OEM windshield available. I have contacted Toyota. I have also searched everywhere in the states for…
ODI #11520951 · Filed May 8, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Avalon equipped with Cooper Tires, Tire Line: CS5 Ultra Touring, Tire Size: 215/55/R17, DOT Number: U93R1CU1820. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front end of the vehicle was shaking abnormally without warning. The contact took the vehicle…

Read all 23 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2016 Toyota Avalon in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA19-001: Electrical overstress
Closed September 19, 2024
- Recall 20V-024

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags/Seat Belt Pretensioners may not Deploy

NHTSA #20V024000 · Air Bags — Air Bag/Restraint Control Module · NHTSA notice

Reported January 17, 2020 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 2,891,976 vehicles

Repair completion: 70.02% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Toyota campaign 20TB03 / 20TA03 · Owners notified March 16, 2020 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Air Bag Fasteners May Loosen Affecting Deployment

NHTSA #16V906000 · Air Bags — Knee Bolster · NHTSA notice

Reported December 16, 2016 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 12 vehicles

Repair completion: 75% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Toyota campaign G05 · Owners notified February 8, 2017 · Vehicles built August 3, 2016 – September 12, 2016 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Occupant Classification System/FMVSS 208

NHTSA #16V215000 · Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification · NHTSA notice

Reported April 14, 2016 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 58,515 vehicles

Repair completion: 89.49% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Toyota campaign G0J · Owners notified May 13, 2016 · Vehicles built November 30, 2015 – March 4, 2016 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

Air bags that do not deploy as intended during a crash increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2016 Toyota Avalon 4 DR FWD

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Frontal Crash

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Rollover

11% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control Forward Collision Warning (Optional) Lane Departure Warning (Optional)

1 investigation

23 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Toyota Avalon.

Visibility

ODI #11691211

Incident: September 30, 2025 · Filed: October 3, 2025

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. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,500.

Unknown or Other; Lane Departure; Forward Collision Avoidance

ODI #11576871

Incident: March 11, 2024 · Filed: March 12, 2024

The manufacturer is no longer producing OEM windshield that comply with the a DAS features which are now in operable because my windshield will not calibrate after replacement because there is not an OEM windshield available. I have contacted Toyota. I have also searched everywhere in the states for an OEM windshield Toyota has tried to calibrate the replacement which is aftermarket, as well as the Auto Glass installer to no avail. Toyota is no longer manufacturing the OEM windshield which is needed for the safety features to function properly. The car should be recalled for a manufacturer defect.

Tires

ODI #11520951

Incident: May 4, 2023 · Filed: May 8, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Avalon equipped with Cooper Tires, Tire Line: CS5 Ultra Touring, Tire Size: 215/55/R17, DOT Number: U93R1CU1820. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front end of the vehicle was shaking abnormally without warning. The contact took the vehicle to a tire shop and was informed that the tread on the driver’s and passenger’s side tires were separating. The contact's husband drove the vehicle to the original tire shop where the tires were purchased and was offered a store credit for the replacement tires. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The tire was a replacement tire. The tire failure mileage was approximately 6,000, and the vehicle failure mileage was 84,575.

Service Brakes

ODI #11506672

Incident: December 20, 2022 · Filed: February 10, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately and made an abnormal sound. Additionally, the center console was extremely hot, and the driver's side seat electric panel cover had detached. The contact inspected the driver's side seat and noticed there was rust on the seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the brake pads were cleaned; however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure for the center console. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Lane Departure

ODI #11499774

Incident: January 2, 2023 · Filed: January 2, 2023

Clear

Electrical System; Air Bags; Seat Belts

ODI #11362196

Crash 1 injury

Incident: September 17, 2020 · Filed: October 1, 2020

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.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11326966

Incident: October 3, 2018 · Filed: June 2, 2020

THERE ARE TWO PIECES OF ACCORDIAN SHAPED TRIM THAT CONTINUALLY FALL FROM INSIDE THE SUNROOF. I HAVE HAD THE DEALERSHIP REINSTALL THEM - AND THEY CHARGED ME. HOWEVER, THEY CONTINUED TO FALL FROM THE SUNROOF AND THEY ARE NOW STORED IN THE TRUNK. POOR DESIGN. PLUS, NOT TOO SAFE HAVING THIS RUBBER PART FALL ONTO YOUR HEAD WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE ADHESIVE ON THE PART MAY NOT KEEP THE PART IN ITS PROPER PLACE, BUT THE ADHESIVE DOES DO A GOOD JOB STICKING TO MY HAIR. *TR

Air Bags

ODI #11322736

Incident: January 17, 2020 · Filed: April 29, 2020

RECALL OF 1/2020 STILL HAS NO REMEDY FROM MANUFACTURER AND NO ANTICIPATED DATE OF REMEDY AVAILABILITY (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 20V024).

Unknown or Other

ODI #11297466

Incident: December 1, 2019 · Filed: January 6, 2020

MY CAR HAS AN SOS SYSTEM THAT NOTIFIES TOYOTA OR THEIR CONTRACTOR IF THE CAR HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, SUMMONS LAW ENFORCEMENT, TOW TRUCK, ETC. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT OTHER SAFETY ISSUES ARE WRAPPED INTO IT. IT HAS A RED WARNING LIGHT THAT GOES ON WHEN IT STOPS WORKING. IT HAS BEEN INTO MY LOCAL DEALER THREE TIMES TO BE REPAIRED AND EACH "REPAIR" HAS FAILED IMMEDIATELY UPON ME PICKING IT UP AGAIN. TODAY, AFTER THE DEALER WORKED ON IT, THE DECIDED THAT THE "CELL SYSTEM" THAT IS BUILT INTO THE CAR AND IS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND WILL COST $2200.00. I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER "SAFETY SYSTEMS" ARE RELIANT ON THIS DYSFUNCTIONAL SAFETY BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR NHTSA TO KNOW ABOUT THIS AND LET ME KNOW IF IT IS A HAZARD FOR ME AND OTHERS. THE RED LIGHT STAYS ON WHENEVER THE CAR IS OPERATED.

Engine

ODI #11276855

Incident: October 29, 2019 · Filed: October 29, 2019

ENGINE HESITATES FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP OR A SLOW SPEED IN CITY TRAFFIC. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER LEARNING PROCESS AND IT SHOULD GO AWAY. PROBLEMS HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE NEW IN 2016.

Other Toyota Avalon model years

Check your 2016 Toyota Avalon VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Toyota Avalon at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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