2016 Toyota Avalon Recalls
TL;DR
3 recalls on the 2016 Toyota Avalon. Recall repairs are always free. Enter your VIN at NHTSA or your dealer to confirm which apply.
Recalls for the 2016 Toyota Avalon
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
NHTSA campaign 20V024000 · 2020-17-01
Issue: 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.
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.
AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER
NHTSA campaign 16V906000 · 2016-16-12
Issue: 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.
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.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
NHTSA campaign 16V215000 · 2016-14-04
Issue: 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.
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.
What to do about a recall
- Recall repairs are free — the manufacturer pays, regardless of car age.
- Confirm which recalls apply to your exact car by entering your 17-digit VIN.
- Contact any franchised dealer for that brand to schedule the free repair.
Check engine light on your 2016 Toyota Avalon?
A recall is a known defect the manufacturer fixes for free. A check-engine light is different — it's a stored trouble code you can read yourself. Start here:
Frequently asked questions
Are Toyota Avalon recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers, no matter how old the vehicle is.
How do I check recalls for my exact Avalon?
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup or any Toyota dealer. The VIN tells you precisely which campaigns affect your car.
Is it safe to drive a Avalon with an open recall?
It depends on the defect. Read the "Risk" line for each recall above — some are minor, others advise reduced use until repaired. When in doubt, contact a dealer.