2016 Toyota Avalon problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (4) · Air Bags (3) · Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Avalon model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module 2020-01-17 · campaign 20V024000 · 2,891,976 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Air Bags:knee Bolster 2016-12-16 · campaign 16V906000 · 12 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2016-04-14 · campaign 16V215000 · 58,515 vehicles
Defect: 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 Mo
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.
Service bulletins (266)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-07 · T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005 – 2026 toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. the purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures
Electrical System 2025-06-13 · T-SB-0058-23 Rev1 · Service Campaign
the air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. the procedures outlined in this service bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Showing the 6 most recent of 266 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-10-03 · Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly · 95,500 mi“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 m…”
2024-03-12 · Unknown Or Other“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 t…”
2023-05-08 · Tires · 84,575 mi“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 t…”
2023-02-10 · Service Brakes · 60,000 mi“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 d…”
2020-10-01 · Seat Belts · 55,284 mi · 💥 crash“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.…”
2020-06-02 · Unknown Or Other · 110,932 mi“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. t…”
2020-04-29 · Air Bags“recall of 1/2020 still has no remedy from manufacturer and no anticipated date of remedy availability (nhtsa recall number 20v024).…”
2020-01-06 · Unknown Or Other“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 fa…”
2019-10-29 · Engine · 4,000 mi“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.…”
2019-04-01 · Structure:body · 44,000 mi“the moon roof glass exploded while driving down the highway with all windows shut.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.