The problem
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may erroneously detect a fault during the vehicle start-up self check. If this occurs, the ECU may not deploy the airbags as intended, in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 214, "Side Impact Protection."
The risk
If the air bags do not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0X. Note: 18V-122 was superseded by this recall. The software remedy also includes the updates to the software for 18V-122.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 18V-685 (18V685000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | J0X |
| Manufacturer | Toyota Motor Corporation |
| Component | Electrical system › Software |
| Report date | October 4, 2018 |
| Owners notified | October 26, 2018 |
| Vehicles affected | 168,187 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the electrical system
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 18V-685 repair free?
Yes. Toyota dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0X.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 168,187 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.