Most common 2016 Toyota Avalon problems
Share of the 23 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Avalon complaints by model year
Best Avalon years: 2017, 2020, 2022. Years to avoid: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 1998. Compare all years →
2016 Toyota Avalon recalls (3)
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
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.
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.
Air bags › Knee bolster
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.
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.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2016 Toyota Avalon:
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
What 2016 Toyota Avalon owners say
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owned a 2016 Toyota Avalon. Approximately 30 minutes after parking and turning the engine off, flames were discovered coming from the front driver's side carpet. Approximately 10 minutes later, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an undisclosed location and deemed destroyed. The cause of the failure was not determined by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 22,000.
Took delivery of vehicle with 3 miles on January 27, 2016. Very next day the vehicle would not start without several attempts. On January 30 the vehicle was stopped in a parking lot while on errands and would not start after attempting for 15 minutes. Dealer service department advises that there is a drain on the battery when there should not be. Vehicle has been with service technicians for the 3rd day and they have yet to identify the root cause. The vehicle has 212 miles and I am fearful that an electrical problem will cause fire and severe safety issues.
Air bags
"Takata recall" airbag. I have been dealing with my airbag light and yellow triangle light coming on while driving for 3 days. The first incident occured while I was driving on the highway during the afternoon after dealership hours. 2nd time was driving on the highway and I immediately took my vehicle to the dealership to which they told me my battery was dirty and failing was the reason for the airbag light to come on. 3rd time I was told that my cell phone charger which was never plugged up on any of the times the light came on was the reason. Still dealing with the unresolved issue.
Takata recall. I purchased my new car on May 4th, 2016. The recall was issued April 13th, 2016, before I made the purchase. The dealership sold me this without notifying me of this. The sales manager said I should have received the letter of the recall but I hadn't even bought the car then. I read it is a federal law against selling a new vehicle with an active recall. The manager said this law doesn't pertain to to this sale but only to "stop sales" issues. I never would have bought this new car knowing a recall was issued, pending, or fixed.
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owned a 2016 Toyota Avalon. Approximately 30 minutes after parking and turning the engine off, flames were discovered coming from the front driver's side carpet. Approximately 10 minutes later, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an undisclosed location and deemed destroyed. The cause of the failure was not determined by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 22,000.
Took delivery of vehicle with 3 miles on January 27, 2016. Very next day the vehicle would not start without several attempts. On January 30 the vehicle was stopped in a parking lot while on errands and would not start after attempting for 15 minutes. Dealer service department advises that there is a drain on the battery when there should not be. Vehicle has been with service technicians for the 3rd day and they have yet to identify the root cause. The vehicle has 212 miles and I am fearful that an electrical problem will cause fire and severe safety issues.
2016 Toyota Avalon engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 40 / 39 / 40 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 30 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Toyota Avalon a good car?
Based on 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Avalon rates better than average: 75% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Avalon at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Toyota Avalon?
The engine & cooling — 4 complaints, 17% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (4) and electrical system (3).
How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota Avalon have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2016 Toyota Avalon, the most recent from January 17, 2020 (air bag/restraint control module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Avalon?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2020 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 1998. See the full Toyota Avalon years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Toyota Avalon problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 31,000 miles; 65% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.