AI Damage2016 Toyota Avalon: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Toyota Avalon filed 23 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. The maker issued 160 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 23
- involving a crash
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 160
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 17% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 17% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 13% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 13% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 7 Lane departure 9% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 9% of all complaints
- Air bags: 4 complaints (17% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Engine: 4 complaints (17% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Structure: 3 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 56.
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 26.
- Visibility: 3 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 2.5 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- CVT
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 23 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Structure | 3 | 1 | 56 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 1 | 26 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Lane departure | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 78 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 4 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
I hit the parking lot and was knocked to my side. The car went back up the hill and crossed the road again, went through more landscape, bushes, etc. Back into the road again and stopped.there was over 11,000 damage to my car and I hurt my back and neck.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
The moon roof glass exploded while driving down the highway with all windows shut.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,198 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 43% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Avalon has 24 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 23, about average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
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 air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
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…
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
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…
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used…
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…
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical…
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…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
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…
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad…
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can…
- Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2024 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…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
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.
- This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for…
This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
- This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life…
This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life Coolant, effective March 1, 2024. These products are ordered through the Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC)…
- OBSOLETE NOTICE January 22, 2024
This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0057-18.
NHTSA lists 160 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Toyota Avalon?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, engine, structure. Total complaints: 23. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: windows, sunroof (30%), hesitation when accelerating (13%), warning lights, check engine (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Toyota Avalon?
NHTSA lists 160 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Toyota Avalon from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.