NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 23 owner complaints for the 2016 Toyota Avalon. Most complaints involve air bags (4) and engine (4). The EPA rates it 24 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
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.
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.
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."
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Avalon model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 113 |
| 1997 | 128 |
| 1998 | 186 |
| 1999 | 94 |
| 2000 | 183 |
| 2001 | 139 |
| 2002 | 142 |
| 2003 | 305 |
| 2004 | 205 |
| 2005 | 228 |
| 2006 | 360 |
| 2007 | 243 |
| 2008 | 349 |
| 2009 | 91 |
| 2010 | 46 |
| 2011 | 106 |
| 2012 | 30 |
| 2013 | 160 |
| 2014 | 96 |
| 2015 | 54 |
| 2016 | 23 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 24 |
| 2019 | 71 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 21 |
| 2022 | 8 |
“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.”
“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.”
“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. *LN”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 30 | 24 | $2,600 | 365 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
3 safety recalls as of Nov 9, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 23 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (4), engine (4), electrical system (3). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2016 Toyota Avalon at 24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (1 version rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2016 Toyota Avalon 5 out of 5 stars overall.