OBD diagnostics · purchase protection

2016 Toyota Avalon
Common Problems & Inspection Guide

Verify baseline vehicle system stability data. Learn what to check on the physical vehicle computer before signing a bill of sale.

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Platform Heritage

The Toyota Avalon (Japanese: トヨタ・アバロン, Hepburn: Toyota Abaron) is a full-size sedan manufactured by Toyota, as its largest front-wheel drive sedan; also its flagship in the United States, Canada, China and the Middle East. The Avalon was also manufactured in Australia from April 2000 until June 2005, when it was replaced in November 2006 by the Aurion. The first production Avalon was manufactured in September 1994 at the TMMK assembly line in Georgetown, Kentucky, where subsequent generations have been manufactured. Toyota marketed the front-drive Avalon as a replacement for its rear-drive Cressida, a model discontinued for the American market in 1992. The Cressida was an upper-level, mid-size, rear-wheel drive sedan. The Avalon has at times overlapped Toyota's models using the same platform, including the Camry V6 and the Lexus ES. The third-generation and subsequent generations was distinguished by offering extra legroom due to its extended-length chassis. From 2013, the Lexus ES was moved to the extended platform to match the Avalon. As of 2013, the Avalon was sold in the United States, Canada, China, South Korea and the Middle East. It was discontinued in the United States in 2022. Avalon is a legendary island of the Arthurian legend, fitting it in with Toyota's tradition of naming their sedans after variants of the word for "crown" in various languages (Crown, Corona, Camry, Corolla), types of crowns (Tiara), or other aspects of royalty (Scepter).

Source: Wikipedia intro extract · as of Jun 19, 2026

Key facts for this model year

23NHTSA owner complaints
3Safety recalls on file
4Top issue reports · Unknown Or Other
$0Typical OEM recall remedy cost to you

~2.7k average monthly buyer searches in the US (google ads data · as of Jun 19, 2026). Run a MotoMetrics scan for your VIN to see live repair exposure.

Verify the data — open primary sources · as of Jun 19, 2026

System Defect Summaries & Field Data

Active safety recalls on file: 3 (source: NHTSA Recalls API · as of Jun 19, 2026)

Top NHTSA complaint categories

Recent recall summaries

Campaign 16V906000 · AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER · API record

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.

Campaign 16V215000 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION · API record

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."

Campaign 20V024000 · AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE · API record

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.

YouTube voice themes below are research hints only — verify against NHTSA data before citing.

Search demand cross-check: ~2,725 avg monthly intent searches (source: google ads data · as of Jun 19, 2026)

On-Site Toyota Avalon Pre-Purchase Checklist

  1. Verify OBD-II readiness monitors are complete (not recently cleared) using a full protocol scan.
  2. Compare dashboard mileage to ECU-stored odometer modules where accessible.
  3. Pull permanent and pending DTCs — not only stored codes visible on the dash.
  4. Inspect systems related to UNKNOWN OR OTHER (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  5. Inspect systems related to AIR BAGS (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  6. Inspect systems related to ENGINE (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  7. Inspect systems related to ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  8. Inspect systems related to VISIBILITY (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
  9. Confirm recall remedy completed for AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER (campaign 16V906000).
  10. Confirm recall remedy completed for AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION (campaign 16V215000).
  11. Confirm recall remedy completed for AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (campaign 20V024000).
  12. Run a MotoMetrics on-site scan for Toyota Avalon before signing the bill of sale.

Alternative Inferences & Cross-Shopping Matrix

Adjacent model years for this nameplate and equivalent footprints shoppers compare across brands.

Generational cohorts

2019 Toyota Avalon

Class competitors

2016 About Us 2016 Acura Rdx 2016 Buick Encore 2016 Car Finder 2016 Car Recalls 2016 Chevrolet Colorado 2016 Chevrolet Sonic 2016 Chevrolet Spark

Vehicle health varies wildly by individual history. Aggregate recall and complaint data cannot tell you whether the specific car on the lot had its monitors cleared or its odometer rolled back. Verify the physical or digital scan before you sign a bill of sale.

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