RoadVitals

2016 Toyota Avalon Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
23
Latest Oct 3, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
1
Reports on file since Feb 3, 2016

What this page shows

Our database holds 23 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Toyota Avalon. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–23 of 23

Visibility
Filed Oct 3, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Avalon. 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 failure mileage was approximately 95,500.

NHTSA ID
11691211
Incident
Sep 30, 2025
Mileage
95,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 12, 2024

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. I have also searched everywhere in the states for an OEM windshield Toyota has tried to calibrate the replacement which is aftermarket, as well as the Auto Glass installer to no avail. Toyota is no longer manufacturing the OEM windshield which is needed for the safety features to function properly. The car should be recalled for a manufacturer defect.

NHTSA ID
11576871
Incident
Mar 11, 2024
Tires & wheels
Filed May 8, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Avalon equipped with Cooper Tires, Tire Line: CS5 Ultra Touring, Tire Size: 215/55/R17, DOT Number: U93R1CU1820. 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's husband drove the vehicle to the original tire shop where the tires were purchased and was offered a store credit for the replacement tires. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The tire was a replacement tire. The tire failure mileage was approximately 6,000, and the vehicle failure mileage was 84,575.

NHTSA ID
11520951
Incident
May 4, 2023
Mileage
84,575 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 10, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately and made an abnormal sound. Additionally, the center console was extremely hot, and the driver's side seat electric panel cover had detached. 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. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ID
11506672
Incident
Dec 20, 2022
Mileage
60,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 2, 2023

Clear

NHTSA ID
11499774
Incident
Jan 2, 2023
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Oct 1, 2020
Crash reported1 injury reported

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.

NHTSA ID
11362196
Incident
Sep 17, 2020
Mileage
55,284 mi
Filed Jun 2, 2020

THERE ARE TWO PIECES OF ACCORDIAN SHAPED TRIM THAT CONTINUALLY FALL FROM INSIDE THE SUNROOF. I HAVE HAD THE DEALERSHIP REINSTALL THEM - AND THEY CHARGED ME. HOWEVER, THEY CONTINUED TO FALL FROM THE SUNROOF AND THEY ARE NOW STORED IN THE TRUNK. POOR DESIGN. PLUS, NOT TOO SAFE HAVING THIS RUBBER PART FALL ONTO YOUR HEAD WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE ADHESIVE ON THE PART MAY NOT KEEP THE PART IN ITS PROPER PLACE, BUT THE ADHESIVE DOES DO A GOOD JOB STICKING TO MY HAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID
11326966
Incident
Oct 3, 2018
Mileage
110,932 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 29, 2020

RECALL OF 1/2020 STILL HAS NO REMEDY FROM MANUFACTURER AND NO ANTICIPATED DATE OF REMEDY AVAILABILITY (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 20V024).

NHTSA ID
11322736
Incident
Jan 17, 2020
Filed Jan 6, 2020

MY CAR HAS AN SOS SYSTEM THAT NOTIFIES TOYOTA OR THEIR CONTRACTOR IF THE CAR HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, SUMMONS LAW ENFORCEMENT, TOW TRUCK, ETC. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT OTHER SAFETY ISSUES ARE WRAPPED INTO IT. IT HAS A RED WARNING LIGHT THAT GOES ON WHEN IT STOPS WORKING. IT HAS BEEN INTO MY LOCAL DEALER THREE TIMES TO BE REPAIRED AND EACH "REPAIR" HAS FAILED IMMEDIATELY UPON ME PICKING IT UP AGAIN. TODAY, AFTER THE DEALER WORKED ON IT, THE DECIDED THAT THE "CELL SYSTEM" THAT IS BUILT INTO THE CAR AND IS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND WILL COST $2200.00. I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER "SAFETY SYSTEMS" ARE RELIANT ON THIS DYSFUNCTIONAL SAFETY BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR NHTSA TO KNOW ABOUT THIS AND LET ME KNOW IF IT IS A HAZARD FOR ME AND OTHERS. THE RED LIGHT STAYS ON WHENEVER THE CAR IS OPERATED.

NHTSA ID
11297466
Incident
Dec 1, 2019
Engine
Filed Oct 29, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11276855
Incident
Oct 29, 2019
Mileage
4,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 1, 2019

THE MOON ROOF GLASS EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH ALL WINDOWS SHUT.

NHTSA ID
11192924
Incident
Dec 26, 2018
Mileage
44,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 17, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

ON OCTOBER 1, 2018, AT 8:25 A.M.I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT WORK IN MY 2016 AVALON (12,141 MILES). I WAS 'RIDING THE BRAKE' TO PULL ALL THE WAY INTO THE PARKING SPACE. THE CAR TOOK OFF INTO LANDSCAPE, CROSSED A ROAD AND WENT DOWN A HILL. 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. TOYOTA EXAMINED THE BLACK BOX AND SAID THE GAS PEDAL WAS BEING STRONGLY DEPRESSED WITH NO BRAKING. THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE AFTER I HIT THE PARKING LOT AFTER COMING DOWN THE EMBANKMENT, MY FOOT FLEW OFF THE BRAKE AND WAS ON NOTHING AS I WAS ALL THE WAY ON MY RIGHT SIDE. 2ND INCIDENT YESTERDAY, ON 03/16/19, I WAS PULLING INTO A GAS STATION AND WAS ALMOST STOPPED AFTER TAPPING THE BRAKE TO GET PULLED UP TO WHERE I WAS TO STOP AND THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AS MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR TOOK OFF TOWARDS THE GAS PUMP. I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD AND WAS TRYING TO GRAB THE GEAR SHIFT TO PUT INTO PARK. I ONLY WENT ABOUT 20-30 FEET BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED MISSING THE GAS PUMP BY ONLY ABOUT 1 AND 1/2 FEET. I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE IF THE BRAKES STOPPED THE CAR OR IF I WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO PARK. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME AND WILL NEVER DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN. I AM NOT SURE WHAT I AM GOING TO DO BECAUSE THE CAR IS FAR FROM PAID FOR AND I KNOW TOYOTA WILL BE OF NO HELP. I KNOW FOR SURE THAT EVENTUALLY SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED AS I TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS NOT JUST HAPPENING TO ME. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, I SENT A CERTIFIED LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA AND THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THEIR REPLY WAS TOYOTA WAS NOT AT FAULT.

NHTSA ID
11187352
Incident
Oct 1, 2018
Mileage
12,000 mi
Filed Mar 9, 2019

THE FRONT TO BACK SIDE RUBBER WEATHERSTRIPPING THAT MOVES WITH THE SUNROOF AS IT OPENS AND CLOSES CONTINUES TO FALL OFF. THERE ARE TWO PIECES LIKE THIS, ONE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THE OTHER ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE TWO PIECES, EACH ABOUT 18 INCHES LONG AND TWO INCHES WIDE, LOOK LIKE BLACK RUBBER SMALL ACCORDIONS. WHILE DRIVING AND OPENING OR CLOSING THE SUNROOF, THESE STRIPS FALL OFF. DEALER HAS REINSTALLED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO LOOSEN AND FALL OFF WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE SUNROOF. SOMETIMES THIS WILL OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND DISRUPT THE DRIVER, IN THE LAST INSTANCE I EXPERIENCED, WHILE GOING 70MPH AND FALLING ONTO MY HEAD AND DISRUPTING MY VISION FOR A SECOND. THE DEALER (AND I) "FIX" THIS CONDITION BY REINSTALLING THE LOOSENED PIECE. BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS AND, IN MY VIEW, IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I CANNOT GET THE DEALER TO FOCUS ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE POTENTIAL JEOPARDY IN WHICH IT PLACES DRIVERS. A BETTER FIX, THAN SIMPLE RE-INSTALLATION IS REQUIRED.

NHTSA ID
11185484
Incident
Mar 8, 2019
Mileage
33,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 24, 2019

"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.

NHTSA ID
11171952
Incident
Jan 21, 2019
Mileage
31,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 24, 2018
Fire reported

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

NHTSA ID
11097832
Incident
Apr 19, 2018
Mileage
22,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 28, 2018

MY WIFE'S AVALON HESITATES FOR 3 OR 4 SECONDS INTERMITTENTLY DURING ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THE YELLOW TRIANGLE LIGHT COMES ON THE DASH BOARD DURING THE HESITATION. I SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN AFTER TURNING LEFT AND ACCELERATING. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HER SAFETY WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC AND OR CROSSING A ROAD WITH AN UNEXPECTED HESITATION. OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS KIND OF PROBLEM AND ARE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS OCCURRING ELSE WHERE AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO ABOUT IT. PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ID
11090804
Incident
Apr 25, 2018
Mileage
20,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 4, 2018

INTERMITTENTLY THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT FROM LOW GEAR. WHEN PLACING THE GEARSHIFT IN THE D POSITION IT WILL INDICATE EITHER D1 AND WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT TO A HIGHER GEAR. ONCE THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP THE INDICATOR WILL BY ITSELF CHANGE TO D AND WILL SHIFT NORMALLY.

NHTSA ID
11066879
Incident
Feb 2, 2018
Mileage
29,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 25, 2017

REAR WINDOW IS DISTORTED. THE DISTORTION APPEARS ESPECIALLY ACUTE WHEN HIGHWAY DRIVING. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH AVALONS OVER MORE THAN ONE MODEL YEAR.

NHTSA ID
11019603
Incident
Aug 30, 2016
Mileage
1,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 24, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA AVALON. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND AND SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT SHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ID
10956795
Incident
Jan 18, 2017
Mileage
114,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Feb 16, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, A LOUD BOOM NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

NHTSA ID
10955045
Incident
Feb 15, 2017
Mileage
15,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 14, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10906359
Incident
May 4, 2016
Filed Jun 21, 2016

WHEN DRIVING AND THE SUN IS ENTERING THE MAIN CABIN, THE TAN INTERIOR PORTION OF THE DASHBOARD IS REFLECTED ON TO THE FRONT SIDE WINDOWS. THIS REFLECTION OF THE TAN PORTION OF THE DASHBOARD INTERFERES WITH A CLEAR VIEW OF BOTH OUTSIDE MIRRORS. THE VIEW OF TRAFFIC TO EITHER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE IS DIMINISHED, WHICH HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN ONE CLOSE CALL WHEN CHANGING LANES. ADDITIONALLY, THE LANE-WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS THAT ARE PART OF THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS ARE SIMILARLY DIMINISHED, REDUCING THE FLASHING SAFETY WARNINGS THAT THEY PROVIDE. WHILE THIS HAS NOT RESULTED IN A COLLISION, YET, IT HAS A HIGH POTENTIAL TO CONTRIBUTE TO A COLLISION. IT IS ALSO UNCOMFORTABLE TO USE THESE OUTSIDE MIRRORS WHEN THEY ARE WASHED OUT BY THE REFLECTIONS OF THE DASHBOARD WHEN SIMPLY MAINTAINING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS WHEN NOT CHANGING LANES. WHEN STATIONARY PRIOR TO BACKING UP, THE TOTAL VIEW OF IS ALSO DIMINISHED BY THE REFLECTIONS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN OVERSIGHT THAT MAY BE EASILY RECTIFIED BY A MANUFACTURER REPLACEMENT OF THE TAN PORTION OF THE DASHBOARD WITH A BLACK PORTION.

NHTSA ID
10875690
Incident
Jun 10, 2016
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 3, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10823906
Incident
Jan 30, 2016
Mileage
110 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .