The air bag control module in your vehicle helps decide when to deploy the air bags and seat belts during a crash. In some 2011-2018 models, this module might not work properly after a certain type of crash, stopping the air bags and seat belts from deploying.
Risk if Unfixed
If this happens in a real crash, you could be at higher risk of injury because the air bags and seat belts that could help protect you won't deploy as they should.
Free Fix
Your Toyota dealer will check the air bag control module and install a noise filter to ensure it works correctly, all at no cost to you. They'll contact you to schedule the repair, and you can also reach out to Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
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Original — What Happened
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.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.
Original — 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. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.
Your Avalon's seat belt buckle is a small part that tells the airbag system if you're buckled in. In some cases, the buckle might have been replaced with a faulty part that lies to the airbag system.
Risk if Unfixed
If the airbag system thinks you're buckled in when you're not, it might not deploy the airbags properly in a crash. This could lead to serious injury.
Free Fix
Your Toyota dealer will check the seat belt assembly to make sure it's working correctly and replace it if necessary, all at no cost to you. Just schedule an appointment when you get the recall notice.
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Original — What Happened
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles. During a vehicle repair, the seat belt inner buckles may have been replaced with parts that may incorrectly tell the air bag management system that the seat belt is always buckled.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
If the seat belt is falsely interpreted as being buckled, in the event of a crash, the air bags may not deploy appropriately, increasing the risk of injury.
Original — Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the seat belt assembly to verify that it is properly detecting being unbuckled, replacing the inner seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0S.
The sub-woofer speaker in your Avalon's trunk is like a small speaker that adds extra bass to your music. It's connected to a tiny computer chip in the audio system, and in some 2011-2012 models, this speaker can cause a short circuit that damages the chip.
Risk if Unfixed
If the chip gets damaged, it could send a constant flow of electricity to the speaker. This could cause the speaker to overheat, which could start a fire.
Free Fix
Your Toyota dealer will replace the audio system amplifier and add a protective cover around the sub-woofer at no cost to you. You'll be notified when the repair is ready, and you should schedule it right away.
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Original — What Happened
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles manufactured February 9, 2010, to October 22, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the sub-woofer speaker located in the trunk may experience an intermittent electrical short which may cause damage to the integrated circuit (IC) in the audio amplifier. In some cases, the damaged IC may allow a constant electrical current flow to the sub-woofer.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
A constant electrical current flow may cause the sub-woofer to overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
Original — Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the audio system amplifier and install a protective cover around the sub-woofer, free of charge. The recall began on July 1,2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
The air conditioning system in your vehicle has a hose that can get clogged, causing water to collect near the airbag control module. This can lead to a short circuit and potentially disable the airbags or cause them to deploy unexpectedly.
Risk if Unfixed
If the airbags are disabled or deploy unexpectedly, you could be at greater risk of injury in a crash. If the airbags don't work, you could also lose power steering assist, making it harder to steer your vehicle, especially at low speeds.
Free Fix
Your Toyota dealer will seal the air conditioning unit and add a protective cover to the airbag control module, all at no cost to you. You'll be notified when the repair is ready, and you should schedule it as soon as possible.
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Original — What Happened
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air conditioning condenser unit housing. The accumulated water may then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
A short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.
Original — Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
