Recall 16V215 affects 58,515 2016 Toyota Camry and Avalon vehicles for miscalibrated passenger air bag sensors. Repair is free at any franchised Toyota dealer.
Toyota is recalling 58,515 2016 Camry and Avalon vehicles over improper calibration in the front passenger occupant classification system. The problem can keep the front passenger air bag and knee air bag from deploying as intended in certain crashes, increasing injury risk; Toyota dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The occupant classification system in the 2016 Toyota Camry and Avalon is the sensor system that decides whether the front passenger air bag system should be active. It reads the front passenger seat and tells the vehicle whether the front passenger air bag and front passenger knee air bag should deploy in a crash.
On affected vehicles, that system was calibrated incorrectly during manufacturing on a specific assembly line. The calibration did not set the system's zero point correctly, so the vehicle does not read the passenger seat the way it was designed to. In certain crash scenarios, the front passenger air bag and knee air bag do not deploy as intended.
There is no warning sign before failure. The recall does not identify a light, sound, or driver symptom that tells an owner the occupant classification system was calibrated wrong.
Who's affected?
Camry and Avalon sedans share the same production window, and both point to the air bag system.
| 2016 Toyota Camry | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2016 Toyota Avalon | air bag system |
| Units affected | 58,515 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching 2016 Toyota Camry or Avalon does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific sedan is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the occupant classification system is not calibrated correctly, the air bags can fail to deploy as intended in a crash. That raises injury risk for people inside the vehicle. Until the recall repair is done, use extra caution and schedule dealer service soon. Repair is free at any franchised Toyota dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016 Toyota Camry or 2016 Toyota Avalon is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Toyota dealer to schedule the free occupant classification system recalibration, which fixes the passenger air bag sensor calibration.
- Bring the recall notice if Toyota mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V215 when you call.
- Call Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 with questions about the repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Toyota technician recalibrates the occupant classification system for the front passenger seat. That system tells the vehicle when to activate or deactivate the front passenger air bag and knee air bag. The recall repair is free, and the recalibration and related labor are covered. Toyota's reimbursement statement points to the Toyota New Vehicle Limited Warranty, not a separate reimbursement program, because involved owners were within the active warranty period. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| April 12, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| April 12, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 14, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
| May 13, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
| May 31, 2016 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| May 31, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V215?
Recall 16V215 covers 58,515 2016 Toyota Camry and Avalon vehicles with an occupant classification system calibration problem. The front passenger air bag and knee air bag can fail to deploy as intended in certain crashes, increasing injury risk. Toyota dealers recalibrate the system for free.
What should I do if my 2016 Toyota Camry or Avalon is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V215. If it is, contact a franchised Toyota dealer to schedule the occupant classification system recalibration. Reference recall number 16V215 or Toyota recall G0J when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Toyota dealers will recalibrate the occupant classification system free of charge at any franchised Toyota dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that the front passenger air bag and front passenger knee air bag can fail to deploy as intended in certain crash scenarios. That increases the risk of injury. If your VIN is included, have Toyota complete the free recalibration.
What if I bought my Toyota Camry or Avalon used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2016 Toyota Camry or Avalon is included, then contact a franchised Toyota dealer and reference recall 16V215.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V215000 |
|---|---|
| Toyota customer service | 1-888-270-9371 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V215 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V215000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →