1988-2012 Toyota Recall 16V396: Seat Heater Fire Risk

Recall 16V396 covers 7,749 Toyota vehicles with aftermarket seat heaters. Wiring can short and increase fire risk. Repair is free at any franchised Toyota dealer.

What's wrong?

The recalled seat heater is an aftermarket accessory installed in the front seat cushion on certain Toyota vehicles. It uses a copper strand heating element under the seat cover to warm the cushion when the heater is switched on. That element depends on its wiring staying protected as the cushion flexes under normal use.

On affected vehicles, compression of the seat cushion can damage the electrical wiring for the seat heater. Once the wiring is damaged, electrical resistance and heat can build in the wrong place instead of spreading evenly through the heating element. The recall covers these aftermarket copper strand units, not factory seat heaters or carbon fiber seat heater elements.

There is no warning sign before failure. The seat heater can overheat without a smell, light, or change in how the switch feels.

Who's affected?

The scope spans passenger cars, SUVs, minivans, and trucks, all tied to the same front seat heater and cooler assembly.

A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.

What's the safety risk?

A damaged copper strand heating element can short circuit and increase the risk of a fire. There is no warning sign before this failure, so stop using the seat heater and schedule the recall work soon if your VIN is included. Repair is free at any franchised Toyota dealer.

What should I do?

1. Check your VIN to confirm your 1988, 1989, 1990, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Toyota Camry Solara, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra, Camry, Avalon, Sienna, 4RUNNER, RAV4, Highlander, Fj Cruiser, Corolla, Venza, or Prius is included in this seat-heater recall.
2. Contact a franchised Toyota dealer to schedule the free seat-heater disconnection that takes the aftermarket heating element wiring out of service.
3. Bring the recall notice if Toyota mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V396 and SET recall SET16B when you call.
4. Stop using the aftermarket seat heater until the dealer disconnects it; the copper strand heating element can short circuit and raise the risk of fire.
5. Ask the dealer how the purchase-price refund for the seat heater accessory will be handled.

What happens at the repair

At the dealer, a Toyota technician disconnects the aftermarket accessory seat heaters covered by the recall. The work is free, and the campaign also provides a refund of the seat heater accessory purchase price. The campaign has a general reimbursement plan on file, so if you've already paid for a seat-heater repair tied to this defect, bring your repair paperwork and purchase documentation to the service desk and ask how to submit the claim.

Timeline

Frequently asked questions

More information

Source documents

• Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) · RCRIT
• Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) · RCONL
• Download Owner Notice (PDF) · RCMN
• Download Recall Report (PDF) · RCLRPT
• Download Quarterly Report (PDF) · RCLQRT
• Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF) · RCAK

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 →