Official safety recallPrompt inspection

2019 Toyota Avalon · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE: recall 18V685000

If the air bags do not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Covered model years
2019
Evidence level
Official safety recall
Source review date
2026-10-18
Jurisdiction
United States
Record ID
toyota-avalon-nhtsa-18v685000

What the source says

The documented condition

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may erroneously detect a fault during the vehicle start-up self check. If this occurs, the ECU may not deploy the airbags as intended, in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 214, "Side Impact Protection."

Consequence identified by NHTSA

If the air bags do not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Campaign 18V685000; report received 2018-10-04. Source checked 2026-10-18.

Source component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Compare the pattern

Symptoms and vehicle scope

Condition described by NHTSA

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may erroneously detect a fault during the vehicle start-up self check. If this occurs, the ECU may not deploy the airbags as intended, in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 214, "Side Impact Protection."

    Vehicles and limits

    • NHTSA model names: AVALON, AVALON HYBRID. Model years: 2019.
    • NHTSA campaign 18V685000
    • The complete campaign lists 168,187 potentially affected units across all listed vehicles.
    • A make, model and year match does not establish VIN eligibility.

    Manufacturer position

    What the official procedure directs

    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0X. Note: 18V-122 was superseded by this recall. The software remedy also includes the updates to the software for 18V-122.

    Mileage context

    Safety recall eligibility is based on the VIN and campaign scope, not ordinary warranty mileage. Check the complete VIN even when the vehicle is outside its original warranty.

    Original evidence

    Open the documents behind this record.

    NHTSA safety recall · 18V685000 · 2018-10-04

    NHTSA campaign 18V685000

    Official component, defect, consequence and remedy; checked 2026-10-18.

    Repair paths and safe checks

    Match the action to the evidence.

    Official repair pathManufacturer or authorized dealer · Confirm with the dealer

    Official recall remedy

    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0X. Note: 18V-122 was superseded by this recall. The software remedy also includes the updates to the software for 18V-122.

    Boundary

    Confirm VIN eligibility and current remedy instructions with the manufacturer.

    Safe owner checkVIN lookup · Before arranging repairs

    Check the complete VIN

    Check the 17-character VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls and ask the manufacturer whether this campaign remains open for the vehicle.

    Boundary

    The model-year list is not proof that an individual vehicle is affected.

    Record reviewed in the source on 2026-10-18. Confirm the current document and VIN instructions before arranging work.

    How we check a problem · All records for the 2019 Toyota Avalon

    Before authorizing work

    Read the method beside the problem.

    Safety and triage8 min read

    When a car is unsafe

    Stop safely when control changes, smoke appears or the manual tells you to stop. Do not use a short trip home as a test of whether the fault is serious.

    Read the guide
    Diagnosis and symptoms8 min read

    Why symptoms overlap

    “It makes a weird noise” is useful human language. Diagnosis begins when that language is tied to the exact vehicle and its operating conditions.

    Read the guide

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