2021 Toyota Avalon Front Air Bag Recall (20V734)
Toyota Motor Corporation · 161 vehicles · Reported November 25, 2020
Toyota Motor Corporation is recalling 161 2021 Toyota Avalon vehicles. Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 20V734 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 20V734000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 20TB17/20TA17 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 25, 2020 |
| Manufacturer | Toyota Motor Corporation |
| Vehicles | 2021 Toyota Avalon |
| Units affected | 161 |
| Component | Air Bags > Frontal |
| Safety risk | In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Toyota Avalon in recall 20V734?
Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of a crash.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Toyota Avalon and 2020 Avalon Hybrid, RAV4, and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Avalon with recall 20V734?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the frontal.
Which vehicles are included in recall 20V734?
Recall 20V734 covers 161 vehicles: 2021 Toyota Avalon.
NHTSA lists 161 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Toyota | Avalon |
What is the fix for the Avalon front air bag recall?
Yes. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column, free of charge.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB17/20TA17.
When was recall 20V734 announced?
Toyota Motor Corporation reported recall 20V734 to NHTSA on November 25, 2020.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 25, 2020 | Toyota Motor Corporation filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 20V734000. |
This recall was filed 71 months ago. If your Avalon was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Avalon is part of recall 20V734?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 20V734 is open on your Avalon, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Avalon vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Avalon owners do about recall 20V734?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 20V734000 applies to your Avalon.
- Call a Toyota dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the frontal happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Avalon owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 12 of them about the air bags.
Since recall 20V734 was reported on November 25, 2020, owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the air bags and were received on or after November 25, 2020, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related air bags issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 21 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 12 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Toyota Avalon: 21 complaints in total, 12 about the air bags
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
Safety defect in front passenger seat not remedied in over one year. Toyota is clearly not going to fix safety problem as it will cost more to remedy than the cost of deaths and injuries.
2021 Toyota Avalon owner, DC, NHTSA complaint 11647108, filed March 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Avalon. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
2021 Toyota Avalon owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11654766, filed April 15, 2025
My vehicle is under Safety Recall 23V865 (Toyota dealer reference 23TB15) due to potentially defective Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors in the front passenger seat, which may prevent the airbag from deploying properly. The recall was issued in December 2023, and as of August 2025, there is still no available remedy.
2021 Toyota Avalon owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11678360, filed August 4, 2025
Can recall 20V734 make my Avalon a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this frontal recall means their Avalon qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Air bag defects are hidden until the moment they matter most. A recall repair may replace an inflator or sensor, but if warning lights return or the system faults again, that is a repeat repair for a safety defect.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Toyota Avalon has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Avalon been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Toyota Avalon recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 20V734
Did the recall 20V734 fix work?
Since recall 20V734 was reported on November 25, 2020, owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 20V734000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Avalon is part of recall 20V734000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 20V734000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Toyota. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.