Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 9% | 0 miles |
| 2024 | 2 | 3% | 1,000 miles |
| 2023 | 2 | 3% | 7,000 miles |
| 2022 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2021 | 47 | 67% | 76,000 miles |
| 2020 | 21 | 45% | 46,000 miles |
| 2019 | 3 | 9% | — |
| 2018 | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2017 | 3 | 6% | 30,000 miles |
| 2016 | 1 | 4% | 98,000 miles |
| 2014 | 2 | 17% | 44,000 miles |
| 2013 | 2 | 11% | 106,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2011 | 4 | 14% | 92,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 3% | 0 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 9% | 85,000 miles |
| 2008 | 6 | 9% | 232,000 miles |
| 2007 | 6 | 10% | 120,000 miles |
| 2006 | 2 | 6% | 180,000 miles |
| 2005 | 5 | 19% | 80,000 miles |
| 2004 | 6 | 15% | 140,000 miles |
| 2002 | 2 | 17% | 190,000 miles |
| 2001 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2000 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 1999 | 1 | 3% | 120,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I was driving on the freeway in Stockton California and I entered into a connecting on-ramp curve going about 30mph and a lady hit me from behind on the passenger side going 65mph as she was trying to change lanes to get behind me and my car instantly speeded up spinning out of control Into a gully filled with stored freeway construction materials such as poles . The car kept spinning out of control because the ground was mud-slush from the rains. I kept construction poles came into my windshield, I kept spinning and sliding as I slammed into 2 trees and as the car sustained severe damage all over the vehicle and I kept slidding landing over in a second gully on the opposite side of the freeway. No airbags deployed no sensor went off nothing. I was in the car with my autistic daughter. The car is brand new. …
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus RX 350. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag malfunction warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the SRS alert message was displayed. The passenger's side seat belt warning light was illuminated for two minutes. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags). The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the repair was not available until January 2026 for the West Coast. The dealer informed the contact about a possible diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer declined to accept a Trade-In due to the recall. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the repair was not available and offered the contact a rental vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Lexus RX. The contact stated while his wife and children were stopped in traffic, a vehicle had crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle, which then caused a five-car chain reaction crash. The contact stated that none of the air bags had deployed. The contact stated that the rear end of his vehicle was crushed as well as the front end. The contact stated that the police and emergency services had arrived on the scene. The contact stated that his wife and son were transported to the hospital. The contact stated that his wife had suffered neck whiplash, cuts, and abrasions to her face, arms, and knees. The contact stated that his son also had whiplash, and had suffered a broken jaw. The contact stated that his son had cuts on his face and inside his mouth that required stitches. The police had written a report. …
Just after topping a hill on an Interstate Highway, both lanes of traffic ahead of us came to a sudden and complete stop. I was in left lane and reacted quickly and applied full braking power and managed to stop a foot or 2 from the rear of the stopped car ahead of us. A few seconds later we were hit from the rear by two cars, one, a Black late model Camry, which almost stopped and a 2nd, a large, new German-maker grey SUV, which never applied brakes, destroyed the black Camry behind us and then destroyed our car, when it hit the left rear and after impact continued pushing the front of the car into the steel cables separating our lane of travel from the oncoming traffic in the other lane of the Interstate, until the steel cables stopped us. Neither the electronic collision alert system, the air bags or the emergency braking system activated. …
On december 28th , 2022, i was giving a ride to a collegue of mine. She opened the door and got in . I proceeded to get the car out of park and suddenly the car accelerated and i could not get the car under control. I turned the car so it would not hit the structure in front of me. I turned but still could not control the car and the only way was to put the car in to park . It jumped the curb and stopped. The Left side door opened in the process and was open as this happened.
I was hit by another car. Both cars were totaled. My seatbelt did not lock and my air bag did not deploy. I hit my head so hard against the steering wheel. I got a concussion and now I have daily headaches and my neck is killing me. The seat belt should have locked and the air bag should have deployed.
The contact owned a 2017 Lexus RX350. The contact stated while driving 45-50 MPH on the highway, another vehicle that lost control and crashed into the contact's front and side of the vehicle. The driver's front air bag did not deploy. The contact suffered minor injuries to the face from the glass front windshield, a cut and burn from the seatbelt, and a bruise to the arm. Medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was deemed and destroyed by the insurance company. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000 The contact stated that of all the airbags, none of them deployed at the time of the accident. As a result, the vehicle was totaled.
After slowly making a left into a parking space at Dunkin Donuts and trying to deploy my brakes, my car lunged forward spontaneously accelerating, jumped two curbs and hit a barrier and the window of the store. The impact of the crash wrecked my front end and the radiator was damaged and was laying on the ground. With this intense impact, the airbags did not deploy on impact. My insurance agency totaled the car. After the crash the warning came on the screen that the Collision System had malfunctioned.
Related recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver clockspring/spiral cassette
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024.
Frequently asked questions
Which Lexus RX years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2021 (47), 2020 (21), 2004 (6), 2007 (6) and 2008 (6) model years. Airbag complaints make up 67% of all complaints for the 2021.
Is there a recall for Lexus RX airbag problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 25V-040 (driver clockspring/spiral cassette, Jan 29, 2025); 23V-865 (occupant classification, Dec 20, 2023). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Lexus RX airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 105,000 miles; 28% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the side/window (1 mentions), followed by the frontal › passenger side › inflator module (1).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.