Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Toyota Avalon owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 2004 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving distracted at 70 MPH, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact mentioned that the SRS warning light previously illuminated intermittently. The contact sustained head and mouth injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle had previously been repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V147000 (air bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 147,000.
No airbags deployed in my 2004 Avalon xls when a driver stated she did not see me/my car and turned left in front of me leaving me 2 seconds to brake.this was on a cityn street and she was turning from stopped position into private commercial parking lot. I was driving in lane closest to her car to reach light another 500 feet ahead so I could turn south when I got to it. My car was traveling 30-35mph(5-10mph under posted speed limit).I had just entered the roadway 400 ft before her turn from 0mph to maybe 3mph? In front of me. My car hit hers on bar between the front and back passenger doors. It caused her car to rise up-I saw the undercarriage of her car; it then rolled completely over onto its roof out of my sight. All witness descriptions of the incident and my own description of what happened were exactly the same. …
"Takata recall: in August of 2009 the airbag light came on while driving; I took car to Toyota dealer ,technician road tested the car and said the airbag light did not come on. The airbags light continued coming on at different times,but did not stay on constantly. In July of 2014 I received a recall notice from Toyota, remedy was done, on January 06,2015. This remedy did not work so I was notified in March 2016 that a remedy was ready, and to take my car to the Toyota dealer and the remedy would be installed. Since April 07, 2016 my car has been in and out of the dealership because the airbag light is still coming on especially during warm weather, I got my car back from the Toyota dealership on April 28. 2016 for the second time, drove it on the weekend about 64 miles round trip the airbag light came on and off to and from my trip. …
Toyota has issued a recall for the supplemental restraint system and electronic control unit in March 2015. My car's airbag light is illuminated intermittently and the Toyota dealer recommends the ECU be replaced. I have been in contact with Toyota and my call has been escalated several times but they still are not fixing my car. Toyota says that there is no remedy available. I am very concerned about my airbags deploying accidentally. I do not feel that Toyota is taking my safety or my family's safety seriously. The recall I received clearly states that they know how to fix the problem "replacement of the SRS ECU is now also required for this safety recall to be complete," it just seems that they won't. It has been almost a year that I have been driving a car in which I am not confident. Please make Toyota execute this recall in a more timely manner.
"Takata recall" I was notified in January 2015 of additional recall by Toyota. The eog work was done previously. Now the airbag light intermittently goes on and off when traveling with a front seat passenger only. The light does not go on when driven by just the driver and no front passenger. My wife will no longer ride in the vehicle out of fear of air bag deploying. Have heard nothing from Toyota instructing us to bring vehicle to dealer for recall work. The January 2015 notice of recall stated we would be contacted when the parts to fix airbag issue would be available. My mechanic could not find evidence of problems when he checked error codes on vehicle, however the airbag light goes on and off intermittently when traveling with a front seat passenger. We would like the issue addressed promptly by Toyota.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Avalon. When the vehicle was started, the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The failure occurred each time the vehicle was started. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and repaired; however, the failure recurred two weeks later. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V043000 (air bags), but the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000. Updated 8/10/15 updated 11/24/2015
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Avalon. While starting the vehicle, the air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V147000 (air bags); however, the remedy failed to correct the issue and the failure recurred. The revised remedy parts associated with NHTSA campaign number: 15V043000 (air bags) would not become available until the latter part of 2015. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,963.
2004 Toyota Avalon -receive a notice of a problem with the supplemental restraint system(SRS) electronic control unit (ECU). The original "fix" for this problem (deemed an "urgent safety recall" by Toyota) was announced in mar, 2014. It was later found that this "fix" did not do the job.a 2nd recall (dated jan 27th, 2015)was issued. To date, the recall has a status of "remedy not available". I consider this to be reprehensible!! The recall id is 15V043. I have called Toyota on several occasions and I get the same response.... "we will contact you when a remedy is available."
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Avalon. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V043000 (air bags) however the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the air bag warning light was flashing intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the mechanic reset the warning lights but the failure was undetermined. The failure mileage was 153,320.
Car was taken in 05/2016 for recall work to replace SRS and ECU. After recall repair, intermittent pax side airbag light flashes on and off saying passenger airbag issue. Dealer refuses to do more than specified recall replacement. We now cannot tell if we have airbags that will work and if the restraint system will tension the seat belts in an accident. The additional issue is that the front springs and struts have a flaw that makes a well aligned car, pull left. We are replacing this Toyota flaw at our own expense despite the presence of a service notice.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29, 2004, 2003-2004 Avalon vehicles manufactured June 5, 2002, to December 20, 2004,…
Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began on August 24, 2015.
Airbag complaints in other Avalon years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Toyota Avalon?
NHTSA has 127 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Toyota Avalon, 62% of the model year's 205 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Toyota Avalon airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-043 (frontal, Jan 28, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota Avalon airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 0 fires and 8 injuries and 2 deaths to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.