Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 13% | — |
| 2021 | 12 | 57% | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 10% | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 1% | 6,000 miles |
| 2018 | 6 | 25% | 10,000 miles |
| 2017 | 2 | 14% | — |
| 2016 | 4 | 17% | 55,000 miles |
| 2015 | 7 | 17% | 39,000 miles |
| 2014 | 7 | 7% | 16,000 miles |
| 2013 | 14 | 10% | 75,000 miles |
| 2012 | 6 | 20% | 70,000 miles |
| 2011 | 2 | 2% | 79,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 4% | 130,000 miles |
| 2009 | 5 | 5% | 69,000 miles |
| 2008 | 8 | 2% | 60,000 miles |
| 2007 | 20 | 8% | 49,000 miles |
| 2006 | 27 | 8% | 45,000 miles |
| 2005 | 12 | 5% | 113,000 miles |
| 2004 | 127 | 62% | 83,000 miles |
| 2003 | 184 | 63% | 100,000 miles |
| 2002 | 35 | 30% | 160,000 miles |
| 2001 | 21 | 16% | 108,000 miles |
| 2000 | 26 | 15% | 75,000 miles |
| 1999 | 22 | 24% | 56,000 miles |
| 1998 | 16 | 9% | 50,000 miles |
| 1997 | 5 | 4% | 220,000 miles |
| 1996 | 5 | 5% | — |
| 1995 | 8 | 10% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
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. Toyota originally estimated a fix by Q3 of 2024, but it is now overdue. This unresolved issue puts passenger safety at risk in the event of a crash. I have contacted dealerships and checked for updates, but no solution has been provided. I believe this delay is unacceptable for a critical safety defect and request NHTSA to investigate the remedy timeline and pressure Toyota to provide a fix or alternative solution.
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. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Involved in a 2 vehicle accident on October 26th. My car is totaled and so is the other car. No airbags deployed and my drivers side seat belt failed to lock in the accident. I was injured and taken by ambulance to hospital.
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 Toyota Avalon. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V024000 (air bags) however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH when another cut in front of them and in order to avoid hitting the other vehicle the contact veered to the left, the contact ended up crashing into a side barrier on the side of the road. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact received injuries to his left arm, leg and chest/torso area medical attention was needed. The vehicle was towed. The contact contacted the unknown dealership who diagnosed that the left side of the vehicle, steering, and braking needed to be repaired. …
"Takata recall" airbag. I have been dealing with my airbag light and yellow triangle light coming on while driving for 3 days. The first incident occured while I was driving on the highway during the afternoon after dealership hours. 2nd time was driving on the highway and I immediately took my vehicle to the dealership to which they told me my battery was dirty and failing was the reason for the airbag light to come on. 3rd time I was told that my cell phone charger which was never plugged up on any of the times the light came on was the reason. Still dealing with the unresolved issue.
Takata recall. I purchased my new car on May 4th, 2016. The recall was issued April 13th, 2016, before I made the purchase. The dealership sold me this without notifying me of this. The sales manager said I should have received the letter of the recall but I hadn't even bought the car then. I read it is a federal law against selling a new vehicle with an active recall. The manager said this law doesn't pertain to to this sale but only to "stop sales" issues. I never would have bought this new car knowing a recall was issued, pending, or fixed.
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately and made an abnormal sound. Additionally, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle in front of her made an abrupt stop; causing her to rear end the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. A police report was filed. The contact nor the other driver were injured due to the accident and no medical attention was required. The contact was initially able to drive the vehicle home; later on, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and repaired. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the VIN was included in NHTSA recall number: 20V024000 (air bags) which she associated with her failure. The contact spoke with downtown Toyota of oakland (4145 broadway, oakland, ca 94611) and maita Toyota of sacramento (2500 auburn blvd, sacramento, ca 95821) where she was informed that the parts remain unavailable for the recall. …
Related recalls (7)
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.
Air bags › Frontal
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…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge.
Air bags › Knee bolster
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Avalon, and 2017 Camry vehicles manufactured August 3, 2016, to September 12, 2016. The front passenger knee air bag module may have been attached to the lower instrument panel with incorrect fasteners.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fasteners, and if necessary, replace the instrument panel brace and body bracket and reattach the air bag assembly, free of charge.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Avalon and Camry vehicles manufactured November 30, 2015 to March 4, 2016. The occupant classification system (OCS) that activates or deactivates the front passenger seat air bag system may have been improperly calibrated.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the OCS, free of charge. The recall began by May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0J.
Show 2 more 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.
Air bags
On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the specific SRS air bag. The recall began on April 6, 2006. Owners May contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371, Scion at 1-866-548-1851, or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
NHTSA investigations
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Avalon years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (184), 2004 (127), 2002 (35), 2006 (27) and 2000 (26) model years. Airbag complaints make up 63% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Toyota Avalon airbag problems?
Yes — 7 recalls, including 23V-865 (occupant classification, Dec 20, 2023); 20V-734 (frontal, Nov 25, 2020); 20V-024 (air bag/restraint control module, Jan 17, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Toyota Avalon airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles; 29% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (59 mentions), followed by the side/window (13).
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.