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 2000 Toyota Camry owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 1997 N/A Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while an acquaintance was driving approximately 45 MPH, the acquaintance crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained neck pain and received medical assistance later. A police report was filed but the contact did not have the information available. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000. The VIN was not available.
February 22, 2017 7:15 pm : I was on my way to pick my 3 children up at my parents. I was going the speed limit 50mph with my significant other following behind me. A deer jumped onto the road and I swerved the vehicle to avoid hitting the deer. I swerved 3 times before hitting a culvert. Upon hitting the culvert, my vehicle flipped and also rolled into the ditch. Although I walked away with a few scratches and a bruise on my leg, it could have been a lot worse. Two days later, I went to the impound to get my personal belongings out of my vehicle. I realized the air bags did not go off even though there is plenty of damage done to the vehicle. I have attached photos to support my complaint.
I was driving my very faithful Toyota Camry on a busy 2 lane road when a Honda pilot stopped suddenly in front of me. I immediately reacted and slammed on the brakes. Unfortunately I didn't have allow adequate stopping distance, so I crashed into the Honda pilot. The pilot wasn't damaged much at all, but my Camry took a huge lick to the front. My airbag did not deploy, nor did my seatbelt lock. My chest hit the steering wheel. I did not go to the hospital in an ambulance, but went to the urgent care for treatment. I have a painful chest contusion (sprained sternum) and a stiff neck (cervical strain, or whiplash).
Tl* the contact owned a 2000 Toyota Camry. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle crashed into a tractor trailer. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact suffered a broken nose and laceration to the mouth, which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent storage facility. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 234,000. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was not available.
I was driving home from work, this guy in a blue Hyundai would stay in his lane, so I sped up to get around him, in turn he started racing me, so I went a bit faster to get around him, was about to round the corner so I went to slow down and my rear end fishtail, I hit the guardrail and spun out. Both my crumple zones on the back and front were affected but my airbags did not deploy! Thankfully I'm just really sore and not seriously injured!
I was driving down a highway early in the morning with my mom, and daughter who was in an infant carseat. My husband was following me in the uhaul when I hit a deer going 55mph. I never saw the deer jump out in front of me, and my husband said I wouldnt have had time to stop regardless. But my air bags never deployed. Thank goodness no one was hurt. At the time we lived in kansas but were getting ready to move to texas.
Tl contact owned a 2000 Toyota Camry limited edition. While driving at speeds of 50 MPH and attempting to change lanes on her left, the steering wheel began spinning uncontrollably. The engine revved loudly and as she depressed the brakes, the vehicle would not stop. The vehicle proceeded to accelerate on its own until it crashed into a ditch. The air bags did not deploy at the time of the crash. While in the ditch, the engine continued to idle and the tires burrowed into the ditch as it attempted to progress. The contact sustained injuries to her head, shoulders, upper back, hands, fingers, knees and neck. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no recalls for her year, make and model vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was over 100,000.
Vehicle hit a retainer wall. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. Both the driver and the passenger sustained injuries....while driving consumer's daughter had a seizure and passed out with her foot on the accelerator. Consumer attempted to put vehicle in park and turn off the ignition. Took off sea belt, came into the driver's side and turned across traffic into a parking, lost garage where the vehicle struck a retaining wall. The consumer stated even though she was successful in turning off the ignition off and putting the gear in park, the vehicle continued to accelerate. The consumer stated there was problems with the accelerator sticking on several occasions including prior to the accident. Updated 04/06/11
Accident was a head-on collision into a parked car at 35-40 miles per hour. Car was a 2000 Toyota Camry. The air bag did not deploy. The car was totaled. Only one person was in the car at the time of the accident. The air bag failure resulted in a back injury (likely a pulled ligament) to the driver. This Toyota Camry had only one owner; I purchased the car in 2000. The air bags have never previously been deployed. The car that was hit was a Toyota corolla s. The car was pushed into another car in front of it; the air bags in the corolla did not deploy either. Only one person was in this car; the driver of the corolla had whiplash from the accident.
Accident occurred on 4/17/09 when I tried to put my 2000 Toyota Camry in the park position. The car took off hitting two walls, one car, one SUV and then crash in a wall. At no time during the impact did the air bag deploy. The crash resulted with the steering wheel impacting my chest causing chest trauma and pain. This resulted in a hospital stay of 5 days and a hospital bill of $25,000. My vehicle was a 2000 Toyota Camry was completely damaged and written off by the insurance company. My major concern is with the impact of the accident and the damage created the air bag did not deploy to protect me from major injury.
Airbag complaints in other Camry years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2000 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA has 58 complaints about the air bags of the 2000 Toyota Camry, 13% of the model year's 454 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (32 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Toyota Camry airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2000 Toyota Camry, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Toyota Camry airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 115,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 52 crashes, 1 fire and 45 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.