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 2001 Toyota Camry owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Toyota Camry. While driving 35 MPH, another vehicle struck the front of the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the left shoulder and head that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a local tow lot. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
My vehicle was turning left on a city street. Its right rear quarter panel was struck by a vehicle in the intersection. That impact spun the vehicle around where it was once again involved in a collision. So, by the time it was over, the passenger-side quarter panel, passenger-side door, and the front of the vehicle were severely damaged. The air bags never deployed. The front-seat passenger and driver sustained severe injuries.
A woman pulled out of a side road and was one foot in front of me and I had no where to go so I hit her in back of her truck. I had no where to go. She pulled out fast and then slowed down. When I hit the airbags did not go off and I was wondering why.
I own a 2001 Toyota Camry le. I have owned the car for approx 11 months. In August my son while leaving the beach claimed the ABS breaks locked up causing him to slide into a pole in the parking lot. Neither air bag was deployed but there was over 6000 damage. The mechanic said it was a low impact hit ... The car was repaired and breaks checked and said to be working. Now just 7 months from that accident I was driving in a snow storm and despite my best driving I too experienced the ABS breaks actually locking ... On a hill in the snow causing my car to fish tail and all the while gaining speed leaving me with no way to slow down my passenger watch the speedometer go from 15... To 30... …
Tl contact owns a 2001 Toyota Camry le. While the contact's wife was driving 30 MPH a vehicle failed to yield the right of way and she was not able to stop which caused her to crash into a vehicle. The driver and passenger air bags did not deploy. The insurance company confirmed that the vehicle was destroyed and did not investigate the air bag failure. Report number 1001104565 was filed with the manufacturer and were not able to explain at what speed the air bag should deploy. The contact sustained a head injury and the other drivers right knee was injured. The san antonio police report number is 0000326. The failure and the current mileage were 125,000. Updated 03/12/10. Updated 10/08/10
Tl contact owns a 2001 Toyota Camry. While driving approximately 20 MPH on normal road conditions, the driver suffered a heart attack and crashed into a parked vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the vehicle erupted into flames. The police, ambulance, and fire departments were called to the scene and reports were filed. The driver was fatally injured in the crash. The vehicle was completely destroyed and towed to a collision center. The information was provided by the insurance company report. The failure and current mileages were 30,000. Updated 12/30/08 updated 01/02/09.
My car was struck on the driver's side, by a driver that went into our lane, running my car off the road, which caused my vehicle to go up over curb and head on into a brick wall. The airbag never deployed from the impact of being hit and crashing straight into a brick wall. I was instructed that I need to report this and find out if the airbag is faulty. My car is reported totaled by insurance company. I have pictures from the scene of the accident to show how the car went into the brick wall and no airbags were deployed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Toyota Camry. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the driver crashed into a concrete pole. The air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained a concussion due to his head striking the windshield. In addition, he sustained bruises and cuts to the head from the broken glass. The police reported to the scene but a report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home and was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
Tl*- the contact owns a 2001 Toyota Camry. While driving in the rain at 25 MPH the contact's vehicle was involved in a rear end collision. The contact endured chest and head impact to the steering wheel. None of the air bags in the vehicle deployed. The seat belt didn't secure the driver during the collision, and the contactwas pregnant. There was no police report. The current and failure mileage was 79,000.
2001 Toyota Camry was involved in an accident and none of the air bags deployed. When the consumer attempted to stop the vehicle abruptly the brake pedal went to the floor and the vehicle did not slow down. As a result the vehicle collided with another vehicle.
Airbag complaints in other Camry years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2001 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA has 38 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Toyota Camry, 14% of the model year's 272 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Toyota Camry airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2001 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 2001 Toyota Camry airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 123,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 30 crashes, 1 fire and 23 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.