2003 Toyota Corolla Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Frontal
  18
• Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  98%
• 25k–50k
  98%
• 50k–75k
  119%
• 75k–100k
  1412%
• 100k–150k
  3429%
• 150k+
  4235%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Toyota Corolla owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owned a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while she was driving at 60 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was transported to the hospital by the emergency unit. The contact sustained a herniated disc. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received an unknown recall notification for the air bag failure and the recall repair was completed by the dealer. The contact stated she received a second and third unknown recall notification for the air bag failure and the recall repair was completed by a second dealer (Thousand Oaks Toyota 2401 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362), however, the failure persisted. …

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact received NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V741000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the recall was confirmed to be completed; however, the recall appears open for the VIN. The contact was receiving recall notices for the same recall repair. The contact called the manufacturer to inform them that the dealer had completed the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. There were no warning lights illuminated or a failure experienced. Parts distribution disconnect.

I received a recall notice, scheduled an appointment and then went to Bev Smith Toyota in Fort Pierce, FL. My appointment was for 9:30 AM. I decided that as long as I was there, I would get my oil changed (normally I do not use dealer oil changes because they are expensive, but since I was there anyway...). At 11:10, I was presented the bill for the oil change and told that they refused to service the airbag. There was some garbage on the floor of the passenger side that the service manager claimed rendered my vehicle unsafe to work on. I pointed out that no one asked me to clean out the front seat when I scheduled the appointment, that the items were there at 9:30 when received the car, and that the car apparently was safe enough for them to perform an overpriced oil change. I offered to remove the items (it later took me all of 3 minutes to clear the area). …

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while her husband and son were driving at approximately 25 MPH, her husband smelled an abnormal burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated her husband then heard several abnormal sounds like a soda can being opened. The contact stated that the driver's and passenger's door air bags inadvertently deployed. The vehicle was stopped, and the driver and passenger exited the vehicle. The contact stated that her son's seat belt tightened and was difficult to unbuckle. The contact stated that as soon as her husband exited the vehicle, the passenger's side frontal air bag deployed. The contact stated that the Police and Fire Department were contacted. A Police report was filed; however, the contact had not been provided the Police report number. There was no injury sustained. …

Greeting, on June 7,2025 my Toyota Corolla was repaired at Interstate Toyota for the replacement on the airbag. I have attached documents that share the job was completed successfully. Please review and forward and email that it is verified in your system to my email address. [redacted] Warmly, [redacted]

The airbag light came on suddenly, even though I had the airbag recall work done for my vehicle. I took it to a Toyota Dealership who wanted to charge me for the repair which I was willing to and perhaps work with Toyota directly to get reimbursed for but the parts weren't available.

I was driving as usual and suddenly the air bags exploded inside the dash causing damage to the passenger window and the front crystal. Seconds after the drivers airbag also opened and consequently the alarms. I did not impact anything and the car won't start again.

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while her granddaughter was driving approximately 45-50 MPH approaching the top of a hill, the driver crashed into another vehicle that was stopped on the road. None of the frontal air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The driver sustained a bruised chest and was transported to the hospital via ambulance. The vehicle was driven to the drivers residence. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. Reliable Toyota (3521 east sunshine, springfield, mo 65809) replaced the air bags on April 15, 2019 under an unknown recall related to the air bags that was received by mail. The approximate failure mileage was 240,000.

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Toyota Corolla. While driving 10 MPH, the vehicle in front of the contact abruptly stopped. As a result, the contact rear ended the preceding vehicle and another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle. The air bags deployed and metal fragments struck the contact. The contact sustained facial injuries that required medical attention. The contact was unaware of the injuries to the occupants in the other vehicles. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed destroyed. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was not available. * consumer stated both airbags 11/8/18

Tl contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at 48 MPH, the vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the right shoulder and the neck that did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V312000 (air bags) and believed the failure was related to the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 250,000.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other Corolla years