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 Corolla owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I got in an accident with a car who ran a stop sign when I didn't have one. I was going approximately 15-20mph and my entire front end collided with their passenger side. My air bags did not go off at all.
I received a "do not drive" recall for my vehicle in the mail because of defective air bags. The recall letter claimed that there have been twenty-eight confirmed deaths in relation to this recall. I entered Priority Toyota of Chesapeake, VA to address the issue. That was on Monday, April 6th, 2026. Even though there was a "do not drive" order on the recall, Priority Toyota of Chesapeake refused to give me a loaner vehicle. It is now Monday, April 13th, and Priority Toyota of Chesapeake has claimed that they are still waiting on an email to begin repairing the vehicle, which I need for transport. This is a formal complaint that Priority Toyota of Chesapeake, VA has failed to repair the recalls to the vehicle in a timely manner.
Hello, In January 3, 2022. I took the vehicle to the Toyota Hamer dealer about one issue of the air bag recall in the Toyota Corolla with the VIN: [redacted] there after around 4:pm on the Sunday the vehicle it was released with unsolved problems by the dealer and now I am requesting that it be properly repaired due to chronic and faulty problems. That the vehicle has.
I have repaired all the safety recalls on my 2004 Toyota Corolla S. However, I just had another warning signal for the seatbelt/airbag today. Since this has been a recall previously, can I have the dealer look at the car and repair again? I wouldn't think the airbags/seatbelt warning would come back so fast after being repaired for the recall. Please advise. Thank you.
We received the enclosed NHTSA notice about a vehicle repair that is need for a recall. However we no longer own this vehicle. We sold the vehicle in 2018 or 2019 and transferred the pink slip to the new owner. We have no way to contact him and he is responsible for the vehicle now. So we are just notifying you that we cannot take any action on this.
The contact's mother owned a 2004 Toyota Corolla. The contact's mother received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V741000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list as the vehicle was totaled. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
I am attempting to complete a manufacturer-issued safety recall involving my vehicle's airbag system, which includes a "Do Not Drive" advisory due to the risk of airbag inflator failure. Despite multiple good-faith attempts, I have encountered repeated barriers at the dealership level that have prevented timely completion of the repair. I scheduled a service appointment with Culver City Toyota and clearly indicated I required a rental vehicle to leave my car. My confirmation stated "Arrangement: Rental Vehicle," and the appointment was scheduled accordingly. When I arrived, I was told no rentals were available and that they are first-come, first-served. I was turned away and told to return another day. When I returned, I was able to leave my vehicle, but was asked how long I would need the rental without being given a repair timeline. …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle was hit from the back by another vehicle causing the contact to crash into the vehicle in front of him. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was repaired and was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure recurred on one other occasion when the contact was hit on the drivers side front. A police report was filed. The contact did not indicate if there were any injuries in both incidents. The vehicle was repaired but was not diagnosed. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V312000 (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 not made aware of the issue. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Corolla. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact swerved to avoid crashing into the rear of a vehicle. As a result, the contact's vehicle went off the road, traveled down an embankment, flipped over seven times, and ejected the contact from the vehicle. The vehicle landed upright. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a salvage yard. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V285000 (air bags) and 15V043000 (air bags), however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the contact crashed into another vehicle making an illegal turn. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belts also failed to restrain the contact in the crash. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V043000 (air bags). The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the seat belts and passenger's side air bag was replaced, however the failure with the seat belts recurred. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the lower back which required medical attention. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 163,000.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430,…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Corolla, 2005-2008 Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall.
Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly or sub-assembly, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles.
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator,…
Air bags
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004.
Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory.
Show 3 more recalls
Air bags
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii,…
Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory.
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
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The supplemental restraint system (SRS) circuits are susceptible to internal shorting. The electrical short may create an abnormal current flow and increased heat which can damage the circuits.
Remedy: Toyota will re-notify their owners who have already had their vehicles repaired with a noise filter, but did not receive a new airbag control module, and General Motors will re-notify theirs.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Airbag complaints in other Corolla years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Toyota Corolla?
NHTSA has 236 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Toyota Corolla, 49% of the model year's 477 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Toyota Corolla airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-741 (inflator module, Oct 17, 2019); NHTSA recall 19V-627 (inflator module, Aug 28, 2019); NHTSA recall 18V-883 (inflator module, Dec 12, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota Corolla airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 101,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 38 crashes, 0 fires and 39 injuries 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.