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 2005 Toyota Corolla owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Unknown - The airbag light has been on for a while. Check engine light is also on, and after a few repairs/replacements of diagnosed issues the light remains. A Texas vehicle inspection report shows a P0420 fault code that will not go away, as well as a P0741 fault code about a torque converter clutch circuit underperforming or is stuck/off. I have a technical service bulletin from the inspection station that reads as follows: 10051865 Date: 04/16/2013 Toyota: In a collision, to help reduce injuries, with seat belt pre=tensioner and supplemental restraint systems (srs), it's possible that the devices may or may not perform as expected with unintended deployment.
The location of the collision sensors are positioned too low to allow consistent deployment of the airbags in the event of a collision with newer generation pickup trucks. The bumpers on the pickup trucks are too high, so a rear end collision results in the Toyota Corolla passing underneath the truck, and the air bag sensors do not sense the collision. The collision is only stopped when the windshield of the Toyota makes contact with the bumper, or the front of car impacts the axle of the pickup trucks.
My 2005 Toyota Corolla airbags have been recalled AT LEAST TWICE already(?) and I have been to the dealer at least twice, for airbag recall repairs. Guess what? The red dashboard airbag light came on AGAIN! I took the 2005 Corolla to the Toyota dealer and the dealer announced that I have to pay for the latest airbag warning dashboard light problem. Since the airbag is an obvious "problem area" for Toyota, and I never have used the airbags...I feel this latest "airbag problem" should be fixed, by Toyota for free. Toyotas infamous and repeated "airbag problem'" has reappeared... yet again! I don't have the exact date and time the airbag warning light reappeared (again) and there was never an accident where the airbags were deployed, or a certain speed at which the warning light suddenly comes on. The airbag warning light is on 99% of the time. …
II own a 2005 Toyota Corolla. Since [redacted], I have repeatedly asked Keating Toyota in [redacted], to complete the airbag and engine control module (ECM) recall repairs. As of [redacted], the repairs remain incomplete. The dealership has either not obtained the needed parts or had parts available without calling me to schedule the repair. Despite my repeated requests, these issues remain unresolved after approximately nine months. I've also asked then to keep me updated and they don't. They also told me they had the parts at one time and they sent them back because I did not get them. They never called me and if they did, they did not leave a message. The car will stop moving and I will have to pull to side of road. I keep shutting car off and on until it will drive. It goes into some kind of limp mode. …
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that the dealer previously replaced the passenger's side air bag under an unknown recall; however, the air bag warning light illuminated after the recall repair was performed. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that she needed to pay out-of-pocket for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
My son drove the car to the store less than 2 miles from the house and the airbag light came on and stayed while he was driving. He looked up the light in the owners manual and it said take vehicle to the Toyota dealer immediately! I know multiple cars we have owned in the past have had airbag recalls. I can not remember if this one has ever been recalled and repaired in the past. I attached the photos of the light and the manual.
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated after an air bag recall repair was performed on the vehicle, the front passenger's seat belt warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
I took my vehicle to the shop on 3/31/21 as I received a recall notice for the airbags. I am currently trying to pass inspection for registration renewal but have several warning lights; one of them being the airbag system. Obviously the problem has not been fixed.
My airbag light stays on and I heard if the air bag gis off it could have metal in it..that don't sound like something I want to happen...also this cars power go's out and back on its scary when your driving down the road.it only has 141k miles something is wrong...
I had the airbag repaired during the recall. However, the airbag warning light remains on. In addition, the speedometer has stopped at 299,999 although the trip meter still works. The paint is peeling and the roof is rusting which is classic for toyota.
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 1 more recall
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.
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 2005 Toyota Corolla?
NHTSA has 457 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Toyota Corolla, 54% of the model year's 854 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 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 2005 Toyota Corolla airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 92,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 59 crashes, 0 fires and 57 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.