Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Toyota Corolla owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On March 30, 2023, at approximately 7:10 pm, my son was involved in an auto accident with his 2012 Toyota Corolla and his airbags did not deploy. His vehicle was impacted on the driver's side fender and bumper. He was traveling, approximately 50 mph in the center lane. The other vehicle that was involved had their airbags deploy. My son did experience chest, shoulder and neck pain from the impact. He was taken to Baylor-Scott and White Hospital for his injuries. The vehicle was inoperable and towed to the Lewisville impound for storage. The Flower Mound Police Department responded to the accident and an accident report was completed. On March 05, 2020, I received a notice for the Airbag Safety Recall for VIN [VIN]. On April 03, 2020, I received a payment of $62.25 for the Takata Airbag Product Liability Litigation, No. 1:15md-02599-FAM. …
Hit head in passengers side into a cement pole, car was a total loss. No airbags deployed causing bodily injury to driver and passenger from impact and seatbelt , stopping us . Chest cavity injury's
My Corolla flipped over upside down going 30 miles an hour. I collided with another vehicle that was stopped in the opposing lane of travel to turn left. We both barely were over center the line at impact that somehow caused my Corolla to roll upside down. Some how this did not deploy the safety airbags either. The airbags are not my complaint; but rather that I managed to flip upside down going 30 mph from a driver side collision. I'm writing in an attempt to understand why it wasn't just an impact, but actually flipped the vehicle over. Also, why the safety airbags, which were recalled and repaired, did not engage upon impact. I just replaced the transmission 3 weeks prior to this bizarre accident, that may have totaled my vehicle. …
Context: My wife replaced the driver's side airbag per the 2019 Toyota Corolla recall at a Columbia, MO dealership. We've since moved to North Carolina. The airbag light and maintenance light came on, and we took it to the mechanic (Christian Brothers Automotive) close to our new home. They ran a diagnostics report on 9/14/2023 to determine the airbag on the driver's side needed to be replaced. I have documentation of this report with the error code. I got the work done at the mechanic because my wife did not feel comfortable knowingly driving with a faulty vehicle. I tried contacting corporate customer service as well as the dealership that did the original replacement in 2019. I was told that all repairs only have a 12-month warranty. While I understand this is the policy, I do not agree that an airbag replacement should be charged out of pocket after 4 years of replacement. …
The airbag (driver's side) was replaced in 2019 per a recall at a dealership in Columbia, MO. My wife and I have since moved to [redacted] . We took the car to a local mechanic (closer to our house) for basic work, such as an oil change/tire rotation. During the vehicle inspect, they said the airbag failed test (image attached). We got the work done (cost about $1,000). The dealership was not pleasant to work with and said the mechanic was "not Toyota certified" and "she should have drove to a Toyota dealership". The initial 2019 airbag replacement was under a 12-month warranty. This is the basic warranty for all repairs, which I understand. However, airbags are supposed to last longer than 4 years. The car was not in an accident. This is a either a faulty manufacturer/design.
Context: My wife replaced the driver's side airbag per the 2019 Toyota Corolla recall at a Columbia, MO dealership. We've since moved to North Carolina. The airbag light and maintenance light came on, and we took it to the mechanic (Christian Brothers Automotive) close to our new home. They ran a diagnostics report on 9/14/2023 to determine the airbag on the driver's side needed to be replaced. I have documentation of this report with the error code. I got the work done at the mechanic because my wife did not feel comfortable knowingly driving with a faulty vehicle. I tried contacting corporate customer service as well as the dealership that did the original replacement in 2019. I was told that all repairs only have a 12-month warranty.
: My wife replaced the driver's side airbag per the 2019 Toyota Corolla recall at a Columbia, MO dealership. We've since moved to North Carolina. The airbag light and maintenance light came on, and we took it to the mechanic (Christian Brothers Automotive) close to our new home. They ran a diagnostics report on 9/14/2023 to determine the airbag on the driver's side needed to be replaced. I have documentation of this report with the error code. I got the work done at the mechanic because my wife did not feel comfortable knowingly driving with a faulty vehicle.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Corolla. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V024000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact called and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Airbag needed to be replaced....again. This vehicle has had many recalls before, but now I am forced to pay for an additional replacement. Airbags are supposed to last the lifetime of the vehicle. Toyota not covering this $1000 expense is ridiculous and unsafe.
Context: My wife replaced the driver's side airbag per the 2019 Toyota Corolla recall at a Columbia, MO dealership. We've since moved to North Carolina. The airbag light and maintenance light came on, and we took it to the mechanic close to our new home. They ran a diagnostics report to determine the airbag on the driver's side needed to be replaced. I have documentation of this report with the error code. I got the work done at the mechanic because my wife did not feel comfortable knowingly driving with a faulty vehicle. I tried contacting corporate customer service as well as the dealership that did the original replacement in 2019. I was told that all repairs only have a 12-month warranty. While I understand this is the policy, I do not agree that an airbag replacement should be charged out of pocket after 4 years of replacement. …
Related recalls
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge.
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 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana,…
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of…
NHTSA investigations
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.
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
Airbag complaints in other Corolla years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2012 Toyota Corolla?
NHTSA has 370 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Toyota Corolla, 83% of the model year's 446 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Toyota Corolla airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-024 (air bag/restraint control module, Jan 17, 2020); NHTSA recall 19V-741 (inflator module, Oct 17, 2019); NHTSA recall 19V-005 (inflator module, Jan 9, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 Toyota Corolla airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 30 crashes, 0 fires and 20 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.