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 2013 Toyota Corolla owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Corolla. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS) and 19V005000 (AIR BAGS) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
On Monday, [redacted], I was at the CVS pharmacy drive through when the failure occurred. There was no accident and otherwise no warning before it happened. I attempted to pull out when I noticed the car was drifting and the steering was extremely stiff. I looked down to see that the airbag light and BRAKE light were both on. I coasted into a spot I happened to be aligned with. As I did, I felt the brakes and steering stiffen even more until they were almost 100% seized. (Kind of felt like I was fighting hydraulic fluid.) You guys are welcome to request to inspect the vehicle. I haven't been able to get it inspected, because the Toyota dealership wants me to pay a diagnostic fee to prove the airbag light came on due to the airbag assembly for them to be able to cover the work under the extended warranty for the airbag system. There was no accident. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Corolla. The contacts son was driving at 60 MPH, the rear passenger side tire blew out causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle fishtailed, crashed into the passenger side of a truck, spun around, then went backwards crashing into a concrete wall where the vehicle came to a stop. No air bags deployed. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The driver installed the spare tire and drove the vehicle to his residence. The insurance company then towed the vehicle to a collision repair facility. A dealer was not contacted for the failure but the contact mentioned that prior to the failure, the vehicle was serviced under an air bag recall at a Toyota dealer located in hot springs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximant 74,465.
Our 2013 Toyota Corolla vehicle suddenly and without warning became stuck in a snow squall. The vehicle's headlights were on and driver was wearing a seatbelt, but also put on the vehicle's flashers to declare distress. A truck from the opposite direction apparently crossed over into my lane and hit my vehicle head on without warning. The 2013 Toyota Corolla's airbag did not deploy and driver of the 2013 Toyota Corolla (who was not driving as the vehicle was stuck in snow, but did still have her seatbelt on) required transport via ambulance to hospital for laceration to lip/chin area requiring 25 stitches and was later diagnosed with rib fractures.
Sunday, February 4 at about 7 pm, it had been a rainy day with a lot of humidity, leaving my parents' house a block before the traffic lights I do not understand how the air bags were activated and as a result of that I lost control of my vehicle and I caught the light in red. As a result almost a fatal accident my mother was in the hospital in intensive care for 3 days, me and my nephews with many blows, thank god not very serious. But the people who impacted me as a result of not stopping at the red light, also suffered many injuries. That I have to do? Thank you
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owned a 2013 Toyota Corolla. While driving 35 MPH, the contact rear ended the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V024000 (air bags). The contact sustained a whiplash, back pains, and headaches that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact's vehicle was destroyed and towed to a relative's property. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 107,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Corolla. While driving 10 MPH and attempting to avoid crashing into a vehicle, the contact crashed into a tree. The driver side air bag deployed, but did not inflate. The contact sustained injuries to the right leg, both shoulders, and neck. The contact did not seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. Ma 10/8
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota Corolla. While driving 55 MPH, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the guardrail. The vehicle rolled over. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. Minor injuries were sustained, but did not require medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a yard and was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the air bag failure. The failure mileage was 51,000.
"Takata recall" vehicle airbags failed to deploy after impact at 55 MPH in a 3 vehicle pile up on the freeway. I have taken my vehicle in before for passenger airbag recall and repaired. Neither one deployed including the side doors, passenger and driver. As the results of this failure, I sustained injuries after the initial impact.
Driver was in a serious accident and the air bags did not deploy. Vehicle was going 25-30 MPH and hit a larger vehicle from behind. Air bags did not deploy for the driver. No passenger in car. Driver was provided emergency medial attention at the scene.
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 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP (Saipan), and the U.S.
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag…
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 2013 Toyota Corolla?
NHTSA has 72 complaints about the air bags of the 2013 Toyota Corolla, 36% of the model year's 201 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › sensor/control module (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 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 2013 Toyota Corolla airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 39,000 miles, and 40% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 31 crashes, 1 fire and 36 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.