Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Toyota Corolla owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was rear-ended. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the other driver was driving at about 45 MPH when the contact's vehicle was rear-ended. A police report was filed. The contact did not seek medical attention at the scene but later went to the hospital where the contact was treated for whiplash. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop, however the vehicle had not been inspected. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota. The contact stated that while driving forward into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and crashed into a building wall. During the incident, the front end of the vehicle was severely damaged but the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained a neck injury and the front passenger sustained a bruised rib, both required medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000.
The contact's daughter owned a 2016 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that the vehicle was stolen, and while being chased by the police, the suspect crashed into a supporting beam located on the expressway. The front end of the vehicle was damaged. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact was unaware of any injuries. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot for the city. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was deemed to be a total loss by the Insurance Provider. The manufacturer was not notified of the failre. The failure mileage was 80,000.
We discovered that there was an explosion of some sort inside the car on the passenger side, which seems to have potentially involve the air bag system and/or electrical around the system, but this is not entirely known. The car was parked at the time and had not been driven for approximately 65 hours. It appears there was a fire but we did not witness. The dash is melted leaving a gaping hole, what appears to be portions of the air bag are partially disintegrated and stuck to the ceiling, the ceiling is charred, the sun visor is melted and distorted, and hanging down, underneath the dash is also melted, and the smell in the car is absolutely stifling. The windshield is shattered in one spot, with additional cracks stemming from that point of contact. The windshield is damaged from the impact from inside the car and is pushing out. …
12/09/2019, The ECU did not have adequate protection against certain electrical noise that occurred during the collision. Airbags did not deploy in the event of under ride collision, a freak accident involving wildlife crossing the street. Seat belt pretensioners did not engage. I called Allstate insurance that same day. Had I not worn my seat belt, I might have gone through the windshield. Safety was in danger, and not protected. Meineke informed me the oil housing component, fused onto the component that allows for an oil change because it was made with a plastic material, that is an incorrect material, Oxygen sensor lit up after that finding. Vehicle is not available for inspection upon request. Tyler Law Enforcement might have inspected the vehicle in general. My VIN for my vehicle does not describe the style of my vehicle, which is a 2016 Toyota Carolla Sport, Red.
Question: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Answer: Airbags; Yes they car is available to inspect upon request. Question: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer: Airbags failed to deploy during a motor vehicle accident. This resulted in injuries that could have possibly been prevented. Question: Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Answer: No. Question: Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Answer: No. Question: Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Answer: No.
The driver seat belt dont work and once in a great while it will work but even whenever it does latch it still shows the seat belt isn't on and that noise keeps going off but after a while the noise goes off but the symbol is still on the dash board. I recently got hit from behind (09/15/2025) at a red light and no air bags deployed. Im not sure if they were suppose to deploy but either way my seat belt dont work. And I know this isn't a safety matter but my radio doesn't turn off when I turn off my car and I can't lock/unlock my doors with the key fob I have to lock it with the key on the driver door. I have to take the fuse out for the radio so my battery won't die and so the radio turns off.
In 2024, my 2016 Toyota Corolla was involved in a collision. The airbags did not deploy. I went to the emergency room following the crash and later required additional medical treatment, including rehabilitation.
This is a report of brake failure that caused a vehicle collision with injuries. On October 29, 2016, I rented a 2016 Toyota Corolla from a betterway rent-acar, inc. D/ba budget rent a car of atlanta, at 6509 roswell rd, atlanta, ga 30328. The Toyota had 21,619 miles at the time of the rental. At approximately 12:30 pm I was driving southeast on jimmy carter blvd in norcross georgia. The weather was clear and sunny and the road was dry. Upon departing a traffic light, I accelerated to approximately 20 MPH in moderate traffic towards vehicles waiting at the intersection of jimmy carter blvd and rockbridge school road one block away. I began applying the brakes long before reaching the vehicles waiting at the next intersection, however the car's brake action was minimal. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2016 Toyota Corolla. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V024000 (air bags) and the vehicle was taken to hamer Toyota located at 11041 sepulveda blvd, mission hills, ca 91345, for the recall repair. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 60-65 MPH, the vehicle driving ahead of her husband loss the driver's side rear wheel with the tire still attached to the rim. The contact stated that the wheel struck the bumper of the vehicle driven by her husband. The contact's husband then drove over the wheel, causing the vehicle to lift up off of the roadway. After which, the vehicle started to spin, her husband loss control of the vehicle, and crashed into a canyon wall. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. …
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.
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 2016 Toyota Corolla?
NHTSA has 65 complaints about the air bags of the 2016 Toyota Corolla, 30% of the model year's 215 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2016 Toyota Corolla airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-024 (air bag/restraint control module, Jan 17, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2016 Toyota Corolla airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 35,000 miles, and 39% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 45 crashes, 1 fire and 47 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.