Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Toyota Corolla owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while at a stoplight, an Audi truck crashed into the rear of the vehicle, allegedly due to being distracted by a cell phone. The air bags did not deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact sustained broken bones, whiplash, chest injuries, and a broken toe; her knee was swollen, and she had head, neck, and foot injuries. and medical attention was provided. There was no reported fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The frame and fuel tank were bent. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who confirmed no recalls. Six months after the failure, the vehicle was taken to the same dealer who repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V024000 (Air Bags). The contact believed that the vehicle was sold with an open recall. The vehicle was repaired. …
The contact owned a 2017 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light when the vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle which then caused him to crash into the vehicle in front. The contact stated that the other driver was driving approximately 70-80 MPH. The contact stated that no air bags were deployed in his vehicle and was concerned due to having 4 child occupants in the vehicle during the failure. The contact stated that he sustained back, head, and neck injuries and was seen at the hospital a couple of days later. The contact stated that the other driver was seen with a bloody nose before she fled the scene. The contact stated that the front vehicle driver was not injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The dealer or the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …
The contact owned a 2017 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving at 40-45 MPH, she saw an object on the road. The contact stated that as she was trying to swerve to the right to avoid the sharp object, the vehicle drove over the sharp object. The sharp object pierced the tires and the subframe. The vehicle hit the curb and bounced back into the road. The was an unknown fluid leaking. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained back injuries. The contact did not seek medical assistance. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot where it was totaled. There was no further information provided. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,300.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Corolla. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V024000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that while driving at 15-20 MPH, the forward collision avoidance feature failed to alert her of vehicles ahead. The contact swerved the vehicle, crashing into the bridge wall. The air bags did not deploy. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact suffered bruising and neck pain, but no medical attention was received. The contact's mother, who was a passenger, suffered body aches and pain. The contact stated that her mother passed away from an unrelated illness a month after the crash. There was no police report filed. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site. …
While I was driving in the middle lane through an intersection, a car from the opposite side failed to yield while turning and hit me on my driver's side. My car was traveling at approximately 35 MPH, and the other vehicle was exceeding the speed limit. The impact caused my car to veer in the opposite direction and I lost consciousness immediately. The fire department had to extract me from the passenger side door as my driver's side door was jammed shut. Both the driver's door and the rear door on that side cannot be opened, rendering the car undriveable and necessitating towing from the crash scene. The collision was severe, causing my head to snap back and forth against the steering wheel, along with impact to the left side of my body and whiplash to my neck, back, and chest. …
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bags and seat belt warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bags and the passenger's side seat belt warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat was not occupied. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where the contact declined to pay a diagnostic fee because the failure was a safety issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the front passenger's side air bag and the dashboard were replaced in 2022, and the front driver's side seat belt was replaced in 2023. In addition, the wiring harness was replaced due to water intrusion in March 2022. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty, and the 12 months warranty had expired. …
I was driving southbound on a main road when a car pulled out right Infront of me. This caused me to hit the left side of his car between the front and back door (Nissan Sedan) with the front right of my car. I hit his car at roughly 45mph. My car (Toyota Corolla) did not deploy any airbags. His car almost all the airbags went off. My car was totaled. The front right wheel was completely ripped apart, the fluids from around the engine all spilled out, and the front right door does not open. There is a police report filed and the accident is filed with my insurance (Progressive). The car was inspected by insurance just to determine if it is totaled and the value it's worth. There were never any warnings from my car and the car was regularly maintained. I believe my safety was at risk by the airbags not going off. I hit my face on the steering wheel causing injury to my jaw.
This vehicle when it's impacted there's really no help or assistance to get the vehicle removed off your property on the vehicle is a hazard it really needs to be retested and there needs to be someone to know that it's not safe for children and being this vehicle a lot of times it's kids slides and it doesn't have the front part of the vehicle is impacted bad and it's hard to get the car replaced by the manufacturer in thewayenough restraint so that you can take your kids a little faster in the car without answering them it's also a hazard because only certain drivers know how to operate it and it's not always safe to have this car out and about without issues or malfunction
This is my daughter's car. We purchased it in December, 2019. She was involved in a collision on 02/02/2022. At an intersection, she hit a pick-up truck on the side likely going 30 - 40MPH. The front-end of the car was demolished and the car totaled for insurance purposes. The airbags did not deploy. The title has been signed over to the insurance carrier, Farm Bureau and I believe the vehicle is now at their designated salvage facility. My daughter is awaiting the final insurance settlement amount. There was a police report filed and my daughter was cited. There were no indications of any issues with the airbags prior to the accident.
While driving approximately 35-45 mph, my vehicle struck a deer in a frontal collision. The impact resulted in significant front-end damage and the vehicle was later declared a total loss. The airbags did not deploy. At the time of the crash, the vehicle was subject to an unrepaired federal safety recall involving the airbag control unit (ZF-TRW ACU recall). I experienced soreness following the crash. No airbags deployed.
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 2017 Toyota Corolla?
NHTSA has 54 complaints about the air bags of the 2017 Toyota Corolla, 30% of the model year's 178 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2017 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 2017 Toyota Corolla airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 27,000 miles, and 48% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 33 crashes, 0 fires and 35 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.