2003 Toyota Avalon Airbags Problems

March 13, 2026, I was on a road trip from CA to AZ and while driving around 75-80mph (speed limit), something in the driver's side seat belt or the shoulder holster exploded, the belt tightened, and something metal or plastic flew off. Shortly after (within 30 seconds or so), the passenger's side seat belt did something similar where something in the seat belt mechanism exploded and another part went flying. There was an electrical buzzing noise. I was looking for a place to pull over when the air bags went off. There was no bump in the road or a dip and I did not hit anything. I don't remember the order the air bags exploded but it was one after the other. The driver's side air bag exploding left a red abrasion on my left hand. The vehicle was brought to a nearby dealership (Anderson Toyota) where they said they could not verify what the issue was. The safety of myself and others on the road were at risk as the explosions were very loud and the air bags occluded my view while traveling at a high speed. The vehicle has been inspected by a 3rd party representative from Bosch (Apr 2nd) as sent by Toyota corporate and Toyota has not given me any updates. Calling them several times they have failed to return calls, and after a call today, they said the case was filed as closed without my prior notice. I do not recall warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms.

NHTSA ID

11732589

Incident

Mar 13, 2026

I was driving back home, out of no where my car went out of control, went left, then right, hit something and flipped over twice to end in a hill against the traffic with 4 flat tires. The air bag did not deployed. I did hit the windshield. The car was total.

NHTSA ID

11523134

Incident

May 19, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BEECHMONT TOYOTA (8667 BEECHMONT AVE, CINCINNATI, OH 45255, (513) 388-3800) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,807.

NHTSA ID

11164181

Incident

Dec 28, 2018

Mileage

230,807 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RICE TOYOTA (2630 BATTLEGROUND AVE, NC GREENSBORO, NC 27408, (336) 387-6004), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1808082730. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 244,000.

NHTSA ID

11118623

Incident

Aug 8, 2018

Mileage

244,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (PUEBLO TOYOTA, 2220 U S 50 W, PUEBLO, CO 81008) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,457.

NHTSA ID

11074553

Incident

Feb 23, 2018

Mileage

174,457 mi

AIR BAG INDICATOR AND SEAT BELT NOT ON INDICATORS KEEP COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS THESE INDICATOR COMES ON WHEN THEY DO THE TEST DRIVE. SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS REPRODUCIBLE BY THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID

11022375

Incident

Sep 7, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

I HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER A YEAR FOR THIS TO BE REMEDIED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE

NHTSA ID

10990458

Incident

May 1, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN OVER A CURB. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT WROTE TO THE CONTACT, STATING THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RECALL RELATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10984855

Incident

Jan 17, 2017

Mileage

136,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING AND OBSCURED THE DRIVER'S VISION. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10948467

Incident

Jan 2, 2017

Mileage

116,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER 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.

NHTSA ID

10917828

Incident

Apr 22, 2016

THE RECALL REMEDY FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN 15V043000 IS A FAILURE. AN IDENTICAL SYMPTOM TO THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM HAS RECURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS (INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF THE SRS SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT). PRIOR TO THE RECALL, WE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE ERROR CODE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP FOLLOWING ILLUMINATION OF THIS WARNING LAMP. HOWEVER, NO ERROR CODES WERE STORED. NOW, THE DEALERSHIP (LOU FUSZ, ST. LOUIS) CLAIMS THAT THEY MUST CHARGE US TO ATTEMPT TO READ ANY STORED CODES. OBVIOUSLY, TOYOTA ENGINEERS DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AFTER HAVING A FIRST RECALL THAT FAILED FOLLOWED BY A SECOND RECALL AND NOW RECURRENCE OF IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS.

NHTSA ID

10908447

Incident

Sep 21, 2016

Mileage

185,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10873022

Incident

Jun 5, 2015

THE SRS SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHT FLASHES WHILE DRIVING, STATES THAT THEY FIXED IT BUT STILL AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHT FLASHES WHILE DRIVE, IT WAS A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10871308

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10871264

Incident

Jan 27, 2015

TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG ON MAY 2 2016. I WENT TO WALKER JONES SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN WAYCROSS, GA ON MAY 3. I WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART AND HAVE ONLY RECEIVED ONE REPLACEMENT PART. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN TOYOTA SENT THEM THE PART. I CALLED AGAIN ON MAY 16 AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. I WANT MY VEHICLE REPAIRED SO I CAN SAFELY USE IT. WHY ARE THE PARTS NOT AVAILABLE??? THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. WHEN THESE NOTICES ARE SENT OUT WHY DO WE HAVE TO GET THE RUNAROUND ABOUT THE PARTS?

NHTSA ID

10870756

Incident

May 2, 2016

TAKATA AIRBAGS: HAVING RECEIVED TAKATA RECALL NOTICES, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR ACTION. HE SAID MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TAKATA AIRBAGS. ACCORDING TO NHTSA SITE, IT DOES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY 2003 TOYOTA AVALON MODELS SOLD WITH SOME OTHER AIRBAGS THAN TAKATA. IF I DO INDEED HAVE TAKATA AIRBAGS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10864629

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

93,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10864004

Incident

Mar 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10854333

Incident

Apr 7, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10852715

Incident

Nov 24, 2014

I HAD GONE TO WALKER AUTO GROUP LOCATED AT 8457 SPRINGBORO PIKE, MIAMISBURG, OH 45342-4503 BOTH ON 2/2/2015 AND AGAIN ON 4/7/2015 TO PERFORM THE E0G RECALL REPAIR ON THE SIR SUB HARNESS. BOTH TIMES THEY ADVISED THEY DID NOT HAVE TO PART AND WOULD CONTACT ME WHEN IT WAS IN. IT IS NOW 3/12/2016 AND NO CALL OR CONTACT IN REGARDS TO THIS RECALL REPAIR. MY AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO FLASH AND PER THE NOTIFICATION I HAD RECEIVED TO GET THIS ADDRESSED IT ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT IF I THOUGHT THIS MATTER HAD NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IN A TIMELY FASHION. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR AND THIS ISSUE IS STILL A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10846310

Incident

Feb 2, 2015

OVER ONE (1) YEAR AGO I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE ON THIS VEHICLE STATING THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. OVER A YEAR LATER AND "REMEDY NOT AVAILABLE" IS THE RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA. IT APPEARS THAT THE REMEDY IS TO DELAY, DELAY, DELAY SO AS MANY OF THESE CARS AS POSSIBLE ARE RETIRED AND DO NOT REQUIRE REPAIR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW THIS RECALL PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE RESOLVED IN A TIMELY MANNER.

NHTSA ID

10839340

Incident

Jan 27, 2015

Mileage

90,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER OFF AND ON. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ID

10839254

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

Mileage

118,000 mi

WE OWN A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. WE RECEIVED THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THIS VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2014. THE RED AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE DASH HAS BEEN ON, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. SINCE THIS INVOLVES THE VERY SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF MY FAMILY, WE CALLED THE LOCAL WEST COVINA DEALER, AT LEAST FOUR (4) TIMES AND MADE AT LEAST ONE (1) DRIVE-IN VISIT, TO GET THIS MATTER RESOLVED. EACH TIME WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO ' SRS ECU ' REPLACEMENT PART AVAILABLE. ON OUR LAST ATTEMPT TO REACH OUT TO THEM, WE LEFT A MESSAGE FOR THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE WEST COVINA TOYOTA LOCATION AND WAS NOT EVEN GIVEN THE COURTESY OF A RETURN PHONE CALL. WE ARE THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED! SINCE THIS PLACES OUR FAMILY AT GREAT RISK OF HARM AND ENDANGERS THEIR WELL-BEING, OUT OF DESPERATION, WE ARE REACHING OUT TO YOU. IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER TWO (2) YEARS SINCE RECEIPT OF THE INITIAL SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. SURELY, THIS IS SUFFICIENT TIME TO BE ABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM! PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT VIA EMAIL AT EITHER [XXX] TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER. OR, YOU MAY REACH OUT TO US BY PHONE AT [XXX](H) OR [XXX] (C). IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOUR ASSISTANCE WILL PROVIDE THE IMPETUS NEEDED TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. SINCERELY YOURS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR

NHTSA ID

10838831

Incident

Mar 1, 2014

REC'D BOTH NOTIFICATIONS LAST YEAR, BUT THIS EXCEEDS REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WAITING FOR A FIX. ONE DAY LAST SPRING (2015) I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LITE STAYED ON LONGER THAN USUAL. ALSO, MY SEAT BELT TIGHTENED UP ON ME BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN. I ALSO SMELLED HOT WIRES ANOTHER TIME. I CALLED TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD THE PART IS UNAVAILABLE, THOUGH I EXPLAINED MY ISSUES. I REQUESTED THE AIRBAG BE DISCONNECTED WHICH THEY REFUSED TO DO. I CALLED TOYOTA AGAIN ON 2/22/16. THEY SAID THE PART IS IN, BUT THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP (TOYOTA) STATES THEY WON'T REPLACE IT IN MY VEHICLE UNLESS THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. DOES THAT MEAN I WILL HAVE FAIR WARNING? DOES THAT MEAN I WILL HAVE TO DRIVE A DANGEROUS VEHICLE ABOUT 50+ MILES TO THE NEAREST DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THAT TIME? THIS IS NUTS! I AM ANGRY! I WILL BE CALLING THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION NEXT, WHICH TRAFFIC SAFETY REFERRED ME TO. I STILL OWE $4,400 ON MY CAR AND WILL BE UNABLE TO TRADE IT IN WITHOUT THE RECALL BEING COMPLETED.

NHTSA ID

10838018

Incident

Jun 15, 2015

Mileage

113,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10837955

Incident

Mar 16, 2015