2013 Toyota Avalon Airbags Problems

Car into a brick wall, hit on front passenger side at 15 mph no airbag deployed.

NHTSA ID

11722855

Incident

Feb 10, 2026

he Occupant Detection System (ODS) in my 2013 Toyota Avalon has failed. The vehicle does not consistently detect an adult passenger in the front seat, and the “Passenger Airbag OFF” light remains illuminated, even when someone is seated properly. This means the airbag will not deploy in a crash, which is a serious safety risk for my passengers. I first noticed this issue several months ago. I took the car to a local certified repair shop, where they diagnosed a failure in the ODS sensor. I then brought it to a Toyota dealership for further inspection. The dealership confirmed the issue but required extra time and labor charges just to reach the same conclusion, even though I had already informed them of the diagnosis. Despite this being a clearly safety-critical system, I was told that no recall was active, and the repair cost would be entirely out-of-pocket, which is prohibitively expensive. As a result, the issue remains unresolved. There is a constant indicator light on the dash showing that the airbag system is deactivated when the passenger seat is occupied. To my knowledge, this issue has occurred in other Toyota models as well, and I believe this should be considered for a formal investigation and potential recall. It puts passengers at serious risk in the event of an accident and should not be a customer’s financial responsibility when it involves airbag functionality.

NHTSA ID

11665425

Incident

Feb 5, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSSED THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE AHEAD STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE STOP BUT THE VEHICLE BEHIND HIM WAS UNABLE TO STALLED CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF VEHICLE. WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT OF THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT VEHICLE TO RUN IN THE REAR OF THE CAR AHEAD OF HIM. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED FROM VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTATINED BACK PAIN, AND BUMP ON THE HEAD AND NECK STRAIN , THE CONTACT DAUGHTER SUSTAINED CHEST INJURY AND HIS SON HAD TOOTH INJURY CAUSING BLEEDING FROM THE MOUTH. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER INJURIES FROM THE OTHER DRIVERS. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WAS RECEIVED AT THE SCENE BUT THE CONTACT DECLINE GOING TO THE HOSPTIAL TIL THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHILCE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DEEMED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

NHTSA ID

11385335

Incident

Dec 17, 2020

Mileage

132,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD AN AIR BAG ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE VEHICLE COLLISION AND WAS THE MIDDLE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE CAME TO THE SCENE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES AND HIS WIFE WHO WAS THE PASSENGER SUSTAIN BRUISING. THE CONTACT STATED HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO MCDANIEL TOYOTA (1111 MT VERNON AVE, MARION, OH 43302) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS COMPLETED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS GIVEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.*BF CONSUMER STATED HE HAD A BACK SURGERY AND AIRBAG FAILURE HAPPENED TWICE.*JB

NHTSA ID

11330834

Incident

Jun 28, 2018

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11325058

Incident

May 18, 2020

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FROM A SPECIFIC SUPPLIER DESIGNED TO RECEIVE SIGNALS FROM CRASH SENSORS AND DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS AND SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS. THE ECU MAY NOT HAVE ADEQUATE PROTECTION AGAINST CERTAIN ELECTRICAL NOISE THAT CAN OCCUR IN CERTAIN CRASHES, SUCH AS SEVERE UNDERRIDE CRASHES. THIS CAN LEAD TO INCOMPLETE OR NONDEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS AND/OR SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS.

NHTSA ID

11319632

Incident

Mar 27, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V024000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER SUNRISE TOYOTA LOCATED AT (3984 SUNRISE HWY, OAKDALE, NY 11769 (631) 589-9000) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE REMEDY PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11319118

Incident

Jan 17, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT DURING THE IMPACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIGHT HAND, MULTIPLE LACERATIONS ON HIS FOREHEAD THAT REQUIRED 29 STITCHES, NECK PAIN, WHIPLASH, AND A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11267296

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH, THE CONTACT PASSED OUT BEHIND THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF INTO A DITCH AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 9/15/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10672254

Incident

Nov 22, 2014

Mileage

1,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE FROM CORWIN TOYOTA IN FARGO, ND. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I RETURNED THREE TIMES FOR REPAIRS. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE THE THIRD TIME IN SIX WEEKS I FOUND OUT THAT TWO RECALLS WOULD ALSO BE TAKEN CARE OF. I WENT ON LINE TO FIND OUT WHAT THE RECALLS WERE FOR. ONE OF THEM WAS NHTSA RECALL ID 13V442. THIS RECALL IS ABOUT A DRAIN HOSE CLOGGING THAT COULD ULTIMATELY CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO ACTIVATE DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OR TO POSSIBLY NOT ACTIVATE IN AN ACCIDENT. THE RESULT COULD BE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR. THIS RECALL WAS INITIATED IN THE SUMMER OF 2013. THE DEALER(CORWIN) TOOK THIS CAR IN ON TRADE IN OCTOBER OF 2014 AND THEN SOLD IT TO ME. WHY WOULD THEY SELL A CAR WITH A KNOWN RECALL WITHOUT FIXING IT. ESPECIALLY ONE THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY/DEATH? WHY IS THIS ALLOWED? *TR

NHTSA ID

10663009

Incident

Oct 21, 2014

Mileage

23,379 mi

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA, MARCH 2014 REGARDING INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUITING OF THE INTEGRATED CIRCUITS ON THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. CONTACT TOYOTA SEPT 2014 REGARDING WHEN THIS WOULD BE FIXED. THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE DID NOT KNOW. I BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, THAT BEING 7 MONTHS FROM MARCH TO SEPTEMBER. I AM FILLING A VEHICULAR SAFETY COMPLAINT THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE RECALL IN A TIMELY MANNER WHICH COULD CAUSE INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS OR SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS CAUSING INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629562

Incident

Mar 5, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V442000 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EQUIPMENT) BUT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT MAKE THE PARTS AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10567473

Incident

Nov 6, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V442000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EQUIPMENT) AND THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10557690

Incident

Dec 6, 2013

RE:REPORT RECEIPT DATE: OCT 17, 2013 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V442000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EQUIPMENT TOYOTA NEEDS TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE DRAIN LINE. THE CONDENSATE THAT IS NOT DRAINING OUT OF THE EVAPORATOR IS ENCOURAGING THE GROWTH OF MOLD IN THE EVAPORATOR WITH AN ACCOMPANYING OBNOXIOUS ODOR. COULD THE MOLD BE A TOXIC MOLD? THE ROOT PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE SOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10548745

Incident

May 29, 2013

Mileage

500 mi