2004 Toyota Camry Airbags Problems

My wife was in a crash that totaled my 2004 Camry. She swerved to miss a deer and was pulled off the road and into two utility poles and several areas of fence. None of the airbags deployed and the crash was well over the 14 mph speed limit suggested for the airbags to deploy. My wife was seriously injured and was lucky the seatbelt held her back. She spent time in a hospital and broken two ribs and bruised her heart. This could have been avoided if the airbags deployed. No warning signs and the vehicle was inspected on time every time. No recalls.

NHTSA ID

11749220

Incident

Jun 23, 2026

The SRS warning light came on. I took it to my mechanic and he tested the sensor. He said the code that showed is B1821...Open in Side Squib (D Seat Side) Circuit. He said I needed to take it to a Toyota Dealer. I have an appointment with one on 4/17/25.

NHTSA ID

11654816

Incident

Apr 12, 2025

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. The contacts stated that while her daughter was driving at 55mph down a hill when the contact's daughter crashed the vehicle into another vehicle that was stopped. None of the airbags deploying. Medical treatment was required and she sustained bruising to the left breast and ribcage. The contact's daughter service dog was in the vehicle at the time of the failure and hit the floorboard during the incident. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The manufacturer was informed of failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

NHTSA ID

11425468

Incident

Jul 9, 2021

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL AT APPROXIMATELY 77 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FORWARD UNINTENDEDLY. THE VEHICLE SIDE SWEPT ANOTHER VEHICLE HITTING THE DRIVER SIDE OF THEIR VEHICLE, THEN, SPUN OFF AND HIT A NEARBY GUARDRAIL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO PERSONS WERE INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO REPAIR DAMAGE HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11415410

Incident

Apr 30, 2021

Mileage

50,000 mi

WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED JUMPING AHEAD HITTING A TREE IN PARKING LOT. EVEN WITH BRAKING, IT DID NOT STOP. I HAD TO REVERSE AND IT STILL SPEED UP WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. I HAD TO PUT IT IN PARK. THEN ONLY IT STOPPED. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK. ONLY MY SHOULDER & LAP BELTS SAVED ME. SUCH AN EPISODE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BACK UP IN MY DRIVE WAY, IT ACCELERATED WHILE I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO TOYOTA COMPANY, TORRANCE, CA AS WELL AS ITS DEALER IN WESTBURY, NY. NOTIHING WAS DONE TO DATE. IT STARTED IN 2005 AND CONTINUED EVEN IN 2020. THE MILEAGE VARIED FROM 1500 TO 134000. DATES ALSO VARIED.

NHTSA ID

11316567

Incident

Mar 2, 2020

Mileage

134,000 mi

DURING A HIGH VELOCITY FRONT END IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A STREET.

NHTSA ID

11257604

Incident

Sep 16, 2019

Mileage

298,000 mi

DRIVER IN FRONT CRASH WITH 4-5 CAR PILE UP. CAR WAS ON HIGHWAY 287 AND DEER WAS CAUSE. AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. WE NEVER GOT A NOTICE ABOUT TAKATA AIRBAGS. SPEED WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 45-50 AT TIME BECAUSE BRAKES WERE SLAMMED ON TO NO EFFECT. CRASH WAS UNAVOIDABLE. CAR WAS TOTALLED.

NHTSA ID

11219971

Incident

Jun 11, 2019

Mileage

145,000 mi

GAS PEDAL ACCELERATED WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE.

NHTSA ID

11162889

Incident

Dec 20, 2018

Mileage

156,421 mi

I RECEIVED LETTERS WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE HAD THE TOYOTA DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. I WOULD NOT HAVE NOTICED BECAUSE IT IS AN INTERNAL DEFECT OF THE CAR, BUT THE CONSISTENCY AND URGENCY OF THE DANGER I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO REPAIR I MADE THE APPOINTMENT FOR NOVEMBER -15-2018 @ 7:00 AM TO 1-888-663-8613. FROM THAT DAY NOVEMBER 15, 2016, I LEFT MY VEHICLE AT THE CAMELBACK DEALERSHIP AT 1550 E. CAMELBACK RD. IN PHOENIX, AZ, TOYOTA, AND TO DATE THEY HAVE NOT REPAIRED OR RETURNED ME. I HAVE MADE MANY CALLS BUT THEY DO NOT GIVE SPECIFIC ANSWERS .TODAY IS 12-05-2018

NHTSA ID

11156360

Incident

Nov 15, 2018

MY CAR HAS 4 CODES ON IT AND THEY ARE ALL AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONS.

NHTSA ID

11129100

Incident

Sep 12, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, A TRUCK STRUCK THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED TO A POLICE IMPOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID BEING STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, LOST CONTROL, DROVE ACROSS FOUR LANES, AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND WAS TOWED TO A POLICE IMPOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

NHTSA ID

11025100

Incident

Jan 10, 2012

Mileage

25,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA, DASH IS CRACKED AND STICKY RIGHT WHERE AIRBAG IS. I CALLED TOYOTA AND ASK BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE FIXING THIS DEFAULT. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THESE FIXES. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY REFUSED TO HELP OR ANSWER WHY I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THESE FIXES. THEY ARE REFUSING ANY HELP. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW AND IT HAS LESS THEN A 100,000 MILE. REP VERY RUDE AND REFUSED TO GIVE ME HER NAME AND REFUSED TO GIVE ME HER MANAGER. PLEASE HELP I AM DISABLE AND NEED MY CAR. THEY NEVER SENT ME ANY NOTICE OF FIXING THESE PROBLEMS. CRACK IS SO CLOSE TO WERE AIRBAG IS AND SHE SAID NOT HER PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ID

11012049

Incident

Jul 18, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. AFTER THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE AND A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT INJURED HER BACK AND UPPER NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT'S NECK INJURY WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN UPPER SPRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11000891

Incident

Jul 2, 2016

TOP OF DASHBOARD AROUND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS SPLITTING OPEN. OTHER TOYOTA;S FROM THE SAME YEAR HAVE A DASHBOARD FIX THRU TOYOTA. NOT CAMRY'S. CONCERNED THAT AIRBAG MAY NOT WORK CORRECTLY. OR COME OUT OF DASHBOARD.

NHTSA ID

10958411

Incident

Dec 22, 2016

Mileage

104,000 mi

I WAS TRAVELING AT A RATE OF 30 MPH AND FAILED TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT HITTING AN EQUINOX. MY TOYOTA CAMRY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HAVE MULTIPLE CHEST WALL INJURIES FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE EQUINOX.

NHTSA ID

10925159

Incident

Nov 6, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

NOTICED SLIGHT SWELLING OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OVER A PERIOD OF A FEW MONTHS. APPEARED THAT THE UPPER SEAM OF THE COVER WAS WIDENING. YESTERDAY WHEN DRIVING HOME NOTICED IT APPEARED LARGER THAN USUAL. UPON GETTING HOME TOO A PICTURE, AS THE AIRBAG SEAM HAD BEGUN TO SPLIT AND CAN SEE A RED FOAM LIKE SUBSTANCE THROUGH THE SPLIT. CALLED LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND INDIVIDUAL I SPOKE WITH WAS VAGUE, HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING SIMILAR OR ANY AIRBAG RECALLS WITH TOYOTA. SEEMED DISTRACTED AND RUSHED, ALTHOUGH IT WAS ABOUT AN HOUR TIL THEIR OFFICIAL CLOSING TIME. PROCEEDED TO CALL TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE. SPOKE WITH A VERY NICE AGENT WHO SEARCHED FOR RECALLS BASED ON MY VIN NUMBER. SHE CAME UP WITH NO RECALLS BUT EXPRESSED SIMILAR CONCERNS AS MYSELF OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING AND CAUSING INJURY OR ACCIDENT. SHE ASSIGNED ME A CASE NUMBER BUT ADVISED ME TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, IT SEEMS LIKE A PROBLEM THAT MANY HAVE NOTED...SAME DESCRIPTION AND VERY SIMILAR PICTURES.

NHTSA ID

10910511

Incident

Sep 28, 2016

Mileage

174,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A GARAGE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED CHEST CONTUSIONS, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,608. UPDATED 01/05/17*LJ

NHTSA ID

10896232

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

Mileage

54,608 mi

TAKATA AIR BAG. AIRBAG SECTION ON DASHBOARD HAS AN OILY RING AROUND IT AND SEEMS TO BE DISTORTED IN APPEARENCE.

NHTSA ID

10876237

Incident

Sep 9, 2014

Mileage

60,000 mi

OFF LIGHT FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG STAYS ON. IT WAS RESET A YEAR AGO AND WITHIN THREE MONTHS WENT BACK ON. THE MECHANICS SAID THAT THE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH FOR PART HE QUOTED $431.50 AND WITH LABOR WOULD COST TOTAL OF $640.00. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS. THE CAR IS U AROUND 95,000 MILES AND IT NEEDS ROBE FIXED FOR MY CAR INSPECTION?

NHTSA ID

10840407

Incident

May 9, 2014

Mileage

68,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND CAUSED THE CONTACT'S PREGNANT BELLY TO ENCOUNTER THE STEERING WHEEL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED MUSCLE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10837410

Incident

Feb 20, 2016

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT THE 2004 CAMRY AT THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT AREA AT ABOUT 45 MPH! WITH THIS HIGH IMPACT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVERS SEATBELT SHOULDER STRAP DID NOT CATCH! DRIVERS HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM! BOTH RECEIVED NECK AND BACK SPRAINS! CAMRY IS A ONE OWNER CAR WITH 130,000 MILES! CAR WAS TOWED AND DAMAGES ARE BEING ACCESSED!

NHTSA ID

10788151

Incident

Oct 30, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COVER WAS CRACKED. IN ADDITION, A WHITE AND YELLOW SUBSTANCE PROTRUDED FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000.

NHTSA ID

10766313

Incident

Sep 15, 2015

Mileage

225,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM, NECK AND BACK PAIN. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED A LEFT LEG INJURY AND SEVERE SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE TO THE UPPER TORSO. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED FOR BOTH OCCUPANTS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10763052

Incident

Feb 23, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY RE-CALIBRATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,632.

NHTSA ID

10748193

Incident

Jul 28, 2004

Mileage

12,632 mi

THERE IS NO HORN AFTER THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON SO I CALLED CONICELLI TOYOTA IN SPRINGFIELD PA, BUT THEY SAID ONLY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS WERE A PROBLEM SO I WOULD HAVE A 115.00 DOLLAR CHARGE PLUS LABOR & PARTS SO I CAN NOT PAY THAT NOW SO HE SAID JUST CALL BACK WHEN YOU CAN? & HUNG UP WELL THE AIRBAG DIDN'T JUST LIGHT UP FOR NO REASON? I AM THE ONLY DRIVER & THE ONLY PASSENGERS EVER ARE MY GRANDCHILDREN!! I ONLY GET SSDISABILTY SO I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO DRIVE IT THE WAY IT IS?

NHTSA ID

10724961

Incident

Jun 5, 2015