RoadVitals

2001 Toyota Corolla Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
23
Latest Apr 12, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
17%
of 133 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
20
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
44

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Toyota Corolla submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Airbags
Filed Apr 12, 2019
Crash reported30 injuries reported

MY DAUGHTER HIT A STOPPED CAR AT APPROX 30 MPH. SHE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED TOO LATE. SHE WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. SHE WAS GOING STRAIGHT.

NHTSA ID
11195818
Incident
Apr 10, 2019
Mileage
150,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Nov 17, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SEAT DETACHED AND MOVED BACKWARDS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT COULD NOT REACH THE PEDALS. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK, HEAD, AND MID BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-331-4331 AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHIN FIVE DAYS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FOR 30 DAYS AND THE MANUFACTURER WOULD CONTACT THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ID
11047048
Incident
Nov 1, 2017
Mileage
118,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 10, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (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.

NHTSA ID
10959937
Incident
Mar 10, 2017
Airbags
Filed Jul 3, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

IN 2009 I WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR CAR ACCIDENT. I HIT MY HEAD AND BECAME UNCONSCIOUS AND MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN I REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS. I WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL I HAD A GASH ON MY FOREHEAD. WHEN I TOUCHED MY LEFT EYEBROW IT FELT LIKE I HAD PIECES OF GLASS IN THERE. BUT NOW WITH THE RECALLS OF THE AIRBAGS, I WONDERED IF IT WAS METAL FRAGMENTS, SCHRAPRAL THAT IS STILL IN MY LEFT EYEBROW. WOULD YOU PLEASE RECALL MY VEHICLE SO I COULD HAVE MY AIRBAGS REPLACED. WHEN I REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS I SAW DIRT AND OTHER STUFF POWDER COMING OUT OF MY DRIVERS AIRBAG. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND EMAIL ME BACK AT [XXX] THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10882386
Incident
Feb 2, 2009
Mileage
50,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 28, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

DRIVER AIR BAG CAME OUT N BURNED MY ARM ACTUALLY BOTH DID BY I HAD NO PASSANGER THO IT BROKE WINDSHIELD,ANYWAY IT'S BEEN TEN DAYS MY SKIN IS RAW SEVERE PAIN NO SIGNS OF GETTING BETTER THE BRUISEB GOES ALL WAY AROUND WHOLE BK OF ARM I AM GOIN BK TO DRS. AS I'VE BEEN CARING FOR IT W CLEAN NON STICK PADS N HV TO APPLY TRIPLE ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENT LITERALLY A 13$ TUBE LASTS TWO DAYS I THEN WRAP N AT NITE LET AIR GET IT.THERE IS NO SIGN OF HEALING BURNT THRU ALL LAYERS OF SKIN TO NOW IT IS RAW TO THE MEAT THE PAIN IS CRAZY U WUD XPECT SO SORT OF RELIEF AFTER WAY TEN DAYS I AM GOING TO FURTHER MY RESEARCH.WAY CHEMICALS ARE IN THESE AIRBAGS THAT'S WAY I WANT TO KNOW.

NHTSA ID
10744307
Incident
Jul 18, 2015
Mileage
94,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Dec 21, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

ON 4/22/2008 [XXX], THE OWNER OF A PT.CRUISER, HIT MY TOYOTA HEAD ON AFTER CROSSING THE CENTER LANE AND WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, WHILE I WAS ALMOST STOPPED ON FALLING WATER DRIVE IN EAGLE RIVER.. IT FLATTENED THE RIGHT FRONT AND LATER LEFT FRONT TIRE, AND BUMPER AND QUARTER PANELS ON THE LEFT. I FELT LIKE I HAD AN ELECTRIC SHOCK TO MY SPINE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BELT WAS ON. , I COULDN'T LIFT THE COMPACT SPARE TIRE TO CHANGE THE FLAT WITHOUT MY NECK HURTING. I HAD CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT BUT MY NECK WAS STILL SORE . A YEAR LATER I WENT TO MY GP DR. BARNES AND HE ORDERED AN MRI. THE MRI SHOWED BLOWN DISCS AND /DR. BARNES ORDERED PT. PT. UNSUCCESSFUL AND WENT TO NEUROSURGEON DR. KRALICK . WHO SUGGESTED POSTERIOR CERVICAL. LAMINECTOMY AND SPINAL FUSION C-3-C7 AND HAD SAME 4-7-2010. UNFORTUNATELY I DEVELOPED SEROMA AND ABSCESS AT PROV. HOSPITAL. I CODED BLUE TWICE. I HAD MASSIVE DISABILITY AND WAS ALMOST PARALYZED BY THE INFECTION. I HAD MASSIVE REHAB AND MED EXPENSES IN EXCESS OF $500,000 I AM STILL RECOVERING 4 YEARS LATER AND HAVE TO TQKE FLEXIRIL AND PERKASET FOR PAIN. I HAVE PROFOUND NEUROPATHY IN MY FEET AND HANDS CRAMPING IN MY LEFT HIP, KNEE AND CALF AND SHARP PAIN AT THE SITE OF THE INCISION. IF THE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED AS IT SHOULD, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HURT SO BADLY IN MY SPINE.. *TR

NHTSA ID
10667472
Incident
Apr 22, 2008
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 23, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

CAR WAS TOTALED IN FRONT END COLLISION. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING CERTAIN TOYOTAS OF THIS YEAR HAD ISSUES WITH AIR BAG PROPELLENT AND MINUTE FRAGMENTS OF SHRAPNEL BEING PROPELLED DURING DEPLOYMENT. SINCE THE CAR WAS TOTALLED, I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON ANY RECALLS REGARDING TYPE OF AIR BAG PROPELLENT USED IN THIS MODEL AND ANY OTHER RECALLS REGARDING THE AIR BAG ISSUES IF ANY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10627757
Incident
May 26, 2002
Mileage
7,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 3, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY 20YO DAUGHTER WAS AT A STOP LIGHT COMPLETELY STOPPED. LIGHT TURNED GREEN, EVERYONE STARTED TO GO, SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE ROLLED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER, TAPPED THE CAR AND HER AIRBAGS WENT OFF, BROKE HER JAW, DISLOCATED HER JAW, BROKE 5 TEETH IN THE BACK, AND LACERATED HER LIP. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGERS SIDE. SHE HAD HER SEATBELT ON, HER WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED BY THE AIRBAGS, NO DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER PART OF THE VEHICLE. SHE HAD TO HAVE SURGERY, AND HER JAW WIRED SHUT FOR 4-6 WEEKS NOW. SHE WILL HAVE TO HAVE ROOT CANALS AND CAPS PUT ON HER TEETH AFTER HER JAW HEALS. SHE DID GO UNCONSCIOUS AT IMPACT. LUCKILY SHE HAD BRACES BEFORE AND HAD A RETAINER BRACKET ON HER LOWER TEETH WHICH THE ORAL SURGEON SAID SAVED HER TEETH BELOW OR THEY WOULD HAVE ALL BEEN OUT. I WAS SO SHOCKED THAT JUST A TAP OF THE BUMPER IN FRONT COULD CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO GO OFF AND CAUSE SO MUCH DAMAGE TO SOMEONE'S FACE. SHE IS A FULL TIME STUDENT AND HAS TWO PART TIME JOBS, SO SHE WILL BE OUT FOR A FEW WEEKS. *TR UPDATED 3/32/13 *CN

NHTSA ID
10501096
Incident
Feb 28, 2013
Mileage
165,268 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jul 7, 2012
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. HE WAS DRIVING A 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HIM WAS GOING SLOW-SO HE DECIDED TO PASS THE GUY. AS HE WAS DOING SO-THE TRUCK TURNED LEFT. MY HUSBAND HIT HIM HEAD-ON AND THEN THE CAR ROLLED ONTO ITS TOP. NEVER DID THE AIRBAGS GO OFF. FORTUNATELY HE HAD HIS SEATBELT ON. HE WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL. THE MOST DAMAGE HE RECEIVED WAS HIS LEFT HAND AND ARM WERE BADLY INJURED. HE STILL HAS TO HAVE SURGERY THIS NEXT WEEK. WHY DIDN'T THE AIRBAG DEPLOY? *TR

NHTSA ID
10464555
Incident
Jul 2, 2012
Mileage
180,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Feb 3, 2010
Crash reported

I AM A SLOW DRIVER AND OBEY SPEED LIMITS. I KNEW I WAS COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN ON A 25 MPH ROAD, AND I ALWAYS DO A REAL STOP, NOT A SLOW DOWN AND CREEP FORWARD. A BLOCK OR TWO PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, I PASSED SEVERAL POLICE CARS AND EVEN AN UNSAFE DRIVER WOULD HAVE CAREFULLY OBEYED THE TRAFFIC LAWS. I HAVE NO MEMORY OF THE COUPLE OF SECONDS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO AND DURING THE ACCIDENT, AND MY FIRST MOMENT I SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I HAD MY FOOT ALREADY ON THE BRAKE PUSHING DOWN HARD ON IT BUT HEADING TO THE CURB ANYWAY. I THINK THE CURB STOPPED THE CAR. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE OFFICER AT THE SCENE WAS SURPRISED. I BELIEVE THIS FITS THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUDDEN ACCELERATION. MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND I HAD TO GET A NEW CAR. I'VE ASKED MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO INVESTIGATE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10304811
Incident
Mar 1, 2009
Airbags
Filed Jun 1, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported

ON MAY 26, 2009, A NISSAN SENTRA MADE AN ILLEGAL LEFT TURN WHICH RESULTED IN MY 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA 'S' BEING TOTALED. MY SEAT BELT ALLOWED ME TO FLY FORWARD AND MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I FIND THIS INCOMPREHENSIBLE. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10272477
Incident
May 26, 2009
Mileage
66,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 12, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

AUTO ACCIDENT WHERE CAR WAS TOTALED AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10136181
Incident
Sep 11, 2005
Mileage
43,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 1, 2004
Crash reported2 injuries reported

1. V1(OTHER PARTY) WAS EASTBOUND ON U.S. HWY 80 TURNING NORTH INTO WALMART PARKING LOT. V2 (MYSELF) WAS WESTBOUND ON U.S. HWY 80 GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION OF U.S. 80 AND BELVEDERE DR.,V2 (MYSELF) THEN COLIDED WITH WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF V1(OTHER PARTY) WHO FAILED TO YIELD A RIGHT OF WAY.V1 AND V2 CAME TO FINAL REST APPROXIMATLY 3 FT NORTH OF INITIAL IMPACT.MY ESTIMATED SPEED BEFORE IMPACT WAS 45 MPH AND HAD ONLY SECONDS TO HIT THE BRAKES. MY CAR SUFFERED SEVERE FRONTAL DAMAGE . 2. THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIRBAGS IN MY CAR DID NOT DEPLOY LEADING TO UNECESSARY INJURY TO THE DRIVER(MYSELF) AND SEVERE INJURY TO THE PASSENGER(MY MOTHER). 3. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE . *AK

NHTSA ID
10083117
Incident
May 7, 2004
Mileage
35,600 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 29, 2003
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT A BARRICADE WALL YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO IN A SIMILAR ACCIDENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10017775
Incident
Apr 19, 2003
Airbags
Filed Jan 31, 2003
Crash reported

THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT. THE CONSUMER REQUEST A REFUND FROM THE DEALER. SCC

NHTSA ID
10003921
Incident
Sep 27, 2002
Airbags
Filed Apr 11, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION GOING 40MPH. FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH CAUSED SERIOUS FACIAL INJURY TO CONSUMER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8007436
Incident
Feb 20, 2002
Airbags
Filed Jan 24, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
8002811
Incident
Dec 17, 2001
Airbags
Filed Dec 18, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
755774
Incident
Oct 8, 2001
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Aug 20, 2001

STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, BUT THEY FAILED TO STOP, AIRBAG ALSO FAILED, BRAKES FADE TO THE FLOOR, RESULTED IN HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN.

NHTSA ID
9003581
Incident
Jul 19, 2001
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jul 2, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE CONSUMER NOTICED A NOISE. DEPRESSED BRAKES AND NOISE GOT LOUDER. THEN VEHICLE ACCLERATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN INTO WALL. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ACCELERATION TOOK PLACE WHILE SHE WAS SWITCHING INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSE, EVEN THOUGH BRAKE WAS PRESSED, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO BREAK, CONSUMER WAS SLIGHTLY BRUISED AND BUMPED DUE TO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
891865
Incident
Jun 22, 2001
Airbags
Filed May 8, 2001
Crash reported

CONSUMER'S CAR REAR ENDED ANOTHER DRIVER AT ABOUT 10 MPH, AND NONE OF FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BUT SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. *AK

NHTSA ID
887738
Incident
Apr 24, 2001
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Feb 27, 2001

I VISITED SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERS BECAUSE I AM HELPING A FRIEND IN BYING A NEW COROLLA. DESPITE I ADVISE HER TO INCLUDE THE SAFETY FETAURES: SIDE AIRBAGS AND ABS NO DEALEAR MAKE THEM AVAILABLE IF NOT INCREASING THE LEASE BY 50% (WHILE THE INCREASE IN VALUE IS ABOUT 10%) AND ASKING TO WAIT 3 MONTHS. MAKING SO PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE THEM. SOME DEALERS REACHED THE POINT TO SAY THAT THOSE ITEMS ARE NOT AVAILABLE ON THE COROLLA. SUCH A BEHAVIOUR IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. CAR MANUFACTURERS ARE SUPPOSED TO PROMOTE THE SENSIBILITY TOWARD SAFETY NOT TO BOYCOTT IT.

NHTSA ID
741622
Airbags
Filed Oct 19, 2000
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 45 - 50 MPH, A FLATBED TRAILER WAS SIDEWAY IN THE DARK ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF HIGHWAY. VEHICLE DID NOT SEE THE FLATBED TRUCK AND HIT IT.WENT UNDER THE TRUCK WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, CRUSHED THE RADIATOR, WINDSHIELD, ETC. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT OCCUPANST IN THIS CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
873385
Incident
Oct 15, 2000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .