RoadVitals

2002 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 Oct 13, 2015
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.
20%
of 117 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.
17
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
16

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 2002 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 Oct 13, 2015

THE DASH LIGHT INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR BAG IS ON. TOYOTA STATES THAT A SAFETY RECALL IS PENDING THAT MIGHT AFFECT MY CAR. UNTIL THEN, THEY ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO REPAIR MY CAR. THEY STATE THAT THE AIRBAG MAY GO OFF ON IT'S OWN. THEY CANNOT TELL ME HOW LONG IT MAY BE BEFORE THE RECALL IS ANNOUNCED. THIS SEEMS HIGHLY DANGEROUS TO ME.

NHTSA ID
10781515
Incident
Sep 23, 2015
Airbags
Filed May 5, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10714687
Incident
Jan 27, 2015
Airbags
Filed Apr 6, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. THE CRASH WAS SERIOUS; IT TOTOLED THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10704075
Incident
Jan 26, 2015
Mileage
54,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 10, 2015
Crash reported

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORKING 12 HOUR GRAVEYARD SHIFT. I FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND RAN OFF THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF OUR BLACKTOP ROAD 1 MILE FROM HOME. MY 2002 COROLLA WAS TRAVELING AROUND 50MPH I AWOKE AND ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE CAR'S PATH AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON DESTROYING THE RIGHT GRILL BUMPER HOOD, WINDSHIELD, RIGHT FENDER, INNER UPPER FRAME WORK AND HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY AND WIRING. MY DASH LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG WAS STILL INTACT IT FAILED TO DEPLOY OR INFLATE. I WAS SAVED BY GOD AND MY SEAT BELT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10693173
Incident
Feb 19, 2015
Mileage
300,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 31, 2015

TOYOTA TOLD US NOT TO PUT ANYONE IN PASSENGER SIDE BECAUSE AIRBAG IS DANGEROUS. WE HAVE FOUR ADULTS IN OUR FAMILY AND NEED TO USE THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. TOYOTA (JOHNSON CITY TN) SAY THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY CAN FIX THE AIR BAG BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. "IT COULD BE MONTHS". WE NEED TO HAVE IT FIXED SOON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10680241
Incident
Jan 15, 2015
Airbags
Filed Apr 17, 2013
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10508592
Incident
Dec 24, 2010
Mileage
140,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 4, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS STRUCK FROM THE FRONT END BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER HEAD AND CHEST. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER INVESTIGATED FOR THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106,000.

NHTSA ID
10347344
Incident
Jul 29, 2010
Mileage
106,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 23, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING HIS VEHICLE, HE FORGOT TO PUT ON HIS SAFETY BELT, AND WHEN HE DROVE AWAY HE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE FOUNDATION WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. HIS HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING IT TO CRACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND BRIEFLY LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE AND CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED AND A CASE MANAGER INFORMED HIM THAT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CRASH THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT DESIGNED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10344841
Incident
May 10, 2009
Mileage
40,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Mar 4, 2010
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND APPROACHING A RED LIGHT WHEN HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT DID NOT RESPOND AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN-FRONT OF HIM. THE DRIVERS FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. HE HAD EXPERIENCE BRAKE FAILURE TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10316574
Incident
Jun 1, 2009
Mileage
140,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 11, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 5 AT 60 MILE PER HOUR HITTING PICKUP TRUCK FROM THE BACK THE DECLARE A TOTAL LOST AIRBAG DIDN'T OPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10280059
Incident
Jul 23, 2009
Airbags
Filed Jun 30, 2006

I BOUGHT A CAR RECENTLY THAT HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND REPAIR (RESTORED / SALVAGE TITLE). FOUND OUT LATER THAT THERE IS NO AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE AND NO AIR BAG SQUIB ON DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG IN STEERING WHEEL. ALSO AIR BAG LIGHT BULB IN DASH HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT. SELLER NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT ANY OF THIS. HE WORKS WITH (SELLS VEHICLES FOR) THE BODY SHOP THAT FIXED THE CAR AFTER ACCIDENT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10161158
Incident
Jun 19, 2006
Mileage
40,198 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 26, 2005

CONSUMER WANTS PERMISSION TO DEACTIVATE DRIVER'S AIR BAG ON 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *TS *NM

NHTSA ID
10142096
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Apr 20, 2005
Crash reported

WAS PARKING CAR IN GARAGE AND CAR SURGED OVER PARKING BARRIER BEFORE I COULD APPLY BRAKES.WHEN FOOT FINALLY PRESSED ON BRAKE ENGINE RACED, AND I REGAINED CONTROL BY SHLIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DISTANCE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET.*AK

NHTSA ID
10118179
Incident
Apr 20, 2005
Mileage
85,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Oct 5, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10095165
Incident
Oct 5, 2004
Airbags
Filed Aug 19, 2004
Crash reported2 injuries reported

DEAR SIR/MADAM, THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT THURSDAY, 12 AUGUST, MY MOTHER, A FRIEND AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT WHILE MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING A TOYOTA COROLLA S 2002. THE ACCIDENT LEFT MY MOTHER IN A DEEP FRIGHT AND WITH INJURIES ON HER FACE, AS SHE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE IS PRESCRIBED TO GO TO THERAPY FOR OVER A MONTH TO OVERCOME THE CATASTROPHE. I, NOW, SUFFER FROM MINOR BACK PROBLEMS CAUSED DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON ONE OF THE MOST EVENTFUL HIGHWAYS OF GEORGIA, HIGHWAY US 78. OUR CAR, TRAVELING ON THE MIDDLE LANE, WAS HIT BY AN ISUZU SUV  RODEO, AND AFTER ROTATING ABOUT 180 DEGREES STOPPED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER FELL APART, AND THE CAR WAS BEYOND RECOGNITION FROM THE FRONT. YESTERDAY, WE HEARD FROM THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEIR ASSESSMENT WAS THAT CAR IS TOTALED. MOST SHOCKING PART OF THE EVENT IS THAT THE AIR BAGS DIDNT ACTIVATE EVEN AFTER SUCH A STRONG IMPACT OF SUV COMING AT AROUND 65 MILES AN HOUR SPEED AND HIT OUR TOYOTA COROLLA (2002) FROM FRONT. WHEREAS, THE AIR-BAGS OF THE RODEO DID NOT FAIL TO INFLATE. I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT DIRECTLY TO TOYOTA IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. IT HAS BEEN OVER A WEEK NOW AND I HAVE NOT RECIEVED ANY CALLS OR E-MAILS FROM THEIR PART. I SINCERELY HOPE YOU WILL PLEASE LOOK INTO THE MATTER AND KEEP ME INFORMED. YOUR COOPERATION IS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED AND APPRECIATED IN ADVANCE. I LOOK FORWARD TO TO HEAR FROM YOU A.S.A.P. SINCERELY, [XXX] PHONE NUMBER: [XXX] [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10088192
Incident
Aug 12, 2004
Airbags
Filed Apr 8, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30 TO 35 -MPH THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. NEITHER OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED NOR DID THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATE PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. CONSUMER WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR EIGHTS DAYS. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT. (POR FAVOR ENVIE LAS COPIAS QUE LE ENVIO EL FABRICANTE TOYOTA). *NM *MR *JB

NHTSA ID
10057358
Incident
Sep 7, 2003
Mileage
13,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 10, 2003
Crash reported

WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. MECHANIC REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS AND OTHER BRAKE PARTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10046704
Incident
Nov 10, 2003
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Aug 11, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD, BELT CAME OUT FROM OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. ALSO, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT PASSENGER SUFFERED A CHEST CONCUSION/ NECK SPRING AND BACK SPRING BREAKS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10033533
Mileage
6,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 10, 2002
Crash reported4 injuries reported

THIRTEEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER SUSTAINED SEVERE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURYAFTER HEADON COLLISION. HER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, TOP OF PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS COMPLETLY BLOWN APART FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. ALLOWING HER HEAD TO STRIKE DASH. WE BOTH HAD SEATBELTS ON. I SUSTAINED BRUISING OF HIPS & RT. RIB. SHE WAS IN COMA AND JUST NOW BEGINNING TO MOVE LEFT SIDE. SHE STILL CANNOT SIT UP,STAND, WALK, TALK COHERANTLY, EAT OR DO ANYTHING FOR HER SELF. SHE IS STILL IN HOSPITAL AS OF THIS DAY 7-10-02.*AK

NHTSA ID
764028
Incident
May 18, 2002
Airbags
Filed Apr 2, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT AND THE CONSUMER SUFFERED AN INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *YH

NHTSA ID
564858
Incident
Nov 10, 2001
Airbags
Filed Mar 28, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

ON 2/11/2002; 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA SPORT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. DRIVER HAD MINOR INJURIES; DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED. TOTAL SPEED OF BOTH VEHICLES WERE APPOXIMATELY 40-50 MPH. DALY CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS DISPATCHED TO ACCIDENT SCENE. POLICE REPORT #02-1479.. NLM

NHTSA ID
759955
Incident
Feb 11, 2002
Airbags
Filed Feb 22, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8004431
Incident
Feb 22, 2002
Airbags
Filed Jan 14, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE HIT A DITCH THEN A TREE, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID
8002159
Incident
Nov 10, 2001

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .