2003 Toyota Corolla Airbags Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while her husband and son were driving at approximately 25 MPH, her husband smelled an abnormal burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated her husband then heard several abnormal sounds like a soda can being opened. The contact stated that the driver's and passenger’s door air bags inadvertently deployed. The vehicle was stopped, and the driver and passenger exited the vehicle. The contact stated that her son’s seat belt tightened and was difficult to unbuckle. The contact stated that as soon as her husband exited the vehicle, the passenger’s side frontal air bag deployed. The contact stated that the Police and Fire Department were contacted. A Police report was filed; however, the contact had not been provided the Police report number. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11681807

Incident

Aug 19, 2025

Greeting, on June 7,2025 my Toyota Corolla was repaired at Interstate Toyota for the replacement on the airbag. I have attached documents that share the job was completed successfully. Please review and forward and email that it is verified in your system to my email address. [XXX] Warmly, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11673024

Incident

Jun 7, 2025

I was driving as usual and suddenly the air bags exploded inside the dash causing damage to the passenger window and the front crystal. Seconds after the drivers airbag also opened and consequently the alarms. I did not impact anything and the car won’t start again.

NHTSA ID

11529844

Incident

Jun 5, 2023

The airbag light came on suddenly, even though I had the airbag recall work done for my vehicle. I took it to a Toyota Dealership who wanted to charge me for the repair which I was willing to and perhaps work with Toyota directly to get reimbursed for but the parts weren't available.

NHTSA ID

11484983

Incident

Feb 19, 2022

I received a recall notice, scheduled an appointment and then went to Bev Smith Toyota in Fort Pierce, FL. My appointment was for 9:30 AM. I decided that as long as I was there, I would get my oil changed (normally I do not use dealer oil changes because they are expensive, but since I was there anyway...). At 11:10, I was presented the bill for the oil change and told that they refused to service the airbag. There was some garbage on the floor of the passenger side that the service manager claimed rendered my vehicle unsafe to work on. I pointed out that no one asked me to clean out the front seat when I scheduled the appointment, that the items were there at 9:30 when received the car, and that the car apparently was safe enough for them to perform an overpriced oil change. I offered to remove the items (it later took me all of 3 minutes to clear the area). The service manager refused and refused to complete the recall work. He still demanded payment for the oil change and was unwilling to compensate me for my wasted time.

NHTSA ID

11474177

Incident

Jul 11, 2022

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact received NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V741000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the recall was confirmed to be completed; however, the recall appears open for the VIN. The contact was receiving recall notices for the same recall repair. The contact called the manufacturer to inform them that the dealer had completed the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. There were no warning lights illuminated or a failure experienced. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11450928

Incident

Jun 14, 2021

Mileage

53,000 mi

The contact owned a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while she was driving at 60 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was transported to the hospital by the emergency unit. The contact sustained a herniated disc. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received an unknown recall notification for the air bag failure and the recall repair was completed by the dealer. The contact stated she received a second and third unknown recall notification for the air bag failure and the recall repair was completed by a second dealer (Thousand Oaks Toyota 2401 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362), however, the failure persisted. The contact stated while her son was driving at 40-50 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact's son sustained back injuries and sought medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11435737

Incident

Mar 19, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V741000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED A UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. 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. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ID

11415783

Incident

Oct 31, 2019

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM TOYOTA FOR MY AIRBAGS. RECALL ID NHAT-FZJ. I CONTACT THEM TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR AND THEY TELL ME SINCE THERE'S ANOTHER RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE THEY CAN'T HELP ME FURTHER. SEEMS CRAPPY THAT SOMETHING THEY SHOULD ALSO FIX SOMEHOW HINDERS TOYOTA'S ABILITY TO FIX THE AIRBAG.

NHTSA ID

11413650

Incident

Apr 23, 2021

Mileage

172,000 mi

TRAVELING ON US HWY 70 AT 35 MPH. ACCIDENTLY HIT THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING STRAIGHT AHEAD OF ME AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE TURNED OFF WITH NO PASSENGER ON BOARD. THIS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT BUSTED MY WINDSHIELD WHICH WILL COST ME $400.00 AND TOYOTA SAYS THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UNLESS THERE IS A PASSENGER OR WEIGHT WHICH NO WEIGHT AND NO PASSENGER. JUST ME ALONE.

NHTSA ID

11399272

Incident

Feb 24, 2021

Mileage

107,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V741000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11382868

Incident

Dec 10, 2020

THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THE SAFETY RECALL CONCERNING MY AIRBAGS. I NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

11341607

Incident

Jul 27, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THREE TIMES TO CLAREMONT TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 601 AUTO CENTER DR, CLAREMONT, CA 91711, (909) 542-1828), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ID

11282364

Incident

Apr 8, 2017

Mileage

127,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER GRANDDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH APPROACHING THE TOP OF A HILL, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED ON THE ROAD. NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BRUISED CHEST AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DRIVERS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. RELIABLE TOYOTA (3521 EAST SUNSHINE, SPRINGFIELD, MO 65809) REPLACED THE AIR BAGS ON APRIL 15, 2019 UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL RELATED TO THE AIR BAGS THAT WAS RECEIVED BY MAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

NHTSA ID

11281792

Incident

Oct 23, 2019

Mileage

240,000 mi

TAKATA INFLATORS RECALL I BELIEVE I'VE CONTACTED TOYOTA NUMERIOUS TIMES ABOUT GETTING A RENTAL BECAUSE THE PARTS ARE NOT IN YET FOR MY RECALL AND THEY ARE PASSING THE BUCK AND MAKING ME WAIT. WE DONT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE OUR CAR, SEEING WHAT HAPPENED ON THE NEWS. I'VE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED ME WITH A TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER CASE #[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ID

11252597

Incident

Aug 30, 2019

Mileage

217,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" I HAD A RECALL TO GET AIRBAG FIXED, TOOK TO DEALER, AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON; TOOK BACK TO DEALER, THEY WANTED A LOT OF MONEY TO CHECK IT OUT AND FIX IT AGAIN. I DON'T HAVE, I AM A DISABLED VETERAN ON A FIXED INCOME. THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS.

NHTSA ID

11245229

Incident

Jan 2, 2017

TAKATA RECALL - MY DASH AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AIRBAG ACCORDING TO CONSUMER REPORTS. PLEASE ADVISE.. HTTPS://WWW.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/CAR-RECALLS-DEFECTS/TOYOTA-RECALL-TAKATA-AIRBAGS/

NHTSA ID

11231016

Incident

Jul 5, 2019

Mileage

182,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS MIGHT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAITA TOYOTA OF SACRAMENTO (LOCATED AT 2500 AUBURN BLVD, SACRAMENTO, CA 95821, (919) 265-5666) AND STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A FEE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR FEES. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE PREVIOUS AIR BAG REPAIR WAS A ONE TIME REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ID

11163013

Incident

Dec 21, 2017

Mileage

117,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT ABRUPTLY STOPPED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND METAL FRAGMENTS STRUCK THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE OTHER VEHICLES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. **TR CONSUMER STATED BOTH AIRBAGS 11/8/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11102546

Incident

Mar 11, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER (SAN MARCOS TOYOTA, 5101 I-35, SAN MARCOS, TX 78666, (512) 392-1999) SERVICED THE VEHICLE FOR AN AIR BAG RECALL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR; THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS WAITING FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE MANUFACTURER TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11076620

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

I CRASHED MY CAR AND THE AIRBAG BURST AND IT BURNED MY LEG AND IT DID NOT INFLATE. I AM REPORTING THIS RECENTLY BECAUSE I JUST RECEIVED A CERTIFICATED LETTER ABOUT 'URGENT SAFETY RECALLS'. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11075111

Incident

Aug 15, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS. THE DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED ONLY THE PAINT OF THE CAR IS PEELING. *TR

NHTSA ID

11074915

Incident

Feb 26, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE SUBMITTED PAPERS OF NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS AND ALSO ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FAILURES MY VEHICLE HAS GIVEN ME. WHEN I FIRST OBTAINED IT, IT HAD NO STRUTS NOR DO MY AIR BAGS DEPLOY WHEN I GET INTO VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS. I AM UNABLE TO GO TO A DEALERSHIP AND GET MY VEHICLE CHECKED BUT BECAUSE IT'S NON OPERATING AT THE MOMENT. I DO HOWEVER HAVE OPEN AVAILABILITY FOR A CAR INSPECTION AT MY HOME IF YOU GUYS WERE TO SEND SOMEONE TO COME TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

NHTSA ID

11074673

Incident

Feb 24, 2018

Mileage

295,000 mi

WE ARE A SALVAGE YARD, THIS VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED MAY 30,2017

NHTSA ID

11074301

Incident

May 30, 2017

THIS CAR WAS GIVEN TO A JUNK YARD FOR ITS PARTS. I AM TRYING TO GET MY NAME OFF OF THE RECALL LIST. WE JUST RECEIVED THE 9TH NOTICE CERTIFIED MAIL AND EACH TIME I WRITE ON IT-RETURN TO SENDER (CAR WAS WRECKED). COULD SOMEONE PLEASE TAKE MY NAME OFF YOU YOUR RECALL SYSTEM. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11074152

Incident

Jul 26, 2007

Mileage

150,000 mi