2004 Toyota Corolla Airbags Problems

I received a "do not drive" recall for my vehicle in the mail because of defective air bags. The recall letter claimed that there have been twenty-eight confirmed deaths in relation to this recall. I entered Priority Toyota of Chesapeake, VA to address the issue. That was on Monday, April 6th, 2026. Even though there was a "do not drive" order on the recall, Priority Toyota of Chesapeake refused to give me a loaner vehicle. It is now Monday, April 13th, and Priority Toyota of Chesapeake has claimed that they are still waiting on an email to begin repairing the vehicle, which I need for transport. This is a formal complaint that Priority Toyota of Chesapeake, VA has failed to repair the recalls to the vehicle in a timely manner.

NHTSA ID

11730961

Incident

Apr 6, 2026

I am attempting to complete a manufacturer-issued safety recall involving my vehicle’s airbag system, which includes a “Do Not Drive” advisory due to the risk of airbag inflator failure. Despite multiple good-faith attempts, I have encountered repeated barriers at the dealership level that have prevented timely completion of the repair. I scheduled a service appointment with Culver City Toyota and clearly indicated I required a rental vehicle to leave my car. My confirmation stated “Arrangement: Rental Vehicle,” and the appointment was scheduled accordingly. When I arrived, I was told no rentals were available and that they are first-come, first-served. I was turned away and told to return another day. When I returned, I was able to leave my vehicle, but was asked how long I would need the rental without being given a repair timeline. Only after asking was I told the repair would take approximately two days. This was not communicated in advance, and given the prior lack of rental availability, it is unclear how I would have been expected to proceed without transportation. This has occurred across multiple attempts: lack of rental availability and requests to leave my vehicle for extended periods without transportation have made it difficult or impossible to complete the recall. As a result, I have been placed in the position of continuing to operate a vehicle with a known safety defect under a “Do Not Drive” advisory due to the inability to access timely and practical repair. I am concerned that dealership-level processes are creating barriers that delay or prevent consumers from completing urgent safety recalls. As of today, I have left my car at this dealership for the recall repair, however the inconsistent communication and handling of this process have created uncertainty about whether the repair will be completed in a timely and reliable manner. Seeing reviews online, I'm not the only one who's had this issue and the GM is non responsive.

NHTSA ID

11727004

Incident

Mar 23, 2026

I got in an accident with a car who ran a stop sign when I didn't have one. I was going approximately 15-20mph and my entire front end collided with their passenger side. My air bags did not go off at all.

NHTSA ID

11558245

Incident

Nov 18, 2023

I have repaired all the safety recalls on my 2004 Toyota Corolla S. However, I just had another warning signal for the seatbelt/airbag today. Since this has been a recall previously, can I have the dealer look at the car and repair again? I wouldn't think the airbags/seatbelt warning would come back so fast after being repaired for the recall. Please advise. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11478711

Incident

Aug 9, 2022

We received the enclosed NHTSA notice about a vehicle repair that is need for a recall. However we no longer own this vehicle. We sold the vehicle in 2018 or 2019 and transferred the pink slip to the new owner. We have no way to contact him and he is responsible for the vehicle now. So we are just notifying you that we cannot take any action on this.

NHTSA ID

11469390

Incident

Jun 15, 2022

The contact's mother owned a 2004 Toyota Corolla. The contact's mother received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V741000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list as the vehicle was totaled. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

NHTSA ID

11464882

Incident

May 16, 2022

Hello, In January 3, 2022. I took the vehicle to the Toyota Hamer dealer about one issue of the air bag recall in the Toyota Corolla with the VIN: [XXX] there after around 4:pm on the Sunday the vehicle it was released with unsolved problems by the dealer and now I am requesting that it be properly repaired due to chronic and faulty problems. That the vehicle has. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11447260

Incident

Jan 3, 2022

I KEEP GETTING RECALL LETTERS. SO I CALL THE NUMBER AND THE PERSON CLAIMED I COULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND IT COULD BE DONE IN 1 OR 2 HOURS. THAT IS WHAT THE LETTERS CLAIM. I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BUT WHEN I SHOW UP AT TOYOTA THE HAVE NO APPOINTMENT FOR ME. BUT HE CLAIMS IT WILL TAKE A "COUPLE HOURS". OKAY I WILL WAIT. SO HE SIGNS ME UP AND SAYS BE BACK AT 2 PM. SO NOW ITS GONE FROM 1 HOUR MIN TO 4 HRS MIN. MY CAR SITD INA PARKING LOT FOR 1 HOUR AND I HAVE AN "APPOINTMENT". THOSE [XXX] CLAIM THEY WANT TO FIX MY CAR BUT THRN THEY WANT TO JERK ME AROUND. I SCHEDULED MY DAY FOR 2 HOURS. IF ITS GONNA TAKE 4 HRS DONT SAY 1 OR 2. THIS DAY COSTS ME ALOT OF MONEY TAKING OFF FOR THIS [XXX]. ANYWAY I MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT BUT IF YOURE GONNA LIE TO ME JERK ME AROUND AND SCREW UP MY SCHEDULE THEN THEY ARE TRYING TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM GOING THRU THE INCREDIBLE HASSLE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11413585

Incident

Apr 23, 2021

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. BAY RIDGE TOYOTA (6401 6TH AVE, BROOKLYN, NY 11220) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11406121

Incident

Mar 9, 2020

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ON FOLLOWING THE FIRST AIRBAG RECALL SERVICE. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, CLAIMING THEY ONLY REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, AND THAT THE CAUSE OF THE SERVICE LIGHT IS THE SPIRAL CABLE, WHICH IS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP MUST HAVE CHECKED THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IN ORDER TO SEE IF THE INFLATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH MUST BE WHAT TRIPPED THE LIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11386710

Incident

Jan 5, 2021

Mileage

120,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING WHEN I FELT THE SEAT BELT TIGHTEN VERY HARD AND I SAW THE AIRBAG ICON ON THE DASHBOARD. LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED RED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP. AT THAT MOMENT THE AIRBAG EXPLODED. I DID NOT HIT MYSELF SO I MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND I SAW THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG EXPLODED. MY CAR DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT.*DT*JB*JB

NHTSA ID

11383566

Incident

Dec 12, 2020

Mileage

166 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V741000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED TOYOTA OF DALLAS (972)-584-9144) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11325981

Incident

Oct 17, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT MILLER TOYOTA OF ANAHEIM (LOCATED AT 1331 N EUCLID ST, ANAHEIM, CA 92801) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11309269

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

I RECEIVED AN EMAIL TELLING ME THAT THERE IS A POSSIBLE SAFETY RISK INVOLVING THE AIRBAGS OF MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

11270437

Incident

Oct 23, 2019

TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE AIRBAG REPLACE TWICE IN SEPTEMBER 2018 AND WAS TOLD ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THEN FEBRUARY 2019 WAS TOLD THEY HAD AIRBAG WENT TWICE WAS TOLD THEY HAD IT WHEN I FIRST WALKED IN AND SAT THERE FOR THREE HOURS FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT AND DIDN'T KNOW WHEN. GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THEM TELLING ME THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE IT IN THE MIDDLE OF MARCH BUT SURE THEY WOULDN'T I ASKED ABOUT THE BUY BACK AND ABOUT THE TOYOTA LEMON LAW I KEEP GETTING THE RUN AROUND AND I'M TRIED OF IT THIS IS MY ONLY WAY OF GOING I HAVE PUT OFF DR APPT IN NORTHPORT AL DUE WITH THE FACT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND ALSO WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE IT.

NHTSA ID

11186019

Incident

Sep 16, 2018

I DO NOT OWN THE CAR. PLEASE STOP SENDING ME RECALL NOTICES

NHTSA ID

11173123

Incident

Jan 30, 2019

"TAKATA RECALL" PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A REPORT OF AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT TOYOTA COROLLA MODEL YEARS 2003 TO 2005 HAD AIRBAGS REPLACED WHICH ARE NOW DEEMED TO BE DEFECTIVE. I AM MAKING THIS REPORT TO ADVISE THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO VALID COMMUNICATION FROM "INFO@AIRBAGS" (SETTLEMENT NOTICE ADMINISTRATOR) TO DATE. IT HAS BEEN OVER ONE YEAR AND THERE HAS BEEN NO VALID RESPONSE FROM "[email protected]; TAKATA SETTLEMENT". SEE BELOW EMAIL FROM THEM: THANK YOU. YOUR 'REGISTRATION/CLAIM FORM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY SUBMITTED. YOUR CONFIRMATION CODE IS: [XXX]. PLEASE KEEP THIS CODE FOR YOUR RECORDS. SINCERELY, SETTLEMENT NOTICE ADMINISTRATOR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11161789

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

THIS CAR HAS BEEN DONATED TO KARS 4 KIDS IN 2015. IT WAS NO LONGER RUNNING AS THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED DUE TO LACK OF MOTOR OIL. IT NO LONGER BELONGS TO PLEASE TAKE ME OFF THE DATABASE AS THE OWNER. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CAR. I HAVE INFORMED TOYOTA AND THE MOTOR VEHICLE DEPARTMENT OF THIS MANY TIMES. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

NHTSA ID

11122370

Incident

Dec 15, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STRUCK A UTILITY POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL THEIR LAWYERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11101350

Incident

Mar 9, 2018

Mileage

184,000 mi

ECU (SRS) & TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID

11083465

Incident

Oct 1, 2008

2004 TOYOTA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE IS AN INVALID AND CANNOT BE LEFT ALONE FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WOULD TAKE TO HAVE THE RECALL COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND HAS YET TO OFFER A SOLUTION. *JS

NHTSA ID

11080449

Incident

Feb 17, 2018

IS THE CAR SAFE SINCE THE AIRBAG RECALL TAKATA SAID THAT THE CANNOT ACCEPT OR DENY IT AND TOYOTA SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW ASK TAKATA. I SAW THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND THEY SENT ME THE CARD FOR 9997 AT THE START LILE THEY WERE GOING TO BUY BACK MY CAR OR CUT ME A CHECK SO I COULD SQUASH IT AND GET ANOTHER ONE. PLEASE

NHTSA ID

11074414

Incident

Feb 7, 2018

Mileage

258,000 mi

TAKATA AIRBAGS/ WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION SLOWLY TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIRBAGS IMPEDED THE DRIVER FROM CONTROLLING THE CAR AND CAUSED A CRASH INTO A BUILDING. THIS HAPPENED ON A PRIVATE PARKING LOT. THE CAR HAD RECENTLY BEEN SERVICED FOR THE TAKATA RECALL. NOTHING WAS STRUCK TO ENGAGE THE IMPACT SENSORS. THE ROAD AND PARKING LOT WAS FREE FROM OBSTACLES. WE WANT TO KNOW IF NON COMPLIANT SERVICE FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL CREATED A FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. WE ARE HAVING THE CAR INSPECTED BY TOYOTA AND WANT TO KNOW IF AN IMPARTIAL INSPECTOR CAN BE PRESENT TO OVERSEE THE PROCEDURE.

NHTSA ID

11073356

Incident

Jul 14, 2017

Mileage

191,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL: I TOOK MY TOYOTA COROLLA IN FOR THE SEAT BELT RECALLS. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WAS NOT ON WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR. AFTER REPAIR THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WAS ON. THE OBDII CODE IS B1182 ' SHORT IN D SQUIB CIRCUIT TO GROUND. THE AIRBAG (SRS) LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE WITH CODE B1177 AND/OR B1182, RELATED TO THE FRONT SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONERS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY DID THE RECALL REPAIR AND THE LIGHT BEING ON IS MY PROBLEM. THE PRETENSIONERS ARE RELATED TO THE RECALL. HOW DO I KNOW, WHO DO I ASK WHO DO I GO TO (AND TRUST) WHETHER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS DONE ' IF AT ALL. WHY IS THE LIGHT ON AFTER REPAIR AND NOT BEFORE? SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND.

NHTSA ID

11072490

Incident

Feb 14, 2017

Mileage

222,699 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRICE LEBLANC TOYOTA (132590 AIRLINE HWY, BATON ROUGE, LA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 156,640.

NHTSA ID

11051038

Incident

Nov 3, 2017

Mileage

156,640 mi