TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Toyota Highlander airbags problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
7crashes
9injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 11 airbags complaints filed for the 2006 Toyota Highlander, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TSB: Some 2005 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This service bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare the interior of the vehicle prior to an odor remediation being performed, as well as contact information for an approved vendor who will arrange the remediation, and instructions on how to prepare the interior of the vehicle for reassembly once the remediation has been completed. Refer to all model and
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 20, 2017 Rev1: Applicability has been updated to exclude 2007 ? 2017 model year Avanza vehicles. Some hazardous material treatment and handling regulations at the state and local level define the pre-disposal deployment of airbag and pre-tensioner assemblies as hazardous material treatment. Hazardous material treatment may require special training, certification or licensing in certain areas. TMS recommends that dealership personnel carefully review and follow ALL local and state regulations, and where necessary, contract with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Licensed Hazardous Waste Transportation and Disposal facilities.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Toyota vehicles are equipped with Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury in a collision. If a customer expresses any concerns that the SRS airbags or pre-tensioner devices did not perform as expected (including an unintended deployment event), please follow the steps in the recommendations section below.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two main patterns with 2006 Highlander airbags: failure to deploy during crashes and warning light issues with no deployment.
Non-deployment in crashes: Owners describe multiple impact scenarios—side impacts at 40–50 mph, tree collisions after tire blowouts, swerves into concrete abutments—where airbags did not fire. One owner hit a steering wheel column hard enough to suffer a concussion and neck injury. Another experienced a passenger-side airbag failure during a crash that left his wife with fractured clavicle, spine injuries, and internal injuries requiring surgery. Toyota's response in one case was that impact force was "not strong enough," though owners dispute this given the severity of their crashes.
Warning light and sensor faults: Some owners report airbag warning lights illuminating at rest or after minor events. Dealers diagnosed weight-sensor issues, broken signals on passenger-seat occupancy detection, and electronic control unit failures. One dealer reset the system, but the warning recurred. Another owner reported a warning light failed to illuminate when a passenger occupied the seat, indicating the sensor was broken. One owner with a new vehicle (3 months old) needed immediate driver-side airbag replacement; the dealer warned the system might not deploy in an accident until repaired.
Owners filed police reports for crashes and contacted Toyota; manufacturer responses ranged from no callback to claims the vehicle was "performing as designed."
Same Toyota Highlander airbags reports on nearby years: 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger-side airbag non-deployment in crash
Front passenger-side airbag failed to deploy during a severe crash (tree impact after tire blowout), leaving the passenger with fractured clavicle, spine injuries, and internal injuries requiring multiple surgeries.
When: Approximately 120,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag did not fire on passenger side during impact; Driver-side airbag did deploy normally
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; owner pursued dealer inquiry about recall.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was informed of the failure.
Airbag warning light recurrence with sensor malfunction
Airbag warning light illuminated repeatedly after dealer reset; dealer identified weight-limit sensor issue and replaced electronic control unit without resolution.
When: Approximately 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated while parked; Computer indicated vehicle was involved in a crash (false positive); Warning recurred after multiple dealer resets
Repairs/costs cited: Electronic control unit replaced; repair unsuccessful; vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and confirmed vehicle was performing as designed.
Passenger occupancy sensor malfunction
Passenger-side airbag warning light failed to illuminate when an occupant was seated, indicating a broken signal from the seat weight sensor.
When: Approximately 45,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light did not illuminate with passenger in seat; Dealer diagnosed broken signal on passenger seat
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; repair details not specified.
Multiple airbag non-deployment in side-impact crash
All six airbags (including side/curtain airbags) failed to deploy during a side-impact collision at 45 mph; owner lost consciousness.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment on side impact at 20 mph (one report) and 45 mph (another report); No warning signals prior to incident; Vehicle spun and struck curb
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated force was not strong enough for airbags to deploy.
Driver-side airbag replacement required in new vehicle
Brand-new (3 months old) Highlander required immediate driver-side airbag replacement; dealer warned system might not deploy in accident until repair completed.
When: 3 months old (new vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side airbag malfunction detected early; Warning light activated
Repairs/costs cited: Driver-side airbag replacement required.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer indicated airbag should not deploy inadvertently but probably would not deploy in accident until repaired.
Airbag non-deployment in steering column impact
Driver hit steering wheel column hard during accident (swerve into concrete abutment) without airbag deployment; sustained concussion, neck disk damage, whiplash, chest contusions, and facial abrasions.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag did not deploy on side-of-road impact; Driver struck steering wheel column with force
Multi-vehicle collision airbag failure with injuries
Driver struck at 40–50 mph in traffic, forced into second vehicle; airbags did not deploy despite impact severity; owner sustained neck, shoulder, and back injuries.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags not deployed in multi-vehicle collision; Impact sufficient to push vehicle into car ahead
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I swerved to avoid a deer and hit a concrete abutment on the side of the road. The Toyota highlander was totaled .the highlander airbag did not work properly; I hit the steering wheel column very hard and received a concussion. Also a damaged disk in my neck, whiplash, chest contusions, and facial abrasions. *tr
Had airbags trouble with your 2006 Toyota Highlander?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2006 Toyota Highlander?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 37,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 45,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 37,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Toyota/Highlander.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.