2007 Toyota avalon car accident, snow and icy road conditions car skidded off of the road at a t-intersection ending up impacting with a tree with extensive front end damage and air bag deployment failure. Driver went forward hitting her forehead on the steering wheel and front passenger being jerked around and injuring her neck and back. Both occupants were wearing seat belts. This vehicle is to…
2007 Toyota Avalon airbags problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
8crashes
10injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 18 airbags complaints filed for the 2007 Toyota Avalon, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Among the 12 model years of Toyota Avalon in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 17 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2007 Avalon has multiple airbag system failures reported: knee airbags causing severe leg injuries with sharp metal edges, dashboard plastic cracking around airbag panels raising secondary-injury concerns, complete non-deployment in several collisions, and a side airbag cover that can detach and block vision. Have the airbag system inspected by a qualified technician before purchase and look closely at the dashboard for any cracks or damage.
Owners report several distinct airbag problems with the 2007 Avalon. Two drivers sustained severe leg injuries when knee airbags deployed in collisions—one with a 6-inch laceration and gangrene requiring extensive surgical debridement, the other with deep cuts below both knees. Investigation into one incident revealed the knee airbag containment flap has extremely sharp edges that may have caused the injuries independent of normal deployment force.
Dashboard cracking is widespread and appears unrelated to collisions. Multiple owners report spontaneous cracks forming around airbag compartments—especially the passenger side above the glove box—sometimes starting around 36,000 miles and spreading over time. Owners worry cracked plastic will fail to deploy correctly or send fragments into occupants' faces if the airbags inflate. Toyota told one owner they do not recognize this as a recurring defect and refused warranty service due to vehicle age.
Several owners report complete airbag non-deployment during significant impacts. In one rear-end collision destroying the vehicle, no airbags deployed and the driver was pushed into the steering wheel causing injury. In a low-speed intersection collision, the airbags again did not deploy. Additionally, one owner reports their side airbag cover sagging from its mounting and blocking their forward view, and another has an intermittent airbag warning light.
Same Toyota Avalon airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006
Failure modes owners describe
Knee airbag sharp-edge injuries
Knee airbag deployment causing severe lacerations and tissue damage to lower legs, with evidence that the knee airbag containment compartment flap/door has extremely sharp edges that may cause injury independent of normal airbag force.
When: Upon collision impact
Symptoms owners cite: Severe bilateral lower leg lacerations; Extensive tissue damage and gangrene; Inability to depress brake pedal after deployment; Sharp metal flap visible in knee airbag compartment
Repairs/costs cited: Extensive surgical debridement required; some wounds could not be sutured and remained open for extended periods
Dashboard cracking around airbag panels
Widespread cracking and deterioration of dashboard plastic around airbag compartments—both passenger-side and throughout the dashboard—occurring without collision, often in garage-kept vehicles. Owners express concern that broken plastic pieces could cause secondary injuries if airbags deploy.
When: Starting around 36,000-60,000 miles; some reports indicate onset within 1-2 years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple cracks appearing spontaneously on dashboard; Cracks concentrated around passenger airbag cover and glove box; Cracks spreading and worsening over time; Dashboard melting and peeling in some cases; Occurs in garage-kept, stationary vehicles
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota stated they do not show a recurring problem and declined service due to vehicle age
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall referenced in one narrative; Toyota denied responsibility citing age of vehicle
Airbag non-deployment in collisions
Airbags failing to deploy in significant impact collisions, resulting in occupants sustaining head and neck injuries from striking the steering wheel or dashboard.
When: At time of collision impact
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment despite high-impact frontal or rear collisions; Driver striking steering wheel causing forehead injury; Passenger jerked around causing neck and back injury; No deployment in rear-end collision with secondary front-end impact
Airbag warning light illumination
Airbag system warning light coming on intermittently or continuously, indicating a potential fault in the airbag circuit.
When: During normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light illuminated on dashboard; Light comes on without known cause
Side airbag cover detachment
Side airbag protective cover coming loose from mounting and sagging, obstructing the driver's forward vision.
When: During normal vehicle use
Symptoms owners cite: Side airbag cover separating from front roof support; Cover sagging and blocking driver's view
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
My dashboard is melting and peeling. I am previous owner of a Toyota that I owned for 16 years and never experienced this issue. Also my airbag light is coming on. *tr
Had airbags trouble with your 2007 Toyota Avalon?
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 2007 Toyota Avalon?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 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 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 32,000 and 65,000 miles, with the median around 49,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 32,000; a quarter make it past 65,000. 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/2007/Toyota/Avalon.
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.