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 ↗2009 Toyota Yaris airbags problems
severe 42 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
42
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
16crashes
11injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 42 airbags complaints filed for the 2009 Toyota Yaris, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Airbags accounts for 41% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 9 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 42 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
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 ↗CSP: On July 30, 2018, a settlement of claims for Economic Loss related to Takata airbag inflators was approved for full implementation. The settlement includes Toyota?s agreement to provide a Customer Support Program (?CSP?) for 2002-2019 model year (MY) vehicles originally equipped with certain Takata airbag inflators or repaired under a recall with Takata airbag inflators to provide coverage for repairs of the airbag inflator contained in the airbag module. This CSP letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with the settlement. This is NOT a recall or a campaign, but is provided to reassure owners that Toyota stands behind the reliability of our vehicles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CSP: Takata CSP Coverage Job Aid - published 7.28.2022
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners document a pattern of airbag failures across multiple safety scenarios. The most serious complaints involve non-deployment in crashes—vehicles hit guard rails, trees, poles, and other cars at speeds of 30–65 mph, with airbags failing to deploy or deploying inconsistently. Injuries include broken ribs, head trauma, whiplash, and back/neck pain. One case involved a tire blowout at 35 mph where the driver-side airbag deployed but failed to inflate, coming out as a flat tube and striking the occupant's chest, causing three broken ribs.
Recall complications dominate the complaint volume. Multiple owners received Takata inflator recall notices (campaigns 14V168000, 16V340000, 17V006000) but report parts unavailable for months or years, with dealers unable to provide timelines. One owner waited since August 2022 for parts; another notes a two-month-old recall with no remedy available. As a temporary workaround, dealerships instructed owners to avoid seating passengers in the front seat.
One owner describes eight SRS warning light activations over ownership; each time the dealership reset the light without diagnosing or repairing the underlying issue. Another reports a driver-side airbag panel that detached after recall service and refused to stay secured despite three reattachment attempts, leaving the airbag assembly exposed. Dealership warranty was denied, and the manufacturer blamed an external testing facility.
Owners express frustration over driving unsafe vehicles they depend on daily while awaiting parts, inability to use front passenger seating, and lack of compensation or loaner vehicles during extended recall delays.
Same Toyota Yaris airbags reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag deployment failure in crashes
Airbags fail to deploy during frontal, side, and rollover collisions at various speeds (30-65 mph). Multiple complaints document crashes involving guard rails, trees, poles, median barriers, and other vehicles where none or only the driver airbag deployed, resulting in injuries including broken ribs, whiplash, head trauma, back/neck pain, and hospitalization.
When: During accident events; failure mileages reported range 3,000 to 140,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment in frontal collisions; Side airbag fails to deploy in side-impact crashes; Multiple airbags non-functional in same event; Only driver airbag deploys while passenger side fails; No deployment in rollover situations
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 14V168000, NHTSA Campaign 16V340000, NHTSA Campaign 17V006000
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report airbags not replaced; vehicles repaired for collision damage only. One case mentions driver arm broke when striking steering wheel because airbag did not deploy.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 14V168000 (frontal airbag inflator replacement), Campaign 16V340000 (passenger airbag inflator), Campaign 17V006000 (Takata recall). Multiple owners report parts unavailable for extended periods; some recall notices issued but remedy delayed or not completed.
Takata inflator parts unavailability and extended recall delays
Multiple owners report receiving Takata airbag recall notices (campaigns 16V340000, 17V006000, 14V168000) but dealerships confirm replacement parts not in stock with no estimated delivery dates. Owners cite waits of several months to years; one owner notes recall open two months with no parts. Manufacturers exceeded reasonable timeframes for recall completion per owner statements.
When: Recall notices issued 2014–2018; parts still unavailable years later
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received but parts not available; Dealer unable to provide timeline for part availability; Extended wait periods for parts distribution; Recall listed as incomplete; No estimated time frame for remedy
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 14V168000, NHTSA Campaign 16V340000, NHTSA Campaign 17V006000
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers reset warning lights without repair or diagnosing root cause. One owner reports dealer reset light eight times over time without performing diagnostic or repair work. Owners instructed not to place passengers in front seat as temporary workaround.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata airbag inflator recalls (14V168000, 16V340000, 17V006000); remedy status repeatedly listed as 'parts not available' or 'remedy preparations not complete.' Toyota stated remedy being prepared but no concrete timeline provided to owners.
Passenger-side airbag sensor/deployment malfunction and intermittent warnings
Passenger-side airbag system generates recurring SRS warning light failures independent of crashes. One owner reports light activated eight times over ownership; dealership repeatedly reset light without identifying root cause or performing diagnostic teardown. Technicians advised against allowing children or small persons in passenger seat and instructed owner to keep seat in mid-rail position, not reclined, due to deployment risk while driving. One case involves driver-side airbag panel detaching after recall work, exposing airbag assembly and refusing to stay secured.
When: Intermittent; SRS light activation began early in ownership; one panel detachment occurred immediately post-recall service
Symptoms owners cite: SRS warning light illuminates repeatedly; Light reappears minutes after being reset by technician; Passenger airbag not functioning properly per service advisories; Airbag panel detaches from driver-side after recall work; Panel will not stay in place after multiple reattachment attempts
Codes mentioned: SRS warning light (specific code not documented), NHTSA Campaign 14V168000
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer reset warning light multiple times without repair; no diagnostic teardown performed. Following recall service, driver-side airbag panel detached; dealer attempted to push panel back three times without fixing underlying cause; panel hangs and exposes airbag assembly.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership warranty denied; blamed external testing facility for causing light reappearance. Arbitration panel sided with Toyota. No structural repair attempted; temporary workarounds advised (seat positioning, passenger restrictions).
Airbag failure to deploy despite meeting crash severity thresholds
Several crashes involving significant impact—multivehicle collisions, rollover events, guard rail strikes—meet or exceed typical airbag deployment thresholds, yet airbags do not deploy. In one case, manufacturer investigation concluded low-impact crash caused non-deployment, but owner disputes severity given back/neck/hip injuries sustained. Another owner reports multiple complaints for the same issue in the same model, suggesting a systematic defect rather than isolated failures.
When: At time of accident; mileages 43,765 to 140,000
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag fails to deploy in high-impact collisions; Multiple occupant injuries from lack of deployment protection; Dashboard warning light activates after crash (case #28); Sensor system may be defective or not calibrated to sensitivity threshold
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 14V168000, NHTSA Campaign 16V340000
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle frame replaced and bumper restored in one case, but airbag defect not addressed. One owner reports no diagnostic performed; vehicle towed but not diagnosed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 14V168000, Campaign 16V340000. In one case, manufacturer concluded low-impact cause; no recall issued for that specific complaint. Takata recalls issued but parts unavailable for extended periods.
Airbag deployed but did not inflate properly
One owner reports airbag deployed following tire blowout but failed to inflate. Airbag came out like a tube directly into owner's chest, resulting in three broken ribs and hospitalization.
When: During front-driver-side tire blowout and subsequent crash at 35 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deployed but did not inflate; Airbag struck occupant as uninflated fabric/tube; Severe blunt-force trauma to chest
Repairs/costs cited: Owner hospitalized with three broken ribs
Synthesized from 42 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 11 most recent
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Toyota yaris. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v340000 (air bags). The part needed for the repair was not 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. Parts distribution…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota yaris. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14v168000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the delay. The contact did not experience a failure.
This recall has been in effect for more than two years with no remedy provided. I also am concerned about takata airbags that may be in my vehicle, but I don't see a recall notice (although I regularly receive mail about potential takata airbag recalls). The power window master switch in the involved vehicles may have been manufactured with insufficient lubricant grease. Recall status recall…
Vehicle was rear-ended on November 4, 2022. The driver was wearing a seatbelt but the driver airbag did not deploy after being rear-ended. After the accident, the dashboard airbag indicator warning light turned on. The vehicle did not show any airbag issues or warnings prior to the accident. The emergency parking brake does not properly engage after the accident.
Going westbound on port saint lucie blvd, fl 34953, a white truck with a six to eight foot trailer made a turn from eastbound to westbound, cutting my 2009 Toyota yaris off, because of the close proximity I was not able to stop traveling the speed limit, therefore, having a frontal crash which none of my four airbags deployed. I was taking to the saint lucie hospital to check for injuries, which…
I was traveling on hwy 58 turning onto hwy99 . Construction had it down to 1 lane. Was going approx. 35 MPH when my front driverside tire blew out, sent car in to a right turning motion in to cement dividers. Airbag deployed but did not air up. Airbag came out like tube right into my chest. Was taken to hospital from accident. Where they concluded that I had 3 broken ribs.
I have not received a notification from the dealership that the remedy is available as described in the NHTSA recall no. 16v-340 mailing that was received several months ago. I live in zone a and my vehicle is already (7) years plus years old. I have not allowed anyone to use the front passenger seat as recommended which is very inconvenient for people with arthritis and back issues. How long…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota yaris. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a wire guard. The air bags failed to deploy. The passenger sustained injuries to the left knee which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not destroyed. The failure mileage was 140,000.
I am located in strassen, luxembourg (europe) and take my car to the Toyota dealership (Toyota, 6 zai bourmicht, l8070 bertrange) here for service. I am returning to the united states december 2020 and require all recall issues to be address prior to exit inspection. Upon request to the luxembourg Toyota to address the recall issue on the front passenger airbag inflator, representatives stated…
So far the front suspension makes a noise
Had airbags trouble with your 2009 Toyota Yaris?
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 2009 Toyota Yaris?
It's a meaningful issue. 42 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 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 40,400 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 47,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,400; 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/2009/Toyota/Yaris.
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.