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 ↗2010 Toyota Highlander airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2010 Toyota Highlander have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 77,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Highlander | 11 |
| 2008 Highlander | 49 |
| 2009 Highlander | 7 |
| 2010 Highlander (this page) | 14 |
| 2011 Highlander | 8 |
| 2012 Highlander | 9 |
| 2013 Highlander | 15 |
8crashes
11injuries
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 ↗Region Letter: Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have not yet had campaign repairs completed.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2010 Highlanders report airbags failing to deploy in actual crashes. We're talking multiple impact scenarios: rear-end collisions, side-impact hits, head-on collisions with barriers and trees, and multi-vehicle accidents. One owner reported all six airbags failed to deploy in a head-on impact. Another had a driver-side airbag deploy but the passenger-side didn't, leaving the passenger with chest and back injuries. Dealers couldn't explain why the airbags didn't work.
Beyond deployment failures, owners describe control module and sensor problems. One reported a faulty passenger-side airbag module at 25,000 miles; another had a defective front passenger airbag sensor staying stuck in the "OFF" position even with an adult in the seat. The airbag control panel itself has failed in at least one case, with the needed replacement part (84010-0E050-E0) unavailable for months—the owner was basically told to find an aftermarket substitute and take the risk.
Intermittent airbag warning lights plague multiple vehicles, appearing and disappearing at different times of day, sometimes clearing only after restart. One owner had a flexible flat cable fail twice—once under recall replacement and again later.
One owner flagged uncertainty about whether replacement airbags installed in 2014 were made by Takata; neither the dealership nor Toyota could provide documentation.
Same Toyota Highlander airbags reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes
In multiple collision events ranging from rear-end, side-impact, head-on, and multi-vehicle crashes, owners reported airbags did not deploy despite significant impact forces that caused substantial vehicle damage. One case involved six airbags none of which deployed.
When: During crash events at various mileages (15,000 to 109,000 miles); incidents occurred from 2014 onward
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment despite severe frontal impact; No airbag deployment in side-impact collision; No airbag deployment in head-on collision with tree; No airbag deployment in multi-vehicle rear-impact crash; Only side airbags deployed in head-on barrier impact while front did not
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated cause could not be determined; vehicles not repaired or towed after failure
Front passenger airbag fails to deploy
Driver-side airbag deployed properly in one rear-end collision, but front passenger airbag did not deploy despite hard impact. Passenger sustained chest and lower back injuries.
When: At 109,000 miles during rear-end collision
Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger airbag did not deploy while driver airbag deployed; Passenger sustained chest and lower back injuries
Repairs/costs cited: Cause not determined; vehicle not repaired
Airbag control module failure
Owner reported passenger-side airbag module was faulty and required replacement. Airbag warning light illuminated intermittently when vehicle was started.
When: At approximately 25,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning indicator illuminated intermittently on startup; Failure recurred on several occasions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed faulty passenger-side airbag module requiring replacement; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was made aware of failure
Airbag control panel circuit failure
Owner reported airbag control panel (part 84010-0E050-E0) failed in June, causing error messages to system. Part was unavailable for extended period, leaving airbag non-functional. Dealer and Toyota recommended aftermarket replacement.
When: June; timing not specified beyond that
Symptoms owners cite: Control panel sending error messages; Airbag system non-functioning
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota part 84010-0E050-E0 required; part unavailable until end of year; owner advised to use aftermarket replacement via AutoNation-Libertyville
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota advised aftermarket replacement and referred to local dealer
Flexible flat cable (FFC) failure
Owner reported that a flexible flat cable (FFC) replaced under NHTSA Campaign 14V168000 became faulty and required replacement again.
When: Two years after initial replacement; failure mileage 38,856
Symptoms owners cite: FFC replaced under recall became faulty
Repairs/costs cited: FFC required replacement again; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 14V168000 (Airbags)
Airbag warning light illuminates intermittently
Multiple owners reported airbag warning lights appearing and disappearing at different times, with some reporting it occurs every time vehicle is driven. Warnings do not clear until vehicle is restarted. Occurs in both cold and hot weather.
When: Ongoing; one case noted light popped up over one year prior
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag alarm displays on screen intermittently; Warning appears after approximately 30 minutes of driving time in one case; Warning now occurs each time vehicle is driven in same case; Airbag light comes on and off at different times of day; Warning does not clear until car is restarted; Occurs in both cold and hot weather
Front passenger airbag sensor malfunction
Owner reported front passenger airbag sensor is defective, displaying 'OFF' on dash and driver display panel. Sensor remains illuminated in 'OFF' position even when adult is seated in passenger seat, indicating airbag will not deploy in event of accident.
When: Light appeared one year prior to complaint; no accidents occurred during that time
Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger airbag light displays OFF on dash and driver display panel; Airbag sensor stays illuminated in OFF position even with adult occupant in seat; Airbag will not deploy due to non-working sensor
Uncertainty regarding Takata replacement airbag safety
After a 2014 accident, owner had three airbags replaced at a Toyota dealership but was unable to confirm whether Takata replacement airbags were installed. Dealership and Toyota customer service struggled to provide documentation about whether the replacement airbags were manufactured by Takata, posing potential safety concerns.
When: Replacement performed June-July 2014; concern raised January 2015
Symptoms owners cite: Inability to confirm whether replacement airbags were Takata-manufactured; Dealership unable to obtain information from Toyota headquarters regarding replacement airbag manufacturer
Repairs/costs cited: Three airbags replaced at Griffin Toyota Rockingham, NC after accident
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota customer service referred owner to local dealer; dealership unable to obtain manufacturer information from Toyota headquarters in California
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2010 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 2010 Toyota Highlander?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 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 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 38,856 and 109,000 miles, with the median around 77,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 38,856; a quarter make it past 109,000. 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/2010/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.