Should I buy a 2010 Toyota Highlander with documented airbags problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented airbags issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2010 Toyota Highlander airbags problems

severe Owners of the 2010 Toyota Highlander have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →

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Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$1,100

airbags complaints on the Toyota Highlander, by model year
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

What stands out

All 2 active airbags recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 14V168000 April 9, 2014

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, 2008-2010 Highlander, and 2009-2010 Tacoma, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and General Motors Pontiac Vibe vehicles

If the FFC is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. The failure of the driver's air bag to deploy in the event of a crash that typically necessitates deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver.

Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota vehicle owners, and General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Toyota sent owners an interim notification letter in May 2014 to advise owners of the recall. Toyota will mail owners a second letter when remedy parts are available. General Motors sent Pontiac Vibe owners an Interim letter on June 20, 2014 notifying them that parts are currently unavailable. General Motors sent notices to the Pontiac Vibe owners on September 15, 2014, that a remedy is available. The recall began on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-762-2737.

severe NHTSA 13V014000 January 16, 2013

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia

If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

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.

Service Bulletin TSB003220 Aug 2023

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 ↗

Service Bulletin T-SB-0094-21 Rev Nov 2022

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 ↗

Service Bulletin Toyota Safety Re Mar 2021

Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin T-SB-0218-17_Rev Jul 2017

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 ↗

Service Bulletin HR1_Region Lette Mar 2017

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?

Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.

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?

Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

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.