Of the 6 airbags complaints filed for the 2012 Toyota Avalon,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
2 (50%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
1 (25%)
75-100k
0 (0%)
100-125k
1 (25%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
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 20% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 5 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota Avalon vehicles
If the seat belt is falsely interpreted as being buckled, in the event of a crash, the air bags may not deploy appropriately, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the seat belt assembly to verify that it is properly detecting being unbuckled, replacing the inner seat belt assembly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0S.
What owners are reporting
4 most recent
airbags · 70,000 mi
· filed 12/17/2018
My vehicles airbags did not deploy I was hit by an 18 wheeler at a high rate of speed. The vehicle had at least 2 rear end hits by this 18 wheeler estimated at a speed in excess of 25 miles per hour faster than mine (I was going at 70mph northbound on us 75, nine miles south of tulsa oklahoma on a sunny monday at 3pm). The street was dry. The truck initially hit me on my rear and on my left…
airbags · 16,000 mi
· filed 10/21/2016
Air bag on passanger side of vehicle is disabled and will not reset/activate. Vehicle air bags have never been deployed. Dealer stated we would have to pay out of pocket to have system troubleshooting completed.
airbags · 115,000 mi
· filed 10/18/2019
Another driver rand a red light and I (t-boned his passenger side) was in a head on collision. I was breaking at the time, but still imagine I hit him at between 30-40 MPH. The front end crumpled as expected but the airbags did not deploy. Firefighters cut power to prevent the airbags from deploying unexpectedly afterwards. A check passenger airbag light had come on in recent days that I did not…
airbags · 15,000 mi
· filed 05/28/2014
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Toyota avalon. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle, causing the contact to crash into another vehicle. The contact stated that after the crash, the vehicle accelerated while the brake pedal was being depressed. The emergency brake was engaged and the vehicle crashed into a curb. The air bags…
Had airbags trouble with your 2012 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 2012 Toyota Avalon?
It's a meaningful issue. 6 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?
Based on the 6 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 54,867 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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 — 1 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/2012/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.