Owners report widespread airbag failures across a range of crash scenarios. Several complaints document complete non-deployment in frontal and rear-impact collisions at speeds ranging from 15 to 55+ mph, with injuries including head trauma, fractured bones, whiplash, and concussions. One owner reported airbag failure occurring twice in the same vehicle. A rollover crash and a ditch-strike also resulted in non-deployment at low speed (30–40 mph).
One complaint identifies a specific root cause: the ECU may lack adequate electrical-noise protection in severe underride crashes, leading to incomplete or failed deployment of airbags and seat belt pretensioners.
Two major recall campaigns remain incomplete. Campaign 13V442000 (Summer 2013) addressed drain-hose clogging that can disable airbags entirely—a dealer sold one of these unrepaired vehicles to the complainer in October 2014. Campaign 20V024000 has left multiple owners waiting for unavailable remedy parts, some beyond reasonable timeframes. Additionally, an ODS (Occupant Detection System) sensor defect prevents passenger-side airbags from deploying even with occupants present, with owners reporting no recall and prohibitive out-of-pocket repair costs.
Failure modes owners describe
Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure
ODS sensor fails to consistently detect adult passengers in the front seat, causing the 'Passenger Airbag OFF' indicator to remain lit even when occupied, preventing airbag deployment in a crash.
When: First noticed several months before complaint filing
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag OFF light remains illuminated with passenger present; Vehicle does not detect properly seated adult passenger; Airbag will not deploy in crash
Repairs/costs cited: Local certified repair shop and Toyota dealership both confirmed ODS sensor failure; owner reported repair costs prohibitively expensive and issue remains unresolved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall active at time of complaint; no repair assistance offered
Airbag Non-Deployment in High-Impact Rear and Front Collision
Airbags failed to deploy in a two-impact crash when the vehicle was rear-ended by a sedan traveling 55–100 mph and then pushed into a parked police vehicle ahead.
When: March 16, 2014; impact occurred while vehicle was stationary
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment from rear impact; No airbag deployment from secondary front impact; Head contact with steering wheel causing abrasion and bleeding
Airbag Non-Deployment in Multi-Vehicle Collision at 55 mph
Both front airbags and seat belt pretensioner failed to deploy when the vehicle was struck from behind and then struck the vehicle ahead, despite high-impact forces. No warning light illuminated prior to failure.
When: Failure mileage 132,000
Symptoms owners cite: Front airbags failed to deploy; Seat belt did not tighten/deploy; No warning light illuminated before failure; Occupants sustained back pain, head bump, and neck strain; passenger sustained chest injury; child sustained mouth injury with bleeding; Vehicle declared total loss
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to local mechanic and deemed total loss
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and manufacturer notified; no response documented
Airbag Non-Deployment in Frontal Impact at 35 mph
Front driver-side airbag and seat belt retractor both failed to deploy/retract when vehicle rear-ended a parked car at 35 mph. No warning indicators present prior to crash.
When: Failure mileage 80,000
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side front airbag did not deploy; Front seat belt did not retract during impact; No warning indicators illuminated; Driver's head struck windshield causing fractured right hand, multiple forehead lacerations requiring 29 stitches, neck pain, whiplash, and concussion; Vehicle destroyed
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to impound lot and deemed destroyed; cause of failure not determined
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and manufacturer were not notified
Airbag Non-Deployment in Three-Vehicle Collision
Airbags failed to deploy when vehicle was struck as the middle vehicle in a three-vehicle collision. Owner reported this was a recurring issue in the same vehicle.
When: Failure mileage approximately 75,000; owner noted airbag failure occurred twice
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy in collision; Driver sustained back injuries requiring prior surgery; Passenger sustained bruising; Police report filed
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle brought to McDaniel Toyota for repair; diagnostic test completion uncertain; vehicle was repaired but failure mode not specified
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but no assistance given
Airbag Non-Deployment in Rollover Crash at 40 mph
Airbags failed to deploy when 2013 Toyota Avalon Hybrid was struck by another vehicle and crashed into an embankment, rolling over multiple times.
When: Failure mileage approximately 9,500; occurred while driving 40 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags failed to deploy during rollover crash; Driver and front passenger sustained injuries requiring medical attention; Vehicle destroyed
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; no repair performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified
Airbag Non-Deployment in Ditch and Pole Crash at 30–35 mph
Airbags failed to deploy when vehicle veered into a ditch and struck a concrete pole at 30–35 mph, following driver's loss of consciousness.
When: Failure mileage 1,000
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags failed to deploy; Driver sustained fractured back requiring medical attention; Police report filed
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to collision center; cause of failure not determined
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of failure
Airbag Non-Deployment in Low-Speed Frontal Impact at 15 mph
Front passenger-side airbag failed to deploy when vehicle struck a brick wall at 15 mph.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment on passenger side
ECU Susceptibility to Electrical Noise in Severe Underride Crashes
Electronic Control Unit (ECU) from specific supplier lacks adequate protection against electrical noise in severe underride crashes, potentially causing incomplete or complete non-deployment of airbags and seat belt pretensioners.
When: Affects vehicles under certain crash conditions (severe underride)
Symptoms owners cite: Incomplete airbag deployment; Nondeployment of airbags; Nondeployment of seat belt pretensioners
Recall Parts Unavailability – Campaign 20V024000
Two owners received NHTSA Campaign Number 20V024000 (Airbags) recall notices but reported that the parts required to complete the recall repair were unavailable from dealers, and manufacturers exceeded a reasonable timeframe to provide remedy parts.
When: Not specified; no failure experienced prior to complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Recall remedy parts unavailable at dealership; Extended wait time for manufacturer to supply parts; No actual airbag failure reported, but vehicle remained unrepaired under recall
Repairs/costs cited: VIN tool confirms parts not available for both complaints
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 20V024000 (Airbags) issued; remedy parts not supplied in timely manner
Recall Parts Unavailability – Campaign 13V442000
Owner received notice for NHTSA Campaign Number 13V442000 (Airbags, Electrical System, Equipment) regarding a drain hose clogging issue that could cause airbags to activate malfunction or not activate in an accident. Owner concerned because manufacturer could not make parts available within reasonable timeframe. Dealer sold vehicle with known unresolved recall in October 2014, even though recall was initiated in Summer 2013.
When: Recall initiated Summer 2013; vehicle sold with unresolved recall October 2014
Symptoms owners cite: Drain hose clogging can cause airbags to malfunction or not activate; Risk of serious injury or death to occupants
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer took vehicle on trade-in October 2014 and resold without repair; parts unavailable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 13V442000 issued regarding drain hose clogging affecting airbag activation
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.