Should I buy a 2013 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.

2013 Toyota Highlander airbags problems

severe Owners of the 2013 Toyota Highlander have filed 15 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 →

Ask A Mechanic

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$1,100

airbags complaints on the Toyota Highlander, by model year
Model year	airbags complaints
2009 Highlander	7
2010 Highlander	14
2011 Highlander	8
2012 Highlander	9
2013 Highlander (this page)	15
2015 Highlander	6
2016 Highlander	10
2017 Highlander	9

8crashes

3injuries

What stands out

No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

Related recalls

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 T-TT-0213-13 Jan 2014

Toyota vehicles are equipped with Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury in a collision. If a customer expresses any concerns that the SRS airbags or pre-tensioner devices did not perform as expected (including an unintended deployment event), please follow the steps in the recommendations section below.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

The failure pattern owners describe

Owners of 2013 Toyota Highlanders report five categories of airbag malfunction. The most serious: airbags failed to deploy during multiple frontal collisions—T-bone impacts at 35 mph, telephone pole strikes at 35 mph, concrete barrier hits, and rear-end accidents—resulting in owner injuries including chest, back, neck, and leg trauma. In one case, significant vehicle damage ($8,000–$10,000) occurred without airbag deployment despite clear impact.

Second, an intermittent "CHECK SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM" warning message appears when a front passenger sits down and the vehicle starts, deactivating side airbags. Toyota service has made four attempts to fix this—resetting the message, checking passenger-seat sensors and wiring, and consulting engineers—without success.

Third, spontaneous airbag deployments happened without collision: driver-side curtain and seat airbags fired while parking; both curtain airbags fired while driving 75 mph in negative 10-degree weather. No warning preceded either event.

Fourth, the passenger-side airbag sensor failed repeatedly, requiring recalibration at least four times. The problem recurs within a couple hundred miles of repair.

Finally, one owner lost vehicle control during normal braking and low-speed maneuvers, with airbags also failing to deploy. Toyota Corporate and dealerships declined to inspect or diagnose most of these issues.

Same Toyota Highlander airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2016

Failure modes owners describe

SRS airbag system warning message—side airbag deactivation

Intermittent 'CHECK SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM' warning message that persists when front passenger is seated and vehicle is started. Message deactivates side airbags. Toyota service unable to resolve despite 4 visits, reset attempts, sensor/wiring checks under passenger seat, and engineer consultation.

When: Occurs consistently when front passenger seated and car started; intermittent occurrence

Symptoms owners cite: CHECK SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM warning message appears when passenger seated and vehicle started; Message remains until vehicle returned to Toyota; Side airbags deactivated when message active; Not weight-dependent (occurs with 120 and 300 lb passengers)

Codes mentioned: CHECK SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM

Repairs/costs cited: Toyota reset message, checked sensor and wiring under passenger seat; issue unresolved after 4 service visits

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota service unable to resolve despite 4 visits; engineer consultation performed

Airbags failed to deploy in frontal impacts

Airbags did not deploy during multiple frontal or front-end collisions causing significant vehicle damage and injury. Incidents include T-bone collisions at 35 mph, impact with metal telephone pole at 35 mph, front-end collisions at 15 mph and at concrete barrier, and rear-end collision. Owner sustained chest, back, and neck pain; another sustained right leg injury requiring medical attention.

When: At mileage 100,000; 148,000; multiple incidents reported across various mileages

Symptoms owners cite: Airbags non-deployment during frontal collision at 35 mph T-bone impact; Airbags non-deployment during telephone pole impact at 35 mph; Airbags non-deployment during 15 mph front-end collision; Airbags non-deployment during concrete barrier collision causing chest, back, neck pain; Seat belt failed to retract during one telephone pole impact; Owner sustained injuries requiring medical attention (leg injury, chest/back/neck pain)

Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle towed to independent mechanic (not diagnosed or repaired); another to Larry H. Miller Lexus (not diagnosed or repaired); one vehicle frame bent from collision

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota Corporate refused to inspect airbags after T-bone accident; requested owner send letter to claims department with no response; manufacturer notified in other incidents but no follow-up documented

Spontaneous airbag deployment without impact

Driver-side curtain and left seat airbags deployed without any collision or impact while vehicle was being parked. Toyota investigator found no issues in data collected and could not determine cause. No warning lights preceded deployment.

When: During parking maneuver (no mileage provided)

Symptoms owners cite: Spontaneous deployment of driver-side curtain airbag while parking; Spontaneous deployment of driver-side seat airbag while parking; No impact or collision occurred; No warning lights or indicators before deployment; Safety risk stated—would have caused crash if occurred while driving

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota sent investigator to inspect; investigator found no issues in data; Toyota refused to provide assistance

Curtain airbags deployed spontaneously in cold weather without impact

Both driver's and passenger's side curtain airbags deployed without warning or impact while vehicle was being driven in negative 10-degree weather at 75 mph. No diagnostic or repair performed.

When: At approximately 124,000 miles; during negative 10-degree weather conditions

Symptoms owners cite: Driver's side curtain airbag spontaneous deployment at 75 mph in cold weather; Passenger's side curtain airbag spontaneous deployment at 75 mph in cold weather; Deployment occurred without warning or impact

Repairs/costs cited: Local dealer contacted but vehicle not diagnosed or repaired

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not contacted

Passenger airbag off warning light and sensor recalibration failure

Passenger-side front airbag sensor failed repeatedly with airbag off warning light illumination. Dealership claims system is fine but requires recalibration. Sensor failure occurred at least 4 times and recurs within couple hundred miles of repair. Only passenger-side affected.

When: Approximately 16,500 miles; recurring at multiple intervals

Symptoms owners cite: Airbag off warning light illuminated while driving at 65 mph; Passenger-side airbag turns off repeatedly; Passenger-side front airbag sensor failed 4 or more times; Other airbags unaffected; Recurrence within couple hundred miles of repair

Codes mentioned: Airbag off warning light

Repairs/costs cited: Dealership recalibrated system multiple times; issue recurs within couple hundred miles

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; dealership claims system requires recalibration but no permanent fix identified

Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 1 most recent

airbags · filed 12/12/2014

My vehicle t-boned another vehicle, striking directly into the driver's door of the other vehicle . The front end of my vehicle sustained approximately $8000 worth of front end damage, however the air bags never deployed. (fortunately there were no injuries). In light of current well-publicized air bag issues, I asked my dealership if they would inspect my vehicle to ensure that the air bags were…

Had airbags trouble with your 2013 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 2013 Toyota Highlander?

It's a meaningful issue. 15 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 — 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/2013/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.