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 ↗2016 Toyota Highlander airbags problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
6crashes
6injuries
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 ↗TSB: Some 2016 ? 2018 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with Entune? Audio (version 01013E), Entune? Audio Plus (version 010156 or 01015C), or Entune? Premium Audio (versions 010171, 010170, or 01017D) may exhibit one or more of the following conditions: ?Head unit reboots at a specific location. ?Abnormal Destination Search app operation. ?Rebooting caused by no songs on the USB-connected iPhone. ?A one-time reboot after ignition is cycled to ACC-ON. ?Audio stays muted after the key is cycled. Some 2016 ? 2018 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with Entune? Audio (version 010144), Entune? Audio Plus (version 01015E), Entune? Premium Audio (version 010182), or earlier may exhibit one or m
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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Ten complaints center on a pattern of airbag failures in the 2016 Highlander. The most serious allegations involve complete non-deployment during major crashes. One owner was in a 50 mph rear-end collision with significant front-end damage (folded hood, destroyed grille, pushed radiator) and reported zero airbag deployment; the vehicle was totaled. Another owner experienced a two-full-rotation rollover where none of the roll-sensing side curtain airbags or seat-mounted side airbags deployed despite the driver striking his head on both the steering wheel and B-pillar. A third narrative describes a violent off-road tumble (50–60 mph into a ditch, airborne 30–50 feet, flipped end-over-end) with zero airbag deployment and the officer at the scene shocked by the failure. A fourth case involved a 50 mph ditch impact and multiple flips with the same pattern: no airbag deployment despite head trauma from steering wheel and B-pillar contact.
One vehicle had airbags deploy normally in a frontal collision but could not be fully repaired because Toyota had no timeline for delivering replacement side airbag parts as of March 2016.
Several narratives also mention unrelated brake failures, but the core safety concern is consistent: airbags not deploying when they should have.
Same Toyota Highlander airbags reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Airbags failed to deploy in frontal collision
Front airbags (driver, passenger, knee, seat-cushion) did not deploy despite significant frontal impact damage. Narratives #1 and #3 describe rear-end collisions at 50 mph with substantial front-end damage (folded hood, missing grille, damaged radiator); neither deployed any front airbags.
When: #1: Just over 1 year of ownership; #3: 6,600 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment on dash impact despite significant front-end crushing; No warning lights noted on instrument cluster after collision; Driver/passenger head struck steering wheel and windshield without bag deployment
Repairs/costs cited: #1 vehicle was totaled and sent to salvage yard; #3 vehicle was towed and not repaired, cause not diagnosed by dealer
Side curtain and side-impact airbags failed to deploy in rollover
In a two-full-rotation rollover (#2), none of the roll-sensing side curtain airbags or driver/front passenger seat-mounted side airbags deployed. Driver's head struck both the steering wheel and the B-pillar (which has airbags) without any bag deployment. Vehicle destroyed but OnStar detected impact.
When: #2: Rollover accident
Symptoms owners cite: Rollover with 2 full rotations; no side curtain airbags deployed; No seat-mounted side airbags deployed despite B-pillar impact; Driver head struck steering wheel and B-pillar directly
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; only partial recovery for inspection
Airbags failed to deploy in secondary rollover/tumble event
Vehicle went airborne 30–50 feet after hitting ditch at front end, flipped end-over-end multiple times. No airbags deployed despite violent tumbling and driver striking head on steering wheel hard enough to break headrest and hit B-pillar.
When: #5: Speed 50–60 mph on curve/ditch impact
Symptoms owners cite: Airborne flight 30–50 feet and flipped end-over-end; Driver head struck steering wheel (broke headrest) and B-pillar; Not one airbag deployed; Officer at scene shocked at lack of deployment
Side airbag parts shortage after deployment
Airbags did deploy in frontal collision (#6), but side airbag replacement parts were unavailable from Toyota as of March 2016. Vehicle repaired except for side airbags; Toyota Motor in CA had no delivery timeline for replacement side airbag components.
When: #6: Accident 1/25/16, transported 1/26/16, status reported 3/21/16
Symptoms owners cite: Frontal collision at traffic light; Front airbags deployed normally; Side airbags could not be replaced due to parts unavailability
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle fully repaired except side airbags; Toyota had no delivery date for replacement parts as of 3/21/16
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota Motor CA had no known delivery timeline for side airbag parts
Synthesized from 10 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 2016 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 2016 Toyota Highlander?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 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 10 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 15,597 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?
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/2016/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.