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 ↗2018 Toyota Highlander airbags problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
15crashes
19injuries
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.
DL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court. The settlement includes Toyota?s agreement to provide a Customer Support Program for certain 2014-2020 model year (MY) vehicles originally equipped with low pressure fuel pumps repaired under Safety Recall 20TA02, Safety Recall 21TA03, Safety Recall 21TA05 or Special Service Campaign 21TC03. The purpose of this Customer Support Program letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with the settlement.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Eighteen complaints center on airbag system failures in 2018 Toyota Highlanders. The core issue: airbags repeatedly fail to deploy during moderate-to-severe collisions. Owners describe front-impact crashes at speeds of 35–60+ mph where vehicles sustain heavy damage—engine mounts break, bumpers and fenders are destroyed, and insurance declares them total losses—yet airbags remain unfired. In each case, occupants absorb injuries (bruises, shoulder and back pain, bodily projection into steering wheels) that airbags were designed to prevent. Insurance adjusters and body-shop workers expressed disbelief, with one adjuster calling the non-deployment "flabbergasted"-worthy given the impact severity.
Side-impact and multi-directional collisions show the same pattern: one vehicle hit on the passenger door, pushed off-road, then struck a tree head-on with zero airbag deployment; another experienced rear-impact followed by front-impact with neither airbags nor seatbelts engaging.
Beyond deployment failure, one owner reported a persistent SRS warning light at 86,000 miles tied to an unconfirmed wiring-harness fault, with a $2,300 repair quote falling outside warranty coverage. Another owner's pre-collision system failed entirely during a highway pile-up, providing no warning and no automatic braking.
Same Toyota Highlander airbags reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag non-deployment in moderate-to-severe front-end collisions
Owners report multiple instances where front airbags failed to deploy during direct front-impact collisions at speeds ranging from 35 to 60+ mph. In each case, the vehicle sustained heavy frontal damage (engine mounts broken, front end detached, significant bumper/fender damage, total loss declarations), yet airbags did not inflate. Insurance adjusters and body-shop personnel expressed disbelief at the non-deployment given the collision severity.
When: At point of impact during crashes; mileage range 15,000 to 140,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag inflation during direct front impact collision; Vehicle sustains severe frontal damage (engine mount failure, bumper/fender destruction, frame damage); Occupants experience unprotected injuries (bruises, shoulder/wrist/back pain, bodily projection into steering wheel); No warning lights illuminated prior to crash (in some cases); Seatbelts did not lock/deploy in tandem with airbags (reported in at least one multi-impact crash)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: EDR (Event Data Recorder) investigation initiated in at least one case (Bosch Airbag Control Module data extracted); results delayed beyond stated 30-business-day window
Airbag non-deployment in side-impact and multi-directional collisions
Owners report airbag failure during side-impact collisions and crashes involving multiple impact directions. One vehicle hit in the side passenger door, pushed off-road, then hit a tree head-on at ~40 mph with zero airbag deployment. Another experienced a rear-impact followed by front-impact, with neither airbags nor seatbelts deploying/locking. A third involved a rear-door hit that pushed the vehicle into a tree with no airbag inflation.
When: At point of impact during side/multi-directional crashes; no mileage specified for these events
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment in side-impact phase; No airbag deployment in secondary head-on impact phase; Occupants sustained injuries that might have been minimized had airbags deployed; First responders and police expressed shock at non-deployment; Seatbelts failed to lock in tandem during multi-impact event
SRS wiring harness failure and diagnostic warning lamp
Owner reports SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbag warning indicator illuminated, indicating wiring harness fault. Dealership quoted $2,300 for wiring harness repair but was unable to specify harness location. Vehicle had 86,000 miles (26,000 miles beyond manufacturer coverage). Warning lamp illuminates every five seconds and blocks other dashboard information display.
When: 86,000 miles; failure occurred after 2 years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: SRS warning light illuminated continuously; Warning lamp recurs every five seconds; Dashboard information display blocked by warning indicator; Wiring harness location unconfirmed by dealership
Codes mentioned: SRS airbag warning indicator
Repairs/costs cited: $2,300 quoted for wiring harness replacement; part coverage expired (vehicle past 60,000-mile threshold, presumably)
Pre-collision system failure
Owner equipped with Toyota's advertised Pre-Collision System (PCS) reported system failure during a highway pile-up at 45+ mph on Interstate 5. System provided no warning and did not brake automatically as marketed. When front-end impact occurred, passenger-side airbag deployed late rather than at optimal timing.
When: During highway pile-up event at 45+ mph
Symptoms owners cite: Pre-collision system did not detect impending collision; No audible or visual warning issued; Automatic braking did not engage; Airbag deployment delayed relative to impact onset
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
10/10 Tapped pedal into Drive: Toyota Highlander 2018 Car sped off at 50mph with my foot on brake for 3 minutes Holding brake down and down-shifting did nothing Vehicle stopped when it hit a pole destroying passenger-side fender and bumper Airbag did not deploy Unintended acceleration/sticky pedal as reported early this century when Toyota recalled 80,000 vehicles. On 11/17/2023 an ER or Black…
Had airbags trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Toyota Highlander?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 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?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 17,500 and 33,000 miles, with the median around 22,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 17,500; a quarter make it past 33,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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/2018/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.