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 ↗2019 Toyota Highlander airbags problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
8crashes
5injuries
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
Owners report two main airbag concerns on 2019 Highlanders: non-deployment and warning-light faults.
Airbag non-deployment appears in seven complaints. Drivers involved in collisions at speeds between 25 and 45 MPH—hitting other vehicles, poles, concrete barriers, and commercial trucks—describe complete airbag failure. In one case, a vehicle rolled over twice; in another, a commercial truck ran the Highlander into a barrier. Occupants sustained head, neck, chest, back, and knee injuries; one driver was extricated with the jaws of life. Several vehicles were deemed total loss. No warning lights appeared before any of these collisions. Toyota opened investigations in two cases and retained black box data, but owners report no resolution or update.
SRS malfunction warnings appear in four complaints. Owners describe a dashboard message stating "SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" with no accident or obvious trigger. Dealerships reset the control module, but the light reappears after 2–3 months. One owner reports the seat belt also stops registering as buckled when the warning is active. Another notes his VIN was excluded from a recall campaign for similar models, though Toyota dealers claim no applicable recalls exist.
One complaint documents a spontaneous rear-passenger airbag deployment at highway speed with no impact, damaging the door panel and ejecting the stability button.
Same Toyota Highlander airbags reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2018 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag non-deployment in frontal/side-impact collisions
Airbags fail to deploy during collisions ranging from 25 to 45 MPH despite significant impact forces. Vehicles collide with other vehicles, poles, concrete barriers, and commercial vehicles—impacts severe enough to cause vehicle totaling, rollover, and serious occupant injuries. No warning lights reported before these events.
When: At various mileages: 41,000 mi, 18,000 mi, 70,000 mi, 55,000 mi, 40–45 MPH collisions; one incident at ~500 mi
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy on impact; No warning lights illuminated prior to failure; Vehicle damage severe (total loss in multiple incidents); Occupants ejected or require extrication; head, face, chest, neck, back injuries reported
Repairs/costs cited: One estimate cited: $18,700 for collision repairs. Vehicles towed; some sent to dealerships or independent yards for inspection. Toyota retained black box data in at least one case but cause remained under investigation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign Number 23V865000 (Air Bags) referenced in narrative #1. Manufacturer notified in narratives #1 and #4; cases opened. In #1, manufacturer intended to inspect but no update received. In #4, black box retained but investigation ongoing. Most complaints show manufacturer not notified or no response documented.
SRS airbag malfunction warning light—intermittent or unresolved
Dashboard warning light illuminates stating 'SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION' or 'SRS airbag Malfunction' with no clear cause identified. Light recurs after dealership reset. Seat belt recognition also fails in at least one case. Owners report repeated dealership visits with no solution found.
When: Recurring issue; resets last 2–3 months before warning reappears. One case: 2 weeks prior to complaint submission.
Symptoms owners cite: SRS airbag malfunction warning on dashboard; Airbags disabled/off while warning is active; Seat belt buckle not recognized as fastened (narrative #5); Warning recurs after technician reset; No accident or obvious trigger
Codes mentioned: SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership resets the module as temporary fix. No root cause identified. No parts replacement or repair noted in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Narrative #10 references a recall campaign for similar models, but owner's VIN not included. Narrative #11 states Toyota dealer claims no recalls apply. No TSB or warranty program explicitly mentioned.
Spontaneous rear airbag deployment
Passenger rear airbag deploys unexpectedly while vehicle is in motion at normal highway speed with no collision or impact reported. Deployment causes damage to door panel, weather stripping, and ejects the stability control button into the door jam.
When: 55,000 miles; occurred while driving ~30 MPH on paved road
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang from rear of vehicle; Rear passenger airbag deploys without impact; Door panel separates; Weather stripping separates from door; Stability control button ejected; No visible external damage or mechanical issue found
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle inspected at dealership after event. No repair details provided in narrative.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle at dealership for inspection; outcome not documented in narrative.
Synthesized from 12 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 2019 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 2019 Toyota Highlander?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 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 12 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 27,550 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/2019/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.