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moderate Owners of the 2021 Toyota Avalon have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Avalon | 5 |
| 2021 Avalon (this page) | 12 |
In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.
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: 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 ↗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 ↗Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: Some 2019 ? 2021 model year Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a condition where the driver side and/or passenger side LED parking lights do not fully illuminate when the headlight switch and the engine are on and the vehicle is in reverse. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The 2021 Avalon is subject to Recall 23V865 (Toyota ref. 23TB15) for a defective Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor in the front passenger seat. This sensor may fail to detect when a passenger is present, preventing the airbag from deploying in a crash. Toyota issued the recall in December 2023 and originally estimated a fix by Q3 2024, but no remedy has materialized.
Multiple owners report that as of mid-2025, parts remain unavailable from the manufacturer despite requesting them through dealerships. One owner notes waiting over two years for resolution; others describe contacting Toyota corporate with no success.
Beyond the recall issue, some owners report that their vehicle's occupant detection systems malfunction across multiple seats. The front passenger airbag system does not register when occupants are seated. The rear seatbelt system triggers false warnings (alerting the driver to buckle up when no one is in the back seat), forcing drivers to pull over while driving to silence the alarm. These detection-system failures create both a safety gap (no airbag deployment) and a distraction hazard (false alarms requiring driver attention mid-drive).
Owners express frustration with the extended delay and lack of remedy, particularly concerning child safety in vehicles where occupant detection is unreliable.
The front passenger seat OCS sensor may fail to detect occupancy, preventing the passenger-side airbag from deploying in a crash. Recall 23V865 (Toyota ref. 23TB15) was issued in December 2023 with no remedy available as of the reporting dates. Toyota originally estimated a fix by Q3 2024, which passed without resolution. Owners report parts remain unavailable from the manufacturer after 1+ years.
When: Recall issued December 2023; parts unavailable at time of complaint reports (into 2025)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated intermittently; Front passenger seat not registering occupant for airbag deployment; Occupant Classification System malfunction
Codes mentioned: 23V865000, 23TB15
Repairs/costs cited: Recall repair parts not available from manufacturer; no repair completed at dealership level
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V865000 / Toyota recall 23TB15; parts unavailable; original Q3 2024 remedy timeline exceeded
Seats and occupant detection systems fail to register when passengers are seated. Front passenger seat does not register occupant presence for airbag deployment. Back seat seatbelt detection triggers false alarms (warning sounds when no one is seated), forcing driver to pull over while driving to silence the alarm. Represents a systemic OCS/seat-detection malfunction affecting multiple detection pathways.
When: Ongoing; occurring during normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: Front seat not registering occupant presence for airbag; Rear seatbelt alarm sounds without occupant in back seat; False seatbelt warnings triggering while driving; Occupant detection system failures across multiple seats
Repairs/costs cited: No parts or repair method available; owners pulling over to silence false alarms as temporary workaround
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
Seats are not registering for air bag and the middle back seat belt alarm goes off saying to put seat belt on, but no one is sitting in back seat. So while I'm driving I have to pull over and plug seat belt in to get the seatbelt warning sound to stop. The seatbelt is not registering in the back seat and the front seat is not registering someone is sitting there for the airbag. It doesn't…
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Avalon. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was intermittently illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
Dec 20,2023 Manufacturer Recall Number23TB15 NHTSA Recall Number23V865 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available When will this be resolved? Can Toyota inspect my vehicle now?
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Avalon. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not…
There is no remedy available to fix the OCS sensor in front passenger seat of our 2021 Toyota Avalon. We are scared to drive it. What are our options since Toyota will not help.
My vehicle is under Safety Recall 23V865 (Toyota dealer reference 23TB15) due to potentially defective Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors in the front passenger seat, which may prevent the airbag from deploying properly. The recall was issued in December 2023, and as of August 2025, there is still no available remedy. Toyota originally estimated a fix by Q3 of 2024, but it is now…
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Avalon. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was…
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Avalon. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was…
We have received a recall for the sensors and airbag on our car back in December of 2023. Every time we call the dealership they tell us they can't get a send because the parts are not available. I cannot seem to get any movement with this. I've tried to contacting Toyota corporate but their website leaves much to be desired to contact anybody about this. So I am here asking for you to help me. I…
Safety defect in front passenger seat not remedied in over one year. Toyota is clearly not going to fix safety problem as it will cost more to remedy than the cost of deaths and injuries.
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
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.
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.
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.