2016 Toyota Corolla airbags problems

Related recalls

• Recall 20V024000Jan 17, 20202,891,976 vehicles
  AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

  Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.

  Risk: In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.

  Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.

What owners say

1. Filed Dec 28, 2025TXCrash1 injuredAirbags

   In 2024, my 2016 Toyota Corolla was involved in a collision. The airbags did not deploy. I went to the emergency room following the crash and later required additional medical treatment, including rehabilitation.

   NHTSA complaint #11707349 · source
2. Filed Nov 17, 2025CACrash1 injuredAirbagsElectrical SystemSeats & Seat Belts

   The driver seat belt dont work and once in a great while it will work but even whenever it does latch it still shows the seat belt isn't on and that noise keeps going off but after a while the noise goes off but the symbol is still on the dash board. I recently got hit from behind (09/15/2025) at a red light and no air bags deployed. Im not sure if they were suppose to deploy but either way my seat belt dont work. And I know this isn't a safety matter but my radio doesn't…

   NHTSA complaint #11699858 · source
3. Filed Mar 26, 202460,000 miORCrash1 injuredTowedAirbags

   The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was rear-ended. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the other driver was driving at about 45 MPH when the contact's vehicle was rear-ended. A police report was filed. The contact did not seek medical attention at the scene but later went to the hospital where the contact was treated for whiplash. The vehicle was towed to…

   NHTSA complaint #11579473 · source
4. Filed Mar 6, 202480,000 miTXCrashTowedAirbags

   The contact's daughter owned a 2016 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that the vehicle was stolen, and while being chased by the police, the suspect crashed into a supporting beam located on the expressway. The front end of the vehicle was damaged. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact was unaware of any injuries. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot for the city. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11575853 · source
5. Filed Jun 19, 2023CAFireAirbagsElectrical SystemOther / Unknown

   We discovered that there was an explosion of some sort inside the car on the passenger side, which seems to have potentially involve the air bag system and/or electrical around the system, but this is not entirely known. The car was parked at the time and had not been driven for approximately 65 hours. It appears there was a fire but we did not witness. The dash is melted leaving a gaping hole, what appears to be portions of the air bag are partially disintegrated and stuck…

   NHTSA complaint #11527728 · source
6. Filed Feb 3, 2023TXCrashAirbagsElectrical SystemSeats & Seat Belts

   12/09/2019, The ECU did not have adequate protection against certain electrical noise that occurred during the collision. Airbags did not deploy in the event of under ride collision, a freak accident involving wildlife crossing the street. Seat belt pretensioners did not engage. I called Allstate insurance that same day. Had I not worn my seat belt, I might have gone through the windshield. Safety was in danger, and not protected. Meineke informed me the oil housing…

   NHTSA complaint #11505391 · source
7. Filed Dec 15, 202274,000 miNCCrash2 injuredTowedAirbagsAcceleration & Cruise Control

   The contact owns a 2016 Toyota. The contact stated that while driving forward into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and crashed into a building wall. During the incident, the front end of the vehicle was severely damaged but the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained a neck injury and the front passenger sustained a bruised rib, both required medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed…

   NHTSA complaint #11497613 · source
8. Filed Jul 8, 2021TXCrash2 injuredTowedAirbags

   Question: What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Answer: Airbags; Yes they car is available to inspect upon request. Question: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer: Airbags failed to deploy during a motor vehicle accident. This resulted in injuries that could have possibly been prevented. Question: Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?…

   NHTSA complaint #11423962 · source
9. Filed Apr 23, 202170,808 miCACrash1 injuredTowedAirbags

   Tl* the contact owned a 2016 toyota corolla. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v024000 (air bags) and the vehicle was taken to hamer toyota located at 11041 sepulveda blvd, mission hills, ca 91345, for the recall repair. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 60-65 mph, the vehicle driving ahead of her husband loss the driver's side rear wheel with the tire still attached to the rim. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11413608 · source
10. Filed Mar 16, 2021NVCrash1 injuredTowedAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts

    I was involved in an accident in 8/19 where i was hit from behind. I was injured and now i found out there's a recall on the airbags and the seatbelts. The airbag did not deploy and the seatbelt do not tighten to keep me from breaking my nose and damaging my c4/c5/c6/c7 in my neck. The car was totaled and i no longer have it in my possession. The accident is well documented

    NHTSA complaint #11403301 · source
11. Filed Feb 2, 202194,000 miTXAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts

    The airbag light on the passenger side of the car started blinking red when the car is off, when the car is on the light says the airbag is off. I took it to the toyota dealer like i was recommended to do after checking the recall website. Auto nation toyota at 12111 gulf freeway in houston texas for them to fix the problem.after in less than an hour the service attendant called me and told me that the car needed the windshield wipers replaced and the ac and engine filters…

    NHTSA complaint #11394371 · source
12. Filed Dec 10, 202057,000 miCAAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts

    It happened while it is the toyota dealership and car was certified! They just updated the software disabling something and cover up like erasing the face of the problem instead of solving it. 01/17/2020 toyota motor sales, usa, inc. Manufacturer safety recall issued nhtsa #20v024 recall #20ta03 safety recall 20ta03 (remedy notice) - multiple models and model years - incomplete or nondeployment of airbags and/or seat belt pretensioners may occur status: remedy available…

    NHTSA complaint #11382954 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology