2003 Toyota Corolla Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
Greeting, on June 7,2025 my Toyota Corolla was repaired at Interstate Toyota for the replacement on the airbag. I have attached documents that share the job was completed successfully. Please review and forward and email that it is verified in your system to my email address. [XXX] Warmly, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while her husband and son were driving at approximately 25 MPH, her husband smelled an abnormal burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated her husband then heard several abnormal sounds like a soda can being opened. The contact stated that the driver's and passenger’s door air bags inadvertently deployed. The vehicle was stopped, and the driver and passenger exited the vehicle. The contact stated that her son’s seat belt tightened and was difficult to unbuckle. The contact stated that as soon as her husband exited the vehicle, the passenger’s side frontal air bag deployed. The contact stated that the Police and Fire Department were contacted. A Police report was filed; however, the contact had not been provided the Police report number. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla Matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V285000 (Air Bags) however, the notification advised not to drive the vehicle and to contact the local dealer for retrieval of the vehicle. After contacting the local dealer, the vehicle had not yet been retrieved. 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 experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The airbag light came on suddenly, even though I had the airbag recall work done for my vehicle. I took it to a Toyota Dealership who wanted to charge me for the repair which I was willing to and perhaps work with Toyota directly to get reimbursed for but the parts weren't available.
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact received NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V741000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the recall was confirmed to be completed; however, the recall appears open for the VIN. The contact was receiving recall notices for the same recall repair. The contact called the manufacturer to inform them that the dealer had completed the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. There were no warning lights illuminated or a failure experienced. Parts distribution disconnect.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V741000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED A UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
The contact owned a 2003 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while she was driving at 60 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was transported to the hospital by the emergency unit. The contact sustained a herniated disc. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received an unknown recall notification for the air bag failure and the recall repair was completed by the dealer. The contact stated she received a second and third unknown recall notification for the air bag failure and the recall repair was completed by a second dealer (Thousand Oaks Toyota 2401 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362), however, the failure persisted. The contact stated while her son was driving at 40-50 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact's son sustained back injuries and sought medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
TRAVELING ON US HWY 70 AT 35 MPH. ACCIDENTLY HIT THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING STRAIGHT AHEAD OF ME AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE TURNED OFF WITH NO PASSENGER ON BOARD. THIS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT BUSTED MY WINDSHIELD WHICH WILL COST ME $400.00 AND TOYOTA SAYS THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UNLESS THERE IS A PASSENGER OR WEIGHT WHICH NO WEIGHT AND NO PASSENGER. JUST ME ALONE.
I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM TOYOTA FOR MY AIRBAGS. RECALL ID NHAT-FZJ. I CONTACT THEM TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR AND THEY TELL ME SINCE THERE'S ANOTHER RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE THEY CAN'T HELP ME FURTHER. SEEMS CRAPPY THAT SOMETHING THEY SHOULD ALSO FIX SOMEHOW HINDERS TOYOTA'S ABILITY TO FIX THE AIRBAG.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V741000 (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. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
I CONTINUE TO RECEIVE NOTICES FOR AN AIRBAG RECALL ON A VEHICLE I HAVEN'T OWNED IN TWO YEARS. PLEASE STOP EMAILING ME RECALL NOTICES. I HAVE ATTACHED A RECEIPT I RECEIVED WHEN I HAD THE CAR SCRAPPED. *TR
THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THE SAFETY RECALL CONCERNING MY AIRBAGS. I NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED.
I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS. I RECIVED THE RECALL FOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON DIXIE . I ALSO ASKED FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE SRS LIGHT BEING ON ON THE DASH. I WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP I NEEDED A NEW FRONT DRIVER AIRBAG DUE TO A SHORT. I LOOKED BACK AT THE MATRIX RECALLS . AND THERE IS A RECALL ON THE STEERING WHEEL CABLE SSUE THAT IS RELATED TO THE AIRBAG AND THE CIRCUIT OVER HEARING THAT IS RELATED TO AN AIRBAG RECALL ISSUE. I CALLED THE PERVIOUS OWNER AND SHE SAID SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SHE ALSO TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL IN 2016 AND WAS TOLD SHE NEEDED A NEW FRONT DRIVER AIRBAG. THIS CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALLS FOR THE ABOVE ISSUE. THIS ISSUE HAS PLACED MY FAMILY AND MYSELF IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION DUE TO THE UNSAFE ,SAFETY EQUIPTMENT. THE SRS LIGHTS COMES ON WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND DOES NOT GO OFF. THIS IS THE REASON FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND CORRECT THE SAFETY EQUIPTMENT FAILURES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THREE TIMES TO CLAREMONT TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 601 AUTO CENTER DR, CLAREMONT, CA 91711, (909) 542-1828), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER GRANDDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH APPROACHING THE TOP OF A HILL, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED ON THE ROAD. NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BRUISED CHEST AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DRIVERS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. RELIABLE TOYOTA (3521 EAST SUNSHINE, SPRINGFIELD, MO 65809) REPLACED THE AIR BAGS ON APRIL 15, 2019 UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL RELATED TO THE AIR BAGS THAT WAS RECEIVED BY MAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.
TAKATA RECALL - MY DASH AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AIRBAG ACCORDING TO CONSUMER REPORTS. PLEASE ADVISE.. HTTPS://WWW.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/CAR-RECALLS-DEFECTS/TOYOTA-RECALL-TAKATA-AIRBAGS/
TAKATA INFLATORS RECALL I BELIEVE I'VE CONTACTED TOYOTA NUMERIOUS TIMES ABOUT GETTING A RENTAL BECAUSE THE PARTS ARE NOT IN YET FOR MY RECALL AND THEY ARE PASSING THE BUCK AND MAKING ME WAIT. WE DONT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE OUR CAR, SEEING WHAT HAPPENED ON THE NEWS. I'VE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED ME WITH A TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER CASE #[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT
"TAKATA RECALL" I HAD A RECALL TO GET AIRBAG FIXED, TOOK TO DEALER, AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED. AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON; TOOK BACK TO DEALER, THEY WANTED A LOT OF MONEY TO CHECK IT OUT AND FIX IT AGAIN. I DON'T HAVE, I AM A DISABLED VETERAN ON A FIXED INCOME. THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS MIGHT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAITA TOYOTA OF SACRAMENTO (LOCATED AT 2500 AUBURN BLVD, SACRAMENTO, CA 95821, (919) 265-5666) AND STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A FEE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR FEES. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE PREVIOUS AIR BAG REPAIR WAS A ONE TIME REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
TANAKA RECALL. I HAD ALL RECALLS DONE SINCE THE FIRST ONE IN 2013. AT MY 2016 RECALL TOYOTA MECH SAID RECALL WAS DONE AND THAT ALL WAS GOOD AND IT WAS SAFE NOW. I LEFT LOT CONVINCED IT WAS TRUE AND I COULD NOW ALLOW RIDERS IN FRONT SEAT WITHOUT THREAT OF INJURY /DEATH. N0W 2018 DISCOVER WAS NOT SAFE TO HAVE PASSENGER. THAT MORE RECALLS COMING BUT PARTS NOT PRODUCED FULLY IN 2016. AIRBAG WAS REPLACED BY SAME DEFECTIVE AIRBAG AS TAKEN OUT,ONLY DIFFERENCE BEING THAT IT WAS ONLY OUT OF BOX NOT SAFE REDESIGNED TYPE!!WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED THAT THIS WAS THE CASE WHEN I GOT THE LAST RECALL INSTALLED??NOW HAVE ANOTHER NOTICE THAT THE REAL SAFE ONE HAS FINISHED PRODUCTION AND I CAN HAVE ONE INSTALLED NOW. MEANTIME MY FAMILY INCLUDING GRANDCHILDREN HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS DANGER OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH BY RIDING IN THE FRONT SEAT!! CONTACTED VARIOUS TOYOTA OFFICIALS BUT NO ATTEMPT AT EXPLAINING PROBLEM. IN FACT PASSED TO "GENERIC: UNTRAINED EMPLOYEE WHO, OR COURSE, WAS TOTALLY UNPREPARED TO OFFER ADVICE OR ANY ANSWERS CONCERNING SAFETY, PROBLEM.TRIED WEST COAST CEO ? AGAIN TO END UP IN SAME CUSTOMER SERVICE. CANNOT ENTER PLACE TIME ETC SINCE SAFETY NEGLIGENCE OCCURRED OVER AT LEAST 2 YEARS AND WAS THERE AT EVERY PLACE AND TIME I DROVE A PASSENGER ANYWHERE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER (SAN MARCOS TOYOTA, 5101 I-35, SAN MARCOS, TX 78666, (512) 392-1999) SERVICED THE VEHICLE FOR AN AIR BAG RECALL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR; THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS WAITING FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE MANUFACTURER TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT ABRUPTLY STOPPED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND METAL FRAGMENTS STRUCK THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE OTHER VEHICLES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. **TR CONSUMER STATED BOTH AIRBAGS 11/8/18*JB
ROLL OVER AND AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.
I CRASHED MY CAR AND THE AIRBAG BURST AND IT BURNED MY LEG AND IT DID NOT INFLATE. I AM REPORTING THIS RECENTLY BECAUSE I JUST RECEIVED A CERTIFICATED LETTER ABOUT 'URGENT SAFETY RECALLS'. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION.
WE ARE A SALVAGE YARD, THIS VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED MAY 30,2017
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Quick Summary
The 2003 Toyota Corolla has 316 Air Bags complaints on file. 46 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.