Toyota Camry Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 1,520 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Toyota Camry across 30 model years. The 2007 model year has the most (137). The words owners use most often: “bags deploy” (15% of reports).
- 1,520air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 967mention a crash
- 692mention an injury
- 10related recalls
- $1,000typical repair cost reported by owners
- 29%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Bags deploy: mentioned in 227 of 1,520 complaints (15%)
- Upon impact: mentioned in 103 of 1,520 complaints (7%)
- Side air: mentioned in 94 of 1,520 complaints (6%)
- Medical attention: mentioned in 90 of 1,520 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical air bags repair on the Toyota Camry at $1,000, and half of them between $590 and $4,050.
Based on 22 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 837 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,520 complaints, 967 mention a crash, 14 a fire, 692 an injury.
Toyota Camry air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Camry | 6 | 12% | 22,412 |
| 2023 Camry | 5 | 8% | 21,950 |
| 2022 Camry | 10 | 16% | 41,000 |
| 2021 Camry | 78 | 50% | 52,500 |
| 2020 Camry | 49 | 18% | 26,000 |
| 2019 Camry | 24 | 6% | 10,923 |
| 2018 Camry | 22 | 3% | 64,500 |
| 2017 Camry | 24 | 16% | 49,500 |
| 2016 Camry | 31 | 17% | 50,099 |
| 2015 Camry | 21 | 8% | 25,500 |
| 2014 Camry | 42 | 9% | 36,120 |
| 2013 Camry | 36 | 13% | 22,900 |
| 2012 Camry | 75 | 13% | 35,500 |
| 2011 Camry | 72 | 12% | 53,000 |
| 2010 Camry | 49 | 8% | 61,000 |
| 2009 Camry | 66 | 5% | 61,000 |
| 2008 Camry | 46 | 5% | 78,000 |
| 2007 Camry | 137 | 5% | 60,000 |
| 2006 Camry | 59 | 19% | 64,000 |
| 2005 Camry | 65 | 9% | 54,000 |
| 2004 Camry | 79 | 12% | 65,000 |
| 2003 Camry | 72 | 9% | 77,125 |
| 2002 Camry | 89 | 9% | 64,602 |
| 2001 Camry | 38 | 14% | 115,500 |
| 2000 Camry | 58 | 13% | 107,500 |
| 1999 Camry | 74 | 15% | 70,000 |
| 1998 Camry | 50 | 8% | 119,700 |
| 1997 Camry | 55 | 10% | 95,000 |
| 1996 Camry | 47 | 11% | 109,000 |
| 1995 Camry | 41 | 14% | 120,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (10)
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Model years: 2019
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Camry vehicles. The Occupant Classification System (OCS) may have been improperly calibrated, which may prevent the proper deployment of the front passenger air bag and knee air bag, in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the air bags do not deploy as designed, the front seat passenger has an increased risk of an injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the OCS, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is K0M.
Air bags:knee bolster
Model years: 2017
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Avalon, and 2017 Camry vehicles manufactured August 3, 2016, to September 12, 2016. The front passenger knee air bag module may have been attached to the lower instrument panel with incorrect fasteners.
Risk: If the air bag was installed with incorrect fasteners, the fasteners may become loose over time, affecting the air bag deployment and increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fasteners, and if necessary, replace the instrument panel brace and body bracket and reattach the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 8, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G05.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Model years: 2016
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Avalon and Camry vehicles manufactured November 30, 2015 to March 4, 2016. The occupant classification system (OCS) that activates or deactivates the front passenger seat air bag system may have been improperly calibrated. As a result, the front passenger air bag and the front passenger knee air bag may not deploy as intended in certain crash scenarios. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the OCS, free of charge. The recall began by May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0J.
Equipment:appliance:air conditioner; air bags; electrical system
Model years: 2012, 2013
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air conditioning condenser unit housing. The accumulated water may then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module.
Risk: A short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Seats; air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Model years: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Problem: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Air bags
Model years: 2007
Problem: On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. In this condition, the expansion force of the gas may be insufficient to properly inflate the air bag when the srs system is activated during a crash.
Risk: This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the specific srs air bag. The recall began on april 6, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371, scion at 1-866-548-1851, or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Air bags:side/window
Model years: 2002, 2003, 2004
Problem: On certain vehicles equipped with curtain shield air bags (csa), one or both of the curtain air bags may be twisted near the inflator due to improper assembly.
Risk: If this occurs, the csa may not deploy rapidly enough when activated in a side impact collision. This may result in failure to provide the intended head protection, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the csas and replace the air bag assembly if necessary. The recall began on august 6, 2004. Owners should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 2002
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a three-spoke style steering wheel. During air bag deployment, it is possible that the bottom seam of the front driver's side air bag module cover (horn pad) could be torn away allowing the bottom portion of the cover to completely detach from the air bag module.
Risk: If this should occur, there is a possibility that the detached bottom portion may strike the driver causing personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's side air bag module. Owner notification began december 28, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or lexus at 1-888-333-9376.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 2002
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Incomplete deployment of the front passenger side air bag could occur in the event of a crash.
Risk: Unexpected air bag deployment can result in occupant injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag assembly. Both owners were notified by telephone and arrangements have been made to correct this problem. This campaign is 100% completed. Both owners have been notified and their vehicles repaired.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The "airbag malfunction" light keeps coming on and off warning that there's something wrong with the airbags or the system itself. It's actually for something they have recalls for but my VIN number doesn't show up for the recall. It says "SRS airbag system malfunction".
The contact owned a 2011 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle hydroplaned and the front driverâs side crashed into the highway median, and the vehicle spun around and the rear passengerâs side crashed into a highway guardrail. The air bags failed to deploy…
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving the vehicle, the vehicle was involved in a front-end crash while making a left turn at an intersection. The air bags failed to deploy upon impact. The contact's daughter suffered bruising to the chest and…
On August 19, 2026, due to my seizure, my car hit another car, then fence, and finally trees in a backyard. I had fractures in my brow bone, breast, ribs, and backbone because of the hit. My wife and daughter in the back seat also had serious injuries. The side airbag came out but front airbag…
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, a second vehicle T-boned the vehicle while driving approximately 60 MPH and crashed into the driverâs side of the vehicle. During the crash, no air bags had deployed inside the vehicle, including the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota Camrys have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,520 owner complaints about air bags for the Toyota Camry. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Toyota Camry air bags?
Yes: 10 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix air bags problems on the Toyota Camry?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,000 (half paid between $590 and $4,050), from 22 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Toyota Camry?
The most frequent phrase is “bags deploy”, in 227 of 1,520 complaints, followed by “upon impact” (103).
Other Toyota Camry problems
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (3,041)
- Power Train problems (1,644)
- Engine problems (1,490)
- Structure problems (1,392)
- Electrical System problems (1,184)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (1,092)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (1,064)
- Steering problems (1,001)
See all Toyota Camry problems.