1997 Toyota Avalon Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 4%of 125 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 220,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Toyota Avalon, 4% of the 125 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 220,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Making a left hand turn after stopping at a stop sign, going approx. 10 MPH, the right front tire (only) bumped into a railroad track and the sensors told the car it had a front end collision and both airbags deployed even though no one was in the passenger seat. This explosion busted the front windshield, passenger side glass, knocked the front grill off, etc.. As the driver my face was cut and my left eye lens was blown out from the explosion and flying shrapnel and so I now have a transplanted left eye lens with a serial number and poor eyesight.”
NHTSA complaint #10676454, filed 2015-01, 220,000 miles“Consumer was involved in a head on collision, consumers wifes head hit the windshield and then the airbags deployed, hitting her in the chest at a great impact, consumer was also wearing her seat belt, Toyota stated that the airbags worked as designed.”
NHTSA complaint #565851, filed 2002-05“Upper steering knuckle broke; caused vehicle to pull severely to right, hit curb, struck light pole, noisy, seemed to have mind of its own; repaired. Dual airbags deployed, causing personal injury.”
NHTSA complaint #821050, filed 1998-02Related service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: 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…
- 10190460Mar 17, 2021Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
- 10131961Jan 14, 2014Toyota vehicles are equipped with Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury…
- 10133915Jan 3, 2013Toyota vehicles are equipped with SRS, including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury in a collision. If a customer…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 13% |
| 2021 | 12 | 57% |
| 2020 | 1 | 10% |
| 2019 | 1 | 1% |
| 2018 | 6 | 25% |
| 2017 | 2 | 14% |
| 2016 | 4 | 17% |
| 2015 | 7 | 17% |
| 2014 | 7 | 7% |
| 2013 | 14 | 10% |
| 2012 | 6 | 20% |
| 2011 | 2 | 2% |
| 2010 | 2 | 4% |
| 2009 | 5 | 5% |
| 2008 | 8 | 2% |
| 2007 | 20 | 8% |
| 2006 | 27 | 8% |
| 2005 | 12 | 5% |
| 2004 | 127 | 62% |
| 2003 | 184 | 63% |
| 2002 | 35 | 30% |
| 2001 | 21 | 16% |
| 2000 | 26 | 15% |
| 1999 | 22 | 24% |
| 1998 | 16 | 9% |
| 1997 | 5 | 4% |
| 1996 | 5 | 5% |
| 1995 | 8 | 10% |
Other parts of the 1997 Toyota Avalon
40 complaintsSuspension
26 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsTires
9 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
9 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsSeat belts
5 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Toyota Avalon
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology