2012 Toyota Avalon Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 20%of 30 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 56,100miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Toyota Avalon, 20% of the 30 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 56,100 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
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.
“The car would not respond to the remote, so I had to use the key to get access, then I was able to lock and unlock doors and turn on ignition.I turned ignition on and saw display flash various icons after car was started. As I was driving the dash icons flashed again. The car did not stop, so I continued driving.”
NHTSA complaint #10694604, filed 2015-03, 42,200 miles“Another driver rand a red light and I (t-boned his passenger side) was in a head on collision. I was breaking at the time, but still imagine I hit him at between 30-40 MPH. The front end crumpled as expected but the airbags did not deploy. Firefighters cut power to prevent the airbags from deploying unexpectedly afterwards. A check passenger airbag light had come on in recent days that I did not get fixed before the accident, but it should not have affected the driver side airbag I expect. Liberty mutual is currently in possession of the car (they deemed it a total loss).”
NHTSA complaint #11269414, filed 2019-10, 115,000 miles“My vehicles airbags did not deploy I was hit by an 18 wheeler at a high rate of speed. The vehicle had at least 2 rear end hits by this 18 wheeler estimated at a speed in excess of 25 miles per hour faster than mine (I was going at 70mph northbound on us 75, nine miles south of tulsa oklahoma on a sunny monday at 3pm). The street was dry. The truck initially hit me on my rear and on my left rear quarter. I was spun in front of the truck and he hit me again on the rear quarter and the bumper and spun me in the opposite direction and then pushed into the guardrail at an estimated 40+ MPH. …”
NHTSA complaint #11161898, filed 2018-12, 70,000 miles“Air bag on passanger side of vehicle is disabled and will not reset/activate. Vehicle air bags have never been deployed. Dealer stated we would have to pay out of pocket to have system troubleshooting completed.”
NHTSA complaint #10917823, filed 2016-10, 16,000 miles“The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Avalon. The frontal airbags failed to deploy when an 18 wheeler collided into the vehicle while travelling at 65 MPH. The cause of the failure was unknown. The vehicle was destroyed and the driver and passenger were hospitalized with spinal injuries and bruises. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 65 MPH, an 18 wheeler stroke the vehicle in the middle rear when attempting to switch lanes. None of the frontal air bags deployed. The police was present and a report was issued. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. …”
NHTSA complaint #11316549, filed 2020-03, 71,000 milesRelated recalls
- 20V024000Jan 17, 2020Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid…Covers: Toyota Avalon 2012–2018, Corolla 2011–2019, Avalon Hybrid 2013–2018 +1 more
Related service bulletins
- 10249321Dec 14, 2023DP: On November 28, 2023, a class action settlement of claims for certain airbag control units was finally approved by the federal court. The settlement includes Toyota?s…
- 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…
- 10227898Nov 23, 2022TSB: 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…
- 10190460Mar 17, 2021Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
- 10132410Jul 20, 2017TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 20, 2017 Rev1: Applicability has been updated to exclude 2007 ? 2017 model year Avanza vehicles. Some hazardous material treatment and handling…
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 2012 Toyota Avalon
6 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsEngine
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsSeats
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 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