2002 Toyota Corolla Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 23about this part
- Share
- 20%of 117 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 69,750miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 23 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Toyota Corolla, 20% of the 117 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 69,750 miles. 17 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I bought a car recently that had been in an accident and repair (restored / salvage title). Found out later that there is no air bag on passenger side and no air bag squib on driver's side air bag in steering wheel. Also air bag light bulb in dash has been taken out. Seller never told me about any of this. He works with (sells vehicles for) the body shop that fixed the car after accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10161158, filed 2006-06, 40,198 miles“I was driving home from working 12 hour graveyard shift. I fell asleep at the wheel and ran off the right hand side of our blacktop road 1 mile from home. My 2002 Corolla was traveling around 50mph I awoke and attempted to correct the car's path and hit a tree head on destroying the right grill bumper hood, windshield, right fender, inner upper frame work and headlamp assembly and wiring. My dash light came on that said my airbag deployed. My steering wheel airbag was still intact it failed to deploy or inflate. I was saved by god and my seat belt.”
NHTSA complaint #10693173, filed 2015-03, 300,000 miles“Was parking car in garage and car surged over parking barrier before I could apply brakes.when foot finally pressed on brake engine raced, and I regained control by shlifting into neutral. Air bags did not deploy. Distance traveled approximately 5 feet.”
NHTSA complaint #10118179, filed 2005-04, 85,000 miles“While driving between 30 to 35 -MPH the consumer was involved in a front end collision. Neither of the air bag deployed nor did the air bag warning light illuminate prior to the crash. The driver was wearing a seat belt. Consumer was in the hospital for eights days. There is a police report. (por favor envie las copias que le envio el fabricante Toyota).”
NHTSA complaint #10057358, filed 2004-04, 13,000 miles“Consumer stated while traveling at 25 MPH driver was involved in a rear end collision. Passenger's side seat belt did not hold, belt came out from out of the retractor. Also, none of the airbags deployed. As a result passenger suffered a chest concusion/ neck spring and back spring breaks.”
NHTSA complaint #10033533, filed 2003-08, 6,000 milesRelated 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
- 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…
- 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…
- 10132055Nov 4, 2013Beginning in 1998, Toyota introduced side airbags as optional equipment. Toyota does NOT recommend replacement of original seat covers with non-Toyota leather or other seat cover…
- 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…
- 10042555Sep 6, 2011Toyota: information provided for replacing the seat covers for vehicles equipped with side airbags.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 11% |
| 2025 | 6 | 19% |
| 2024 | 8 | 12% |
| 2023 | 6 | 8% |
| 2022 | 10 | 10% |
| 2021 | 53 | 28% |
| 2020 | 18 | 6% |
| 2019 | 33 | 16% |
| 2018 | 36 | 26% |
| 2017 | 54 | 30% |
| 2016 | 65 | 30% |
| 2015 | 56 | 25% |
| 2014 | 69 | 25% |
| 2013 | 72 | 36% |
| 2012 | 370 | 83% |
| 2011 | 418 | 72% |
| 2010 | 424 | 34% |
| 2009 | 552 | 38% |
| 2008 | 138 | 44% |
| 2007 | 436 | 52% |
| 2006 | 454 | 54% |
| 2005 | 457 | 54% |
| 2004 | 236 | 49% |
| 2003 | 333 | 46% |
| 2002 | 23 | 20% |
| 2001 | 23 | 17% |
| 2000 | 17 | 12% |
| 1999 | 19 | 12% |
| 1998 | 61 | 27% |
| 1997 | 29 | 21% |
| 1996 | 32 | 25% |
| 1995 | 54 | 31% |
| 1994 | 69 | 40% |
| 1993 | 48 | 37% |
| 1992 | 1 | 2% |
| 1991 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2002 Toyota Corolla
19 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsSeats
7 complaintsTires
7 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsSeat belts
5 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Toyota Corolla
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