2003 Toyota Corolla Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 333about this part
- Share
- 46%of 721 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 120,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 333 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Toyota Corolla, 46% of the 721 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 120,000 miles. 58 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 7 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11413650, filed 2021-04, 172,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11399272, filed 2021-03, 107,000 miles“Hi, I called for airbag replacement due to recall at the first notice about several years ago and went to my Toyota dealer in danvers to get it fixed. I was told they didn't have the parts and supplies. Then I left it alone for while until all the safety recalls and notices kept coming in. I was in an accident in 2009 where my car bag did not deploy for my safety.”
NHTSA complaint #11044822, filed 2017-11, 180,000 miles“Got into what could've been a minor accident, but the car was totaled, however, the airbags did not even deploy. Before the accident, the seatbelt would lock at random times, which could cause an accident. I was making a u-turn on a state road. Once hit, the entire tire went under the car and the entire front came off, which was why I was surprised that the airbags did not go off.”
NHTSA complaint #10968842, filed 2017-03, 200,000 miles“Wrecked my 2003 Toyota Corolla into a light pole. The speed was about 35 MPH. Front end of the vehicle was smashed in and the car was totaled, the air bags did not deploy. With the amount of front end damage done to the vehicle the airbags should have opened, my 9 year old son has marks on his neck and is very sore from the impact of the seatbelts.”
NHTSA complaint #10510527, filed 2013-05, 119,000 milesRelated recalls
- 19V741000Oct 17, 2019Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix…Covers: Toyota Corolla 2003–2013, Lexus SC430 2002–2010, GX460 2010–2017 +14 more
- 19V627000Aug 28, 2019Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Corolla, 2005-2008 Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a…Covers: Toyota Corolla 2003–2008, Pontiac Vibe 2005–2008, Toyota Corolla Matrix 2005–2008
- 18V883000Dec 12, 2018Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and…Covers: Toyota Corolla 2003–2005, Pontiac Vibe 2003–2007, Toyota Sequoia 2002–2005 +2 more
- 15V285000May 13, 2015Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles…Covers: Toyota Corolla 2003–2007, Sequoia 2002–2007, Lexus SC 2002–2007 +3 more
- 15V286000May 13, 2015Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla…Covers: Toyota Corolla 2003–2007, Sequoia 2002–2007, Lexus SC 2002–2007 +3 more
- 15V043000Jan 28, 2015Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2…Covers: Toyota Corolla 2003–2004, Pontiac Vibe 2003–2004, Toyota Avalon 2003–2004 +1 more
- 13V029000Jan 30, 2013Toyota is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The supplemental restraint system…Covers: Toyota Corolla 2003–2004, Pontiac Vibe 2003–2004, Toyota Corolla Matrix 2003–2004
Related service bulletins
- 10251075Jan 25, 2024DP: The subject vehicles are equipped with a front passenger airbag. A part inside the airbag could explode, shooting sharp metal fragments at vehicle occupants. This could cause…
- 10251073Jan 25, 2024DP: The subject vehicles are equipped with a front passenger airbag. A part inside the airbag could explode, shooting sharp metal fragments at vehicle occupants. This could cause…
- 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…
- 10217806Jul 28, 2022CSP: Takata CSP Coverage Job Aid - published 7.28.2022
- 10217804Jul 28, 2022CSP: On July 30, 2018, a settlement of claims for Economic Loss related to Takata airbag inflators was approved for full implementation. The settlement includes Toyota?s…
- 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…
- 10131852Mar 8, 2017Dealer Letter: Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have not yet had campaign repairs completed.
- 10131851Mar 8, 2017Region Letter: Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have not yet had campaign repairs completed.
- 10109515Sep 2, 2014Dealer Letter: Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have not yet had campaign repairs completed. Please note the following…
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 2003 Toyota Corolla
92 complaintsVehicle speed control
77 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
61 complaintsSeat belts
38 complaintsElectrical system
34 complaintsBrakes
32 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
32 complaintsBody and structure
31 complaintsEngine
16 complaintsOther or unknown
15 complaintsFuel system
14 complaintsTires
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 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