2013 Toyota Highlander Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 17about this part
- Share
- 8%of 207 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 63,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the air bags of the 2013 Toyota Highlander, 8% of the 207 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 63,500 miles. 10 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 rear ended a car in front of me. Damage minimal to his car. My Highlander sustained over 10 thousand dollar front damage. My air bags did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10673101, filed 2015-01, 30,000 miles“My wife was driving the car near the dulles toll road entrance ramp at approximately 10 MPH. She suddenly lost control of the vehicle and hit the car ahead of her. No bodily injury to either party. The police officer who came to the scene said that it was not my wife's fault and hence, he did not issue a ticket to my wife. The extent of the damage is $10,000. The air bag did not deploy. The loss of control of the vehicle and the air bags malfunction was told to koons Toyota. They did not notify the nhtsb, nor the Toyota headquarters. …”
NHTSA complaint #10583038, filed 2014-04, 13,000 miles“Vehicle was proceeding through an intersection under a green light. A vehicle traveling the cross road proceeded through their red light and impacted my vehicle at full speed. The result was a t-bone accident into the driver's side door. The force of the collision was such that my vehicle was turned 90 degrees. The driver's head impacted the driver's side window shattering that window. The side curtain air bag did not deploy. Air bags in the other vehicle did deploy. Had the air bag operated properly it would have protected the driver's head from impacting and shattering the window. …”
NHTSA complaint #10777920, filed 2015-09, 37,000 miles“I was driving down the street and came upon a red light, there were two cars ahead of me, a lincoln and a chrysler. I started to slow down at a distance, when I applied the brake, my vehicle accelerated, I looked down to make sure that my foot was on the brake, and it sure was, so I hammered down on the brake and my vehicle did not slow down and continued to run at the same speed of approximately 15 MPH. The faulty brake caused a without the deployment of airbags. I knew that I did not accidentally step on the gas pedal because if I had done so, the results would have been more fatal. …”
NHTSA complaint #10563582, filed 2014-02, 12,030 miles“The passenger side front airbag sensor has failed on 4 occasions. The dealership has claimed that the airbag system is fine, but it needs to be recalibrated each time. None of the other airbags are affected.”
NHTSA complaint #11184890, filed 2019-03, 125,000 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…
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 | 6% |
| 2022 | 32 | 12% |
| 2021 | 42 | 8% |
| 2020 | 32 | 10% |
| 2019 | 14 | 3% |
| 2018 | 19 | 7% |
| 2017 | 9 | 3% |
| 2016 | 10 | 9% |
| 2015 | 8 | 4% |
| 2014 | 2 | 1% |
| 2013 | 17 | 8% |
| 2012 | 10 | 5% |
| 2011 | 8 | 4% |
| 2010 | 14 | 6% |
| 2009 | 8 | 6% |
| 2008 | 58 | 14% |
| 2007 | 2 | 2% |
| 2006 | 12 | 4% |
| 2005 | 9 | 4% |
| 2004 | 9 | 3% |
| 2003 | 9 | 3% |
| 2002 | 13 | 4% |
| 2001 | 10 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2013 Toyota Highlander
46 complaintsEngine
32 complaintsVehicle speed control
31 complaintsElectrical system
26 complaintsOther or unknown
23 complaintsBody and structure
18 complaintsBrakes
17 complaintsFuel system
15 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
11 complaintsSeats
10 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 Toyota Highlander
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