2006 Toyota Prius Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 30about this part
- Share
- 2%of 1,440 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 70,500miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 30 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Toyota Prius, 2% of the 1,440 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,500 miles. 24 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On our 2006 Toyota Prius, the air bag faulty alarm came on continuously in december, 2008 under warranty and repaired. Recently december 2009, the same air bag alarm came on again and remains on with engine on. We suspect there may be a faulty with the air bag system due to it coming in again in one year.”
NHTSA complaint #10299579, filed 2010-01, 79,000 miles“Accident occurred in 2007. I was driving in moderate traffic on a two lane road. A car, two cars ahead of me, slammed on their brakes, and forced everyone else to quickly brake. I also slammed on my brakes, to avoid a collision. My brakes failed to respond in time, and resulted in my rear ending an SUV in front of me. The accident caused several thousands of dollars worth of damage to the front end of the car. No air bags were deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #10312581, filed 2010-02, 10,000 miles“I was rear ended at by a car goin almost full speed in a speed limit zone of 45 at a red light, while I was slowing down. While approaching the line of cars in front of me I started slowing down pumping my brakes to let to drivers behind know I was slowing down. I was then rear ended and shot into the car in front of me, lifting up the front of my car and smashing into another vechile. My firewall was completely bent in as well as half of the front bumper and frame torn off. I had no airbags deploy on either the passenger or driver side. …”
NHTSA complaint #10572656, filed 2014-03, 139,000 miles“I bought my Prius new in 2006, and the srs light has turned on intermittently since the first year. I first took the car into the dealer where I purchased it and they told me it was an anomaly and was nothing to be concerned about. This condition continued periodically over the life of the car with the same results each time. After the car was out of warranty, with a code Toyota informed me that the wiring assembly would need to be replaced on one or both sides of the vehicle. The code is b1821 and the part number is 82161-47310. …”
NHTSA complaint #10504057, filed 2013-03, 16,333 miles“On august 25, 2009 my daughter was involved in an accident with our 2006 Toyota Prius. This car had low mileage and a new set of tires. My daughter was probably going the speed limit of 45 MPH when an emergency vehicle brought traffic to a halt, my daughter put on brakes but still ending up hitting the vehicle in front of her resulting in totaling the Prius. Thankfully, she was not injured, but the people she hit have a claim in for injuries, though none visible at the time of the accident. …”
NHTSA complaint #10308185, filed 2010-02, 40,000 milesRelated recalls
- 06V096000Apr 3, 2006On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag…Covers: Toyota Prius 2004–2006, Lexus LS 2004–2006, Scion TC 2005–2006 +6 more
Related 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…
- 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.
- 10039067May 23, 2011Toyota: 2004-2009 prius. The airbag light is on with two possible trouble codes stored. There is a problem with a wire harness.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 17% |
| 2024 | 3 | 11% |
| 2022 | 3 | 13% |
| 2020 | 1 | 7% |
| 2019 | 4 | 13% |
| 2018 | 3 | 8% |
| 2017 | 3 | 3% |
| 2016 | 7 | 5% |
| 2015 | 6 | 4% |
| 2014 | 14 | 7% |
| 2013 | 18 | 4% |
| 2012 | 28 | 7% |
| 2011 | 46 | 9% |
| 2010 | 84 | 3% |
| 2009 | 17 | 3% |
| 2008 | 41 | 3% |
| 2007 | 50 | 3% |
| 2006 | 30 | 2% |
| 2005 | 44 | 4% |
| 2004 | 18 | 3% |
| 2003 | 1 | 1% |
| 2002 | 3 | 2% |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2006 Toyota Prius
941 complaintsBrakes
210 complaintsElectrical system
153 complaintsVehicle speed control
84 complaintsOther or unknown
44 complaintsEngine
25 complaintsSteering
22 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
22 complaintsEngine cooling
20 complaintsFuel system
20 complaintsEquipment
18 complaintsElectronic stability control
15 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 Toyota Prius
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