Problems · by component

2004 Toyota Avalon air bags problems

127 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Toyota Avalon cite air bags, 62% of all 205 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
127
62% of all complaints
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“AIR BAG DASHBOARD LIGHT OCCASIONALLY FLICKERS AND BEGINS TO GLOW FOR A FEW SECONDS. SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY IN WET WEATHER. MY STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK WHEN I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. REVERSED BACKWARDS A LITTLE BIT AND WIGGLED THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULDN'T BUDGE THEN I WENT FORWARD AND WIGGLED AND IT FINALLY LOOSENED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES AND USUALLY IN WET WEATHER. MY CAR IS LISTED IN THE AIR BAG RECALL OF 2015; HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF WHAT TO DO NEXT AND IT HAS NOW BEEN MORE THAN 3 YEARS SINCE FIRST NOTIFICATION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 16, 2019Steering, Air bagsODI 11187211
“(1) AIR BAG DASHBOARD LIGHT OCCASIONALLY FLICKERS AND BEGINS TO GLOW FOR A FEW SECONDS THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY IN WET WEATHER.. (2) WHEN MOVING AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE DOOR LOCKS CLICK OPEN AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT GOES ON FOR A FEW SECONDS, THIS HAPPENS DAILY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 28, 2018Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11163851
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXTRA STRENGTH WAS NEEDED TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2018Steering, Air bagsODI 11118539
“#15V043 THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT BLINKING, NEVER STOPS, WHETHER DRIVING OR PARKED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED, IN MARYLAND, WHERE IT PASSED THEIR INSPECTION AND WILL PASS MY INSPECTION IN PENNSYLVANIA, BUT DOES CONCERN ME. I SOLD MY 1999 TOYOTA AVALON XL TO MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE CAR FAX THIS VEHICLE NEVER GOT A RECALL, BUT GOT THE RECALL # FROM THE INTERNET. SEEMS THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THE TOYOTA AVALON HAS, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER VEHICLES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 28, 2017Air bagsODI 11051007
“I RECEIVED NOTICE FOR THIS RECALL IN 2015. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 15V043 RECALL DATE: JANUARY 27, 2015 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: ESG NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE IN 2.5 YEARS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2017Air bagsODI 11012539
“HAVE BEEN CALLING DEALERSHIP SINCE MARCH 31ST, 2015. THEY TOLD ME ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE PARTS, I WAS ON A LIST. GAVE UP ON CONTACTING THEM.THEIR DEALERSHIP IS LOCATED IN JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT? THEIR PHONE NUMBER IS 608-754-7754. THE NOTICE SAID IT WAS URGENT, HOW URGENT CAN IT BE IF IT STILL IS NOT FIXED???”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2017Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10969944

Showing 6 of 127 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags: frontal

Remedy pending

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29, 2004, 2003-2004 Avalon vehicles manufactured June 5, 2002, to December 20, 2004, and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured January 18, 2002, to April 27, 2004. Due to electrical noise, a component in the air bag control module may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

Air bagsReported Jan 28, 2015NHTSA 15V043000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2004 Avalon problem areas