Problems · by component

2006 Toyota Avalon air bags problems

27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Toyota Avalon cite air bags, 8% of all 360 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
27
8% of all complaints
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
13
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owned a 2006 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle accelerated independently without warning. The contact heard an abnormal noise as he pressed on the brake pedal; the vehicle eventually came to a stop. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and resume normal driving operation. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer and was informed that a mechanical fault was found with the vehicle. The manufacturer was also informed of the failure and a complaint was filed. The contact continued to experience multiple failures after the vehicle was inspected. On the latest incident, the contact stated that he had entered a car wash on the left lane and attempted to enter the right lane by reversing the vehicle. Once the vehicle was placed into drive, the vehicle made an abnormal, squealing noise and independently accelerated without warning into a concrete wall. The airbags did not deploy upon impact. A police report was filed with Apex City, NC police department. The contact sought medical attention from his doctor for the soreness to his right hand and right knee. The contact had the vehicle initial towed to a dealer…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 26, 2021Power train, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11441720
“MY DASHBOARD HAS A TEAR OVER THE AIRBAG ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON FRANKLIN ST. IN HEMPSTEAD BEFORE THE COVID 19 VIRUS SHUT DOWN. I WAS INFORMED THAT SINCE THERE'S NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO CHANGE THE DASHBOARD COVER. I THINK IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THIS HAPPENED THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN. THE VEHICLE IS IN MINT CONDITION AND RUNS LIKE NEW BECAUSE I TAKE CARE OF MY CARS. PLEASE HELP *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2020Air bags, StructureODI 11321365
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH TO PULL INTO AN UNDERGROUND GARAGE AREA, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND FAILED TO RELEASE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED WITH FORCE, BUT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. UPON IMPACT, A YELLOW PIECE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FRACTURED. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND NECK AND SUSTAINED BODILY SCRATCHES AND BRUISING, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PLANNED TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG AND ACCELERATION FAILURES. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 10V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 216,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2019Electrical system, Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11193550
“MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IN A PREVIOUS RECALL I BELIEVE BUT WITH THIS UPDATE ON OTHER VEHICLES EFFECTED I 100 PERCENT SURE MY 06 AVALON XLS AND MAYBE OTHERS ARE HAVING AIRBAG ISSUES. THE SEATS (LEATHER) HAVE BEEN EFFECTED BY THE SEAT WARMERS OVER HEATING”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2018Air bags, SeatsODI 11143457
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A VEHICLE MERGED INTO THE CONTACT'S LANE AND STRUCK THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONTAL DRIVER AND FEET AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH GASES AND METAL FRAGMENTS, WHICH INJURED THE DRIVER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO PRESENT. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND DIAGNOSED WITH A DISLOCATED VERTEBRAE, FACIAL INJURIES, CHEST INJURIES DUE TO THE SEAT BELTS, AND INJURIES TO THE SHIN BECAUSE OF THE FEET AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT REQUIRED SURGERY TO THE DAMAGED VERTEBRAE AND HER HEARING WAS LOST PERMANENTLY. THE DEALER (SHEEHY TOYOTA OF STAFFORD, 95 GARRISONVILLE RD, STAFFORD, VIRGINIA, (540) 720-4700) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.*DT*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 25, 2018Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11113578
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE BECAME LODGED UNDERNEATH THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, TOWED TO A TOWING FACILITY, AND LATER TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2018Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11079517

Showing 6 of 27 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

Free remedy

ON 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 ASSEMBLY, SOME INFLATORS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF THE HEATING AGENTS NECESSARY FOR PROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. IN THIS CONDITION, THE EXPANSION FORCE OF THE GAS MAY BE INSUFFICIENT TO PROPERLY INFLATE THE AIR BAG WHEN THE SRS SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED DURING A CRASH.

Air bagsReported Apr 3, 2006NHTSA 06V096000
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.