Problems · by component

2003 Toyota Camry air bags problems

81 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Toyota Camry cite air bags, 10% of all 818 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
81
10% of all complaints
Crashes
53
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
50
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Sudden Unintended Acceleration: I had been out doing errands in the morning. I returned home, pulling up in front of my townhouse which is on a cul de sac. After gently coming to a stop, I planned to back up just a bit to park my car along the curb. (I did not have my foot on the accelerator, as the car normally goes gently backwards when you put it in reverse.) When I put it in R, the car accelerated backwards and crashed into a car that was parked along the curb about 15-20 ft behind me. I instinctively put the car in D to stop going uncontrollably backwards. The car shot forward; the brakes did not work. The car was out of control, making very loud revving sounds and loud screeching sounds from slamming on the brakes. Somehow, it did finally come to a stop by itself ¾ of the way around the cul de sac. Wanting to get out of the middle of the street, I instinctively turned the car back on and drove it slowly to my driveway. The car functioned normally. I could have badly injured or killed someone; in my cul de sac, there is often a lot of activity involving people of all ages, including children and babies. A police report exists. The car I hit was totaled. I…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2026Air bags, Unknown or other, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11771666
“2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DISPLAYING A DEFECT IN THE DASH AREA WHERE THE AIR BAG IS LOCATED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT THE VEHICLE AND HOW TO PROCEED WITH REPAIRS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 12, 2021Air bagsODI 11440194
“ALMOST AT END OF EXIT RAMP FROM I264 TO BARDSTOWN RD NEAR GARDINER LANE INTERSECTION. HAD GREEN LIGHT. MY VEHICLE WAS GOING APPROX 25 MPH WITH NO CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO EXIT ONTO BARDSTOWN RD (HWY 31?). ONLY MYSELF, DRIVER. I WAS IN LEFT HAND LANE TO EXIT TO WESTBD (?) BARDSTOWN RD. TOWARD DOWNTOWN AND A SMALLER CAR WHIPPED RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME FROM RIGHT HAND KANE (TWO EXIT LANES GOING IN SAME DIRECTION. PERHAPS, THIS CAR WANTED TO CROSS OVER THREE LANES ON BARDSTOWN RD TO GET TO FAT LEFT TURN LANE AT GARDINER LN. THIS LIGHT IS OFTEN BACKED-UP. EVEN THOUGH I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THEY WERE NOT STOPPING MY CAR IN TIME AND I HOPPED CURB TO LEFT TO SMSLL TRIANGULAR MEDIAN. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I COULD NOT MAKE WISE DECISIONS WITHOUT SEEING AND I WAS HIT BY AIRBAGS, BRUISED IN FACE, ETC. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT. I VIEWED THAT THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC COMING TOWARD ME AS I WAS NOW PERPENDICULAR TO TRAFFIC INTO TEO LANES OF BARDSTOWN RD. I COULD HAVE TURNED RIGHT AND AVOIDED HITTING ANY OTHRR VEHIVLE IF IT WERE NOT FOR AIRBAGS BLOCKING MY VIEW. I HAD NOT HIT ANY OBJECT OR VEHICLE AT THIS POINT. I KEPT APPLYING PRESSURE TO MY BRAKES ON WHICH I HAD SPENT THOUSANDS IN REPAIR.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 21, 2020Air bags, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11310623
“THE DASH IS CRACKING AT THE AIRBAG WHICH I SEE IS A REGULAR PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A NORMAL THING AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED FROM TOYOTA,”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2018Air bagsODI 11140383
“MY CAR WENT INTO A DEEP DITCH AND THE DRIVER OF MY CAR INCURRED A TERRIBLE CONCUSSION WHILE BANGING HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL UPON IMPACT. HER SEAT BELT WAS ON. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2018Air bags, Structure, WheelsCrash reportedODI 11114673
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG STARTED TO FAIL AND WAS EXPOSED AT THE DASHBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 13, 2017Air bagsODI 11022968

Showing 6 of 81 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags: side

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAGS (CSA), ONE OR BOTH OF THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY BE TWISTED NEAR THE INFLATOR DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY.

Air bagsReported Jul 13, 2004NHTSA 04V346000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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