Problems · by component

2006 Toyota Corolla air bags problems

496 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Toyota Corolla cite air bags, 55% of all 904 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 4 recalls on this component.

Complaints
496
55% of all complaints
Crashes
57
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
52
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The air bag light stays on at all times when there is nothing on the passengers seat. This has stayed on for the past two weeks. I am afraid that the airbag might fail and cause an injury.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 1, 2026Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11768208
“The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure; and the contact was informed that there were no open recalls associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 9, 2026Air bagsODI 11730134
“The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Corolla. The contact's son was driving at 55 MPH, another vehicle ran a stop sign and pulled into his path, resulting in a frontal collision with the side of the other vehicle. The contact’s vehicle spun around and came to rest on the shoulder of the road. Despite the high-speed frontal impact, the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed, and the vehicle was towed to an auto body shop; it has not been repaired. The contact's son sustained a bruised knee, neck and back pain, and a headache, for which he was treated with Tylenol. The contact referenced NHTSA ID Number: 19V741000(AIR BAGS), recall repair was done a year before. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 265,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2026Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11723650
“On my way to work when the I hit the brakes... brakes locked up causing me to be unable to come to a complete stop.. Driver side airbag deployed but the passenger side airbag caused the dash to explode causing a fire in the dash. With the dash exploding and the passenger side airbag not deploying correctly it cause the passenger to hit windshield! Unknown Unknown Just a check engine light for knock sensor.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2023Air bags, Service brakesCrash reportedFire reportedODI 11551151
“There was a recall in 2015 and 2019 for airbags on my model of Toyota. I own a 2006 Toyota Corolla CE. I was sent a letter from Toyota to go into a local dealership to get this done. There's only one dealership in our tri-city area. I took it into our local dealership called Findlay Toyota in Prescott, Arizona. I will say ahead of time that they have over 50 - one star reviews on Yelp.com From the moment I left the dealership in December of 2019 my airbag light was on in the dash area and it’s still there. When i went in and told Brian at the time he said it will go away. It never has. This warning was never on my dash prior to this recall. I’ve filed a complaint with the Attorney general’s office of Arizona and Findlay have no recollection of me ever going into their dealership. I've sent documentation of my visit on to the Attorney Generals Office and I’ve never heard back from Findlay Toyota. I've spoken to a Mike in July at Findlay and he was willing to waive the $130 or $150 fee only though if nothing is found wrong. I don't trust dealerships and if there's anything wrong then it was more than likely due to their workmanship back in 2019 that created this…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2023Air bagsODI 11547539
“Inflator Rupture - front passenger inflator. A vehicle collision at Alma School and 8th Avenue where one vehicle turned left in front of the oncoming involved 2006 Toyota Corolla resulting in the Corolla striking the right side of the other vehicle. During the collision the airbags were commanded to deploy and the passenger inflator had a significant rupture/failure which sent shrapnel out of the dash, striking the passenger. Our unit has investigated two confirmed Takata inflator fatalities and after a brief visual inspection it was confirmed the passenger inflator is in several pieces. The appearance of the inflator is consistent with prior observed passenger side Takata inflators. The car has been preserved in our parking lot and the passenger side airbag, with related tears and shrapnel holes, was obtained and preserved as well. The crash was filmed on intersection CCTV and the inflator can be seen expelling fragments outwards. A Dropbox file has been created to exchange photos and video upon request. Thank you. I am a Detective with the Mesa Police Department Vehicular Crimes Unit and was made aware of NHTSA's interest in identifying inflator related cases.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2023Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11538484

Showing 6 of 496 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

4 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Oct 17, 2019NHTSA 19V741000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Corolla, 2005-2008 Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. The air bag may not unfold as designed during inflation under high temperature conditions, possibly resulting in the air bag not inflating properly.

Air bagsReported Aug 28, 2019NHTSA 19V627000

Air bags

Free remedy

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 Sequoia, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2003-2007 Corolla, 2003-2007 Corolla Matrix, 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe and 2002-2007 Lexus SC vehicles. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.

Air bagsReported May 13, 2015NHTSA 15V285000

Air bags

Free remedy

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. On June 16, 2015 Toyota expanded the recall to cover an additional 769,055 vehicles, including certain model year 2002-2004 Lexus SC, Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Vibe, and Toyota Tundra vehicles, as well the vehicles covered by the May 13, 2015 notification in the portions of Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas that were not previously included. The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag.

Air bagsReported May 13, 2015NHTSA 15V286000
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.