FaultScore

1996 Toyota Corolla airbag problems

32 of the 151 complaints about the 1996 Toyota Corolla are about the airbag system — 21% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 115,000 miles.

F

32

Complaints

22

Crashes

3

Fires

14

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 24 75.0%
AIR Bags 7 21.9%
Side/Window 1 3.1%

Airbags across every Toyota Corolla year

1993 50 1.1%
1994 76 1.6%
1995 62 1.3%
1996 32 0.7%
1997 31 0.7%
1998 64 1.4%
1999 20 0.4%
2000 18 0.4%
2001 23 0.5%
2002 23 0.5%
2003 333 7.1%
2004 237 5.1%
2005 458 9.8%
2006 453 9.7%
2007 439 9.4%
2008 138 2.9%
2009 554 11.8%
2010 425 9.1%
2011 418 8.9%
2012 370 7.9%
2013 73 1.6%
2014 71 1.5%
2015 56 1.2%
2016 65 1.4%
2017 54 1.2%
2018 35 0.7%
2019 31 0.7%
2020 17 0.4%
2021 52 1.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 46,797 miles Mililani, HI

AIR BAGS

FEB 14, 2012, WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON PANEL. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO CAPITOL AUTO SERVICE, 94-422 UKEE STREET, WAIPAHU, HI 96797 AND SPOKE WITH OWNER, MR. FOX TO ASK WHAT PROBLEM WAS.(CONTACT PH-(808) 676-1888. AFTER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE AIRBAG AND THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE RESOLVED IN ORDER TO OBTAIN UPCOMING SAFETY INSPECTION. AFTER MUCH DIFFICULTY, HE WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN AN AIRBAG WHICH WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. INVOICE #2004, DATED FEB. 21, 2012. AMOUNT PAID $948.90. TO DATE, MY VEHICLE IS STILL NOT ON RECALL LIST. I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT TAKATA HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS 10 YEARS AGO AND DID NOT DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION. MY CLAIM IS BE REIMBURSED FOR THOSE MONIES PAID ($948.90) WHEN VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE RECALL LIST AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A SAFETY CHECK AND BE ABLE TO OPERATE MY VEHICLE ON OUR ROADWAY.. I AM ABLE TO EMAIL YOU A PHOTO COPY OF THE INVOICE USING MY CELL PHONE IF YOU REQUIRE SAME. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10995155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 115,000 miles Gold River, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING VIOLENT COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #10181551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 115,000 miles Gold River, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MY TOYOTA COROLLA (1996) WAS TOTALED IN A RECENT CRASH -- BUT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY!

NHTSA complaint #10181549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laurel, MD Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAREND COLLISION AT 35 MPH AND BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #10037812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Bowie, MD Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT AND THERE WAS A DELAY WITH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING, WHICH CAUSED INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10022171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sparda, TN Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 20 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY MECHANIC, VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO FRONT END. NO INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #8002055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stockton, CA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 50-60 MPH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #896966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nashville, TN Crash 4 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #735971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Zion, IL Crash Fire

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT 10/23/00, IN WHICH I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. I WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH. MY AIR BAGS FAILED TO GO OFF. LUKILY, I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT. THE ESTIMATED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE IS OVER $6,000, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. ALSO, IN FEB. OF THIS YEAR, WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER DRIVER INFORMED ME MY LEFT TAIL LIGHT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE CAUSED MY ALTERNATOR TO BLOW, AND THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE. I TOOK MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER, AND NOT ONLY COULD THEY NOT FIND THE CAUSE, BUT THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. AFTER TOWING FEES, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, ALL NEW FUSES, TAIL LIGHT AND WIRE HARNESS I SPENT $500.

NHTSA complaint #735157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Herndon, VA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE (PARALLEL, SIDE OF THE ROAD) WHEN I WAS STRUCK BY A CROWN VICTORIA GOING AT LEAST 50MPH. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY CROLLA TO FOLD, ACCORDIAN STYLE, AND RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. NEITHER THE DRIVER SIDE NOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT, SO ONLY MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.

NHTSA complaint #725081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntsville, UT Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #846830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

RAY, OH Fire

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 50MPH AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IMPROPERLY, AND KNOCKED DRIVER'S HEAD THROUGH SIDE WINDOW. GAS FROM THE AIRBAG IGNITED A FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SWEAT SHIRT. MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #834632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Omaha, NE Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DURING A COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #523377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Canton, GA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT GOING APPROX 50 MILES AN HOUR, FRONAL IMPACT. NEITHER OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT CAME OUT. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY INVESTIGATED THE CAR BUT THEY WILL NOT CONTACT ME AND LET ME KNOW WHAT THEIR INVESTIGATION TURNED UP. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY KEEP GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND.

NHTSA complaint #700765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAG RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #781073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Philadelphia, PA 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #826148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Canton, GA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 50MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.700765 DUP OF 822156; POSTED ON 09-07-1999.

NHTSA complaint #822156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Omaha, NE Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED THAT A VEHICLE WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, DID NOT HAVE TIME TO HIT THE BRAKES AND WENT RIGHT INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. 523377 DUPLICATE OF 815096, POSTED ON 03-NOV-98.

NHTSA complaint #815096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spring VAL, CA

AIR BAGS

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG IN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #603751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Omaha, NE Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NON DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DURING A CRASH.

NHTSA complaint #523180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fresno, CA Fire 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER CAME AROUND A CORNER AND HIT THE CURB, THEN HIT A POLE AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED LATER, CAUSING HIS PANTS TO CATCH ON FIRE IN LAP AREA. CONSUMER RECEIVED BURNS IN LAP AREA.

NHTSA complaint #815372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Daly City, CA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE VEHICLE WAS IN FRONTAL LEFT-SIDE CRASH, BRAKING FROM 60 TO 65MPH WHEN THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TOYOTA DID AN INVESTIGATION AND FORWARDED THE RESULTS, BUT CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED AND DOES NOT AGREE WITH THE RESULTS.

NHTSA complaint #813988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Valle, UT

AIR BAGS

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG IN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #519208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SO Royalton, VT

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT AIRBAGS MAY BE UNSAFE FOR SHORT DRIVER'S.

NHTSA complaint #516255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 20 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DIRVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING OCCUPANTS TO SUSTAIN INJURIES. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA complaint #810875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Marcos, CA

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT AIRBAGS ARE NOT SAFE FOR SHORT DRIVER'S.

NHTSA complaint #603080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plymouth, MA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVING ON HWY, THE DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON, VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, OBSTRUCTED DRIVER'S VISION, VEHICLE AT DEALER'S BEING REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #806387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Torrance, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE CRASHED INTO SIX INCH CENTER DIVIDE, IMPACT CAUSED AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, PASSENGER INJURED BY AIRBAG; RENTAL VEHICLE/ENTERPRISE, CONSUMER WILL INCLUDE VIN.

NHTSA complaint #808330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Hampton, CT Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND BOTH AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY .

NHTSA complaint #807520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aventura, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER'S AIRBAG WAS VIOLENT, CAUSING BURNS TO DRIVER'S FACE/ NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG, CAUSING INJURY TO CHEST.

NHTSA complaint #510649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Toyota Corolla problems

← Full 1996 Toyota Corolla report