TireKick

Reported years

Airbags owner reports: Toyota Highlander years in the records

Owner reports are bound to model year 2017. A year on this list does not mean every car has the problem.

Years we reviewed

What to inspect

  1. 1Ask the inspector to test the named system and note any warning lights, noises, leaks, or stored codes.
Sources and limits
Source recordEvidence: Limited confidence

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE DRIVER FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL. UPON WAKING UP, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE STOMACH, HEAD, AND NECK. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FOOT, CHEST, TONGUE, AND NECK INJURIES. THE FOUR REAR PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, HEAD, LIPS, FEET, AND ARMS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED QUEENSBORO TOYOTA AT (718) 335-8600 (LOCATED AT 62-10 NORTHERN BLVD, WOODSIDE, NY 11377), BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.”
NHTSAcomplaintJul 2018Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Limited confidence

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER AND STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED LEG INJURIES AND THE REAR PASSENGER ALSO SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A POLICE TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1806013647. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.”
NHTSAcomplaintJul 2018Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Limited confidence

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“On April 5, 2026, my 2017 Toyota Highlander was involved in a side‑impact (T‑bone) collision on the front & rear passenger side. I was seated in the front passenger seat. The impact was hard enough that my insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. During the crash, I struck my head, but no airbags deployed (front, side, or curtain). The vehicle is being released to Liberty Mutual Insurance. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. I am concerned that the airbag/SRS system may not have functioned properly in a crash severe enough to total the vehicle and cause a head injury to a front passenger. I am requesting that NHTSA record this incident and consider whether there may be a safety defect related to side or curtain airbag non‑deployment in this vehicle. Crash date: April 5, 2026 Approximate speed of other vehicle: [unknown] Location of impact: front passenger side (T‑bone) Result: vehicle declared total loss, head injury to front passenger, no airbag deployment.”
NHTSAcomplaintApr 2026Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Limited confidence

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“I had an accident on 1/14/24 and the airbags did not deploy. When we bought the vehicle from I-5 Toyota it had been in a previous accident and was repaired. I have a picture from the dash stating “ SRS air bag system malfunction” on the day of incident. The vehicle is being picked up by insurance 1/18/24 to be inspected. There were no warnings prior to the accident.”
NHTSAcomplaintJan 2024Open source record