Airbags — Vehicle Component Safety Report

Airbags failure reports: 1307 total complaints across 100 vehicles from 3 makes. See which models are most affected.

1307Total Complaints
100Affected Vehicles
3Makes Affected

Airbags Decision Cockpit

This component hub groups real NHTSA complaint signals by make, model year, and vehicle page. Use it as a spoke from individual vehicle reports into the broader airbags safety pattern.

Top Makes for Airbags Complaints

Toyota — 701 Volkswagen — 604 Volvo — 2

Top Years for Airbags Complaints

2021 — 314 2015 — 211 2016 — 170 2020 — 135 2019 — 120 2018 — 120 2017 — 113 2022 — 60

A high complaint count does not automatically prove a defect, but it is a strong inspection signal when the same component appears repeatedly across related vehicles, years, recalls, or crash narratives.

Common Airbags Issues

The airbags component is one of the most commonly reported areas of failure in NHTSA consumer complaints. Issues range from minor inconveniences to serious safety hazards including potential crashes and fires. Below are the vehicles most affected by airbags problems.

Most Affected Vehicles

VehicleComplaintsRecalls
2019 Volkswagen Atlas 110 0
2021 Toyota Rav4 101 0
2018 Volkswagen Atlas 77 0
2021 Toyota Camry 66 0
2015 Volkswagen Beetle 51 0
2016 Volkswagen Beetle 41 0
2021 Toyota Corolla 41 0
2020 Toyota Rav4 38 0
2015 Volkswagen Passat 37 0
2021 Volkswagen Atlas 36 0
2015 Toyota Corolla 36 0
2020 Toyota Camry 35 0
2017 Toyota Corolla 34 0
2016 Toyota Corolla 32 0
2021 Toyota Highlander 28 0
2020 Toyota Highlander 28 0
2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 25 0
2017 Volkswagen Tiguan 19 0
2024 Toyota Grand Highlander 19 0
2016 Volkswagen Tiguan 18 0
2023 Volkswagen Atlas 18 0
2018 Toyota Corolla 18 0
2016 Toyota Camry 18 0
2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen 15 0
2022 Volkswagen Atlas 14 0
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 14 0
2016 Toyota Rav4 14 0
2020 Toyota Corolla 13 0
2017 Toyota Camry 13 0
2015 Toyota Camry 13 0

Frequently Asked Questions About Airbags Safety

What are the most common airbags problems in cars?

Based on 1307 NHTSA complaints across 100 vehicles, airbags issues range from minor malfunctions to serious safety hazards. The most affected vehicles are listed in the table below — click any vehicle to see its specific airbags complaint details.

Which vehicles have the most airbags recalls?

The Volkswagen Atlas is among the most affected. See the ranked table below for the full list of 100 vehicles with airbags complaints filed with NHTSA.

How dangerous are airbags failures?

Airbags failures can range from minor inconveniences to serious safety hazards. Some airbags complaints involve crashes, fires, or injuries. Always have airbags issues inspected promptly by a qualified mechanic, especially if your vehicle is subject to a related recall.

How do I check if my car has a airbags recall?

Search for your vehicle using our search tool or enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If a airbags recall exists for your vehicle, the repair is free at authorized dealerships.