2016 Toyota Corolla · symptom sheet
Airbag warning light or recall
- 65owner reports
- 35,000median miles
- 45involved a crash
Newest report Dec 28, 2025 · checked Sep 9, 2026
65 of the 213 complaints on this car describe airbag, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Corolla.
Tick what matches of 65 reports
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (23 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the airbags covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.
NHTSA investigations into the airbags on the Corolla
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture. Open.
NHTSA summary
Electrical overstress. Closed sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V-024.
NHTSA summary
Air bag inflator rupture. Open, led to recall 14V-668.
NHTSA summary
Air bag inflator rupture. Closed mar 2, 2015, led to recall 13V-172.
NHTSA summary
Frontal air bag non-deployment. Closed aug 19, 2011.
NHTSA summary
Air bag exhaust fire. Closed sep 30, 1997.
NHTSA summary
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 21,619 and 70,808 miles, from the 42 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“In 2024, my 2016 Toyota Corolla was involved in a collision. The airbags did not deploy. I went to the emergency room following the crash and later required additional medical treatment, including rehabilitation.”
Filed Dec 28, 2025
“Airbags did not deploy on time of the accident that I was very injured and hospitalized for 4 days in the iCU”
Filed Feb 27, 2024
“Vehicle rollover totaled and steering wheel ejected no evidence of any airbags none deployed”
Filed Apr 12, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 45 of 65 reports involved a crash and 47 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.
Other problems on this car
- Seat belt or seat problems 31 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 29 reports