2013 Toyota Highlander Air Bags & Restraints Problems

Driver side airbags (curtain and left seat) spontaneously deployed while I was parking the car. I did not hit anything. I was not injured but my safety was put at risk because I likely would have crashed if it had happened while I was driving. I contacted Toyota and they sent an investigator to inspect the car. He found no issues in the data he collected and could not give a reason for the airbags deployment. I received a letter saying they were not going to help in any way. There were no warnings lights or indicators that could have warned me of the airbags deploying prior to the incident.

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving in negative 10-degree weather at 75 MPH, the driver's and passenger’s side curtain air bags deployed without warning or impact. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000. The VIN was not available.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND SWERVED TO AVOID A CAT, IT RESULTED IN CRASHING INTO A METAL TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LARRY H. MILLER LEXUS SPOKANE1030 W 3RD AVE, SPOKANE, WA 99201: (509) 293-6074 BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DRIVER STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER CHEST AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THERE WAS NO REPORTED FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

WAS HIT IN THE REAR END ON THE HIGHWAY, I WAS MOVING PROBABLY 8-10 MPH THROUGH A DEBRIS FIELD FROM AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW AND HIT ME PROBABLY AROUND 35-40 MPH. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT FIRE SINCE IN A REAR END IMPACT THEY SHOULD NOT TRIGGER. I DID NOT IMPACT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY HEAD HIT THE HEADREST IN MY FIRST MOTION THEN IT HIT THE STEERING WHEEL LEAVING ME WITH A CONCUSSION. MY ISSUE SHOULDN'T THE SEAT BELT HAVE LOCKED AND RESTRAINED ME IN THAT SECONDARY IMPACT MOTION?

MY PASSENGER AIRBAG KEEPS TURNING OFF DUE TO A SENSOR. I HAVE HAD IT FIXED, AND A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES LATER, IT WAS BACK ON!

I HAD A FRONT END ACCIDENT ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I CAUSED REAR END DAMAGE TO TWO OTHER VEHICLES. ON SEPT. 2, I HAD ANOTHER FRONT END COLLISION. I RAN INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER THAT HOLDS LIGHT POSTS IN PARKING LOTS. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED ME CHEST, BACK, AND NECK PAIN. THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENED BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I AM STILL IN PAIN DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT.THE FRAME WAS BENT IN FROM THIS COLLISION.

THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG SENSOR HAS FAILED ON 4 OCCASIONS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS CLAIMED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS FINE, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE RECALIBRATED EACH TIME. NONE OF THE OTHER AIRBAGS ARE AFFECTED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT LEG, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. FURTHERMORE, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION IN OCTOBER OF 2018. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES AND WHEELS SEIZED ON THREE OCCASIONS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS MADE AWARE OF ALL THE FAILURES, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCES. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PRETENSIONER ON THE SEAT BELT WAS EXCESSIVELY TIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AIRBAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,500.

I REAR ENDED A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. DAMAGE MINIMAL TO HIS CAR. MY HIGHLANDER SUSTAINED OVER 10 THOUSAND DOLLAR FRONT DAMAGE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

I WAS CUTOFF BY ANOTHER DRIVER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HIT MY BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THE DRIVER IN FRONT ME. I HEARD THE SEATBELT AND MY SONS CAR SEAT COME LOOSE. I TURNED AROUND AND SAW MY 2 YEAR OLD SONS CAR SEAT HAD BEEN EJECTED AND HIS FACE HAD SLAMMED INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT IN FRONT HIM. I WAS PUSHING THE CAR SEAT BACK, SO HE COULD BREATH, WITH ONE ARM AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THE TRAFFIC AROUND WAS TOO FAST FOR ME TO GET OFF THE VEHICLE TO REINSTALL THE CAR SEAT SO I ADJUSTED IT AS BEST I COULD WITHOUT TAKING HIM OUT OF THE SEAT AND PROCEEDED TO TAKE HIM TO SCHOOL. I CALLED THE DEALER I NORMALLY GO TO ([XXX] ) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE ON MY LUNCH BREAK SO THEY COULD CHANGE THE SEAT BELT. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT BOTH THE SHOP FOREMAN AND SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO CHANGE THE SEATBELT BECAUSE IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY THERE AND SAID I HAD INSTALLED THE CAR SEAT INCORRECTLY! THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND I REFUSE TO PUT MY KIDS BACK IN THAT CAR, WHAT CAN I DO? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT 4 TIMES FOR MESSAGE "CHECK SRS AIR BAG SYSTEM". THIS MESSAGE DEACTIVATES THE SIDE AIRBAGS FROM DEPLOYING. TOYOTA SERVICE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA SERVICE HAS DONE THE FOLLOWING TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. 1) REST THE MESSAGE "CHECK SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM" 2) CHECKED SENSOR AND WIRING UNDER PASSENGER SEAT 3) CONSULTED TOYOTA ENGINEERS. THIS PROBLEM ALWAYS OCCURS UNDER THE SAME CONDITION. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. WHEN FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IS SEATED AND THE CAR IS STARTED THE MESSAGE "CHECK SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM" APPEARS. THE MESSAGE REMAINS UNTIL THE CAR IS RETURNED TO TOYOTA. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RELATED TO THE WEIGHT OF THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WITH BOTH 120 AND 300 LBS FRONT PASSENGER. THANK YOU! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NUMEROS ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO HAVE HER VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V148000 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V014000 (AIR BAGS , SEATS) HOWEVER, BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT RETURN THE CONTACT'S PHONE CALLS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT EXHIBITED THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR NEAR THE DULLES TOLL ROAD ENTRANCE RAMP AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. SHE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF HER. NO BODILY INJURY TO EITHER PARTY. THE POLICE OFFICER WHO CAME TO THE SCENE SAID THAT IT WAS NOT MY WIFE'S FAULT AND HENCE, HE DID NOT ISSUE A TICKET TO MY WIFE. THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE IS $10,000. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS MALFUNCTION WAS TOLD TO KOONS TOYOTA. THEY DID NOT NOTIFY THE NHTSB, NOR THE TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS. AFTER THE BODY SHOP WORK WAS DONE, KOONS TOYOTA DID NOT EVEN INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO CHECK ALL THE NECESSARY REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE PROPERLY. NO SAFETY INSPECTION WAS DONE. *TT

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND CAME UPON A RED LIGHT, THERE WERE TWO CARS AHEAD OF ME, A LINCOLN AND A CHRYSLER. I STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AT A DISTANCE, WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED, I LOOKED DOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, AND IT SURE WAS, SO I HAMMERED DOWN ON THE BRAKE AND MY VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND CONTINUED TO RUN AT THE SAME SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THE FAULTY BRAKE CAUSED A WITHOUT THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS. I KNEW THAT I DID NOT ACCIDENTALLY STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL BECAUSE IF I HAD DONE SO, THE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FATAL. I WOULD HAVE PUSHED THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME ONTO THE ON COMING TRAFFIC. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I TESTED OUT THE BRAKES, AND IT WAS AS IF EVERYTHING WAS ALRIGHT. EVEN THOUGH I HAD SEEN THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME, AND THE RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, MY VEHICLE DID NOT REACT TO MY BRAKES. THE LINCOLN AND THE CHRYSLER IN FRONT OF ME ALSO DIDN'T HAVE THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

MY VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE, STRIKING DIRECTLY INTO THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE . THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED APPROXIMATELY $8000 WORTH OF FRONT END DAMAGE, HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. (FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO INJURIES). IN LIGHT OF CURRENT WELL-PUBLICIZED AIR BAG ISSUES, I ASKED MY DEALERSHIP IF THEY WOULD INSPECT MY VEHICLE TO ENSURE THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. THEY REFUSED, AND REFERRED ME TO TOYOTA CORPORATE. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE, EXPLAINED MY CONCERN, AND REQUESTED THAT MY AIR BAGS BE CHECKED OUT. TOYOTA CORPORATE REFUSED, AND SUGGESTED I SEND A LETTER TO THEIR CLAIMS DEPARTMENT. I SENT THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT A LETTER ON NOVEMBER 10, 2014, AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *TR

PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE - BRAKES APPLIED - CAR LURCHED FORWARD (UNINTENDED ACCELERATION) - BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE - CAR JUMPED THE CURB, CROSSED THE SIDEWALK AND HIT A TREE - AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR