YearToAvoid

2008 Toyota Corolla Airbags Problems

NHTSA has 138 owner complaints about airbag problems in the 2008 Toyota Corolla, 44% of all 314 complaints for this model year. That is #8 highest airbag complaint count among 21 Corolla model years. These complaints report 37 crashes, 1 fire, and 29 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 75,607 miles.

Airbags complaints
138
44% of 314 complaints
All complaints this year
314
Crashes reported
37
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
29
Median mileage
75,607 mi
Related recalls
4

When 2008 Toyota Corolla airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 28, 2008, latest Nov 10, 2024.

2008 Toyota Corolla airbags complaints: complaints filed per quarter392008 Q22010 Q42013 Q12014 Q22016 Q22017 Q32019 Q32021 Q3
138 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q2 to 2024 Q4; peak 2016 Q3 (39).

Airbags recalls for the 2008 Toyota Corolla

  1. NHTSA 19V741000Oct 17, 2019Airbags928,220 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.

  2. NHTSA 19V627000Aug 28, 2019Airbags229,460 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Corolla, 2005-2008 Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. The air bag may not unfold as designed during inflation under high temperature conditions, possibly resulting in the air bag not inflating properly.

    Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly or sub-assembly, free of charge. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are K1Q and K0Q. Pontiac owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is N192273760.

  3. NHTSA 16V127000Mar 3, 2016Airbags147,242 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC vehicles manufactured August 3, 2007, to July 30, 2010, 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured May 25, 2007, to December 21, 2007, 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and 2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to January 2, 2008. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: The recall began on March 25, 2016 for Toyota and Lexus vehicle owners. The recall began on June 23, 2016 for GM owners. The respective dealers will either replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the entire front passenger air bag assembly depending on the model. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. This recall expands recall 15V-285.

  4. NHTSA 16V128000Mar 2, 2016Airbags71,163 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC vehicles manufactured August 3, 2007, to July 30, 2010, 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 21, 2007, 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and 2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to January 2, 2008 that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: The recall began on March 25, 2016 for Toyota and Lexus vehicle owners. The recall began on June 8, 2016 for GM owners. The respective dealers will either replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the entire front passenger air bag assembly depending on the model. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. This recall expands recall 15V-286.

Airbags complaints by Corolla model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2005456 (53%)
  2. 2006453 (54%)
  3. 2007436 (52%)
  4. 2008138 (44%)
  5. 2009552 (38%)
  6. 2010424 (34%)
  7. 2011418 (72%)
  8. 2012370 (83%)
  9. 201372 (36%)
  10. 201469 (26%)
  11. 201556 (26%)
  12. 201665 (30%)
  13. 201754 (30%)
  14. 201836 (27%)
  15. 201931 (15%)
  16. 202017 (6%)
  17. 202152 (28%)
  18. 202210 (10%)
  19. 20236 (8%)
  20. 20247 (11%)
  21. 20256 (19%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Toyota Corolla have airbag problems?
NHTSA has 138 owner complaints about the airbag in the 2008 Toyota Corolla, 44% of all complaints for this model year, including 37 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 75,607 miles.
Which Toyota Corolla year has the most airbag complaints?
The 2009 Toyota Corolla has the most airbag complaints (552), compared with 138 for the 2008.
Is there a airbag recall for the 2008 Toyota Corolla?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2008 Toyota Corolla concern the airbag: 19V741000, 19V627000, 16V127000, and 16V128000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.