YearToAvoid

2005 Toyota Prius Airbags Problems

NHTSA has 44 owner complaints about airbag problems in the 2005 Toyota Prius, 4% of all 1,051 complaints for this model year. That is #4 highest airbag complaint count among 21 Prius model years. These complaints report 29 crashes and 33 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 65,000 miles.

Airbags complaints
44
4% of 1,051
Crashes reported
29
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
33
Median mileage
65,000 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2005 Toyota Prius airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 17, 2006, latest May 2, 2025.

2005 Toyota Prius airbags complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2006Mar 2008Nov 2008Dec 2010Aug 2012Jan 2015Aug 2017Oct 2023
44 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2006 to May 2025; peak Feb 2010 (3).

Airbags recalls for the 2005 Toyota Prius

  1. NHTSA 06V096000Apr 3, 2006Airbags133 vehicles

    Air bags

    On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. In this condition, the expansion force of the gas may be insufficient to properly inflate the air bag when the SRS system is activated during a crash.

    Risk: This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the specific SRS air bag. The recall began on april 6, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371, scion at 1-866-548-1851, or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.

Airbags complaints by Prius model year

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

  1. 200544 (4%)
  2. 200630 (2%)
  3. 200750 (2%)
  4. 200841 (3%)
  5. 200917 (3%)
  6. 201084 (3%)
  7. 201146 (9%)
  8. 201228 (7%)
  9. 201318 (4%)
  10. 201414 (7%)
  11. 20156 (4%)
  12. 20167 (5%)
  13. 20173 (3%)
  14. 20183 (8%)
  15. 20194 (13%)
  16. 20201 (7%)
  17. 20210 (0%)
  18. 20223 (13%)
  19. 20230 (0%)
  20. 20243 (12%)
  21. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Toyota Prius have airbag problems?
NHTSA has 44 owner complaints about the airbag in the 2005 Toyota Prius, 4% of all complaints for this model year, including 29 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 65,000 miles.
Which Toyota Prius year has the most airbag complaints?
The 2010 Toyota Prius has the most airbag complaints (84), compared with 44 for the 2005.
Is there a airbag recall for the 2005 Toyota Prius?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2005 Toyota Prius concerns the airbag: 06V096000.

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.