YearToAvoid

2011 Toyota Yaris Airbags Problems

Airbags account for 21 of 25 complaints (84%) filed on the 2011 Toyota Yaris, the highest share of any Yaris model year. Most center on the Takata recall (16V340000) and delayed parts availability, with a median failure mileage of 53,371 miles, 2 crashes, 1 fire, and 8 injuries reported.

Airbags complaints
21
84% of 25
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
8
Median mileage
53,371 mi
Related recalls
3

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Owners report receiving Takata airbag recall notice 16V340000 but being told replacement parts were unavailable for an extended period.
  • Passenger airbag warning light and SRS light stay on even when both seats are occupied.
  • Passenger-side airbag deactivation triggered by the seat occupant weight sensor, requiring dealer diagnosis and repair.
  • Owners describe frustration that no interim fix exists for the Takata inflator issue, leaving the vehicle in a state they consider unsafe.
  • One reported crash involved a fire and non-deployment of airbags, resulting in injury.

When 2011 Toyota Yaris airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 11, 2016, latest Mar 2, 2021.

2011 Toyota Yaris airbags complaints: complaints filed per month3Jul 2016Sep 2016Nov 2016Jan 2017Jul 2017Apr 2018Jan 2019Mar 2021
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2016 to Mar 2021; peak Jan 2017 (3).

Airbags recalls for the 2011 Toyota Yaris

  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 18V025000Jan 9, 2018Airbags116,126 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    On January 9, 2018, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified NHTSA that they are recalling 14,585 model year 2010-2012 Yaris vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. As of January 30, 2018, Toyota is additionally recalling 3,347 model year 2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles located in states listed above. Also included in this recall filing is 98,194 model year 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles, located throughout the U.S., that previously received a “like-for-like” interim air bag inflator replacement. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity 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, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assemblies with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are G0R (Zone B), and H0A (Zone C), J0A (Matrix Zone A), J0A (Matrix Zone A), J0A (Matrix Zone A).

  3. NHTSA 16V340000May 23, 2016Airbags1,754,517 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-2011 Lexus ES350, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2007-2008 Toyota Yaris, 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350 and 2007-2008 Lexus ES350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles of these model years and models that were not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are G1P (Toyota Zone A), G1R (Toyota Zone B), G2G (Lexus Zone A), and G2H (Lexus Zone B). Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), GLG (Lexus Zone A), and GLH (Lexus Zone B).

Airbags complaints by Yaris model year

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

  1. 20064 (80%)
  2. 2007112 (43%)
  3. 2008107 (49%)
  4. 200944 (48%)
  5. 201045 (50%)
  6. 201121 (84%)
  7. 201218 (51%)
  8. 20133 (33%)
  9. 20140 (0%)
  10. 20155 (33%)
  11. 20162 (40%)
  12. 20174 (27%)
  13. 20182 (50%)
  14. 20190 (0%)
  15. 20200 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Are airbags a common complaint on the 2011 Toyota Yaris?
Yes. NHTSA lists 21 airbag complaints out of 25 total for the 2011 Yaris, or 84% of all complaints for that year, the highest share among Yaris model years in this data.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2011 Toyota Yaris?
Yes. NHTSA recall 16V340000 (2016) covers Takata airbags on the 2011 Yaris, and a follow-up recall 18V025000 (2018) addresses passenger frontal airbag inflators for 2010-2012 Yaris vehicles registered in certain states.
At what mileage do airbag problems show up on the 2011 Yaris?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 53,371 miles.
Have airbag problems caused injuries or crashes on the 2011 Yaris?
NHTSA data for this model year lists 2 crashes, 1 fire, and 8 injuries associated with airbag complaints.

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.