43 complaints reported

2008 Toyota Highlander Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
43
Crashes
6
Fires
0
Injuries
6

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jun 2022 Crash Injury

Airbag failed to deploy in a front-left collision with another vehicle. The other vehicle's airbags did deploy. The vehicle is totalled and not available for inspection. The lack of deployment resulted in a head injury and whiplash. There was no advanced warning of this being a problem.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Apr 2022
Dec 2021

srs light stays on. have seen many comp;aints on this with 2008 highlander. many say its a wiring problem in steering column.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2021
Mar 2020

SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON VEHICLE MONITOR ALARMS ONCE THE CAR IS STARTED AND REMAINS ALARMED AT ALL TIME.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2019
Jun 2018

WE WERE DRIVING ON WA14 GOING ABOUT 55MPH WHEN OUR RIGHT SIDE AIRBAG CURTAIN EXPLODED. WE WERE NOT IN A COLLISION. NO BODY DAMAGE. THE AIRBAGS EXPLODED OUT OF THIN AIR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2018
May 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V245000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2017
Jan 2017

TAKATA RECALL MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN THE INITIAL RECALL, TOYOTA REPLACED THE AIRBAG IN SEPTEMBER 2015. IN OCTOBER 2016 MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE THE SAME ISSUE I HAD BEFORE - AIRBAG ISSUE. TOYOTA REFUSES TO FIX THE CAR AGAIN STATING THEY ONLY HAVE A ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON WARRANTY WORK WHICH THIS ISSUE IS JUST OUT OF THAT PERIOD. I HAVE TRIED TO REACH A MANAGER AT THE TOYOTA WARRANTY CENTER NUMEROUS TIMES BUT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2016
Jun 2016

THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION ALERT LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON IN MY 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA SERVICE AND THEY SAID IT WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY ON THAT PARTICULARLY DAY. THE ALERT LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER SO I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE OFFICES. TOYOTA SAID THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON SOME OF THE SAME 2008 HIGHLANDERS, BUT TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ONE OF THE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SENSOR WIRING IS IDENTICAL IN MY CAR TO WHAT IS DESCRIBED FOR THOSE CARS THAT WERE RECALLED. THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT IN OUR CAR COMES ON MORE THAN 50% OF THE TIME. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING NOW FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THE PROBLEM IS APPARENT WHENEVER THE ENGINE IS ON, WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR STAIONARY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2015
Feb 2016

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH. ON THURSDAY, FEB.11,2016 AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE AIRBAG WARNINGS LIGHT CAME ON. THE INFO SCREEN SAID TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND THERE WERE 2 WARNING SIGNALS ON THE DASH AS WELL. MY CAR HAS 88,000 MILES ON IT. I CALLED OUR LOCAL DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW. ATKINSON TOYOTA IN BRYAN, TEXAS. I SPOKE TO CHRIS IN SERVICE AND HE SAID HOW QUICK CAN I GET IT THERE. NATURALLY MY HUSBAND WAS OUT OF TOWN SO I SAID IT WOULD BE MONDAY, FEB15,2016 BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN. I HAVE SINCE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS, INJURIES AND BEWILDERMENT AS TO WHY THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN I SPOKE TO GAVE ME NO INFORMATION AS TO THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING IN OTHER HIGHLANDERS,SAID HE WOULD NEED MY CAR FOR AN ENTIRE DAY AND THAT I COULD RENT A CAR ONSITE AT MY ON EXPENSE. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA IS BEING EXTREMELY NEGLIGENT AND PUTTING PASSENGERS LIVES AT STAKE. I PLAN TO CALL THE DEALER TOMORROW. PLEASE REPORT THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE THEIR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WOULD CALL THIS GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF TOYOTA AS IT IS CLEARLY EVIDENT THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2016
Dec 2015

PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ON ALL THE TIME EVEN WHEN NOBODY SITTING THERE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2014
Aug 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS WARNING LIGHT FLASHED RANDOMLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V168000 (AIR BAGS) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V245000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Aug 2015
Jul 2015 Crash Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER RAN A LIGHT AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER INJURIES, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V168000 (AIR BAGS), BUT HAD NOT YET MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. ..UPDATED 08/26/15 *BF

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2015
Feb 2015 Crash Injury

I WAS DRIVING THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHEN I GOT STRUCK ON MY FRONT LEFT SIDE . I WAS HIT PRETTY HARD MY HEAD WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE WINDSHIELD . AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL ALONG WITH 2 OTHER PEOPLE . AND ON THE SCREEN IT SAID CHECK SYSTEM AIR BAG FAILURE .

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: May 2015
Jan 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V168000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Apr 2015
Nov 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V168000 (AIR BAG). THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME TO RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2014
Oct 2014

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATE DURING DRIVING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2014
Sep 2014

2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECEIVING AN AIRBAG NOTIFICATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2014
Jul 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4 MPH, THE SRS WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V168000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 9/18/14*CN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2014
May 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V168000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED SINCE THE PARTS NEEDED WERE CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: May 2014
Apr 2014

SPIRAL CABLE FAILED AT ABOUT 72, 000 MILES ON MY 2008 TOY HIGHLANDER BASE MODEL CAUSING AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE STEADY AND WAS TOLD OF FAILURE OF AIRBAG SYSTEM CREATING INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. CAUSE THE FAILURE APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING AND/OR DESIGN DEFECT AS ALSO SEEN IN OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SIMILAR SPIRAL CABLE FAILURE. SENSOR APPEARS TO RESET WHEN NO PERSON IS SEATED ON DRIVER SIDE AND IGNITION IS TURNED ON. AS SOON AS DRIVER SEAT SENSOR IS ACTIVATED THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT IS ON. PROBLEM WITH DRIVER SEAT SENSORS OR MAIN MODULE PERHAPS? EITHER WAY IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT NOT FOUND ON OLDER TOYOTAS (?) *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Sep 2013
Mar 2014

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT LIT, TOOK TO DEALER AND FOUND OUT SPIRAL CABLE WAS THE ISSUE AND NEED REPLACED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA AS THEY ALREADY DID ON OTHER MODELS. AS A LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER ALONG WITH THE REST, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UPON TOYOTA TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO THE RIGHT THING--RECALL THIS AIR BAG ISSUE. THANK YOU!! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2013
Mar 2014

SPIRAL CABLE FAILED AT ABOUT 78 000 MILES ON MY 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BASE MODEL CAUSING AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. I TOOK IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT AND I WAS TOLD OF FAILURE OF AIRBAG SYSTEM CREATING INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE LIGHT RANDOMLY CAME ON AND WAS NOT CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT. I AM SUSPICIOUS THAT THE FAILURE IS A MANUFACTURING AND/OR DESIGN DEFECT WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN SEEN IN OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SIMILAR SPIRAL CABLE FAILURE. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA SERVICE THAT IT WOULD BE OVER $500 TO REPLACE THE CABLE SINCE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER DOING A BIT OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO IS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I AM HOPEFUL THAT A RECALL CAN BE DONE SO THAT MY AIRBAG CAN DEPLOY IF NEEDED. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE POSSIBLY DONE TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE SPIRAL CABLE WHICH IS HOUSED INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN; THEREFORE I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Aug 2013
Feb 2014

AIRBAG SENSOR IS ALWAYS LIT NOW. TOOK HIGHLANDER INTO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING FOR OTHER TOYOTA RECALLS AND HAD THEM CHECK SENSOR. I WAS TOLD MY 2008 HIGHLANDER NEEDED A NEW SPIRAL CABLE AND COST WAS 557.00 TO INSTALL. I JUST FOUND MORE COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS AND WONDER WHY IT IS NOT A RECALL CONSIDERING OTHER TOYOTAS SUCH AS CAMRYS, TACOMAS & VENZAS HAD SAME PROBLEM BUT WAS A RECALL. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE 2008 HIGHLANDERS INVOLVED IN A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. APPARENTLY, I WON'T HAVE ANY AIRBAGS WORKING UNTIL THIS IS FIXED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2014
Jan 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO NOTICED THAT THE SRS AIR BAG SPIRAL CABLE WAS FAULTY. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DEFECT COULD SUSPEND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Feb 2014
Jan 2014

VEHICLE AIRBAG LIGHT ON WITH AN INDICATION OF B1801. I WAS TOLD THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED OTHER MODELS FOR SIMILAR REASONS. CAR FORUMS RESEARCH HAS UNCOVERED MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH SAME ISSUE. AIRBAGS ARE A TRUE SAFETY CONCERN AND TOYOTA, NOT THE CUSTOMER SHOULD FIX ISSUE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2014
Oct 2013

SPIRAL CABLE FAILED AT ABOUT 72, 400 MILES ON MY 2008 TOY HIGHLANDER BASE MODEL CAUSING AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE STEADY AND FAILURE OF AIRBAG SYSTEM CREATING INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN A CRASH. AS NO DRIVER ACTIONS, ETC. CAUSED THE FAILURE IT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING AND/OR DESIGN DEFECT AS ALSO SEEN IN OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SIMILAR SPIRAL CABLE FAILURE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2013

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2008 Toyota Highlander has 43 Air Bags complaints on file. 6 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.