There are 8 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2009 Toyota Highlanderin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
My airbag light came on and I don't understand why the airbag light came on. I took it to a auto shop and they said I would have to take it to a Toyato dealer. Also, my emergency brake is all the way to the floor and it has never released. It will not release at all. It has been that way ever since I bought the vehicle.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY, WENT OVER A CEMENT BARRIER, AND CONTINUED ACCELERATING WITH SPEED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN ENTERED ANOTHER PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, AS A RESULT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CORNER DUNKIN DONUT STORE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR FACE INJURIES DUE TO THE GLASS, NECK INJURED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION; THE CONTACT WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR TWO DAYS. THE FRONT PASSENGER, SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT MENTION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN FOR SERVICE AT MILLENNIUM TOYOTA DEALER (267 N FRANKLIN ST, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550, (516) 874-2581) AND WAS INFORMED THE SERVICE WAS COMPLETED AND ALL WAS GOOD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,784. *TR CONSUMER STATED BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. IN ADDITION, THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER (ROYAL MOORE TOYOTA, 1415 SOUTHEAST RIVER ROAD, HILLSBORO, OREGON 97124) DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE IN THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER (BEAVERTON TOYOTA, 4300 SOUTHWEST MURRAY BLVD, BEAVERTON, OREGON 97705) SERVICED THE VEHICLE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V168000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 1807132735. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA TO CHECK THIS WEBSITE TO SEE IF MY PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL IS ONE OF THE ONES AFFECTED BY THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. IF SO, I WANT TO GET IT IN TO BE REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN CASE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND SOMEONE IN MY VEHICLE IS KILLED OR INJURED. I AM A SPORTS MOM SO AT TIMES I HAVE 6 CHILDREN IN MY VEHICLE AND 2 ARE MY GRANDCHILDREN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AND BECAME JAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RETRACTION MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,520. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,674. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
WITHOUT PREJUDICE MY VEHICLE WAS REAR -ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 75, AND GOT CRASHED ON TO THE CAR IN FRONT AT SPEED OF 40 TO 50. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND DASH BOARD INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND IT DOES NOT GO OFF. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THIS SUV CONSISTS WITH SIX AIR BAGS. NON OF THEM RESPONDED. I PURCHASE WITH CONFIDENCE THAT AIR BAGS ARE IN WORKING ORDER. MANUFACTURER RISK OUR LIFE FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS. I DESERVE COMPENSATION FOR RISKING 6 LIVES. *TR
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATES AIR BAG NOT FUNCTIONAL. OCCURS AT RANDOM TIMES, WILL STAY THAT WAY FOR DAYS OR WEEKS, THEN REVERT TO NORMAL. SOMETIMES AT SAME TIME FAN GOES TO HIGH, AIR CONDITIONING GOES ON, OR FLOOR/AIR DIAL SWITCHES TO ALL DEFROST, OR EMERGENCY LIGHTS SWITCH ON. DEALERSHIP SAID THE PROBLEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING WEIGHT LEVER IN SEAT, COULDN'T EXPLAIN THE REST OF IT, AND THEY NEVER DID ANYTHING TO TRY TO FIX IT. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS TO BE ELECTRONIC ISSUE AS IT SOMETIMES WORKS. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026