Written by Amir Guerami, Attorney· Last reviewed
Most air bag complaints by model year
NHTSA owner complaints as of November 6, 2026. Counts include all NHTSA Air Bags entries.
| Model | Model year | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y | 2023 | 41 |
| Chrysler Pacifica | 2023 | 35 |
| Toyota Grand Highlander | 2024 | 33 |
| Toyota Highlander | 2022 | 32 |
| Hyundai Palisade | 2025 | 31 |
| Volkswagen Atlas | 2022 | 30 |
| Rivian R1S | 2023 | 29 |
| Ford Maverick | 2022 | 24 |
| Hyundai Palisade | 2024 | 22 |
| Volkswagen Atlas | 2023 | 22 |
| Hyundai Palisade | 2023 | 21 |
| Tesla Model Y | 2022 | 19 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 2023 | 18 |
| Lexus TX | 2024 | 17 |
| Hyundai Tucson | 2022 | 16 |
Complaint counts come from NHTSA and are unverified owner reports. A high count does not mean every vehicle has the problem or that you have a claim.
How repeat air bag repairs fit the lemon law thresholds
The lemon laws look at your vehicle's own repair history, not at complaint counts for a model. If the same air bag problem keeps coming back after repairs, these are the thresholds that create a presumption:
- Maryland (Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-1502): 4 or more repair attempts for the same defect, 30 or more cumulative days out of service, or 1 repair attempt for a brake or steering failure that still fails Maryland safety inspection standards.
- D.C. (D.C. Code § 50-502(d)): 4 or more repairs for the same non-safety problem, 1 or more repairs for a safety-related problem, or 30 or more cumulative days out of service.
Air Bag problems can be treated as safety-related, which can lower the number of repair attempts that counts.
Both laws also require the problem to be reported within the coverage period. General information, not legal advice.
