Air Bag Problems of Toyota 4Runner - part 1

The dealership direct motor, located in manassas, virginia, sold me this car in poor condition. On Sunday the 22nd, I picked up the car around 10 pm. They didn't show me any information about the car. When I picked it up, I saw that the front bumper and rear door were damaged, and the airbag lights were on, which is dangerous. I returned the car first thing Monday morning and asked them to exchange it. They refused. I asked for my money back, which is $3,000, and they refused again. Then I went back on Wednesday and filled out a form explaining why I returned the car. They said they would return my money, but now they're not responding. They're trying to scam me.

See all problems of the 2018 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

On March 6, I was on south bound on rt 29 in culpeper county va at the posted speed limit of 55mph when I hit a debris item on the road. I do not know what it was but it impacted the front skid plate and seems to be no other damage from the impact. There was no contact with the bumper, wheels or otherwise. There was no sudden change in speed or loss of control at all. The most dangerous result of this was the deployment of all the airbags (except passenger front airbag, there were no passengers). A police report was filed with culpeper county sheriff (case# 2603-0033) and my insurance agency (usaa claim # 016632631-800). The shop where the vehicle was towed (ace collision in madison, va) expressed surprise at the total deployment of the air bags given the scenario. There were no warning lamps on, the vehicle was in perfect operating condition and all recalls have been addressed according to carfax.

See all problems of the 2016 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

The contact was a police officer calling on behalf of the owner of a 2025 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while the owner was attempting to park the vehicle in a parking spot, the vehicle began to independently accelerate up a hill. The owner then placed the vehicle into reverse(r) as the vehicle continued to accelerate while in reverse. The contact stated that the owner had their foot firmly pressed on the brake pedal as the vehicle continued to accelerate. The owner then struck two parked vehicles and another moving vehicle that was entering the parking lot. The vehicle continued to accelerate in reverse(r), crossed a side street, and entered a grassy area before the vehicle abruptly shut off. The contact was unaware if any warning lights had appeared on the instrument panel during the failure. The air bags did not deploy at any time during the failure. The officer stated that no injuries were reported and no medical attention was given. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an unknown location. The contact was unaware whether the matter was reported to the dealer or the manufacturer. The whereabouts of the vehicle were unknown. The failure mileage was unknown.

See all problems of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? response: frame, suspension, airbags / yes it is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? response: safety was put at risk due to frame & suspension failure due to severe rust. Also due to failure of deployment of airbags. Rusted frame failure subsequently caused safety of injured party and other motorists to be at risk due to the injured party’s 4runner to dart across oncoming lane of traffic with no warning other than a swaying motion felt immediately before losing control. Once the injured party lost control of the 4runner it crossed into oncoming traffic, progressing into the drainage ditch on the oncoming traffic side of highway. Once the 4runner impacted the drainage ditch at a 90° angle, the 4runners momentum dispersed by causing the 4runner to overturn 3 times landing on its wheels in the adjoining field. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? repaonse: independent service center has confirmed the problem with the rusted frame, rusted suspension, and air bag failure. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? response : yes were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? repaint: no warning lamps prior to failure. Symptoms indicative of failure were an unknown minor swaying sensation while driving. Injured party was under the impression that there may have been a tire low on air, which was discovered to be incorrect later.

See all problems of the 2004 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

Passenger air bag light indicates air bag off intermediately although my wife is sitting in the seat. Vehicle was examined by Toyota dealer and could not duplicate problem, it is however available for inspection upon request. We feel very uneasy with the air bag not on all the time with passenger in the seat in case of an accident. Dealer could not duplicate problem. There has not been any warning lights and the technician also indicated that there were no diagnostic codes!.

See all problems of the 2019 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

Saturday morning July 12th after starting my vehicle, a warning was presented “srs airbag system malfunction”. I immediately took it to the dealership where they ran diagnostics. The service advisor admitted he nor his mechanic had ever seen anything like that before. They were unable to detect the issue that day. We planned to return the vehicle Thursday July 17. I dropped it off at 10am and never heard from the dealership again that day. Friday, July 18th I contacted the service advisor around 10 am to get an update in which he said they were looking into it. Friday afternoon, I received a call from the service advisor letting me know that the front passenger occupant ecu had malfunctioned, costing approximately $1000. After researching this, I learned that Toyota has issued many recalls on this issue with other models. I called Toyota headquarters to see how they would rectify this but ended the conversation with no solution other than it is the consumer’s liability. This is a safety issue that should fall back on the manufacturer, especially given the history of recalls issued on this specific defect.

See all problems of the 2021 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

The contact owned a 2019 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph and hauling a trailer, the rear driver’s side tire blew out, and due to the weight shift the passenger’s side trailer tire blew out as well, causing the trailer to be tilted before crashing into a cement barrier. There was no warning prior to the blowouts or the crash. The trailer was towed from the scene and the vehicle was towed off the highway. The contact stated that the front of the driver’s side of the vehicle was damaged, and driver’s side rear of the vehicle was damaged by the trailer. The contact stated that a police report was filed but was not available. The contact stated that her husband sustained a gash on the forehead from striking his head on the dashboard, and her daughter had burns from the seat belt. Medical attention was not sought. The vehicle was towed to auto collision center - corpus christi where it was deemed totaled. The contact stated that the manufacturer then sent a representative to inspect the vehicle who informed the contact that the vehicle had operated as designed. The representative informed the contact that due to the angle of the impact, the air bags sensors operated as designed and did not deploy the air bags. The contact disagreed and contacted the ftc. However, a recorded message stated that due to the government shutdown calls would not be answered, and the contact called the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

I had a collision and rear ended a truck. My front left bumper was completely damaged. My chest hit the steering wheel. My airbags did not deploy.

See all problems of the 2014 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

The airbag sensor in my 2019 Toyota 4runner has failed, causing the airbag warning light to remain illuminated. This indicates the airbag system may not deploy properly in a collision, which is a serious safety concern. The vehicle has approximately 95,600 miles, has been well maintained, and has not been in any accident that would affect the airbag system. The dealership confirmed the failure but said I must pay approximately $6,224. 43 for the repair because the vehicle is out of warranty. This is a critical safety component that should not fail under normal use, and the repair cost places an unreasonable burden on the consumer. I am requesting this be reviewed as a potential safety defect.

Vehicle was involved in an accident where the driver side airbag did not deploy.

On [xxx] I was driving on [xxx] and was approaching my exit ramp and applied my brakes to slow down for the exit. My car began shaking and the brakes were vibrating very badly and not slowing down. I was either going to slam into the truck in front of me, or swerve and hit the highway retaining wall, which I ended up avoiding the truck and hitting the wall at 24 mph and my airbag didn't deploy. The vehicle was towed to a collision center and I submitted a case against Toyota that is still under review. No warning lamps, lights or sensors went off and the road was dry and no hazards on the road involved. Simply put, I applied my brakes and they failed which put me in severe risk of a big car crash and if I hadn't swerved and hit the wall it would of caused a larger accident. Toyota case # [xxx] Toyota customer service phone number: 1-800-331-4331 date of incident: [xxx] date of Toyota inspection: 4/10/2025 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2024 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

Neither the curtain airbags or steering wheel air bags deployed after a very bad car accident. Super upset because this is the reason parents spend so much money to keep their kid safe. She banged her head on steering wheel and on window which should have been prevent by air bags on 2022 4runner bought brand new.

See all problems of the 2022 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

We had made collision accident with a brand new 4runner as it appears in the uploaded pictures, the airbags didn’t deploy and never show any notification on the dashboard that there is a problem in the airbag system,after the accident a notification came to the screen that the airbag system malfunctioned and I have to visit dealer and now the insurance company wants to fix that car and give it bag to me however I don’t feel safe anymore to drive that car again.

See all problems of the 2023 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

The contact owns a 2006 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while their son was driving (mph unknown) when another vehicle pulled in front of them to change lanes without warning causing their son to t-bone the vehicle and sending the other driver's vehicle to spin crashing into other vehicles nearby. The vehicle air bag deployed however their son received 2nd-degree burns on their right and 1st-degree burns on their lower region, and a concussion. The contact was unable to confirm if any other persons received injuries but was able to confirm other vehicles were damaged from the crash. The contmedical attention was needed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to their insurance company's facilities who had stated the vehicle was totaled. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

See all problems of the 2006 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

On August 11th 2024 at approximately 8:30pm I was hit on the passenger side of my vehicle. As a result both passenger doors were smashed in. And had also been shoved into the car and causing the passenger seat to be stuck between the doors and center console. There was zero airbag deployment. There are 3 known airbags on that side of the vehicle and not one went off. The accident could have been a lot worse then it was but knowing now what I do about the air bags I regret buying this vehicle. And I am very emotional unwell knowing that the vehicle failed to get me and my passenger safer in the accident.

See all problems of the 2008 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

I was in an accident where the vehicle ran into the guard rail while on the interstate. The vehicle had significant damage and has now been declared a total loss by the insurance company. With the amount of damage to the front side of the vehicle, the airbag did not deploy and leaves us wondering with such damage, why it didn't deploy!.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's vehicle was involved in a head-on collision. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. Additionally, the contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact's service dog accompanied the contact in the vehicle and was seated on the front passenger's seat. The contact sustained injuries and was transported to the local hospital. The contact received treatment for headaches, whip lash and back pain. A police report was filed, however the information was unavailable. The contact stated that the service dog sustained injuries and was later treated for muscle tightness. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for the physical damage to be repaired. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer regarding the air bag failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with sensory failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the failure was not due to a manufacturer defect. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota 4 runner  . The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact was in a single car head-on collision. The contact stated during the collision there was an odor of the airbag deployment, however the air bags did not deploy. The contact was transported to the hospital due to their head hitting the steering wheel. The contact stated no other parties were involved. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who confirmed the airbags had failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000 .

I was just in my second front end collision and for the second time, my front airbags did not deploy. The first instance, I hit a deer head on going 75 mph on the interstate. Last week, I t-bone f150 at 35mph - hard enough to make that truck spin around - and had injuries to my head, knee, and hand, and yet the airbag did not deploy once again. In both cases, my car sustained over $10,000 and damage to the front end.

See all problems of the 2015 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

My vehicle was in a collision at 55 miles an hour. Hit 3 grown cows in the highway at nighttime. Totaled my vehicle in the airbags, never deployed period turn off.

November 2023l, my 13 year old daughter and I were involved in a car accident. A vehicle made a left hand turn in front of us and we collided (t-boned) the passenger side of the other vehicle. There were no warning lights, notifications of car crossing in in front of us, the assisted brake system did not activate, the air bags did not deploy, the on car assistance showed no accident reported. Other than the seat belts in the vechilde, no other safety features engaged. We have not been able to locate anyone who can confirm why no of the safety features did not work. Why did none of the safety features work and who can I contact. We no longer feel safe in this vehicle .

The component that failed is the air back clock spring. It’s preventing the horn form functioning properly. In turn can result in an accident from lack of warning other drivers and/or air bag might not go off. It seems to be a known problem on the 13 model year of the 4runners. It has not been inspected as I’m not knowledgeable on what to do in that situation and the dealer says that I’d have to pay for it anyway. No warnings just one day the horn didn’t want to work anymore and seems to be a problem that’s pretty consistent. People have reported that it has gone bad with as little as a 100k miles which the clock spring shouldn’t be a maintenance item to begin with.

See all problems of the 2013 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

I was slowing down with traffic going about 30mph and was rear ended by a small SUV going about 50-60mph. I was then hit on the right side by car who was originally behind us. I was thrown forward and then to the left. The emergency assist call was activated but not one of the airbags went off. I ended up with back and neck pain and injury. My passengers all suffered whiplash and one hit her head on the dashboard causing a concussion.

My 4 runner was hit on the passenger side while crossing a intersection. The truck that hit my 4 runner was going at least 40 miles per hr and was a heavy duty pickup truck. On impact the airbags did not deploy but the 4 runner went haywire.

My 4runner was involved in a collision where the airbags did not deploy, and I was knocked unconscious from hitting the steering wheel. The vehicle now shows an srs fault code and is subject to an open takata airbag recall. Toyota corporate initially stated they would cover towing for the recall repair, then reversed that decision, claiming an airbag fault does not prevent the vehicle from starting. Because of the failed airbag deployment and recall defect, the vehicle is unsafe to drive until the recall is completed. Toyota’s refusal to provide towing prevents me from safely completing a federally mandated safety recall. I am requesting NHTSA assistance in ensuring Toyota fulfills its obligations under federal recall law.

See all problems of the 2010 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

Upon moving with the flow of traffic at about 30 to 35 mph a car shot from a driveway straight in front of me causing me to hit that driver in the rear quarter panel of the passenger side putting him into a 360 spin not causing my airbags to deploy at that rate of speed in my opinion that is a huge fault of my system from my vehicle at that rate of speed my airbags should have went off to protect me as if I didn't have my seat belt on but thank god I always wear my seatbelt.

See all problems of the 2005 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

I was hit in drivers side by a vehicle that ran a red light, going approx 40 mph. The force of the collision pushed me into another vehicle. My car was new in March, had 7100 miles on it, and none of the airbags deployed, sidecurtain or steering wheel. I suffered a concussion and severe bruising.

- the roll over side curtain airbags deployed and hit my head. Both sides deployed. - I was in 4wheel low range. Driving with a group of trucks. The obstacle was a set of mud ruts. - all witnesses did not understand, nor have seen this happen. - Toyota sent me a report based on their review of the vehicle. They said the roll over sensors detected a roll-over event. They advised that it is a "predictive" system. That at some point in my driving through the mud ruts, the system thought I was rolling over. . . I was not anywhere near a roll-over. - I requested to know why the rscas button was removed. Toyota advised that it was governed by NHTSA to be removed from models produced after a certain year. - I do not want to have my vehicle repaired to "factory specifications" given the experience I had. Toyota could not negotiate that request on my behalf. This is my request to NHTSA.

I had a one car head on collision with a tree. Airbags deployed. . Drivers side knee airbags deployed causing multiple lacerations and large hematoma to both calves.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while the driver crashed into another vehicle, the air bags failed deploy. In addition, the contact stated that the braking alert for getting to close to a vehicle failed to illuminate. A police report was filed. The contact stated that the driver sustained two injuries and the contact sustained two injuries. The contact was unaware if the other passengers from the other vehicle sustained any injuries. The vehicle was damage and towed to a tow lot. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000.

See all problems of the 2020 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.

Side curtain shield airbags.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag would not activate while the contact's wife was seated in the front passenger's seat. The contact had to put weights on his wife's legs to activate the passenger's side air bag. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that was the way the vehicle was manufactured and could not be modified. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200.

The contact owned a 2004 Toyota 4 runner. The contact stated that the driver’s and front passenger air bags failed. The contact stated that when at complete a stop at the red traffic light, the vehicle in the rear failed to stop and crashed into the contact's vehicle rear-end, pushing the vehicle into the roadway. The driver’s and front passenger air bags failed to deploy and caused the front passenger's head to hit the dashboard, suffered injuries to the head, six broken back vertebrae, three broken ribs, head concussion. The contact was the driver and had no injuries to report. The front passenger who was her husband was airlifted to the hospital. The state trooper mentioned that the other driver might have been on their phone however it was unknown due to them suffering fatal injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The contact advised that the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 238,000.

Clock spring is bad in steering wheel for airbags.

About 1 month ago the air bag light started flashing. It is available for inspection. It had not been in an accident. We took it to a local Toyota dealer. There are some middle of the story details, but bottom line is eventually they told me it could not be fixed secondary to inability to obtain a control module. This has been verified by Toyota customer service.

See all problems of the 2000 Toyota 4Runner 🔎.