Air Bag On-off Switch problems of the 2004 Toyota Camry

Dash airbag light came on and the passenger air bag sensor showed off even through someone was in the seat. First the dealer tried to reset system, but two days later light came back on. Took to dealer second time and they had trouble finding issue at first. Issue traced to airbag switch under back seat. Learned that while light is on entire airbag system fails. Dangerous situation and surprised by lack of redundancy in such an important system. Cost of repair seems very excessive at $1,000 for a sensor, but have little choice. I realize that the car is ~10 years old, but failure of this component seem very premature. Car is in very good condition with no excess wear or subject to abuse.

You have several service notices to replace the seat covers for the seatbelt light remaining on also complaints on the air bag problems not just on the solara but also on just the Camry. The airbag warning light on the dash has come on and off since the car was new. It now is on most of the time. As I understand it when it is on it disables the airbag system which is dangerous. The "buckle safety switch" among other things may be the problem. Toyota has had problems in these areas with other models and made recalls. The same defects may be in other models and they have not yet recalled or repaired the cars. They should fix their defects for free fast prior to someone getting killed. Toyota just wants to charge me a thousand dollars to replace the entire airbag system on the passenger side, don't you think this is a little much when an inoperative safety system with your knowledge could end up in a liability suit if something did happen.

I purchased a 2004 Toyota solara se new in 2004. The airbag warning light on the dash has come on and off since the car was new. It now is on most of the time. As I understand it when it is on it disables the airbag system which is dangerous. The "buckle safety switch" among other things may be the problem. Toyota has had problems in these areas with other models and made recalls. The same defects may be in other models and they have not yet recalled or repaired the cars. They should fix their defects for free fast prior to someone getting killed. My VIN # is [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry. While switching lanes at 35 mph, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. She stated that the tires slid without resistance and the air bags failed to deploy. The police arrived on the scene and filed a report. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but no repairs were made. The contact sustained several minor injuries. The powertrain was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 23,000.

A serious and dangerous flaw exists in the 2004 Toyota Camry le v6 which the company refuses to correct. Our car contains driver and front passenger side and curtain airbags. This was specificially purchased as optional equipment ($650. Additional) for the safety of the front passenger. The system is such that "airbag on" and "airbag off" indicator lights indicate the activation of the front passenger airbag, side airbag on the passenger seat and front passenger's seat belt ptensioner. I have been advised by the dealer that a person weighing 70lbs. Or more should activate the "airbag on" indicator light and afford protection for the front passenger. My spouse wieghs 95 lbs. She does not presently activate the "airbag on" indicator light although it did activate the first two months we had the car. What we have been doing to have the front passenger protected is for me (the driver) to press down on the seat while I start the car with my spouse in the front seat. This works about once every four or five attempts. The above is bad enough, but on two occasions, the indicator light went from "airbag on" to "airbag off" while we were driving. I had to pull over to try to activate the "airbag on" to afford protection for the front passenger. As I mentioned above, the company has refused to correct this dangerous situation. I spoke to the dealer (prestige Toyota of ramsey, NJ) and to the Toyota customer assistance center to no avail.