2004 Toyota 4Runner Airbags Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11707650

Incident

Dec 28, 2025

Side curtain shield airbags.

NHTSA ID

11437567

Incident

Oct 19, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID

11432489

Incident

Sep 6, 2021

Mileage

238,000 mi

CRACKED DASHBOARD RISK OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYING

NHTSA ID

11319290

Incident

Mar 23, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE OVER A SMALL BUMP, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LARRY H MILLER TOYOTA MURRAY (5650 S STATE ST, MURRAY, UT 84107, (801) 590-0640) AND NUMEROUS FAILURE CODES WERE LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 10909230699. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11281856

Incident

Sep 30, 2019

Mileage

180,000 mi

THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPOND IMPACT FROM A TRACTOR TRAILER. CAR COMPLETELY TOTALED.

NHTSA ID

11122771

Incident

Jun 6, 2017

Mileage

45 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN TOYOTA DEALER LOCATED IN UPATOI, GA WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11102531

Incident

Jun 18, 2018

TAMARA RECALL (AIRBAGS)

NHTSA ID

11033346

Incident

Jun 15, 2004

I HAD TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS TO TAKE THE CAR TO TOYOTA BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAG DEFECT.THIS HAPPENED TWICE ONCE IN 2013 AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO CHARGE AND THAN THEY CHARGED ME $346 AND SAID IT WAS TO REPLACE FLUIDS...THE SECOND RECALL WAS IN 2016 THIS TIME THERE WAS NO CHARGE.

NHTSA ID

11014129

Incident

Apr 5, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE FOUR SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BURNS AND CUTS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS ARM. THE OCCUPANTS DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THERE WAS NO FIRE, CRASH, OR POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. AN INVESTIGATOR INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID

10968707

Incident

Mar 15, 2017

Mileage

136,000 mi

I WAS NOTIFIED IN APRIL 2016 THAT MY CURTAIN AIRBAGS MAY NEED A NEW MODULE DUE TO THE UNINTENTIONAL OPERATION OF THESE AIR BAGS. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM THE DEALER. I THINK TOYOTA IS DRAGGING THEIR FEET IN SUPPLYING THE DEALERS WITH THE REPLACEMENT MODULE.

NHTSA ID

10916230

Incident

Apr 30, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10911125

Incident

Oct 3, 2016

I HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED INFORMATION ON THE INTERIM G1C. THIS IS ALSO ABOUT THE FRAME ON MY VEHICLE WHICH IS RUSTED VERY BAD. THE REAR PASSENGER ARM MOUNT HAS ALREADY BROKEN. THERE ARE ALSO HOLES IN THE TRAVE AND THE LONG PIECES OF METAL ON THE FRAME. THE SKID PLATES ARE ALSO RUSTED. ALSO THE TOW RING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS GETTING READY TO SNAP. I HAVE BEEN LEARNING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH SOME TOYOTA VEHICLES. I AM AFRAID THAT I AM RIDING IN A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS, SINCE TOYOTA IS AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH RUST. WHEN THE ARM MOUNT BROKE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WAS BOUNCING ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT SCARED US ALL BECASE WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. I W

NHTSA ID

10871438

Incident

Oct 31, 2015

Mileage

149,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10864784

Incident

Jan 18, 2016

WE HAVE A MELTING DASH IN OUR 4 RUNNER. IT CAN BURN TO THE TOUCH AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE OVER PAST YEAR. IT IS STICKY TO TOUCH ALSO AND HAS A BAD ODOR ALSO. WE MADE COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA BUT NO OFFER TO REPAIR. I CALLED DEALERSHIPS AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA CORP HAS NOT GIVEN THEM APPROVAL FOR PARTS TO REPLACE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SUMMER MONTHS GETTING HOTTER AND IT MAKING OUR AIRBAGS GO OFF OR DASH COULD CATCH ON FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10715021

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10690818

Incident

Feb 6, 2015

Mileage

200,000 mi

SEVERE CRACKS ON DASH PANEL ON PASSENGER AIRBAG AND WHOLE DASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660116

Incident

Nov 7, 2014

VEHICLE HAS ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF RUST ON FRAME METAL PARTS WITH EXCESSIVE CHIPPING AN CORROSION. ALSO, OF ALMOST MORE CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAG SENSORS ARE COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH, AS IF THEY WERE SACRIFICIAL ANODES. FRAME FAILURE DUE TO ABNORMAL RUST COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. SENSOR FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG SENSORS (BEHIND FRONT BUMPER) WHILE DRIVING COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO DRIVER OR OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS AMOUNT OF CORROSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648797

Incident

Sep 16, 2013

Mileage

146,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,444.

NHTSA ID

10605921

Incident

Jun 21, 2014

Mileage

90,444 mi

MY DASHBOARD HAS SEVERAL CRACKS FORM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER ALL ACROSS THE AIRBAG WHICH CONCERNS ME A WHOLE LOT, I ALSO HAVE A 2002 4RUNNER WHICH DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, THE MATERIAL IS PRETTY DIFFERENT TO THE 2004, THE 2004 LOOKS AND FEEL VERY POOR, NOT SURE IF TOYOTA WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE TO WARRANTY THIS DEFECT ! IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN AND SOMEONE GET INJURED THEN I GUEST TOYOTA WILL TRY TO HELP. THESE TRUCKS ARE MADE IN JAPAN, THE QUALITY SHOULD BE A++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ *TR

NHTSA ID

10574719

Incident

Mar 12, 2008

Mileage

87,000 mi

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I HAD SENT IN A COMPLAINT AFTER THE INCIDENT. CAR WAS TOTALED AND DRIVER WAS INJURED WITH A FRONT END COLLISION. TOYOTA REFUSED TO LOOK AT CAR FOR AIRBAG DEFECTS. I CAN SEND IMAGES IF NEEDED. RECALLED FOR TOO MUCH FORCE? HOW ABOUT JUST DEFECTIVE? THIS IS AT LEAST AS DANGEROUS AS DEPLOYING WITH TOO MUCH FORCE IN MY OPINION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10508376

Incident

Apr 1, 2009

Mileage

45,000 mi

I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT MY DASH HAS STARTED TO CRACK AND IT IS IN THE AREA OF THE AIR BAG. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED TOYOTA TO ASK FOR INFO AND THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST IN THE MATTER OR EVEN HELP PAY FOR IT TO BE REPLACED. THIS CONCERNS ME FOR MY SAFETY, SINCE IT IS IN THE AREA OF THE AIR BAG. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT IN THE DASH BUT HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. IT IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY CONCERN, BUT IT ALSO DEPRECIATES THE VALUE OF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE LISTED MY CASE NUMBER AND ONE OTHER THAT I KNOW OF BELOW WITH TOYOTA. OTHER FROM RESEARCH- [XXX] MINE - [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10479425

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

87,000 mi

APPROX 3 YEARS AGO, I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, I THOUGHT MAYBE SOMEONE DID SOMETHING AND DID NOT TELL ME. SINCE THAT TIME, MY DASH HAS INCREASED IN THE AMOUNT AND LENGTH OF THE CRACKS. ONE CRACK IS ABOUT 24-28 INCHES LONG AND OTHERS ARE ABOUT 2 INCHES AND LONGER. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. MY 4RUNNER IS GARAGE KEPT AND I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO MY DASH THAT WOULD CREATE THEY CRACKS. WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED IN AN ACCIDENT? CAN THIS CAUSE FLYING PIECES OF THE DASH BOARD TO BE IN YOUR FACE WHEN THE AIRBAG HITS CAUSING POSSIBLE FACIAL DAMAGE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10474132

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

I HAVE A 2004 4RUNNER LIMITED. THE DASH HAS A LONG CRACK ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE FRONT. THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RIGHT ABOVE THE GLOVE BOX IS COVERED WITH CRACKS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN MATERIALS USED BY TOYOTA AND THAT IT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE, BUT THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I BELIEVE THAT IF IT WAS CAUSED BY THE WEATHER OR PRODUCTS USED THAT THE CRACKS WOULD BE ALL OVER THE TOP OF THE DASH, NOT JUST THE FRONT WHERE THE AIRBAG IS SUPPOSE TO DEPLOY. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO ITS FAULTY DASHES. *JS

NHTSA ID

10458543

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED TO FIRST POSITION. ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING AND CAR WAS IN PARK. MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AT THE TIME AIR BAGS EXPLODED AND HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ID

10424828

Incident

Aug 30, 2011

Mileage

68,000 mi