RoadVitals

2005 Toyota 4Runner Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest Sep 4, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 424 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
8

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Toyota 4Runner submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsBrakes
Filed Sep 4, 2022
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
11482831
Incident
Aug 27, 2022
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jan 25, 2022
Crash reported

When accelerating it feels like the frame shifts on the body lots of rust,, as well as the power steering was a little low I added power steering fluid next thing you know it stopped working and driver seats is falling apart and collapse in Woodson within itself as well as the airbags didn't go off upon rear-ending a vehicle they came to a sudden stop in front of me at least 25 miles per hour

NHTSA ID
11448746
Incident
Oct 30, 1975
AirbagsSuspension
Filed Apr 15, 2019

THE FRAME ON MY 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS SEVERELY RUSTED. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PIECES FALL OFF MY SUV, SOME WHILE DRIVING. THIS INCLUDES THE FRONT SKID PLATE, TRANSMISSION LINES, AND OTHER SMALL COMPONENTS. THE FRAME ON MY SUV IS COMING APART. RATHER LARGE PIECES ARE 'FLAKING' OFF. IT IS PLAIN TO SEE WHERE THE METAL IS SEPARATING. I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT IMPACT SENSORS HAVE RUSTED LOOSE OF THE FRAME AND ARE NOW DANGLING FREE. THIS LEAVES MY SUV SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE AIRBAGS NOT INFLATING DURING A FRONT-END CRASH. THE ABOVE HAS BEEN OCCURRING OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. I HAVE OPENED CASE #1707170870 WITH TOYOTA, BUT THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO REMEDY FOR MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11196507
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Mileage
175,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 14, 2018

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON, ALWAYS ON, IN MOTION, PARK. IT WON'T GO OFF.

NHTSA ID
11101787
Incident
Apr 20, 2018
Airbags
Filed May 20, 2017

THIS TOYOTA DEALER AT PLAZA TOYOTA 2699 NOSTRAND AVEUE BROOKLYN NEW YORK 11210 TOLD ME THERE IS A RECALL ON MY 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 4.0L V6 . I SAID TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHAT RECALL I NEVER GET A LETTER FROM NHTSA STATING THAT. CAN YOU VERIFY IF THIS TOYOTA HAS A RECALL THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION

NHTSA ID
10990712
Incident
May 20, 2017
Airbags
Filed Dec 31, 2016

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF.

NHTSA ID
10938880
Incident
Mar 10, 2014
Mileage
165,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 1, 2016

NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 16V065 RECALL DATE: FEBRUARY 2, 2016 - IT HAS BEEN 10 MONTHS SINCE THIS RECALL WAS ISSUED WITH NO RESOLUTION BY TOYOTA. MY COMPLAINT IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT IS TAKING TO FIX THIS RECALL AND/OR TRYING TO IGNORE IT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS AN OLDER MODEL.

NHTSA ID
10929479
Incident
Feb 2, 2016
Mileage
74,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 14, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10925950
Incident
Feb 2, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 13, 2016

INQUIRING ABOUT A RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED BACK IN FEB. 2016 AND STILL NO INFO. ON FIXING AIRBAG PROBLEM. DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY TOYOTA IS TAKING SO LONG TO GET PARTS OUT TO LOCAL DEALERSHIPS TO FIX A DANGEROUS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10915761
Incident
Oct 13, 2016
Mileage
175,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 15, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

IN MIAMI, FL. AT INTERSECTION OF WATERWAY DRIVE AND SW. 72 AVE. MADE LEFT TURN UNDER RAIN, (ALL DAY RAINING) I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER TURN. CAME TO A STAND STILL AND MOMENTARILY, I ACCELERATED TOWARDS A TREE APROX. 15 FEET AWAY, VEHICLE CRASHED AGAINST TREE SO SEVERELY THAT PASSENGER SIDE OF FRAME BENT BAD (DECLARED TOTAL LOST BY STATE FARM INSURANCE). AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT MY AGAINST HEAD AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD, HIT STEERING WHEEL WITH RIB CAGE, I WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH MIAMI HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. AFTER TWO CAT SCANS AND TWO X-RAYS I WAS SENT HOME TO FOLLOW- UP WITH MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN I AM STILL IN PAIN MAINLY NECK AN SHOULDERS AND LATELY MY LOWER BACK. STILL HAVE TROUBLE SLEEPING, ETC. CANNOT DO HOUSE CHORES. PCP FORBIDDEN ANY TYPE OF EXERCISE FOR THE TIME BEING. PLEASE ADVISE. I SURRENDERED THE CAR TO STATE FARM INSURANCE BUT DID NOT SIGN THE TITLE OVER TO THEM YET. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE FOR OVER A MONTH. THANKS IN ADVANCE. PLEASE CONTACT ME...UPDATED 01/14/15 *BF

NHTSA ID
10664288
Incident
Nov 5, 2014
Mileage
76,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 4, 2014

I OWN A 2005 4RUNNER SPORT 4.7L. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM GENE REED TOYOTA IN CHARLESTON, SC. THIS IS NOT MY DAILY DRIVER AND STAYS IN THE GARAGE MOST OF THE TIMES. IT ONLY HAS 59K ON IT. THIS PAST WEEKEND I WAS DUSTING IT OFF GETTING READY FOR A SUNDAY DRIVE AND NOTICED A CRACK STARTING AT THE GAUGES AND FOLLOWING THE CURVE ON THE DASH ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE TOP OF THE RADIO. I JUST DROVE IT A WEEK AGO AND THAT WAS NOT THERE. I HAVE NEVER USED ANY CHEMICALS ON MY DASH, ONLY A DAMP CLOTH. AT FIRST GLANCE I THOUGHT IT WAS A FACTORY SEAM. I PULLED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE AND INTO THE SUNLIGHT WHERE I COULD SEE IT BETTER AND SURE ENOUGH YOU COULD SEE THE YELLOW FOAM INSIDE THE CRACK. I WENT TO GOOGLE THE PROBLEM AND COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES AT ALL THE SAME, EXACT PROBLEMS THAT WERE GOING ON. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE 4RUNNER'S DASH CRACKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA WITH THE QUALITY OF MATERIALS THAT THEY USED TO MAKE THIS DASH PAD. MY VEHICLE IS IN MINT CONDITION AND HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT IT'S ENTIRE LIFE.THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING MOSTLY TO THE 2003-2005 4RUNNER'S ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I HAVE READ THAT OTHER OWNER'S HAVE CONTACTED THEIR DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA, INC. ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE ALL REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY TOYOTA BECAUSE I HAVE NOTICED THE CRACK IS GETTING BIGGER WHEN IT EXPANDS IN THE HEAT OF THE SUN. THE DASH PAD GOES DIRECTLY OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND IF THE CRACKING CONTINUES IT COULD MAKE THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION AND DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY. I HAVE READ OTHER 4RUNNER OWNER'S ARE VERY WORRIED THAT THE CRACKING DASH WILL EFFECT THE AIRBAG TOO.TOYOTA COULD AT LEAST PAY HALF FOR THE PART AND LET A TOYOTA TECH INSTALL IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10567087
Incident
Mar 1, 2014
Mileage
59,490 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Sep 16, 2013

CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO APPEAR OF WHICH I FIRST NOTICED AFTER 90K MILES IN THE AREA OF THE FR PASSENGER AIR BAG. I FIRST THOUGHT THE AIR BAG MAY BE DEFECTIVE AND READY TO EXPLODE. AS THE CRACKS INCREASED IN NUMBER AND SIZE, THEY BEGAN TO APPEAR ALL OVER THE DASHBOARD. I NOTIFIED BOTH THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE MAIN TOYOTA OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA, THEY MADE AN OFFER TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD BUT I WOULD HAVE TO COVER MORE THAN HALF OF THE COST. THEY DID NOT ADMIT TO ANY PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. I WAS INFORMED THOUGH THAT TOYOTA USED RECYCLED PLASTICS IN THE MANUFACTURER OF SOME OF THE INTERIOR PARTS. AT THAT POINT, BEING UNEDUCATED IN THE USE OF RECYCLED PLASTICS I BEGAN TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND, THIS IS WHAT I FOUND; TOYOTA HAS USED RECYCLED PLASTICS FOR THE MANUFACTURER OF ITS AUTOMOBILE AND TRUCK PARTS FOR SOMETIME AND ARE CONSIDERED EXPERTS IN THE RECYCLING FIELD. I ALSO FOUND THAT DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS WE HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF RECYCLED PLASTICS BEING USED "VIRGIN, RECYCLED AND DEGRADABLE." THIS HAS PRESENTED A PROBLEM OF WHICH MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS A VICTIM, THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN. THE USERS OF RECYCLED PLASTICS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LONG LIFE SPAN PRODUCTS (MY DASHBOARD) HAS TO BE SURE THAT DEGRADABLE (SHORT LIFE SPAN) PLASTICS FEEDSTOCKS DO NOT GET MIXED IN TOGETHER. WHAT YOU HAVE IF YOU ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN IS A DASHBOARD THAT DISINTEGRATES BEFORE ITS TIME, LIKE A BOTTLE MADE TO BE DISPOSED OF IN A LANDFILL. I BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED SINCE TOYOTA IS IN THE BUSINESS OF USING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLASTICS FEEDSTOCKS FOR MANUFACTURING INCLUDING CREATING EQUIPMENT THAT IS USED IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE RECYCLING INDUSTRY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE A FAULTY, DISINTEGRATING DASHBOARD COULD AFFECT THE SAFE USE OF MY AIRBAG IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE CORRECTION OF THIS SHOULD NOT BE ON THE CONSUMER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10543898
Incident
May 1, 2012
Airbags
Filed Jul 5, 2013
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TOYOTA 4RUNNER WAS STOPPED AT RED LIGHT AND WAS REARENDED BY A CHEVROLET S10 AND CAUSED THE 4RUNNER TO SLAM INTO THE CHRYSLER SUV IN FRONT AT LIGHT. THE 4RUNNER AND S10 WERE BOTH TOTALED. THE 4RUNNER FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND BOTH OCCUPANTS SUFFERED CUTS AND BRUISES ALONG WITH WHIPLASH AND MINOR NECK INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10523279
Incident
Jun 29, 2012
Mileage
78,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed May 5, 2013

A SMALL CRACK STARTED TO APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BACK ON MAY OF 2011. AS TIME PASSES BY THE CRACK HAS BEEN GROWING PAST THE TOP PART OF THE GAUGES TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE. NEW CRACKS HAVE ALSO APPEARED AROUND THE AIR VENTS, ABOVE THE RADIO AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AREA. I HAVE TINTED WINDOWS AND ALWAYS USE A SUN VISOR WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED. I BELIEVE THIS IS CAUSED BY THE SWELLING OF THE HIGH DENSITY FOAM USED TO MANUFACTURE THE DASHBOARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10510675
Incident
Jun 16, 2011
Mileage
46,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 28, 2011

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN PREFORMING PERFECTLY WITH NO ACCIDENTS OR OTHER COLLISIONS UNTIL THE OTHER DAY, WHEN I TURNED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY WIRE AND THAT THE AIRBAG WAS PARTIALLY DEPLOYED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE AIR BAG UNIT. THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS. THE CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE BECAUSE OF AN INTERNAL DEFECT AND NOT BECAUSE OF ANY FAULT OF MY OWN. THIS IS TOYOTA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT.

NHTSA ID
10398948
Incident
Apr 16, 2011
Mileage
57,525 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 27, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

WE HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT DID $12,000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE. I BASICALLY FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL DRIFTED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK OUT 7 METAL GUARD RAIL POLES WITH WIRES IN BETWEEN AND THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10357761
Incident
Mar 31, 2007
Mileage
32,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Mar 4, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, THE LIGHT DISABLED THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOCAL DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AFTER ONE YEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,310. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AFTER THE FIRST DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AFTER SEVERAL VISITS. THE SECOND DEALER INSTALLED A NEW SENSOR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. UPDATED 03/26/10

NHTSA ID
10316633
Incident
Jul 14, 2006
Mileage
9,310 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 9, 2009
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I WAS IN A 4 CAR PILE UP AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT AND WAS ALSO REARENDED. MYHOOD WENTUP FROMTHE IMPACT AND MY HEAD HIT THE DASH OR STEERINGWHEEL. THE DOORS WERE JAMMED SHUT AND I HAD TO BE PRIED OUT BY THE FIRE DEPT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10276259
Incident
Jul 9, 2009
Airbags
Filed May 26, 2008
Crash reported1 injury reported

DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY FOLLOWING A DIRECT FRONT COLLISION HAVING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO BUMPER AND MOTOR ON A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228899
Incident
May 10, 2008
Mileage
79,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .