Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Toyota 4Runner owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
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. …
Traveling 55 MPH on ca interstate when car directly in front of me abruptly stopped. There was not enough time for me to stop, so I impacted the rear of the vehicle head on at approximately 45 MPH. Not one of the airbags in my vehicle deployed. Contacted Toyota about this and they said it is their "opinion that the airbags should not have deployed in this situation." I asked them where the frontal impact sensors were, and was told directly under the headlights in the bumper. Well, both sensors were in the impacted area on my vehicle, the entire bumper and assembly is being replaced. The cost to repair the damage is $10,000.00 the owners manual says the airbags will deploy in a frontal crash at approximately 15 MPH, I was doing at least 45 MPH! Toyota refuses to admit the failure of the airbags, and now I will be driving an unsafe vehicle.
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
Front end collision with semi where air bags failed to deploy. He said/she said situation. Trucker stated he was broadsided by driver who ran red light. Toyota driver states truck "jack knifed" or swerved into her car as he was changing lanes in intersection. Truck has a flat rear tire on second trailer and front end of car was totaled. Air bags did not deploy. Does the speed of the car traveling make a difference? Driver of car had sprained neck and concussion and was wearing safety belt. Had bruises from safety belt on shoulder. Will gladly e-mail pictures of severity of front end.
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.
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, [phone]) 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH and attempting a left turn, the vehicle crashed head on into another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the chest and knee. A passenger was also reported injured. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was available. The manufacturer was not contacted to report the failure. The contact stated that the air bags should have deployed in the type of frontal crash he was involved in. The failure mileage was 62,000.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Toyota 4runner. While driving 35 MPH, the contact lost consciousness and crashed into a fence. The frontal air bags failed to deploy. The contact was injured and sustained a broken neck. A police report was filed. The vehicle was inspected by the insurance adjuster, who determined that the vehicle was destroyed, but could not determine why the air bags failed. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 66,000. 4/01/09 updated 04/07/09.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a collision with a guardrail. There was a 5 second delay in the deployment of the air bag, causing the contact and a passenger to hit the windshield. Both occupants incurred head injuries, lacerations, muscular injuries, and the contact incurred ocular injuries. The vehicle was considered a total loss, and a police report was taken. The vehicle was not inspected by a service dealer or private repair shop.
Related recalls
Air bags › Side/window
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016.
Airbag complaints in other 4Runner years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Toyota 4Runner?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Toyota 4Runner, 5% of the model year's 678 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Toyota 4Runner airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-065 (side/window, Feb 5, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota 4Runner airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 14 crashes, 0 fires and 17 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.