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 Sienna owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My car was moving at 5 MPH going into a parking lot when a high speeding track jumped out of highway, hit my car straight on the right side,the strong impact caved the side door more than one foot,curtain air bags or any air bags in the car,did not deploy.$7000 in damage repair,$6000 in medical bills. Injuries sustained could have been avoided if air bags deployed. Incident was reported to Toyota many months ago,and being ignored.....updated 03/29/17
Vehicle was turning left onto an interstate on ramp when it was impacted on the front by an oncoming vehicle. Front driver and passenger airbags deployed. The driver received 2nd degree burns on left arm, and 2nd and 3rd degree burns on the abdomen. The driver was the only person in the vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that there was a leak coming from the front air bags with no visible damage or cracks. The contact stated that there was mold inside the vehicle due to the failure. In addition, the passenger and driver side floors were soaked with water. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 146,000...updated 03/15/16 consumer stated manufacturer was notified and description should be edited. Manufacturer stated there was nothing they could do about it and consumer needed to pay for defects. Updated 05/30/18
The Sienna was impacted from the rear when stopped at a stop light. The rear, moving vehicle was traveling at 30-40 MPH. The Toyota Sienna then had impact at the front into another vehicle. This three car pile up resulted in the Sienna being a total loss/not repairable. The air bags for the first and third vehicles deployed on impact, and no injuries in those vehicles were reported. The air bags in the Sienna did not deploy, and resulted in the driver receiving a severe neck sprain and lower back pain. Driver was taken by ambulance to hospital and released with work restrictions for three days.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator flickered while driving. The vehicle was taken to vancouver Toyota (10455 n e 53rd st, vancouver, wa 98662, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair fees. There was a manufacturer recall related to the air bags, but it expired ten years ago. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the front driver's side tire blew out, causing the vehicle to roll over. None of the air bags deployed during the crash. Two passengers in the vehicle suffered neck injuries and the contact suffered an injury to the arm. The vehicle was destroyed during the crash. The contact did not contact the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 185,000.
I had slowed my car to allow a group to pass and was making a left hand turn into a parking spot. My car lurched forward and sped forward nearly striking a group of teenagers. I plowed through three cement pillars and a flower pot and finally came to rest. My engine was revving and my foot was on the brake. Updated 12/02/09 updated 12/03/09 the consumer also stated the air bags did not deploy. Updated 12/03/09
Consumer's vehicle was involved in a lateral collision during which another vehicle ran a stop sign in front of consumer's vehicle. Consumer's vehicle hit the other vehicle at 25 MPH, and neither frontal air bag deployed. Both driver and the front passenger wore seat belts. However, both driver and passenger sustained minor injuries, and were transported to a local hospital. Dealer/ manufacturer were not notified.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sienna. While driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a crash but the air bags did not deploy. Three people were injured and a police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled. The current and failure mileages were approximately 118,000.
My wife ran off the road in her 2004 Toyota Sienna and struck a ditch. The car sustained over $7,000 damages to the front end. My wife suffered a fractured vertebrae. The air bags failed to deploy. Speed at time of accident was approximately 60 MPH.
Airbag complaints in other Sienna years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Toyota Sienna?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Toyota Sienna, 2% of the model year's 2,062 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Toyota Sienna airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2004 Toyota Sienna, though it has 10 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota Sienna airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 0 fires and 21 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.