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 2005 Toyota Tacoma owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My problem was associated with the air bag warning light. It came on and so I took my truck to Big Two Toyota in Chandler AZ. Dealer said I had a faulty clock spring assembly that will prevent the air bag system from functioning properly and was a major safety risk.... So I let Dealer remove and replace it for $511.82. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAFETY RECALL.... Please look into this issue for me and other Toyota Tacoma truck owners. Thank you.
I was slowly turning into my driveway when there was a sudden acceleration of the gas pedal. My truck shot like a bullet (about 40-45 feet) into the corner of my house and deck. The force of the impact sheared a 6x6 deck corner post, knocked the garage small entry door completely loose from it's frame, and did extensive damage to a solid brick wall, as well as damage to the inside of garage. Luckily, I did still have my seat belt fastened; however, the air bag did not deploy. I filed a claim with Toyota, they sent an inspector, and now have denied that there was any malfunction. I am 100% sure that the acceleration was not "driver's error" and that there is a safety issue here and Toyota should be held accountable. The body damage to my truck has been repaired, but I will be getting rid of it. …
I was pulling into a parking spot in front of a building. I was going approx. 1-3 MPH due to the lot being wet & had my foot on the brake. When I was almost to the concrete curb, the truck suddenly accelerated, jumped the curb and hit the building. I still had my foot on the brake & shifted into neutral. The engine was revving full throttle, so I turned off the engine. Before moving, I checked to make sure nothing was touching the accelerator, which was the case. The airbags didn't deploy but that was because of the angle at which I hit the building. I then restarted the engine an backed off the building.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Toyota Tacoma. While driving 30 MPH, another vehicle attempted to turn and the contact crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The ABS warning light illuminated. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was driven from the crash scene and was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.
2nd time a gas pedal stuck on my 2005 Toyota Tacoma truck leading to a 2nd collision with property damage to my truck & the car in front of me. Coming up to a red light with plenty of room to stop on a flat rd. There where skid marks from my truck and I had both feet on the brake and the engine increased inspeed. The dealer still does not have the parts to repair this problem even after my first accident in June of last year and again in July of this year. Toyota said they would turn it over to there legal dept. And the truck was to be inspected by a engineering firm from the west. The inspection firm was in a hurry to inspect the truck and called in July now they won't return my calls. This firm was hired by Toyota. Also during the repair it was found that the air bag had shorted out and did not deploy. …
I had an accident last August while driving my Toyota Tacoma prerunner. I was slowing down in a turn lane and I could not get the truck to stop which made me continue into oncoming traffic. The damage to my truck was over $8,000. And I do not know the dollar amount cased to the other car but it sustained major to the front of that car. The other car hit me on the driver side near the front wheel and back wheel areas. I did not receive a ticket but I was noted as the cause of the accident. I also ended up in the emergency room . No air bags went off I guess because it did not hit me in the front. I am not sure of the exact day of the accident so I put the 15th of the month. I can get the exact from my insurance company when needed.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Toyota Tacoma. While driving approximately 40 MPH the air bags involuntarily deployed, knocking the driver unconscious and resulting in a single car crash. A police was taken. The driver was reported injured; however, when the ambulance arrive he was not transported to the hospital. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was not examined to determine the cause of failure and it was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 32,800.
The airbag system is not properly functioning. The warning light is on and indications are that the system will likely not deploy properly if involved in a motor vehicle accident. It currently does not qualify for the Toyota airbag system recall, but interestingly enough there is an issue with the system in this current make/model. The problem was detected during a routine maintenance inspection/service at a shop.
Takata recall... Bought this vehicle used two years ago . It has 64000 miles on it and the air bag lite has been on for over three months now, it used to only go on once in a while and never at the dealer. They say there is no recall for my truck at this time
At 83,000 miles my air bag light came on and I was quite concerned. While looking in the owners manual all I found was ?if light is continually illuminated bring to the dealer immediately?. So I took my 2005 Toyota Tacoma into the dealership and they charged me $60 to diagnose the code. Once diagnosed, I was informed that the spiral cable needs to be replaced at an estimate to replace the part at $420. I asked the sales person in the service department how did it break. To my surprise she said ? I don?t know but it seams like almost every 2005 and 2006 Tacoma that reaches 75,000 miles has this problem?. At this point I can not afford the cable as I had to replace the water pump at the cost of $600. So this means that I get to sacrifice my safety until I can save up the money. …
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 tacoma vehicles, manufactured from September 14, 2004, through August 29, 2008. Over time, steering wheel vibration May damage the spiral cable assembly (clockspring) that powers the driver's air bag module.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the spiral cable assembly, free of charge. An interim letter is expected to be mailed to owners during April 2012. Owners May contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Air bags
On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the specific SRS air bag. The recall began on April 6, 2006. Owners May contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371, Scion at 1-866-548-1851, or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Air bags
On certain regular cab pickup trucks equipped with a bench seat, the seat position and seat belt buckle sensor connector pins are incorrectly positioned due to a wire harness manufacturing process error.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat position and seat belt fastening condition sensor connector. An additional sub-wire harness will be installed to correct the connector pin manufacturing error, if necessary.
Airbag complaints in other Tacoma years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2005 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA has 46 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Toyota Tacoma, 7% of the model year's 707 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Toyota Tacoma airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 12V-092 (frontal, Mar 7, 2012); NHTSA recall 06V-096 (air bags, Apr 3, 2006); NHTSA recall 05V-302 (air bags, Jun 28, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Toyota Tacoma airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 2 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.