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 2008 Toyota Tacoma owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The airbag light first came on about 60 days ago, the first time I tried to use the cruise control after light was first noticed the cruise control did not work. My concern is that as long as the light is on the airbag(s) may or may not deploy. This airbag light has stayed on constantly since first appeared, the cruise control will work intermittently. The component has not been inspected but there is a recall, 12V092000:Air Bag Clockspring Replacement, that addresses this exact concern but appears my VIN is not included. This is obviously a problem on other VIN ranges because mine suffers from this and it is obvious Toyota is aware there is a problem but it just hasn't had enough complaints with my VIN range, likely because there are not as many on the road as the vehicle is 14 years old. …
First notices that volume control on steering wheel and temp and directional display stopped working about a year ago. Now air bag light stays on when car is started and alarm for seat belts quit working.
"Takata recall" hit a guard rail on interstate 40 in ice and snow, airbags deployed and I received a laceration to left eye and eyelid, total of med bills including lifegard air transport and emergency/triage etc over $25,000 and climbing.
The pad assy steering part# 45130-04091-bo. Evidently the plastic contacts attached to the airbag assembly broke off and my horn was inoperable when another car drifted into my lane. Horn didn't work. Almost caused a severe accident. It worked sporadically for months, then another incident again when driver was texting on his phone and drifted again in traffic. I checked with Toyota service, they all know this is a problem with air bag pad assembley. I hardly use my horn, only when necessary, no driver over abuse here. I am concerned that these contact points break off in the cold weather. This is a real safety issue. I am concern that people will not report or are driving with no horn because it's so costly to replace air bag assembly. Injury and loss of life is real hear.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Toyota Tacoma. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the spiral cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 12V092000 (air bags); however, the failure recurred a year later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000. Updated 11/17/16 the consumer stated the spiral cable was replaced in 2015, by Toyota under recall. However, in spetember 2016, the cable failed. The dealer informed the consumer, it would not be free of charge, because it had been replaced previously. Updated 11/17/16 .
Airbag clockspring spiral cable assembly failed. Make, model, and year covered under recall 12V092000 but not this VIN. Problem started with volume control on steering wheel stopped working. About 2 months later the airbag warning light started to intermittently come on while driving. Soon after this all the electrical steering wheel controls including horn and cruise control stopped working and the airbag light was on continuously. I removed airbag and steering wheel and found the ribbon cable inside the clockspring assembly completely severed (see photo). I installed a new clockspring p/n 843060e010 and everything is now working.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Toyota Tacoma. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact crashed the vehicle into a tree in order to avoid a deer in the rain and the air bags failed to deploy. In addition, the seat belt separated from the frame. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the forehead that required medical attention. The condition of the vehicle was not determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000. Updated 02/02/15 updated 6/8/2015
My driver side air bag warning light is on all the time. This happened after the spiral cable recall. My dealer told me that the computer is bad. I feel the computer is doing its job telling something is wrong. Is it possible the cable they installed was defective? The vehicle has only 23000 miles. The estimate they gave me was $1200 for the computer. I need some advice and help. [redacted]
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Toyota Tacoma. While driving at 65 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact was informed that the clock spring in the driver side frontal air bag housing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V092000 (air bags). The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Toyota Tacoma. While driving at approximately 40 to 50 MPH down a narrow road, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact mentioned that all three passengers sustained unknown injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.
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.
Airbag complaints in other Tacoma years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2008 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 Toyota Tacoma, 6% of the model year's 449 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Toyota Tacoma airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 12V-092 (frontal, Mar 7, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2008 Toyota Tacoma airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 16 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.