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 2002 Toyota Tundra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The Toyota Tundra 2002 truck did NOT deploy driver's side and passenger's side airbags in a collision consisting of frontal and left-sided collision with immobile objects, with frontal/top profound impact from standing tree. The car was up to date on its inspections and maintenance. The breaks, though appropriately checked and tested, would take longer than normal to break the vehicle. The seatbelt, if pulled hard enough, would easily dislodge from buckle, coming undone. The driver of this vehicle collided as described above and due to the failure(s) of the safety mechanisms in place, resulted in the death of the driver. The driver was restrained with seatbelt, however dislodged from buckle upon impact and NO airbags deployed. The issue(s) have been confirmed by the police report, the county police documented. …
I've owned this vehicle for 18 yrs. During that time Air Bags have been replaced on models above and below my year model. Every two or three years, I inquired at Dealerships when this series will be replaced. Always with the same answer, not required because not enough accident reports to warrant replacement. During that time I've only had one small finder bender not affecting the Air Bags to deploy. Curious why this year and model was never required to replace Air Bags?
Recently had to replace and pay for replacing SRS sensor assembly DTC b0133 short in in p?r squib and b1100 air bag sensor. Old unit serial # 12625229if. I was told that my truck was not on the recall list so Toyota would not pay to replace it. Since it is the same issue for the recall, why is my vehicle excluded if it is the same safety concern? I cud have been a victim of this defect. The new unit serial # is 01860095if
Takata recall Toyota does not recognize that our 2002 Toyota Tundra has a factory faulty airbag/ seatbelt system, and say that there is no recall for our vehicle, and that we have to pay to fix it. The seat belt is always loose, there is a permanent lit light related to the airbag.
Icy road conditions caused a direct collision of my 2002 Tundra with a tree at approximately 30 MPH. The front bumper radiator and all parts in between were pushed back into the engine from this impact; however, the air bag did not deploy resulting in driver injuries.
Takata recall my Tundra is a 2002 so not currently included in the recall. The airbag warning light came on over a year ago and the mechanic says it is non-functioning, I hear this is a common 2002 problem. They should also be included in the recall.
Takata recall. Air bag light on dash came on after last years repair . Took vehicle back to dealer. A 126918 code b0103 1.0 code is in history. Symptom not malfunctioning at this time. Dealer gave estimate on air bag sensor assembly (ECU replacement).
Our 2002 Tundra airbags have stopped working and a warning light has appeared, per mechanic they will not inflate if there is an accident. When I enter the VIN it states that my truck is not included in the recall.
Air bag light is on and took it to mechanic who said there is a problem with the passenger bag and it is deactivated. This seems to be a problem that many others are also having from the complaints I have read.
Takata recall although a test of my VIN number in the NHTSA database came up negative on the Takata recall, there have been credible reports, by the new york times ,USA today, and automobile enthusiast websites, that 2002 tundras do have defective Takata airbags. Some reports are specific in saying the bags are in tundras sold in the gulf states, which is the distributor for my dealer in jackson, miss. Can you investigate this discrepancy? It is troubling that credible sources seems to be in conflict, especially in light of the very specific facts relating to tundras sold in the gulf states region. Thank you. …
Airbag complaints in other Tundra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2002 Toyota Tundra?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Toyota Tundra, 4% of the model year's 482 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Toyota Tundra airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2002 Toyota Tundra, though it has 3 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 2002 Toyota Tundra airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 126,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries and 1 death 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.