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 2003 Toyota Tundra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the part was discontinued. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated that the part was discontinued. The failure mileage was 235,680.
Getting Airbag light on . Went to Modesto Toyota and they installed new clock spring strap in steering wheel. After installing the airbag light came back on . I again went back to dealer with same issue. They installed another clock spring in steering wheel. Drove about 1 mile , again airbag came on. Took it back to dealer a 3rd time same issue. They told me that the connector for the strap was too short. So now I am in limbo waiting for a replacement or something. Contacted dealer Modesto Toyota today 4/16/2026. No response as of yet. So I have still have the airbag light on.
The frame haas already been repaired, at the suggestion of my inspection mechanic. The whole frame is dangerously rusted. Now he says, "get rid of it-it's dangerous to drive!" Another problem, the air bag fault light won't stay off! Parts in the steering column have been replaced, to no avail! Toyota did that work. No one knows if my air bag will work or not!
I was in motion and driving on a residential street, while operating vehicle at the time of accident. After the collision, the airbag did not deploy. The Takata airbag was replaced by the auto manufacturer (Toyota dealership) prior to my above mentioned accident. The auto accident occurred for unknown reasons, possibly brake failure or unexpected acceleration of the car engine.
Takata recall, I was involved in a collision with my Toyota Tundra when a Nissan altima failed to stop for a stop sign. At witch point my air bags did not go off. The truck is totaled and so was the Nissan! I was driving east on quincy ave. And the Nissan was driving south on b st. When she failed to stop at the stop sign.
Travelling 45 MPH in a 55 MPH zone on wet surface. Vehicle began to spend out of control due to a vehicle tapping the passenger's rear bumper. After the spinout and contact with cement median losing the front bumper the truck stops. Airbag implodes about 15 secs after the accident.
Takata recall: the safety recall notice (remedy notice) from Toyota motor sales USA states that the repair will take approx. 2 hours. When scheduling the dealer requires two different visits. One to inspect and disassemble the airbag and then reassembles the airbag. The part is ordered. Another appointment is required to install the repaired airbag or part. There is no mention of two appointments being required to remedy the airbag. Contacting Toyota directly confirmed that dealers are informed that this remedy consumers to visit the dealers two times and ordering the part between visits. The Toyota representative confirmed that the safety recall notice does not correctly state the time or visits needed to remedy the airbag issue. …
Had safety recall performed on air bag, received car back and air bag light popped on. Prior to recall work, no light was on. Returned car 3 times for air bag light issue. I have car back but air bag light still on. Spoke with Toyota motor sales USA and they opened case # [redacted] it appears that what ever they replaced, it triggered air bag light. Work performed at pat lobb Toyota of mckinney texas. Www.patlobbtoyota.com. Has there been reports of this occurring? Service dept acted very coy when questioned. The customer service rep called me on 9/28/15 @ 3:55 pm said he would call me within 1 hour and give me some answers. As of today at 11 am, have not received a call back. Thank you for your time. This started in July 2015.
My wife and I were traveling north on hwy 49 from oakhurst to mariposa, california. The highway surface was wet and slick as we had just experienced our first rain of the season. Our Toyota Tundra truck went into a skid on a curve, climbed an embankment and rolled one full turn to the left. We hit a manzanita tree and a fence before coming to a stop and rolling. The airbags were examined by Toyota 9-24-2013 in response to a recall and were cleared . In the accident they did not deploy. My wife and I experienced numerous injuries including broken ribs, collarbone and severe whiplash. We are senior citizens and are still recovering from these injuries and dealing with our insurance company. We wrote to Toyota 5-21-2014 to report this airbag failure. To date we have received no response.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that the passenger side of the dashboard's air bag cover melted and was sticky to the touch. The contact stated that, in the past, there was an unidentifiable odor coming from that area. The vehicle was taken to darcars Toyota frederick (5293 buckeystown pike, frederick, md 21704 [phone]). But the cause of the failure could not be diagnosed. The dealer took pictures and sent them to a local Toyota representative for darcars. The contact mentioned he was afraid to drive the vehicle due to sun glare and was unsure if the passenger side air bag was safe. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430,…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles.
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator,…
Air bags
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004.
Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory.
Air bags
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii,…
Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory.
Show 1 more recall
Air bags › On-off switch assembly
Certain pickup trucks fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, 'child restraint anchorage systems.' these vehicles have a manual air bag on-off switch to disable the front passenger air bag and do not have a child restraint lower anchorage system in the front passenger seat.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the manual air bag on-off switch, replace the owner's manual, and affix a new sun visor air bag warning label. The recall began in early January 2007. Owners May contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Airbag complaints in other Tundra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2003 Toyota Tundra?
NHTSA has 86 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Toyota Tundra, 22% of the model year's 399 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Toyota Tundra airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-741 (inflator module, Oct 17, 2019); NHTSA recall 18V-883 (inflator module, Dec 12, 2018); NHTSA recall 15V-285 (air bags, May 13, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota Tundra airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 120,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 8 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.