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 Tundra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH during heavy rains, the vehicle hydroplaned and spun several times before the front end crashed into a guardrail. The driver's side air bag failed to deploy, causing the driver's chest to strike the steering wheel. A bystander assisted the contact out of the vehicle and called an ambulance and the Police. The contact was transported to the emergency room by ambulance. The contact sustained internal and external bruises to the chest, stomach, and bruises to the armpit from the seat belt. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000. The VIN and license plate were unavailable.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Toyota Tundra. While the contact's wife was driving 40 MPH, she was struck head-on by another vehicle. The air bags deployed. The driver sustained injuries to the spine, sternum, and ribs. Medical attention was required and the driver was transported to the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene and the contact's insurance company confirmed that the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to their legal department. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V286000 (air bags). The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated her husband was driving at an unknown speed, when he unexpectedly collided with an embankment and the air bags deployed. The contact husband was fatally injured and was pronounced dead at the scene. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a lot for further investigation. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact referenced the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 15V286000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 180,000.
My husband and I were completely stopped, waiting to turn left in a suicide left turn lane in the city. A car suddenly entered the turn lane, headed straight towards us. I honked but the other driver did it brake or swerve, impacting us at a high rate of speed. Our air bags did not deploy....updated 02/23/17 updated 03/01/17 updated 9/5/18
Takata recall - I was contacted by Toyota concerning the air bag recall earlier this year. My first letter arrived on 7/18/2015. I have contacted Toyota several time to find out when the airbag can be replaced. I was told they have no idea when the part will arrive and no idea when my car can be repaired. This is unacceptable. I use my truck for business and is currently losing money because I can not drive the vehicle. I informed Toyota of this issue and was not given priority or any consideration for my inconvenience. This has not only cost me in time and money, but I feel the service I received is not acceptable as well. I wish I could sale the truck but nobody was a truck with a defective airbag. I am one unhappy customer due to this airbag recall. I can no longer say or support Toyota as a good auto maker. …
We had the Takata airbag recall service performed on our Tundra on 12/19/14. Then, just a coupe weeks ago in June 2017, the airbag light came on when my husband was driving to work on the highway, and the light has not gone off since. We took it to a local auto shop to diagnose this past weekend, and they said it was an issue relating to the airbag recall service--they said they've seen this numerous times now, all in vehicles that had the airbag recall service done. Some of the common red flags they made us aware of were: horn is not working, as well as the cruise control. We took it to palm beach Toyota in west palm beach, florida, this morning, and they diagnosed it as a spiral cable assembly that needs to be replaced--at a cost to us of $700 plus tax. …
Takata recall; received air bag recall 2014, took to david maus Toyota sanford, florida and had passenger air bag corrected with my receipt. 2016 June, air bag warning light was on, (noticed while driving) took again to david maus Toyota, they found error code and checked all diagnostics, found nothing wrong. The simply diagnosis couldn't determine the cause and then was advised to pay for a thoroughly diagnosis, which I paid $128.00. Today July 2nd while driving truck, found air bag light on again (while driving) !! I spoke to david maus Toyota service manager July 2nd. He said I can bring it in again and my $128.00 dollars would go to any needed repairs. I'm taking my 2004 Tundra truck in, either July 5, 6, or 7th. The vehicle will stay inside my garbage until time to take to david maus Toyota. [redacted]
I am disabled and I keep receiving recall notices about airbags, and frame recalls from Toyota, but the local dealers tell me that they do not have the parts to fix them. I am unable to carry anyone in the passenger seat because of safety advisories and this is affecting the value of my vehicle, and risk of injury to myself and any passengers I May carry, and insurance coverage because of the recall notifications. I suffered diligently to pay for this vehicle and now I find it's an unsafe piece of junk that I cannot use. I really want this vehicle fixed or replaced with one that is not unsafe.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Toyota Tundra. The contact was driving approximately 35 MPH before approaching a stop sign. There was an unintended acceleration. The brake pedal was engaged and the vehicle continued without slowing down. The ignition key was removed from the ignition and the vehicle crashed into a wall. There were two passengers in the vehicle that sustained injuries. The air bags failed to deploy with the impact involved. A police report was taken. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileages were 34,000.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Toyota Tundra. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact swerved to avoid an animal in the road. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a ditch and turned over. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained an injury to his back. The police department was called to the scene and they filed a report. The vehicle was completely destroyed. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 92,00 updated 09/15/08 updated 09/18/08.
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 2004 Toyota Tundra?
NHTSA has 50 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Toyota Tundra, 11% of the model year's 466 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 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 2004 Toyota Tundra airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 109,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 9 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.