2006 Toyota Sienna: airbags did not deploy in a crash

Filed Apr 8, 2015 · Acceleration, Airbags · CT · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota sienna. While parking the vehicle, it accelerated independently without warning and crashed into the contact's residence. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries reported. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was repaired for the damages, but the failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Oct 17, 2014 · Acceleration, Airbags · 64,000 miles · TX · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota sienna. While stopped at a traffic light with the brakes engaged, the vehicle accelerated independently. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000. ..updated 04/23/15 *bf ...updated08/20/15 *bf *js

Filed Jul 24, 2014 · Airbags · 48,500 miles · TX

Air bag SRS sensor light flashing intermittently flashing off and on. This is a life/safety issue, as I do not know if I can rely on my SRS system to properly function or not. It is also extremely agitating and distracting when driving overnight and/or on long distances, to have a dashboard warning light flash off and on. The SRS light was first observed flashing several times in march 2010, but then stopped. It started flashing again while on a cross-state trip in december 2010. As I had, my wife and two young children in the van, I immediately pulled off the road and called the dealership (toyota of richardson, richardson tx). I was advised at that time that it would be safe for me to continue with my trip. When I returned home, I took the car to the dealership. The dealer took no action stating on the service ticket the SRS light was "??not flashing today"??. To date, the SRS light continues to flash on and off at weeks or months at a time. From the internet, I recently learned that a tsb #284073 (the federal safety agency action number: 10034130) was issued by toyota to its dealerships back on june 23, 2010 (six months before I brought the vehicle in), as well as three earlier tsb's (el001-08, tsb-0252-08 & tsb-0162-10) all related to SRS lamp/sensors . To date, I still do not know if I have a properly functioning SRS system. I also note that of the 684 complaints currently registered with the federal safety agency, involving the 2006 toyota sienna, more than one-third (33%) of those complaints (234) involve the air bag sensor/light issue. In july 2013, my van was involved in a rear-end collision. The air bag did not deploy. Was its failure to deploy due to the nature/intensity of the impact, or the fact that the SRS system is not properly functioning? I have no assurance it works properly. At this late date, I guess I'll simply be complaint #685. Thank you

Filed Oct 31, 2012 · Airbags · 128,000 miles · WA · crash · 4 injuries

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota sienna. The contact stated that while sitting at a traffic stop, a vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. The contact's vehicle was pushed forward until crashing into a preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained head, neck, shoulder and back injuries. Three child passengers were also injured, sustaining neck and back injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and was not inspected for the cause of the air bag failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the issue. The failure and current mileages were 128,000.

Filed Jan 6, 2012 · Airbags · 46,890 miles · CA

Air bag light on instrument panel flashes on and off. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed a defective air bag sensor, which needs to be replaced along with the air bag and airbag harness under the driver's seat since the air bag would not deploy in the event of a crash, which could result in serious injury or death. Vehicle has only 47000miles on it but since it is over 5years it is not covered under warranty. This malfunction is not the result of any accident or bump, it started on its own. This issue has been reported on numerous vehicles and for no apparent reason. This is a serious defect in the SRS and a critical safety issue. It is in fact a clear violation of basic federal safety standards that should be taken care by toyota.

Filed Nov 21, 2011 · Airbags · 95,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota sienna. The contact noticed that the air bag warning light would illuminate intermittently. The dealer advised the contact to replace the air bag harness since the air bag would not deploy in the event of a crash. The manufacturer was aware of the failure; however, did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The current and failure mileage was 95,000.

Filed Jul 28, 2011 · Airbags · 59,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota sienna. The contact stated that the air bag light was constantly illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they stated that the failure was located within the wiring circuits of the driver's seat. As a result, the air bags would not deploy in the event of a crash. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 59,000 and the current mileage was 69,999.

Filed Jan 21, 2011 · Airbags · ME

The air bag indicator light on the dash flashes when the van is turned on. The toyota dealer said that the air bag wiring harness needs to be replaced since the air bag would not deploy in the event of an accident. My sienna is inoperable until repaired. There is a long wait, one to three months, to get this part replaced as it is on back order from toyota. The dealer stated that there are more than 400 air bag wiring harnesses on back order for our region alone. An internet search shows multitudes of other 2006 toyota sienna owners with this same air bag malfunction. Air bags are included to help save lives, but they do not work properly on the 2006 toyota sienna. A recall should be instituted to fix this problem so the air bags in all 2006 toyota sienna's' will work properly. Unless this defect is fixed, the 2006 toyota sienna is an unsafe vehicle.

Filed Feb 10, 2010 · Airbags · 35,000 miles · SC

I purchased a 2006 toyota sienna, new. In late 2007 the passenger airbag warning light came on. I took the van to the dealership. They checked and "recalibrated" the system to turn the light off. The light came on at least two more times in 2008. The dealership did not know why the light was coming on. A service rep. Told me that the sensor under the front passenger seat was being jarred and making the light come on. The dealership did say that there had been similar issues with other sienna's and that a new part being sent to correct the problem. In addition, or as part of adding this corrective part, the dealership replaced the passenger airbag. The light illuminated again in early 2010. Again, I took the van in. The service rep. Checked the sensor wires under the front passenger seat. The light went off. I asked if the light illuminating meant that the passenger airbag would not deploy'the service rep. Said possibly. I asked hypothetically, if I had to suddenly break and something rolled under my seat, hitting the wires, could it disconnect the front passenger airbag. He said yes. So, I asked if that disconnect would prevent the airbag from deploying, possibly in a crash following the sudden brake'he said yes. I was thankful for the honesty, but frustrated none the less. The service rep. Did tell me that the airbag sensor problem was not only with my sienna. He said this seemed to be an ongoing issue with the 2006 toyota sienna in general.

Filed Jun 23, 2009 · Airbags · 40,000 miles · NY · crash · 1 injury

2006 toyota sienna - 40,000 miles. Involved in a frontal impact with a tree from a peak velocity of 40-45 MPH to an estimated impact speed of 20-25 MPH. The vehicle hit square in hood center, deforming everything backward symmetrically 1-1.5 feet. Insurance company classified vehicle as a total loss (damage > $16,000). Driver suffered multiple left arm injuries including wrist dislocation and fractured forearm bones - resulting because airbag never deployed. I have been in contact with toyota customer service reps for a week and their explanation at first was that the impact speed was not great enough to deploy the airbags. After viewing the pictures, they changed their position to state that because it was a concentrated impact not centered about the impact sensor, and not an evenly distributed load impact, the sensors would not have deployed. Unacceptable. I asked the cs rep if we had hit the tree in the exact same spot at 100 MPH, would the airbag have deployed and her answer was 'theoretically no'. Whether this lack of deployment was by design or not, I feel this is a horrific impact protection philosophy. None of us would choose to be in an accident, and certainly none of us are going to have control over when and where and how fast and at what angle we will make impact. That is the definition of an accident. I guess I am inquiring about the legitimacy of this explanation to me by toyota, and also about the regulations for impact sensor deployment. Would it not be wise to employ a third impact sensor at vehicle center, possibly with a higher detonation speed? That way it would not be activating every time there were a 5 MPH bump in the grocery store parking lot, but would still deploy if subjected to the type of impact we have just seen. Thanks in advance.

Filed Mar 31, 2009 · Airbags · 52,000 miles · MD · crash · 1 injury

On march 14, 2009 my husband hit a tree head on with the van while trying to avoid a deer. The airbag did not deploy. He hit his head on the steering wheel and broke a bone in his hand. The airbag tried to deploy but failed. Part of the section on the steering wheel in front of the airbag separated but the bag did not inflate.