I wrecked my truck in a snowstorm, and the front airbags did not deploy. The crash had me and 2 others in my vehicle. I have permanent injuries
Toyota Tacoma no deployment problems
211 of the 8,489 owner complaints about the Toyota Tacoma describe airbags did not deploy in a crash, most of them for the 1998 model year.
- owner complaints
- 211
- worst model year
- 1998
- typical repair cost reported
- $6,000
- typical mileage
- 76,000
Is there a fix? There are 8 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Sudden acceleration 11Seat belt 5Airbag light 5Brake failure 4Ball joint 2Steering lock-up 1Knocking 1Collision warning 1
What owners say
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle jumped a curb, went down a riverbank, and crashed into a telephone pole. The air bags did not deploy. The brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The parking brake was engaged, and the vehicle stopped. The message “Parking Brake Malfunction - See Dealer” was displayed. There was no injury sustained. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that there was abnormal brake wear. The dealer determined that the pistons had detached. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where an unknown repair was performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
I was traveling southbound on I-25 when the flatbed truck in front of me came to a sudden stop. I was unable to stop in time to avoid rear-ending the truck. The airbags did not deploy upon impact.
Was in a serious accident while driving and rear ended another vehicle and my airbags did not deploy. Serious front end damage resulting in a total loss of my Tacoma. Shocked airbags did not deploy. Definitely should have.
I got into a head-on collision with a cement center median going roughly 45-50MPH after fishtailing on black ice. My airbags did not deploy at that speed, I contact toyota corporate and they only removed the CDR information and did not assess the airbag sensors themselves. I was able to press the SOS button for EMS to arrive. My safety was put at risk as none of my airbags deployed. It was not inspected by my insurance company and was taken to an automotive shop to be repaired. No prior warning systems were enacted,
Our son hit a guardrail and the airbags didn't deploy. Accident and failure was reported to insurance company
Vehicle involved in a head on collision resulting in a total loss. Frontal airbags did not deploy. Occupant (driver) sustained bilateral wrist injuries requiring surgery.
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving at 35-40 MPH, coming up on fog, the driver, attempting to slow down, traveled over a slush patch in the roadway, and an approaching vehicle was in view. She lost control of the vehicle, spun around, and went face-first into a ditch, and the vehicle flipped and rolled over onto the hood. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that she sustained a concussion, hematoma, and pain on the left side of her neck and head, and the next day, there was pain on the right side of her neck and shoulder. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where medical attention was provided. The side curtain on the driver's and passenger's sides deployed. The front airbags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to an independent auto center. There was no reported fire. A police report was filed. Previously, while turning around in a parking lot, the contact crashed into a cement barrier. The airbags did not deploy. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.
Vehicle was in car accident where airbags did not deploy.
The contact owned a 2007 Toyota Tacoma. The contact's lawyer stated that another vehicle lost control due to a dropped water bottle and collided with his client's vehicle on its front driver's side at 50 MPH. The contact's lawyer stated that no air bags deployed. The contact's lawyer stated that the contact sustained injuries to the pelvis, which was fractured, a concussion, and contusions to the head, left leg, and a laceration to the head and back. Medical attention was required. The contact's lawyer stated that a police report was filed. The contact's lawyer mentioned that the contact was in a coma for two months and was on a ventilator for four months. The vehicle was towed to a private location. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The contact stated that the failure was not diagnosed by a dealer or independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 500,000.
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: driver clockspring/spiral cassette
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid vehicles. An electrical connection inside the steering column's spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver's air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA08. Lexus' number for this recall is 23LA02.
Recall number 23V480000 · Recall details
Air bags: knee bolster
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Tacoma trucks manufactured August 20, 2015, to September 10, 2015. In the affected vehicles, incorrect bolts were used to install the driver's knee air bag module.
- Risk
- The incorrect bolts may loosen over time and affect the performance of the driver's knee air bag, increasing the risk of driver injury during a crash that necessitates deployment of the air bags.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install the correct driver's knee air bag module mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began on November 19, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331. Toyota's number for this recall is F0T.
Recall number 15V656000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, 2008-2010 Highlander, and 2009-2010 Tacoma, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and General Motors Pontiac Vibe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a Flexible Flat Cable (FFC). Due to the shape and location of the FFC's retainer, the FFC could become damaged when the steering wheel is turned.
- Risk
- If the FFC is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. The failure of the driver's air bag to deploy in the event of a crash that typically necessitates deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify the Toyota vehicle owners, and General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Toyota sent owners an interim notification letter in May 2014 to advise owners of the recall. Toyota will mail owners a second letter when remedy parts are available. General Motors sent Pontiac Vibe owners an Interim letter on June 20, 2014 notifying them that parts are currently unavailable. General Motors sent notices to the Pontiac Vibe owners on September 15, 2014, that a remedy is available. The recall began on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331. Owners may contact General Motors at 1‑800‑762‑2737.
Recall number 14V168000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
- What is wrong
- Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
- Risk
- If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
- Remedy
- Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1‑800‑301‑6859.
Recall number 13V014000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- 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 drivers air bag module. If damage occurs, the air bag warning lamp will illuminate and the air bag may become deactivated.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, the drivers side air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of personal injury.
- 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.
Recall number 12V092000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. In this condition, the expansion force of the gas may be insufficient to properly inflate the air bag when the SRS system is activated during a crash.
- Risk
- This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the specific SRS air bag. The recall began on april 6, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑888‑270‑9371, scion at 1‑866‑548‑1851, or lexus at 1‑800‑255‑3987.
Recall number 06V096000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- On certain regular cab pickup trucks equipped with a bench seat, the seat position and seat belt buckle sensor connector pins are incorrectly positioned due to a wire harness manufacturing process error.
- Risk
- In this condition, the seat position and seat belt buckle sensor may not function as designed, affecting the adaptive air bag deployment, which if the vehicle is involved in a crash, could result in improper occupant restraint.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the seat position and seat belt fastening condition sensor connector. An additional sub-wire harness will be installed to correct the connector pin manufacturing error, if necessary. The recall began on july 25, 2005. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑800‑431‑4331.
Recall number 05V302000 · Recall details
Air bags: on-off switch assembly
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The statement required in the owner's manual that "...the on-off switch should only ben used when a member of a passenger risk group identified in the request form in appendix b......is occupying the right front passenger seating position..." is mis-stated. This does not comply with the requirements of fmvss 208, "occupant crash protection."
- Risk
- If the air bag switch is "off," the seat occupant who is not a member of the passenger risk group would be subject to increased injury in the event of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Owners will be sent a corrected owner's manual.
Recall number 98V188000 · Recall details
Questions about the Toyota Tacoma no deployment
Which Toyota Tacoma years have airbags did not deploy in a crash problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1998 (26 complaints), 1999 (19 complaints) and 2003 (16 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix airbags did not deploy in a crash on the Toyota Tacoma?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $6,000 (median of 8 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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