1997 Toyota 4RUNNER Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 3%of 261 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER, 3% of the 261 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,000 miles. 9 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While attempting to make a turn under rainy road conditions rear end began to slide out of control. As a result, driver did a 180 degree spin, and stopped head on in a ditch. Upon impact, none of the vehicle airbags deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #10044305, filed 2003-10, 129,000 miles“My fiance and I werw driving a borrowered 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER. We were driving at 65 m and all I remember just gettin on the freeway.and blanking out.. When I woke up I sadly discoverd that my fiance lost control and veered to the right and hit a guardrail then a post sign and then rested on a tree..he passed away on impact. I suffered a t1 to t3 spine fracture.my left wrist fractured.a broken nose. As I woke up from my 3 week coma. I realised he passed away. Now the truck was borrwed, not lended or bought. The dealer gave us the keys to use while he fixed the car we rented .. …”
NHTSA complaint #11316783, filed 2020-03“Seat belt did not hold her. Airbag deployed to soon. She went face first into the dash & windshield was knocked unconsious. She has neck & back injuries still today. The seatbelt is still laying on the seat. Lap part held her not the shoulder strape her head hit the windshield & broke windshield. Please feel free to call me if you need more infomation.”
NHTSA complaint #725803, filed 2000-07“Consumer was involved in a 45 MPH frontal collision in which the driver's and passenger's air bags did not deploy. This is the second occasion in which the airbags failed to deploy, one person was injured in the accident and the vehicle was totaled.”
NHTSA complaint #825531, filed 1998-07“While traveling approximately 45mph another vehicle ran red light & was hit broadside. Upon impact with the other vehicle, the air bag did not deploy. Driver was hospitalized.”
NHTSA complaint #832415, filed 1998-12Related service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
- 10190460Mar 17, 2021Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
- 10131961Jan 14, 2014Toyota vehicles are equipped with Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 5% |
| 2024 | 2 | 20% |
| 2023 | 2 | 6% |
| 2022 | 6 | 15% |
| 2021 | 1 | 3% |
| 2020 | 5 | 15% |
| 2019 | 5 | 8% |
| 2018 | 8 | 13% |
| 2017 | 3 | 8% |
| 2016 | 10 | 12% |
| 2015 | 17 | 20% |
| 2014 | 8 | 10% |
| 2013 | 9 | 25% |
| 2012 | 70 | 73% |
| 2011 | 112 | 69% |
| 2010 | 92 | 63% |
| 2009 | 2 | 9% |
| 2008 | 4 | 4% |
| 2007 | 6 | 4% |
| 2006 | 24 | 6% |
| 2005 | 19 | 4% |
| 2004 | 37 | 5% |
| 2003 | 12 | 2% |
| 2002 | 9 | 4% |
| 2001 | 6 | 3% |
| 2000 | 13 | 3% |
| 1999 | 13 | 4% |
| 1998 | 7 | 3% |
| 1997 | 9 | 3% |
| 1996 | 9 | 6% |
| 1995 | 2 | 1% |
Other parts of the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER
95 complaintsBody and structure
76 complaintsBrakes
29 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
25 complaintsOther or unknown
21 complaintsTires
18 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsSteering
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsEquipment
7 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsSeat belts
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Toyota 4RUNNER
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology