2001 Toyota 4RUNNER Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 3%of 185 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 109,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Toyota 4RUNNER, 3% of the 185 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 109,000 miles. 5 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.
“The contact owned a 2001 Toyota 4RUNNER. While driving approximately 45 to 50 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front center of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away by state farm. A police report was filed. The contact was injured and received medical attention. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10743380, filed 2015-07, 160,000 miles“The contact owned a 2001 Toyota 4runner. The driver was traveling 45 MPH when she was involved in a crash with another vehicle. Both vehicles were destroyed. The air bags did not deploy. Four passengers were injured. A police report was available. The manufacturer offered no assistance. The contact was not in the vehicle at the time of the crash. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10353032, filed 2010-08, 92,000 miles“The contact owns a 2001 Toyota 4 runner. The contact stated that she was driving 40 MPH when she attempted to avoid crashing into a deer and crashed into a ditch. As a result, the vehicle went airborne approximately 40 feet and then crashed into a tree before hitting the ground, rendering the contact unconscious. During the crash, none of the airbags deployed. The contact was the only person injured and a police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed for the air bag failure. The current and failure mileages were 246,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10459237, filed 2012-05, 246,000 miles“The contact owns a 2001 Toyota 4runner. While driving 35 MPH she attempted to brake, but the vehicle suddenly accelerated,went air born, and landed down a ravine. The driver frontal air bag did not deploy. She did not receive any injuries. After careful examination he noticed that the accelerator pedal was trapped by the floor mat. She received police report number 097267. She received a ticket for failure to reduce speed. The vehicle was towed to the body shop. The failure and current mileages were 90,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10296112, filed 2009-12, 90,000 miles“While driving at the speed of 50mph has a front collision, and neither passenger or driver air bag deploy. Dealer has been notified. Any details additional information, feel free to add on.”
NHTSA complaint #8018841, filed 2002-09Related 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
- 10132410Jul 20, 2017TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 20, 2017 Rev1: Applicability has been updated to exclude 2007 ? 2017 model year Avanza vehicles. Some hazardous material treatment and handling…
- 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…
- 10132055Nov 4, 2013Beginning in 1998, Toyota introduced side airbags as optional equipment. Toyota does NOT recommend replacement of original seat covers with non-Toyota leather or other seat cover…
- 10042555Sep 6, 2011Toyota: information provided for replacing the seat covers for vehicles equipped with side airbags.
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 2001 Toyota 4RUNNER
81 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
32 complaintsSuspension
27 complaintsOther or unknown
25 complaintsEngine cooling
13 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsTires
7 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsElectronic stability control
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 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