2003 Toyota 4RUNNER Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 2%of 696 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 100,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER, 2% of the 696 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 100,000 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.
“Dashboard is cracking from side to side; a few cracks are right over the passenger airbag. I worry about the integrity of the airbag. If anything malfunctions, at least I'll have this complaint on record.”
NHTSA complaint #11292564, filed 2020-01, 265,000 miles“I was stopped on the highway behind a truck making a left turn when I was rear ended by another truck going 60 MPH. My 4RUNNER was crushed between them, totaled, and my air bags never deployed. I hit the steering wheel so hard I bounced off of it and broke my seat from the momentum. When I awoke I had slid into the back seat (which is all that was really left of the vehicle). Although I am thankful to be alive, I feel that at that force, the airbags should have deployed!”
NHTSA complaint #10573105, filed 2014-03, 115,000 miles“I have a crack in the dash 1 foot long above the passenger airbag only 15000 miles on truck. Alot of other post are on the internet with same crack or more. It has always been garaged. I am worried that something will spill and short the airbag. For a truck drove so little and always in the dark this should not happen. Toyota place 9670 trask av garden grove ca asked Toyota to replace it they said it was a defect. Anika from Toyota came to look at a showroom condition truck and said no it is out of warranty. I would have to pay to replace it if I am worried about it. It would be $1000.00. …”
NHTSA complaint #10348376, filed 2010-08, 15,000 miles“Car was running perfectly. Brakes were services 6 months ago. Traveled from nc to fl for holiday. Started car maintenance light went on showed air bag indicator light with ear piercing buzzer. Went to drive car to Toyota service department and had no brakes. They would work slightly but to dangerous to drive. Did not have brakes”
NHTSA complaint #11162641, filed 2018-12, 100,000 miles“2003 Toyota 4 RUNNER, limited v8 4wd- vehicle impacted a bumper barrel on freeway exit at high rate of speed approximently 50 MPH. Point of impact was driver's side front quarter panel and driver's side front end. Total damage to vehicle exceeded $5000.00. However, neither the front or side airbags deployed. The lack of airbag deployment caused non-life threatening injuries.”
NHTSA complaint #10185835, filed 2007-03, 23,000 milesRelated 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.
- 10016953Sep 2, 2005Diagnostics - supplemental restraint system. Repair manual correction. 00400-rm100-1u1 '03 toyota 4runner. 00400-rm105-9u1 '04 4runner.
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 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER
284 complaintsSuspension
114 complaintsOther or unknown
111 complaintsEngine cooling
89 complaintsBrakes
74 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
39 complaintsSteering
35 complaintsVehicle speed control
29 complaintsSeats
21 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
18 complaintsWheels
15 complaintsFuel system
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 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