2004 Toyota 4RUNNER Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 37about this part
- Share
- 5%of 678 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 76,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 37 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER, 5% of the 678 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 76,500 miles. 14 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was notified in april 2016 that my curtain airbags may need a new module due to the unintentional operation of these air bags. Since then, I have heard nothing from the dealer. I think Toyota is dragging their feet in supplying the dealers with the replacement module.”
NHTSA complaint #10916230, filed 2016-10, 40,000 miles“We have a melting dash in our 4 runner. It can burn to the touch and has progressively gotten worse over past year. It is sticky to touch also and has a bad odor also. We made complaint to Toyota but no offer to repair. I called dealerships and they said they have been notified of the problem but Toyota corp has not given them approval for parts to replace. I am concerned about summer months getting hotter and it making our airbags go off or dash could catch on fire.”
NHTSA complaint #10715021, filed 2015-05, 80,000 miles“I was driving my children to school and a car coming in the opposite direction tried to make a left hand turn in front of me, she did not have time to make the turn( I didn't even have time to put on brakes) which ended up in a head on collision. I was going around 45mph and my airbag did not deploy. No one was seriously hurt but my head and upper body did get bruised and banged up pretty bad. I do have a police report and I'm waiting to get the copy.”
NHTSA complaint #10399707, filed 2011-05, 168,000 miles“My dashboard has several cracks form one side to the other all across the airbag which concerns me a whole lot, I also have a 2002 4RUNNER which does not have this problem, the material is pretty different to the 2004, the 2004 looks and feel very poor, not sure if Toyota will step up to the plate to warranty this defect ! If the airbag deployed on its own and someone get injured then I guest Toyota will try to help. These trucks are made in japan, the quality should be a++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++”
NHTSA complaint #10574719, filed 2014-03, 87,000 miles“Driver side and passenger side air bags deployed when ignition switch was turned to first position. Engine was not running and car was in park. My car was parked in my garage at the time air bags exploded and has not been in any accidents.”
NHTSA complaint #10424828, filed 2011-09, 68,000 milesRelated recalls
- 16V065000Feb 5, 2016Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and…Covers: Toyota 4RUNNER 2004–2006, Lexus LX470 2003–2006, Toyota Land Cruiser 2003–2006 +3 more
Related 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 2004 Toyota 4RUNNER
310 complaintsOther or unknown
121 complaintsSuspension
113 complaintsBrakes
82 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
36 complaintsVehicle speed control
34 complaintsSteering
32 complaintsEngine cooling
25 complaintsElectrical system
22 complaintsEngine
18 complaintsElectronic stability control
15 complaintsSeats
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 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