2004 Toyota Tacoma Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 4%of 415 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 113,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Toyota Tacoma, 4% of the 415 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 113,000 miles. 10 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While stopped in traffic, I was rear-ended by a vehicle. I hit the vehicle in front of me and that vehicle hit the one in front of it. The airbags did not deploy. My passenger's head hit the windshield even though she was wearing a seatbelt (the interior design required me to have the seat positioned quite close to the windshield).”
NHTSA complaint #10588230, filed 2014-05, 113,000 miles“Takata recall? I have a 2004 Tacoma pre-runner 4dr. V-6. My airbag warning light came on approx. Oct. 2014 (50,000 miles). All that I have read so far is that it might be a broken spiral cable within the steering wheel. All airbag problems I've seen are with 2005 & newer vehicles? As of dec. 2015 (60,k miles),I still have the problem but have not yet visited a dealership to identify the fault.”
NHTSA complaint #10817108, filed 2015-12, 50,000 miles“I purchased a used 2004 Tacoma pick-up truck from an independent dealer and noted the front air bag warning light was illuminated. I finally took it to the Toyota dealer for repair in 2013. They replaced the spiral cable in the steering column which turned the air bag warning light off for a few weeks and then it became illuminated again. I took it back and they worked on it for several hours and said the only remedy is to replace the entire air bag assembly for $1600. …”
NHTSA complaint #10587248, filed 2014-05, 67,000 miles“Consumer's vehicle was involved in a frontal collision at 40-45 MPH, consumer vehicle was hit on the front right side near the tire area. Upon impact, frontal air bags failed to deploy. Driver was restrained with the seat belt, and no injury was reported. Dealer was notified. The vehicle was hit so hard in the front that it was totaled.”
NHTSA complaint #10108901, filed 2005-02, 3,000 miles“Vehicle airbag light stayed on. And is still on .took the Toyota to the dealership. They ran a diagnostics test on it. Someone came back to inform I needed new airbags. They said moisture entered the airbags .may cause the air bag to malfunction. They new about the takata airbags recall .so I assumed it would be fixed for free.no I had to pay the bill. So I didn't. What can I do?”
NHTSA complaint #11365787, filed 2020-10Related 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…
- 10132149Oct 21, 2013Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have not yet had campaign repairs completed. Please note the following information for…
- 10133915Jan 3, 2013Toyota vehicles are equipped with SRS, including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury in a collision. If a customer…
- 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 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 2 | 1% |
| 2023 | 8 | 15% |
| 2022 | 8 | 14% |
| 2021 | 7 | 9% |
| 2020 | 4 | 4% |
| 2019 | 4 | 2% |
| 2018 | 3 | 1% |
| 2017 | 13 | 5% |
| 2016 | 5 | 2% |
| 2015 | 11 | 11% |
| 2014 | 8 | 9% |
| 2013 | 10 | 8% |
| 2012 | 9 | 3% |
| 2011 | 17 | 9% |
| 2010 | 16 | 5% |
| 2009 | 13 | 3% |
| 2008 | 29 | 6% |
| 2007 | 44 | 8% |
| 2006 | 76 | 10% |
| 2005 | 46 | 7% |
| 2004 | 15 | 4% |
| 2003 | 28 | 8% |
| 2002 | 19 | 6% |
| 2001 | 20 | 5% |
| 2000 | 25 | 12% |
| 1999 | 38 | 15% |
| 1998 | 46 | 15% |
| 1997 | 5 | 4% |
| 1996 | 16 | 6% |
| 1995 | 10 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2004 Toyota Tacoma
203 complaintsSuspension
85 complaintsOther or unknown
32 complaintsVehicle speed control
30 complaintsSteering
29 complaintsBrakes
24 complaintsFuel system
24 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
22 complaintsElectrical system
17 complaintsTires
12 complaintsEngine
11 complaintsWheels
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Toyota Tacoma
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