2003 Toyota Tacoma Airbags Problems

Your truck was involved in a rollover accident on a freeway on-ramp where it rolled three times and struck bushes and its front end. You sustained a back injury, and you report that the airbags failed to deploy during the crash. The cause of the initial loss of control is unclear from your account.

During a serious multi-roll accident at 35-45 mph, your airbags failed to deploy and your seatbelt tensioner did not tighten as designed, leaving you unprotected during the crash. Your truck rolled three times down an embankment and sustained severe front-end damage and roof damage. A proper diagnosis would involve having a certified technician inspect the airbag system wiring, sensors, and control module, as well as the seatbelt pretensioner mechanism.

The local dealership Cloninger Ford /Toyota told me that I need to replace the airbag ECU and Pretensioner on drivers side. The cost estimate was $1,500.00. I have seen that Toyota has given recalls on other models for this defect. I have a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. I am submitting this complaint with hopes for my case to be considered. The airbag light cam on on my truck 2 months ago and Cloninger Toyota replaced the front seat belt assy. and erased dics. This cured the problem (light on) for a few weeks. Please consider this issue for recall further than you have at this point.

Truck crashed into rocks on shoulder and rolled over. Driver side Windshield and roof crushed. Air bag did not deploy. Sheriff took a report of crash.HI213530034 Greenspot road. Highland , CA. Vehicle is in possession of coparts authorized by USAA insurance

AT APPROXIMATELY 128K MILES, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WILL NOT GO OUT. THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED WHILE DRIVING, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN OBVIOUS CAUSE. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONTINUALLY GARAGED SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN 2003.

"TAKATA RECALL" MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON RECENTLY. I TOOK VEHICLE INTO AUTO SHOP, THEY REPLACED THE AIRBAG SENSOR LOCATED UNDER THE BATTERY AND CLEARED CODES. THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED OFF FOR APPROX 30 DAYS. LIGHT KEPT COMING BACK ON EVERY FEW DAYS.I KEPT TAKING VEHICLE TO AUTO SHOP WHERE THY WOULD CLEAR THE CODES. THIS IS A WEEKLY ROUTINE. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON PERMANENTLY. IS THIS TRUE? AND IS THERE A RECALL FOR AIRBAGS ON THIS VEHICLE? I'M AFRAID THE AIRBAGS MIGHT DEPLOY WHILE BEING DRIVEN

TAKATA RECALL: AIRBAG "WARNING" LIGHT ON DASHBOARD IS ON AND HAS BEEN SINCE BEFORE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK , ACCORDING TO THE SELLER. NOT SURE IF AIRBAG WOULD EVEN OPERATE (DOUBTFUL). ALSO, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT IS ON, SCANS KEEP SAYING IT IS AN EMISSIONS PROBLEM. VACUUM CANISTER, WIRING, OXYGEN SENSOR WERE REPLACED AND LIGHT WENT OFF TEMPORARILY, THEN STAYS ON EVEN THOUGH TRUCK RUNS FINE. DATE GIVEN BELOW IS DATE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, ONGOING PROBLEMS

TAKATA RECALL I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST . DOES THIS TRUCK HAVE TAKATA AIRBAGS? DID TAKATA MAKE THESE BAGS SAFE BUT ALL OTHERS DEFECTIVE. THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT AS WELL. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THESE DANGEROUS AIRBAGS FOR YEARS YET THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE RECALL. ARE YOU SURE OF THEIR SAFETY?!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 MPH AND EXITING A RAMP, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED TO THE LEFT, THEN BACK TO THE RIGHT, AND TURNED 360 DEGREES. THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE BOBBLED, FLIPPED OVER, CRASHED INTO TREES, AND LANDED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND PARKED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ

DRIVING VERY SLOW ON A ROUGH TERRAIN LOGGING ROAD AND AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS NOT GONE OFF. *TR

MY 2003 MATRIX HAD LESS THAN 40,000 ORIGINAL MILES WHEN THE DASH AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOYOTA RECALLED THE MATRIX FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WAS CORRECTED IN 2013. MY 2003 TACOMA TRUCK'S CURRENT MILEAGE IS ONLY 29,667 ORIGINAL MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 28,000 MILES THE DASH AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. A FRIEND WHO SPECIALIZES IN TOYOTA REPAIRS CHECKED IT AND SAID IT WAS THE B1100-AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE.. TOYOTA HAS YET TO RECALL THE 2003 TACOMA FOR AN AIR BAG PROBLEM.

COMING TO A STOP APPROX 2 MPH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED VERY LOUDLY AND THE TRUCK SHOW FORWARD. THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE TRUCK. I SWERVED TO AVOID THE CAMPSITE WE WERE AT AND HIT A TREE VERY HARD. THE ENGINE HOWEVER CONTINUED TO REV LOUDLY AND I SHIFTED TO PARK. WITH THE ENGINE STILL VERY LOUD AND THE WHEELS SPINNING I HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE BY REMOVING THE KEY. *TR

LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE COMPLAINT REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THE 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, ANOTHER VEHICLE SLID INTO HIS VEHICLE AND HE HIT THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TIRES AND FRONT FENDER RATIO HAD A DESIGN DEFECT. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JB..UPDATED 01/31/12..UPDATED 11/19/13 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING OUT IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIM AT 45 MPH. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, LUCKILY EVERYBODY HAD THEIR SEAT BELTS ON AND NOBODY GOT HURT. I DO NOT HAVE A PASSENGER TURN OFF KEY FOR THE AIR BAG IN THE VEHICLE. I AM TOLD THE TRUCK WILL BE TOTALED OUT DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS BENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD FRONTAL AIR BAGS ON BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE; HOWEVER, NEITHER DEPLOYED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS BACK. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WAS SMASHED INTO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE THE ENTIRE FRONT END NEEDED TO BE SMASHED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,458 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 34,000. UPDATED 02-23-09 *BF UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT FELL ASLEEP OR BLACKED OUT. THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARDRAIL WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND STRUCK A TREE AND ROLLED OVER. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR FRONT END AND REAR DAMAGE DAMAGE DUE TO THE IMPACT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED MAJOR SCALP INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS CURRENTLY IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/20/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH IN ICY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A WIRED GUARDRAIL AND ROLLED DOWN A HILL. THE FRONT PASSENGER WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE INJURIES WERE UNKNOWN. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED AN INJURED RIGHT SHOULDER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, EVEN THOUGH THE SIDE AIR BAGS WERE ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE SIDE DOOR PANEL, FRONT BENDER, AND FRONT BUMPER WERE REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IN MARCH 2005 THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON A SNOWY ROAD WHEN THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT ON ITS OWN. HE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AFTER LEAVING THE ROAD, AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON. THE FRONT LICENSE PLATE BECAME EMBEDDED IN THE TELEPHONE POLE. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED FRONT END DAMAGE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BEL,T AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED NO ONE INVESTIGATED WHY THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED HE BELIEVED THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS PICTURES OF THE INCIDENT. *AK

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG VIBRATION WHEN MOTOR IS RUNNING. RETURNED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP DUE TO LOUD RATTLE IN DASH BOARD. DEALER INSPECTED AND REPORTED THAT A MAJORITY OF THE CLIPS HOLDING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN PLACE WERE NOT THERE. DEALER ORDERED REPLACEMENT CLIPS AND DASHBOARD BOLTS AND REPAIR WAS MADE. IN OCTOBER 2003 RATTLE RETURNED AND A BOLT APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WHERE INSPECTION TOOK PLACE. MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT SOMEONE HAD HIT THE DASHBOARD TO LOOSEN BOLTS, NOT THE CASE, YET NO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR OR TIGHTEN EQUIPMENT WAS MADE. *NM

DT*: THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS PRE-BRAKING PRIOR TO IMPACT, THE SPEED AT THAT TIME WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, BUT WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE POLICE WERE AT THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 03/09/06

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB

WHILED RIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION . UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 30/40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK