2012 Toyota 4RUNNER Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 70 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2012 Toyota 4RUNNER, 73% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 60,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “takata air bags” (24% of reports).
- 70air bags complaints
- 60,500median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 4related recalls
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Takata air bags: mentioned in 17 of 70 complaints (24%)
- Front seat: mentioned in 12 of 70 complaints (17%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 10 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 70 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 2 an injury.
Toyota 4RUNNER air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 4RUNNER | 3 | 5% | 9,500 |
| 2024 4RUNNER | 2 | 22% | — |
| 2023 4RUNNER | 2 | 6% | — |
| 2022 4RUNNER | 6 | 15% | 50,000 |
| 2021 4RUNNER | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2020 4RUNNER | 5 | 15% | 9,000 |
| 2019 4RUNNER | 5 | 8% | 41,000 |
| 2018 4RUNNER | 7 | 12% | 9,600 |
| 2017 4RUNNER | 3 | 8% | 33,000 |
| 2016 4RUNNER | 10 | 13% | 37,250 |
| 2015 4RUNNER | 17 | 20% | 22,000 |
| 2014 4RUNNER | 8 | 10% | 35,331 |
| 2013 4RUNNER | 9 | 25% | 108,000 |
| 2012 4RUNNER | 70 | 73% | 60,500 |
| 2011 4RUNNER | 112 | 69% | 62,500 |
| 2010 4RUNNER | 92 | 63% | 75,000 |
| 2009 4RUNNER | 2 | 9% | 78,131 |
| 2008 4RUNNER | 4 | 4% | 70,000 |
| 2007 4RUNNER | 6 | 4% | 129,000 |
| 2006 4RUNNER | 24 | 6% | 94,102 |
| 2005 4RUNNER | 19 | 4% | 75,000 |
| 2004 4RUNNER | 37 | 5% | 76,500 |
| 2003 4RUNNER | 12 | 2% | 100,000 |
| 2002 4RUNNER | 9 | 4% | 70,000 |
| 2001 4RUNNER | 6 | 3% | 109,000 |
| 2000 4RUNNER | 13 | 3% | 83,000 |
| 1999 4RUNNER | 13 | 4% | 250,000 |
| 1998 4RUNNER | 7 | 3% | 69,000 |
| 1997 4RUNNER | 9 | 3% | 90,000 |
| 1996 4RUNNER | 9 | 6% | 75,001 |
| 1995 4RUNNER | 2 | 1% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module; air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS250, IS350, 2011-2016 4Runner, 2011-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2011-2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, 2011-2017 Lexus GX460, and 2011-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS350, 2010-2016 4Runner, 2010-2013 Lexus IS250, 2010-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2010-2014 Lexus IS-F, and 2010-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), GLG (Lexus Zone A), GLH (Lexus Zone B) and HLA (Lexus Zone C).
Seats; air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Problem: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
2012 toyota 4runner. Consumer writes in regard to takata front passenger airbag inflator safety recall. *ld the consumer requested to have a recall notice mailed to a current address. *js
I am the owner of a 2012 toyota 4runner which has a current air bag recall. The parts were not available before our military pcs transfer overseas. They became available after my move overseas, but toyota has not been able to assist in replacing my airbags. I am not getting ready to transfer back…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 toyota 4runner. The contact stated while driving 51 mph, the contact stated in an attempt to avoid a head on collison, he swerved, losing control of the vehicle sliding into a tree in the snow. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy at 18 mph per the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 Toyota 4RUNNERs have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 70 owner complaints about air bags for the 2012 Toyota 4RUNNER (73% of the 96 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Toyota 4RUNNER air bags?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do air bags problems start?
The median reported mileage is 60,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2012 Toyota 4RUNNER?
The most frequent phrase is “takata air bags”, in 17 of 70 complaints, followed by “front seat” (12).
See all 2012 Toyota 4RUNNER problems or air bags problems across all 4RUNNER years.