2004 Toyota Tundra Air Bags Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 8, 2026 · 50 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2004 Toyota Tundra, 11% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 109,400 miles.

At what mileage do air bags problems happen?

Based on 19 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles0 · 0%
10k–25k miles0 · 0%
25k–50k miles1 · 5%
50k–75k miles2 · 11%
75k–100k miles2 · 11%
100k–150k miles7 · 37%
150k+ miles7 · 37%

How serious are the reports?

Of 50 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 7 an injury.

Toyota Tundra air bags complaints by model year

Peak: 2006, with 134 complaints
2000: 1920002001: 82002: 2120022003: 862004: 5020042005: 832006: 13420061342007: 142008: 920082009: 32010: 920102011: 62012: 920122013: 42014: 720142015: 32016: 420162017: 32018: 520182019: 32020: 220202021: 12022: 420222023: 42024: 220242025: 1

n = 494 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearAir Bags complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2025 Tundra11%4,061
2024 Tundra21%—
2023 Tundra41%18,000
2022 Tundra41%5,000
2021 Tundra14%—
2020 Tundra24%7,500
2019 Tundra34%75,000
2018 Tundra55%27,895
2017 Tundra34%45,500
2016 Tundra43%30,000
2015 Tundra36%6,000
2014 Tundra78%70,000
2013 Tundra45%40,560
2012 Tundra96%24,809
2011 Tundra64%48,250
2010 Tundra96%41,630
2009 Tundra38%98,566
2008 Tundra93%157,730
2007 Tundra144%82,830
2006 Tundra13425%110,000
2005 Tundra8322%86,000
2004 Tundra5011%109,400
2003 Tundra8622%120,000
2002 Tundra214%126,000
2001 Tundra82%158,500
2000 Tundra192%199,000

When owners reported it

Peak: 2015, with 16 complaints
2008: 1200812010: 1201012012: 1201212013: 1201312014: 9201492015: 162015162016: 102016102017: 4201742019: 1201912020: 4202042021: 1202112026: 120261

n = 50 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (5)

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module; air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleOct 17, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V741000 · 928,220 vehicles

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 moduleDec 12, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V883000 · 168,993 vehicles

Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. 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 explode due to propellant degradation.

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 the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, or replace the air bag assembly that includes an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for these recalls are J0A (Zone A Toyota), J0B (Zone B Toyota), J0C (Zone C Toyota), JLI (Zone A Lexus), JLJ (Zone B Lexus), and JLK (Zone C Lexus). Note: This recall includes vehicles that have had their air bag previously replaced under an earlier air bag campaign.

Air bagsMay 13, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V286000 · 1,069,055 vehicles

Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. On June 16, 2015 Toyota expanded the recall to cover an additional 769,055 vehicles, including certain model year 2002-2004 Lexus SC, Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Vibe, and Toyota Tundra vehicles, as well the vehicles covered by the May 13, 2015 notification in the portions of Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas that were not previously included. The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota began the recall on July 13, 2015. Pontiac Vibe owners may contact GM at 1-800-762-2737. GM began the recall on June 29, 2015. NOTE: This recacll supersedes recall 14V-655 in its entirety. For vehicles located in the U.S. states not listed above, please see Toyota recall 15V-285 which covers all other U.S. states.

Air bagsMay 13, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V285000 · 1,973,468 vehicles

Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 Sequoia, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2003-2007 Corolla, 2003-2007 Corolla Matrix, 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe and 2002-2007 Lexus SC vehicles. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag. The recall began on July 13, 2015. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Pontiac owners may call 1-800-762-2737. NOTE: This recall supersedes recall 14V-312 in its entirety.

Air bags:on-off switch assemblyJun 2, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V254000 · 156,111 vehicles

Problem: Certain pickup trucks fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, 'child restraint anchorage systems.' these vehicles have a manual air bag on-off switch to disable the front passenger air bag and do not have a child restraint lower anchorage system in the front passenger seat. This specification does not meet the standard requirements.

Risk: This standard establishes requirements for child restraint anchorage systems to ensure their proper location and strength for the effective securing of child restraints, to reduce the likelihood of the anchorage systems' failure, and to increase the likelihood that child restraints are properly secured and thus more fully achieve their potential effectiveness in motor vehicles.

Fix: Dealers will remove the manual air bag on-off switch, replace the owner's manual, and affix a new sun visor air bag warning label. The recall began in early january 2007. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH during heavy rains, the vehicle hydroplaned and spun several times before the front end crashed into a guardrail. The driver's side air bag failed to deploy, causing the driver's chest to strike the…

Received Sep 8, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11762695

I HAVE TRIED FOR MONTHS TO GET THIS AIRBAG REPLACED WITH NO LUCK. I KEEP GETTING THESE RECALL NOTICES WITH INSTRUCTIONS I TRY TO FOLLOW AND HERE'S THE RESULTS SO FAR: AFTER TEXTING "FIX" TO [redacted] SEVERAL TIMES, NOTHING HAPPENED. MONTHS LATER, I GET SOME BIZARRE TEXT FROM A NUMBER I DON'T…

Received Mar 17, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11403518

Our tundra had a frame recall and it was the dealers decision on whether or not to replace dram or just cover up with undercoating. We disagreed with the decision to undercoat as the deal was showing signs of extensive rust. Now, our frame is extremely dangerous to the point of falling away from…

Received Aug 20, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11350418
Toyota Tundra
A 2022 Toyota Tundra CrewMax Limited photographed in Flushing, Queens , New York, USA. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2004 Toyota Tundras have air bags problems?

No. NHTSA has 50 owner complaints about air bags for the 2004 Toyota Tundra (11% of the 466 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 2004 Toyota Tundra air bags?

Yes: 5 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 109,400 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

Other 2004 Toyota Tundra problems

See all 2004 Toyota Tundra problems or air bags problems across all Tundra years.