2005 Toyota Tundra Air Bags Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 15, 2026 · 83 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2005 Toyota Tundra, 22% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 86,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “takata air bags” (22% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Takata air bags: mentioned in 18 of 83 complaints (22%)
  • Front passenger: mentioned in 10 of 83 complaints (12%)

At what mileage do air bags problems happen?

Based on 21 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles0 · 0%
10k–25k miles0 · 0%
25k–50k miles5 · 24%
50k–75k miles5 · 24%
75k–100k miles5 · 24%
100k–150k miles3 · 14%
150k+ miles3 · 14%

How serious are the reports?

Of 83 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 6 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 42 complaints
2005: 1200512007: 3200732008: 1200812011: 1201112013: 1201312014: 5201452015: 422015422016: 172016172017: 1201712019: 4201942020: 4202042022: 2202222023: 120231

n = 83 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (7)

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 bags:side/windowFeb 5, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V065000 · 320,409 vehicles

Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.

Risk: If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-271-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0C and GLB.

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:frontalJul 20, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V328000 · 2,527 vehicles

Problem: Certain pickup trucks equipped with automatic transmissions and optional fabric front captain's chairs fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, 'occupant crash protection.' these vehicles were built with an incorrect front passenger occupant classification system indicator light lens which will not display the status of the front passenger air bag.

Risk: As a result, the vehicle occupants will not be made aware of whether or not the air bag is activated and ready to protect the occupant as appropriate.

Fix: Dealers will replace the front passenger occupant classification system indicator lens. The recall began august 5, 2005. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

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.

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Tundra. The contact had notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V741000 (Air Bags) however, the contact was unable to take the vehicle to a local dealer for the recall repair. The contact made a local dealer aware of the issue and was informed that…

Received Apr 6, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11515745

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver’s side air bag was inadvertently deployed without warning. There was no impact to the vehicle to cause the driver’s side air bag to deploy. The vehicle was taken to the…

Received May 19, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11465344

The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated his wife was driving on the highway at approximately 40 MPH when she hit a patch of ice and spun out of control crashing into an embankment on the rear driver side. As a result, the rear driver side tire was pushed back out of place about an…

Received Mar 25, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11458312
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 2005 Toyota Tundras have air bags problems?

No. NHTSA has 83 owner complaints about air bags for the 2005 Toyota Tundra (22% of the 377 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 2005 Toyota Tundra air bags?

Yes: 7 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 86,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2005 Toyota Tundra?

The most frequent phrase is “takata air bags”, in 18 of 83 complaints, followed by “front passenger” (10).

Other 2005 Toyota Tundra problems

See all 2005 Toyota Tundra problems or air bags problems across all Tundra years.