2019 Toyota 4Runner Air Bags & Restraints Problems

Passenger air bag light indicates air bag off intermediately although my wife is sitting in the seat. Vehicle was examined by Toyota dealer and could not duplicate problem, it is however available for inspection upon request. We feel very uneasy with the air bag not on all the time with passenger in the seat in case of an accident. Dealer could not duplicate problem. There has not been any warning lights and the Technician also indicated that there were no diagnostic codes!

The contact owned a 2019 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH and hauling a trailer, the rear driver’s side tire blew out, and due to the weight shift the passenger’s side trailer tire blew out as well, causing the trailer to be tilted before crashing into a cement barrier. There was no warning prior to the blowouts or the crash. The trailer was towed from the scene and the vehicle was towed off the highway. The contact stated that the front of the driver’s side of the vehicle was damaged, and driver’s side rear of the vehicle was damaged by the trailer. The contact stated that a Police report was filed but was not available. The contact stated that her husband sustained a gash on the forehead from striking his head on the dashboard, and her daughter had burns from the seat belt. Medical attention was not sought. The vehicle was towed to Auto Collision Center - Corpus Christi where it was deemed totaled. The contact stated that the manufacturer then sent a representative to inspect the vehicle who informed the contact that the vehicle had operated as designed. The representative informed the contact that due to the angle of the impact, the air bags sensors operated as designed and did not deploy the air bags. The contact disagreed and contacted the FTC. However, a recorded message stated that due to the Government shutdown calls would not be answered, and the contact called the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

The airbag sensor in my 2019 Toyota 4Runner has failed, causing the airbag warning light to remain illuminated. This indicates the airbag system may not deploy properly in a collision, which is a serious safety concern. The vehicle has approximately 95,600 miles, has been well maintained, and has not been in any accident that would affect the airbag system. The dealership confirmed the failure but said I must pay approximately $6,224.43 for the repair because the vehicle is out of warranty. This is a critical safety component that should not fail under normal use, and the repair cost places an unreasonable burden on the consumer. I am requesting this be reviewed as a potential safety defect.

I was in an accident where the vehicle ran into the guard rail while on the interstate. The vehicle had significant damage and has now been declared a Total Loss by the insurance company. With the amount of damage to the front side of the vehicle, the airbag did not deploy and leaves us wondering with such damage, why it didn't deploy!

Seat belt is not retracting to fit front passenger and after it buckles it stays loose. The seat belt device, intended to protect occupants during a crash is not retracting at all after it buckles. Seat belt in the front passenger seating position is presenting a safety hazard.

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY, RUNNING BUT NOT YET IN GEAR OR IN MOTION, 5 YEAR OLD CHILD SECURED IN CARSEAT IN 2ND ROW MOVED THE SHOULDER/LAP SEATBELT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT ENCIRCLED HIS WAIST AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY SLACK, CINCHING AROUND THE CHILD'S WAIST. THE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WOULD ONLY ALLOW THE SEAT BELT TO GET TIGHTER AND WOULD NOT RELEASE ANY SLACK. AS BYSTANDERS ATTEMPTED TO FREE THE CHILD, THE SEAT BELT CONTINUED TO GET TIGHTER AND TIGHTER. THIS RESULTED IN THE CHILD BEING LIMITED TO TAKING SHALLOW BREATHS. THE CHILD BECAME VERY FRIGHTENED AND ASKED REPEATEDLY IF HE WAS GOING TO DIE. BYSTANDERS HAD TO FIND TOOLS TO REMOVE THE SEATBELT FROM THE FRAME OF THE CAR IN ORDER TO FREE THE CHILD AND ALLOW HIM TO BREATHE WITHOUT CONSTRICTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT 10 MPH AND PROCEEDING TO TURN LEFT ON GREEN LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS FAILED TO YIELD AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACTS VEHICLE FRONT PASSENGER AREA DOOR AND THE FRONT BUMPER PUSHED THE CONTACTS FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND BUMPER OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE OTHER DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO FLEE THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND CAUSED THE CONTACTS FACE TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND UPPER BACK WHERE MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.