Problems · by component

2003 Toyota Sequoia air bags problems

45 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Toyota Sequoia cite air bags, 7% of all 684 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 4 recalls on this component.

Complaints
45
7% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I was on the highway going 45 to And T-bone somebody who pulled out onto the highway the driver airbag did not deploy the seatbelt is the only thing that caught me and cause severe trauma to my chest neck and back for The car is totaled and it is being held at my insurer’s State Farm lot here in Southern Arizona I assume it can be inspected There was a police report filed at the scene.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 1, 2026Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11761415
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG COVER WOULD DETACH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED PASSPORT TOYOTA (5001 AUTH WAY, CAMP SPRINGS, MD 20746, (301) 899-6000) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 20, 2021Air bagsODI 11413029
“AS I CAME RO STOP AUTO THEN PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE AUTO ACTED AS IF IT DIDNT WANT TO MOVE BUT STARTED OUT SLOW . THIS OCCURED EVERYTIME I STOPPED AND PRESSED TO ACCELL THE AUTO. THE AUTO WAS IN MOTION , DURING TURNING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2020Steering, Air bags, Vehicle speed controlODI 11366794
“I HAVE GIVEN BY VEHICLE INFORMATION TO SPRINGFIELD VA. TOYOTA IN SEPTEMBER 2019. FOR URGENT SAFETY RECALL. THEY SUPPOSED TO CALL ME BUT, TILL TO-DAY NOTHING. I CALL TOYOTA WOODBRIDGE, VA BUT, THEY ARE NOT COOPERATING. PLEASE HELP ME OUT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 21, 2020Air bagsODI 11340596
“WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 45 OR 60 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES REAL BAD AN VIBRATES FEELS LIKE I GOT A FLAT TIRE OR FEELS LIKE I'M GONNA HAVE A TIRE COME OFF WHEN I BOUGHT IT ALSO CONSUMES A LOT OF GAS UST TO GET REAL GOOD GAS MILEAGE BUT NOW NOT SO GOOD JUUST TO FILL UP TWICE A WEEK BUT NOW SOMETIMES 3 TO 5 TIMESWHICH IS WEIRD DIDN'T KNOW I HAD A RECALL WARRANTY I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A LOT OF THINGS ESPECIALLY IN THE EMISSIONS PART FOR CAR BOUGHT NEW FUEL LINE SOLENOIDS , PURGE SOLENOID, NOW IT SAYS I NEED A NEW VALVE VENT SOLENOID. THERE IS A VACUUM LEAK OTHER THAN THAT RUNS GOOD DOESN'T OVER HEAT OR BREAK UNLESS I NEEDED TO BUT USES A LOT OF GA SHAKES REAL BAD I DON'T WANNA DRIVEMORETHAN 70 MPH ALL THE TIRES ARE AT 41 PSI”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 10, 2019Suspension, Air bags, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11279303
“TAKATA RECALL. RECALL STATES THAT VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO CONSUMER, DEALERSHIP WILL NOT GIVE ME RIDE HOME OR LOANER AND STATES THAT IT IS A 4.5 HOUR JOB BUT I MUST LEAVE ALL DAY. TOYOTA OF NORTH AMERICA HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE REMEDY! THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 27, 2019Air bagsODI 11182749

Showing 6 of 45 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

4 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Oct 17, 2019NHTSA 19V741000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Dec 12, 2018NHTSA 18V883000

Air bags

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported May 13, 2015NHTSA 15V286000

Air bags

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported May 13, 2015NHTSA 15V285000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.