Airbags "go bad" or otherwise problematic after too long?

I'm strongly considering giving the Taco to my kids, as one is about to turn 16, and damn am I tired of being the taxi driver. Poor parenting aside, I have been going through the truck, replacing, updating, upgrading where necessary. Even if we just get an old Corolla or something for the kids, I'll still have a refreshed truck.

It's a '99 Prerunner extended cab with 265-75r16 tires and AAL "lift" in back and adjustable Bilsteins lifting it in front. That makes for a relatively rough ride on our crappy streets, but the kids have been riding in it forever so they're used to it. I am concerned with the airbags though, and/or the associated wiring.

Do 24 year old airbags just pop off spontaneously? At least with janky wiring? The previous owner did a bunch of electrical mods that I've mostly undone, but I'm sure there are still weird wiring mods that I haven't discovered. I can work on, fix, or replace most of the basic stuff that should be attended to, but I've never really looked into what's going on with the airbags.

 

My friend's parents had a 2003 Toyota Highlander Limited that they bought new and gifted to him in 2011. In the summer of 2013, my friend was not paying attention while driving and rear-ended another car going probably 40 MPH. The Highlander was a decade old and had about 185K miles (his parents are attorneys who drive a lot for work), and needless to say, my friend found out the hard way that the airbags worked just fine. My friend also walked away without a scratch, and despite being totaled, the Highlander did not look as bad as you might think. As long as your airbag light isn't in on, they're probably fine.

 

If think if you were going to have a problem of them firing the charge on a random bump it would have happened already.

Seems to often the issue is failing to fire . The only fix a very expensive replacement of the entire system before needing to put the air bag to the test.

 

You should be able to check on your year/make/model recalls. There haven’t been much airbag recall talk as of late.

 

I found this thread as I’ve been curious about gen 1 air bags. My 17 yo rolled a 2003 tacoma 1.5 times - lost control fishtailing and the front end did hit a dirt bank first but no air bags deployed. Prior to this when getting the truck ready for him, there was an air bag light issue that ended up being air bag module which was replaced. I remember reading other threads when I was researching that problem randomly where people crashed and no air bag deployment. Fast forward and I’m building him another truck and wondering about how reliable gen 1 air bags are. Any first hand accounts of air bags working or not working?

 

The crash detection modules on these are front facing, meaning you either have to hit something really hard in front of you, or somebody has to hit you really hard from behind to have the air bags deploy

 

^this^

When triggered those recalled airbags go off like a bomb, shooting shrapnel at the occupants.

 

No need to worry. Airbag modules send test signals to airbags and sensors every 5 seconds. This verifies airbag functionality and wiring along with the crash sensors. The problem is they are very basic they are only good for front and back impacts.

 

If the airbag light isn't on, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

I run a 2004 Tacoma as well. I never assume the bags will activate when required during a crash.

They really can't go bad. The sensors tell the computer a crash has occurred and the ECU tells the bags to inflated.

One of my best friends is a state trooper.

He tells me seat belts save lives, air bags reduce injuries.

Wear your seat belt.

 

OP - go here

https://www.toyota.com/recall

and look up your truck. It will show any airbag or other recalls. If the airbags haven't been recalled that's one less thing to worry about. (having been the parent of a 16 year old lord knows there is plenty to worry about lol)

 

Just had my Airbag warning light turn on... Should I buy a code reader? Or bite the bullet and have a dealer read the codes. Owned this vehicle since new and has never been in an accident. Just hit 186k and light appeared while driving home from work.

Horn and cruise still work. Read earlier posts about the cigarette lighter/charger cord causing issues but I'm leaning towards dirty connection on the 2 front sensors in engine bay. Do I start cleaning dirty connections with CRC electronic cleaner ?

 

^^^dealer/shop with expensive computer has to read AB lite codes

if horn still works….your clock spring works…..thin ribbon that breaks easily, that’s good
Sensors….not likely if yellow pig tail is plugged in and wires not compromised


I would suspect the seat belt buckle
There is a small cylinder of pressurized gas which is part of the buckle
AB will lite up if issue with the cylinder
especially on Honda’s
Not sure about Toyota, but in Honda’s, you can visually see that the affected buckle is lower than opo side

next big AB lite issue is the passenger seat ‘weight’ sensor incorporated into seat bottom

if AB scanned professionally, will definitely point to exact part/sensor that is causing lite

 

Air bag light is a common thing with these, if you search for it. My air bag light has been on & off (mostly on) since buying the truck in '15. I think because it's my first vehicle with air bags, it hasn't had the urgency for me that it might for someone else...

People even mention air bag light coming on after a new stereo install. Mine comes & goes with no reason obvious to me.

 

I know that there's another thread on air bag light but I cannot find it (there's just so many of them )
I've tried all I can find on the issue and nothing works. Darn should be an easier fix than it's been frustrating!
Any solved answers would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
OH P.S. There is no code showing