Side Curtain Airbags Deployed! Please Advise

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s_christlieb3

New member
Over the weekedn I was camping and I was coming off of a dirt road to a paved road not speeding or doing anything out of the ordinary and the sude curtain airbags in my 2005 4runner SR5 deployed. I do have a 3" tuff country lift and bigger tires.

What I was wondering is this a common thing for them to do this? The car is still under warrnaty but I am a little hesitant to take it into the dealership until I know some more facts about this issue. The pictures are from right after it happened. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

UPDATE: A toyota regional manager looked at my vehicle today and is placing the blame totally on me. He said I should have read the owners manual and know to turn the air bags off. The estimate they gave me for to fix the vehicle is $4400. So just a warning to everyone out there turn your side curtain airbags off anytime you leave a paved road, and I hope you all enjoy your 4runners a lot more than I got to.

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UPDATE
 
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That sucks! Good thing it wasn't the front bags as they have a punch to them as they are deploying. I am sure this won't be covered by warranty as the dealer will say you voided the warranty in some way. Will your insurance cover something like this? How fast did you hit the bump going from dirt to pavement?

I have always wondered what adding an aftermarket front bumper would do in accidently setting off the front air bags.

Sorry to see this happen. How did you drive it? Or did you?
 
That's interesting. The 2004+ side airbags have a roll sensor, maybe the sensor picked something up in the transition from dirt to pavement that made it think it would roll over and made the airbags deploy?
 
The side curtain airbags indeed have a roll sensor that will trigger the deployment of the bags, but I believe the vehicle would have to exceed a certain angle before it does. How fast were you going when you crossed over to the pavement? Were more than 1 wheel off the ground briefly that might've triggered it? I definitely would take it to the dealer and see if they would cover it as it could be costly ($650 option new, but w/replacement part & labor, who knows), although it would be kind of hard to prove that you didn't tip your 4R to a certain angle. I wonder if the dealer can hook up a computer to your 4R and download the data to see what triggered it. If the sensor malfunctioned and was too sensitive, then maybe it can be fixed under warranty. Hope they don't just flat out deny it and blame it on the lift w/o any real evidence. If not, try your insurance company, might be worth a shot. Either way, good luck and keep us posted.
 
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Did you activate the RSCA cancel switch?

But at any rate it shouldn't have deployed, seems more like a premature deployment of the airbags. The dirt to pavement looks smoother and much easier than a curb. My friend has climbed curbs in his '07 without setting the side airbags off.
 
The RSCA switch should only be used when you are going offroading. From looking at your pictures, the side airbags should not have been triggered. I go over bumps like that almost every day and nothing happens. Did you install any aftermarket mods that would have played around with the side airbag sensor.
 
Wow, that must have scared the crap out of you. I would go to the dealer and ask them to check the computer, they shouldn't deploy when going over a bump like that. Just wondering how fast were you going?
 
I would report the premature deployment with the NTSB. they initiate investigations and recalls.

if it is ever recalled, you get your money back if you don't sue to get your money back.
 
I've got an 05 SR5 V8 4x4. The manual says I have those side curtain air bags, but I don't have the RSCA switch, and honestly can't see any labeling along the pillar to indicate they're there....Would I still have them?
 
nc211 said:
I've got an 05 SR5 V8 4x4. The manual says I have those side curtain air bags, but I don't have the RSCA switch, and honestly can't see any labeling along the pillar to indicate they're there....Would I still have them?
Click to expand...
The manual is the same for all of the models. If you had them then there would be an RSCA switch. Hope that helps!
 
nc211 said:
I've got an 05 SR5 V8 4x4. The manual says I have those side curtain air bags, but I don't have the RSCA switch, and honestly can't see any labeling along the pillar to indicate they're there....Would I still have them?
Click to expand...

Curtain and side airbags are an option on the 4Runner. There would also be a SRS airbag tag sewn into the seat back as well as warning labels inside the door jab for the curtain and side airbag if the option is present.

The owner's manual will list and show operation and functionality of every available option for the 4Runner which it may or may not have.
 
I'm not surprised by the warranty rejection because your modification breeches the warranty agreement. Toyota would not lightly accept a malfunction incident of a critical safety system.

A 3" lift plus larger tires will increase body roll under lateral acceleration handling.

Raising the vehicle center of gravity has negative implications for handling, safety, and now perhaps for the side air bag function. Persons with lifts, or considering lifts, should consider this.
 
Your lucky, I read an article saying that most insurance companies would total a car after the deployment of curtain airbags.

Do they know about it yet?

I believe it would be difficult for your dealer to PROVE that your modifications caused an electrical system to fail buried deep within the heart of the dash but that is the answer that you are going to get.
 
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