Hi guys. I've found a local seller that's selling a '98 4runner Limited with 176,000 miles that triggered his airbags in what seems like a low-speed impact. I went and looked at the truck last night and overall it's in pretty good shape - he put in a new windshield (which I expect is due to the airbags), pulled out the two airbags, and cleaned it up.

Just as a quick point of reference, this won't be a DD for me, but for wheeling, running the dogs to the dog park & vet, winter weather, etc.

It drives straight with no pulling left or right, has good tires, brakes pretty well (a little pulsing but I understand this is something common to 3rd gen 4runners?) and all the electronics/windows work. I looked under it and didn't see any damage to speak of, and I think his brush guard on the front of the truck took most of the impact.

Another nice piece of this truck is this guy (who has had the truck for less than 6 months) bought it from a family friend and has a lot of service paperwork with it - I've seen evidence the timing belt and water pump was changed at 131k miles, the original window sticker, things like that.

He and I are meeting Monday at the DMV for him to clear up the title, so it's not a done deal yet. He gave me the number of a shop that says they will replace both airbags for $275 installed but they're not open over the weekend so I can't verify this yet. Overall we have agreed on a price of $3000.

Does this seem like a good, neutral, or bad idea to you guys? I like 4runners and would like a truck of this variety but don't want to get burned with latent major safety issues or an unrealistic expectation of what it will cost to replace the airbags and associated hardware as well as the steering wheel cover and dash piece.

Thanks in advance for your input!

Defiantly seems like a good price but I'd be suspicious about a "low speed" impact. Run a carfax

From the accidents I've seen, it takes A LOT to set off the airbags.

Both air bags for $275? Why would he just fix it then and make it right? Too many red flags on this one for me. I'd stay away. There are better deals out there.

The seller is a younger guy getting ready to move back to California (I believe this story), not mechanically inclined and living in a loft, and claims he doesn't want to deal with getting the truck fixed as he has another car and he doesn't want to take the 4runner back to CA anyway.

Not that I want to justify my own position but I've found a few reports of people setting off 3rd gen airbags by doing things like pulling stumps, etc - is it a falsehood that the 3rd gen airbag sensor is not sensitive?

With that said, would an impact that would set off the airbags but not have any real/considerable visible damage (I can tell it's the same bumper that was on the car during the accident due to the brush guard making light impact both with the bumper and the fenders) still be major cause for concern?

edit: also, ran the carfax while I was looking at the truck - click here to download - nothing stands out to me other than the guy (whose name IS on the back of the title from the last owner) never registered it. When I mentioned going to the DMV re: title, he's gotta pay sales tax on the last transaction and THEN sign the new title over to me.

I think initially he was thinking he could sell the truck quickly by pricing it cheap and not have to register it or pay sales tax for buying it from his family friend, but I disabused him of that notion after I saw the title. He's not happy about it but he said he would go meet me at the DMV and do it.

Thanks again.

Still too many red flags for me. For a camping toy/weekend toy, I'd buy one with no stories even if it does have a few more miles on it.

Post pics of the wife's Cayenne too. Love to see this thing. What does it do at the strip?

That's fair. It's tough, I'm trying to keep this to a minimal budget and maximize what I get out of it, but I totally see where you're coming from on this. The other cars I have been seriously considering for this purpose are '97-'99 Jeep Cherokee XJs, and if I could swing it, a '95-'97 Land Cruiser with the lockers. There's one just listed nearby for $5500... Tempting...

re: the Cayenne:

2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S vs. Dodge Challenger at Bandimere Speedway - YouTube

That's her fastest run - this at Bandimere, 5800 ft above sea level, and 7800 ft DA on that run - so it's no slouch! Even my car takes a really hard launch and perfect shifts to just hit 14.0x up here.

I would do the deal. If the airbags are deployed and they are fixed like mentioned about not a big deal for the price. You might even be able to drop it to $2700 for it. I bought a mustang several years ago that had the airbags deployed with no damage. The car had a clean title no salvage. I pick it up for a song and made around $4000 on the car. If it does NOT have a salvage then you will be miles ahead "no pun intended" but again I would DO THE DEAL!

Nice Cayenne. My best friend just bought a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and that thing is fast. Both look great in black.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm so conflicted... :P

Re: SRT-8 - click to watch - this is a first-gen SRT-8 in the right lane on the first run I/we ever did down the track w/ the Cayenne. This was 2 adults + an (unoccupied) child seat in the back versus a lightly modded SRT-8. I was pretty happy with the overall results, right about where I thought the pig would land.

speaking of pig -



It's a pretty ridiculous vehicle. :P

Think about how much faster it would be if it went on a 1k lb diet! 14 seconds is pretty ridiculous for a 6k lb vehicle.

As far as the runner with Airbags is concerned, 275 seems ridiculously low for 2 airbags installed. I work in the collision industry, and there is no shop out there with a 1/2 ounce of ethics willing to install what I can only assume are used airbags in any vehicle. New OEM airbags are at least 1500, plus you need a new airbag control module, which is probably another 250. I just can't see getting airbags that I would trust installed for 275 bucks.

YEP don't forget the airbag module! I had to do the same thing. I don't see a problem with used bags as long as they are in good condition and not been deployed! LOL

Nice run on the SRT8. Pretty close race.

Thanks, I was nearly delirious and on 80 minutes of sleep on that very first run... Had just driven the truck back from buying it in Arizona and friends convinced us to go out to the track with it. I wasn't even brake torquing it that hard and my RT sucked, plus it was both my wife and I in the car. If it was just her I think she would have beat him.

Nothing like buying a car, driving it a thousand miles, and racing it all within 24 hours time though. :P

Well if it helps, I paid $2700? For a 97 limited 4x4 w/203,xxxx. bent then straightened frame. Both airbags were blown. No maintenance records.

I was very happy to get it for that price.

I have to ask what you tow with the Porsche?

Also, do you have to drive the Cayenne in at an angle to fit in the garage?

I have seen some 98s and older with less than 150,000 miles going for $3500 but if it just a beater, why not. No Foxfax?

Carfax will not guarantee all accidents are listed. It does not work that way despite tge marketing.

Take it to a mechanic with bodyshop experience.