Should the passenger air bag deploy

[JP4RNR]

I don't know what made me think of this but I recall that on 3rd 4Runners there was a break away panel on the dash that allowed the airbag to deploy and inflate.

On the 4th generation I don't see any panels or seams so I am guessing that if the airbag in a 4th generation deploys in a minor collision not only will you be reparing sheet metal but it looks like the dash will need to be replaced as well?

My Brother had an accident in his 2004 someone turned left in front of him. The damage on his vehicle was just to the right front corner meaning the passenger side fender and passenger side headlight and front grille were taken out. The left side was not damaged but what we all noticed is that none of the air bags deployed. By the time my brother hit the other vehicle he already slowed down to 25 mph. Were the air bags defective? I expect they should have gone off (or atleast the passenger side where all of the damage was located) in this type of collision.

 

[Rescue84]

Airbags deploy as a result of rapid deceleration. If the airbag sensor detects this rapid deceleration it will trigger whichever airbags are "armed" (some vehicles have the option of turning the passenger side airbag off, some vehicles go by weight on the seat, etc.) Your brother's vehicle may not have been going fast enough to warrant the airbags going off, although 25 mph is still pretty fast. What type of collision was it?

 

[007Runner]

The airbags only deploy on severe impact. The impact must of been fairly minor.

You don't give enough information to come to an educated conclusion. We have no clue how severe the impact was or how much of the vehicle was crushed in the collision.

 

[JP4RNR]

The passenger side fender was peeled back so that if you were standing behind or in front of the vehicle it looked like a door was open that's how far the fender was sticking out. The passenger door front edge was dented from the impact to where opening the passenger door was difficult. the damage was $9000

 

[007Runner]

Big difference between sheet metal peeling and metal crushing several feet. Metal just peeling could have been a minor transfer of energy, just a body panel not the internal metal frame or structure. No reason to deploy for this accident, which is why it did not. Did it ever occur to you to bring this question to the mechanics that repaired the vehicle? They could have checked the sensor. Or checked to make sure the airbags will or did function properly.

 

[Uneek]

Was the passenger seat occupied and if it was, did the passenger wear their seatbelt. The passenger airbag won't deploy if the seat is not occupied.

There might be two more in the corners, but there are two sensors near the bumper support by the radiator under the grille opening--where the headlights and the grille meets. There's a yellow connector that plug into these sensors.

The 4Runner was the first Toyota to have a seamless dash, so there is no visible opening for the passenger airbag. Though under the correct lighting conditions, score lines where airbag opening can be visible. I've seen the markings for the Sienna's. And yes, the dash would need to be replaced if the passenger airbag deployed.