I was in an accident where a majority of my front end was completely damaged. In fact, the bumper was completely taken off with significant other damage which I have pictures off. Neither airbag deployed. Fortunately I was ok and did not sustain any injuries. I am just surprised by the size of the impact that the airbags did not deploy. *js
2008 Toyota Sienna airbags problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
4crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 11 airbags complaints filed for the 2008 Toyota Sienna, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: This 2008 Sienna has documented airbag system issues including a recurring warning light tied to multiple Toyota service bulletins, an intermittent passenger airbag disable, and reported non-deployment during collisions. Expect $1000+ in repair costs for wiring problems and unresolved dealer service history.
Owners describe four distinct airbag failures in this 2008 Sienna cluster. The most common complaint is the flashing or solid airbag warning light tied to Toyota service bulletins (TSB E1001-08, 0069-12, 0162-10, 0252-08) that address underlying wiring defects. Dealers charge $50 to diagnose and $1000-plus to repair.
One owner reports the passenger airbag intermittently disables when occupied over a one-year span. Toyota dealership incorrectly blamed a seat-belt latch; the intermittent nature persists despite multiple service visits.
More concerning are three accident narratives describing complete airbag non-deployment during frontal impacts: one T-bone at 34.8 mph, one head-on collision with a tree, and one severe front-end impact with bumper removal. Occupants sustained injuries (concussions, neck and back pain) with airbags silent.
Two owners also note dashboard cracking over the glove box and left side, speculating whether structural damage may affect airbag systems.
The warning-light issue stems from a manufacturing wiring problem that prompted Toyota to redesign the part, yet no mandatory recall has been ordered despite owner complaints of widespread failure.
Same Toyota Sienna airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2009 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag warning light—flashing or continuous
Airbag indicator light activates and flashes or stays on during normal operation. Multiple TSBs issued by Toyota; owners cite TSB E1001-08, TSB 0069-12, TSB 0162-10, and TSB 0252-08 addressing the issue. Underlying cause typically involves wiring defect in airbag system.
When: Varies; some incidents noted early in vehicle life with no accident history
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light flashing when van turned on; Airbag indicator light on without apparent cause; Light remains on after dealer parts replacement attempt
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota dealership charges $50 for code read; average repair cost exceeds $1000 per owner report. One owner reports dealer replaced passenger-side airbag harness but could not complete repair; waiting two months for additional plug.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Four TSBs issued (E1001-08, 0069-12, 0162-10, 0252-08) with replacement part guidance. No mandatory recall issued despite owner allegations of manufacturing defect.
Passenger airbag intermittent disable
Passenger front airbag turns off intermittently when passenger is seated, cycling on and off over weeks or months. Toyota dealer incorrectly attributed issue to seat-belt latch; owner disputes this diagnosis as unsubstantiated and notes dealer has not resolved underlying problem.
When: Intermittent over one year or more of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag turns off when passenger seated in front seat; System works correctly for periods (e.g., one month) then fails again; No clear trigger for on/off cycling
Repairs/costs cited: Taken to Toyota dealership twice; no permanent repair achieved. Owner questions dealer's competency given incorrect diagnosis.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claims airbag connected to seat-belt latch; owner asserts this explanation was proven false on 2008 and 2012 models.
Airbag non-deployment in frontal collisions
Front airbags do not deploy in frontal collision scenarios where deployment would be expected. Two detailed accident reports describe head-on or near head-on impacts; one T-bone with potential frontal component also noted. Owners sustained injuries (concussions, neck/back pain) and question whether airbag system failure contributed.
When: During accidents—T-bone and head-on frontal impacts reported
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags failed to deploy during T-bone collision at 34.8 mph; Airbags failed to deploy during head-on collision with tree; Airbags failed to deploy in severe frontal impact with bumper completely removed; Driver hit head on window when airbag did not deploy during T-bone
Repairs/costs cited: One accident resulted in $12k repair costs including replacement of both driver-side doors. Another involved wheel removal from axle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota inspection of one vehicle registered only a 'front event' rather than a 'side event' despite clear side impact; no recall or service bulletin addressing deployment failures noted in narratives.
Dashboard cracking near airbag area
Dashboard cracks appear over glove box and on left side near defroster vent. Owners express concern that cracking may affect airbag deployment. One owner mentions possible Toyota recall but cannot locate documentation.
When: Not specified; reported as existing condition
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard cracking over glove box; Crack on left side near side window defroster vent; Dashboard sticky in addition to cracking
Repairs/costs cited: No repair costs cited by complainants
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner references possible recall but unable to confirm details.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2008 Toyota Sienna?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 55,000 and 101,235 miles, with the median around 70,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 55,000; a quarter make it past 101,235. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Toyota/Sienna.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.