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Toyota Sienna 2006 airbag light on - serious safety issue

37 messages,  Last post on Apr 28, 2013 at 1:40 PM

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#1 of 37 Toyota Sienna 2006 airbag light on - serious safety issue by potat

Sep 09, 2011 (10:08 am)

Hi,
 
I looked up the service history of a Sienna 2006 (have been planing to buy the minivan) and found that it had a few incidents with AIR BAG ON. When I initially searched for 2006 Sienna I mostly hit the door latch problems. Looks like the airbag issue has been reported on several blogs and there is no recall yet on this issue.
 
My question is, if I buy extended warranty, whether this would cover the repair cost or not. Or, should I stay away from 2006 Siennas? If so, which models/years should I avoid?
 
Any suggestions are much appreciated.

#2 of 37 Re: Toyota Sienna 2006 airbag light on - serious safety issue [potat] by ateixeira

Sep 09, 2011 (10:27 am)

Replying to: potat (Sep 09, 2011 10:08 am)
Not if the original warranty expired already. When there is a lapse, they will not cover pre-existing conditions.

#3 of 37 Re: Toyota Sienna 2006 airbag light on - serious safety issue [ateixeira] by potat

Sep 09, 2011 (10:38 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 09, 2011 10:27 am)
I guess there is power train warranty on the vehicle. Dealer says that I can buy extended warranty. The issue is, extended warranty covers electrical probs., not AIRBAGS. So not sure how this works!

#4 of 37 Re: Toyota Sienna 2006 airbag light on - serious safety issue [potat] by ateixeira

Sep 09, 2011 (10:55 am)

Replying to: potat (Sep 09, 2011 10:38 am)
Yeah, powertrain would cover the engine, transmission, drive shafts, etc., but not air bags.
 
Sounds to me like the dealer is just eager to sell a van...

#5 of 37 Re: Toyota Sienna 2006 airbag light on - serious safety issue [potat] by fibber2

Sep 12, 2011 (5:31 am)

Replying to: potat (Sep 09, 2011 10:08 am)
Can you get a read on what was done to address the previous owner's complaints? If the service dept responded "No Trouble Found" and thus took no action, is it really a pre-existing condition?
 
I see a few ways to go:
 
1) Get them to guarantee in writing that they will cover any airbag issues for the first year, given that it is an unresolved issue in the van's history. I don't have the full details, but from the Toyota Owners Warranty Info site I found the following line, so you might already be covered:
 
Powertrain Coverage: 60 months/60,000 miles (engine, transmission/transaxle, front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, seatbelts and air bags).
 
2) Is the selling dealer a Toyota dealer? Ask them if the vehicle could be sold as a "Certified Used". It costs the dealer about $1k to do the inspection and file the paperwork, but then you get a full 1 year bumper-to-bumper new car style warranty in addition to a powertrain extension to 7 year, 100k miles. That is well worth a $1000 - $1500 premium, and you might be able to negotiate that down depending on the circumstances and how hungry they are.
 
3) Look into a Toyota Platinum extended warranty. I hear mixed things depending on who you talk to, but it seems that Toyota dealers can sell vans that are out of the 3/36 warranty and then get full coverage added (sold as Certified Used or not...). Under "computers & electronics" it does list airbags and sensors.
 
Let us know how this works out!

#6 of 37 Re: Toyota Sienna 2006 airbag light on - serious safety issue [fibber2] by potat

Sep 12, 2011 (8:12 am)

Replying to: fibber2 (Sep 12, 2011 5:31 am)
Thanks, Fibber.
 
Great tips. Let me see what they can offer me.
Yes, I am looking at the extended warranty.
Thanks so much!

#7 of 37 Re: Toyota Sienna 2006 airbag light easy fix for me by wysockigal

Sep 25, 2011 (5:56 am)

Replying to: potat (Sep 09, 2011 10:08 am)
I want to comment on the Airbag light issue. One time I took my 2006 Sienna in for service at the dealer for my 100,000 mile service. At that time my airbag light was on, but I also had a lot of work done that day (timing belt replacement, brakes, ect.) My total bill was around $1000. It was all preventative maintainence. I asked about the airbag light, and they said they just "reset" it and it was fine, and did not charge me for that fix. I think, since I spent so much money on that service, that they felt they had alrady gotten enough money, so they did this fix for free. This got me thinking. How can it be such a simple fix? Fasy forward six months. Again, my airbag light went on again. It always seems that my airbag light would go on after long trips. I finally made a the connection about why it would go on only after long trips. It was because of the storage tray UNDER the front passenger seat. Before you think I am crazy, read on. When my family and I travel on long trips, we store all our charger cables for video games and phones in that passenger seat storage tray that slides out from under the front passenger seat. It seems that moving this tray in and out causes the wiring harness for the airbag to come a little loose which makes the airbag light come on. If you take a look under the front passenger seat, you will see the harness right there. It is bright yellow. I just unhooked the wiring haress and re-connected it and the next time I started the car, PRESTO! no more airbag light. It is this smae fix that works every time that airbag light comes on. Before spending $1000's at the dealer, try my way first. I only charge $0.

#8 of 37 Re: Toyota Sienna 2006 airbag light easy fix for me [wysockigal] by fibber2

Sep 25, 2011 (7:02 pm)

Replying to: wysockigal (Sep 25, 2011 5:56 am)
Interesting, and good observation! I noticed how very vulnerable that connector is attached to the front-right corner of the seat base, and wondered how long it would take before someone simply snagged it getting into the van (like my teenage daughter - trouble always seems to find her!).

#9 of 37 Re: Toyota Sienna 2006 airbag light easy fix for me [fibber2] by wysockigal

Sep 26, 2011 (4:18 am)

Replying to: fibber2 (Sep 25, 2011 7:02 pm)
I am just wondering if this is a common fix for all 2006 Sienna Minivans, or if my situation is just a fluke. I guess we will see if this fix helps other people. I hope so.

#10 of 37 Re: Toyota Sienna 2006 airbag light easy fix for me [wysockigal] by potat

Sep 26, 2011 (8:21 am)

Replying to: wysockigal (Sep 26, 2011 4:18 am)
Thanks, Wysock for your helpful comments. Yes, your great tips will be definitely be helpful to other owners. Greatly appreciated. Once again thanks Fibber for your valuable points.
 
Here is my status, I bought a 2006 Toyota sienna, CE a week ago. This was from a private party, a local vehicle. There are no issues as such, other than a driver seat belt coming on and off. My mechanic checked the vehicle and recommended it after checking the vehicle and told not to worry about the seat belt issue as this is more likely a sensor issue, costs about $50 or so for the sensor.
 
I happened to check with the dealer where the vehicle has been serviced, and they told that there are no issues with 2006 Siennas.... I did contact toyota customer service center (toll free number) and I was told there has been a technical service bullettin (TSB) that has been issued to fix the air bag issue - but no recall. Now, with the recent toyota recalls and the recent issues, I would assume that toyota would issue a recall if the issue has been serious (may be I am wrong?). So, after considering all the factors I decided to buy the vehicle. So far I am satisfied and hope this lasts for several years!
 
Thanks for all your helpful tips.

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