So after recently having a close friend killed in a car accident and knowing others involved in accidents I have decided that am gonna replace my POS '89 Tercel with something with air bags. The car is slowly dying anyway and am not gonna put anything but gas in it till does decide to die.

So my plan is to replace the Tercel with a Toyota 2WD extended cab truck. I would like it to have air bags. I know the Taco's had them. Only generation of Toyota trucks I have not owned is a 3rd Gen Pick up. Kind of like the body style too, but dunno if they ever had air bags..

I don't know squat about what to look for as far as issues the 2WD trucks may have had. I know to stay away from 3.slo's. I would like it be a 22RE and auto or if taco 4 cylinder auto...I have 3 girls that are fast approaching driving age..Any advice on what to stay aware from is appreciated.

my friend's 95 or 96 Camry after an accident on Monday (she swerved to avoid someone, spun out and hit a wall). She came out sore but am pretty sure the air bag helped out...

 

im not sure if the third gens had air bags but i do know it will be difficult to find a 22re with an auto.

 

id look for say a 98 ish tacoma pre runner it looks like a 4wd but its 2wd has the 3rz and it has air bags

 

None of the 3rd gens had any airbags, and tacomas only had drivers side until the 98 model. If you want a 3rd gen, get a 93-95, they are the ones that came with side impact beams in the doors. I just got my license myself, and I know that I drive a lot more carefully in my truck with no airbags than in my mom's mini cooper that has a bajillion airbags and traction control and abs in it. Then again, airbags definitely do help when an accident happens, and no matter how careful I drive, they happen, so for the sake of your daughters, get a newer one. As a bonus, the newer ones have that frame rust recall on it, and the better engine...

 

In 1998, that's when the law came into effect that all US vehicles had to have driver and passenger air bags.

 

Oh! so my '93 isn't as much as a driving death machine as I thought? Side impact beams ftw.....
Sorry if I'm hijacking, but this kind of goes along with safety, what year did Toyota put ABS in their trucks/4runners?

 

Good question...as far as I know 3rd gens always had rear wheel only abs optional, and probably the same for the 2nd gen runner. 4 wheel abs only became available in the tacoma/3rd gen 4runner.

 

Rear abs was an option

My girlfriends 95 4runner doesnt have it..

 

Toyota trucks started in 95.5 when the Tacoma was introduced. The 1996 4Runner was the first year for air bags, and had dual airbags. The tacoma only had drivers airbags until 6/97 when they introduced dual airbags.

Years toyota started airbags, for the record:

Corolla: 1993
Camry: 1992
Tercel: 1991
4Runner: 1996
Tacoma/Truck: 1995.5
Landcruiser: 1995
Celica: 1990
Mr2: 1991
Supra: 1991
T100: 1994

 

thanks DC..was hoping you would chime in. Not sure if the budget will allow for a Tacoma, but if I get that than I could pull the 2.7 and throw it in my Trekker down the road