2004 Toyota RAV4 Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Frontal
  3
• Side/window
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  18%
• 25k–50k
  215%
• 50k–75k
  215%
• 75k–100k
  18%
• 100k–150k
  538%
• 150k+
  215%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that after making a left turn at approximately 15 MPH, the front passenger and driver side air bags deployed inadvertently without warning. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the curb causing all four tires to blow. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 330,000.

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Toyota rav 4. While driving at 45 MPH, the contact veered into the right lane. As a result, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained bruises that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the crash scene and was deemed destroyed. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V284000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota RAV4. The contact was driving approximately 15 MPH and attempting a left turn when another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side door of the contact's vehicle. The vehicle slid forward and proceeded to crash over a curb and into a pole. The side curtain air bags failed to deploy. Immediately after the crash, smoke began emitting from the engine compartment. The driver was able to exit the vehicle and noticed flames coming from under the hood. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. The contact sustained bruising and pain to the lower back. The contact was transported to the hospital via ambulance and was later discharged with no major injuries. The vehicle was towed to an auto body lot. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and sent an engineer to inspect the vehicle. …

I was stopped at a red light with ~1 car length between me and one car in front of me. When the light turned green and the car ahead began to move, I took my foot off the brake and moved it to the accelerator as usual. At that point, my car rapidly accelerated out of control and hit the car in front. My brakes wouldn't engage and my car continued to accelerate rapidly. I had to swerve around the car I hit while my car continued at high speed through two stop signs in a residential neighborhood. During this time, I had to swerve to avoid hitting oncoming cars. All the while I was trying to apply brakes, but they wouldn't engage and my speed didn't decrease. After approximately 1/2 mile, the brakes finally engaged and I was able to bring the car to a stop. My airbags didn't deploy after the initial impact, perhaps because of the initial low speed.

My mother was involved in a side impact crash (passengers side) in 2014. Her car was totaled as the other car essentially speared hers caving in the right side. She was wearing seatbelt and the airbag deployed. Mom survived with no internal injuries. However she was left with severe lacerations to the scalp, face and hematoma to the head which needed surgery. I suspect this injury was from the airbag deploying violently. My husband who is a retired firefighter/medic inspected the car after the wreck and he feels the same. There was no indication that her head hit the side window or windshield. There was blood on the airbag and all over her seat. This incident happened in florida on a hot August day. The car has been in fl for the last ten years.

Tl* - the contact called regarding a 2004 Toyota RAV4. The contact was traveling at approximately 35 MPH and another a vehicle rear ended the contact's vehicle. It was badly damaged, and so was the other vehicle. The contact stated that the airbags did not deploy. The contact had the seat belt on . The failure mileage was 100,000. The contact was injured. The vehicle was towed away. The contact had pictures of the vehicle. A police report was taken.

I received recall notice last week, called dealer to schedule appt., was told some one would call me back. Heard nothing, so I called back again today and was told to wait, people had been waiting 2 months. Recall notice "strongly recommends that you have this remedy performed immediately". If the dealer is overwhelmed with this recall, why aren't independent repair shops allowed to perform this procedure? Hopefully, I won't have an accident.

Toyota sent out safety recall notice on 13 May 2015 about the front driver airbag inflator, until today the 25 June 2015 the remedy is still not available. I am concerned about my own safety driving this car and/or the road safety. Since it is the driver's airbag that has problem, I highly demand to have all the 2004-2005 model year RAV4 collected back to Toyota for a full check up or replacement.

Takata recall, was notified by Toyota. I called local dealership who said they did not have the parts to fix. Told I was put on a list to be called when parts came in. Was called by Toyota to ask if the repair had been made, I told them no and they hung up on me. Still waiting on call.

I would like to call your attention to Toyota's failure to adequately provide equivalent rental vehicles for customers whose vehicles are deemed unsafe to drive during the Takata airbag recalls. A customer cannot be reasonably expected to meet the same needs a RAV4 serves (in my case, dog transport) with a corolla or similar sedan rental. Toyota corporate "rules" cited to thwart the delivery of equivalent rental vehicles are numerous (refusal to provide lot vehicles, loaner vehicles, vehicles of another make, vehicles from non-preferred rental agencies, vehicles that cost more than $35/day to rent, or vehicles rented directly by customers). …

Related recalls

Airbag complaints in other RAV4 years