Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The recall repair was completed 7/15/25. It never updated in anyone's system. I have been fighting between Toyota corp and the dealership for weeks more like a month just to get them to do the repair. After it was done I got my car damaged. A whole separate issue. I need to get inspection done on the car; can't get it registered and my insurance is hassling me. It's been weeks of this nightmare. It still shows my car on the recall list. DMV says they didn't receive updates, Toyota sends me to the dealership and the dealership does nothing. All this over a car problem that wasn't my fault in the first place. How do I proceed please
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owned a 2005 Toyota RAV4. While driving approximately 30 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front driver side of the vehicle. The driver sustained severe injuries to the shoulder, left arm, and ankle that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an independent mechanic. The air bags failed to deploy with the impact. The contact mentioned that the recall notification was received after the air bag failure occurred. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V284000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,400. Updated 02/05/16; updated 04/25/18
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 Toyota RAV4. While attempting to park the vehicle, the contact accidentally depressed the accelerator pedal. As a result, the contact crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop and repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V284000 (air bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Toyota RAV4. While driving 5 MPH, the contact's vehicle was involved in a head on collision with another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained minor injuries, which did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent facility. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V284000 (air bags). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000.
"Takata recall" I was in a car accident on 12/01/18 and I suffered several severe injuries. I suspect the airbag went off and caused me to crash. Perfect storm on paperwork and my car sat windows up in heat for 2 weeks accident happened 1st day back in my car, please contact me for info [redacted] in motion I found vehicle its not where carfax says it is.
My car was a Toyota RAV4 basic model 2005 bought Toyota purchase at dealer in (la,ca)， a car accident occurred on June 09, 2017 and another car accident occurred on February 26, 2018; the second accident was caused by a lack of work on my car airbag. My head and body collided with the front windshield and steering wheel, causing me to lose my job and pay too much time and maintenance costs.
A representative at passport Toyota, located at 5001 auth way, suitland, md told me that because my airbag light wasn't on that they were not going to provide me with a rental vehicle until Toyota announces a permanent solution for my car. This is not only in direct violation of my recall notice (it specifically states that if I feel unsafe driving my car, then the dealership will provide me with a rental) but displays that representative's ignorance of the recall notification, which also states that there is no warning light or other indication that the issue with my drivers side airbag exists. Since I live in a major metropolitan area (washington dc) where multiple vehicle accidents happen daily, I feel incredibly unsafe driving without the full assurance of a working drivers side airbag. …
I received a recall notice on my 2005 Toyota RAV4 about a defective Takata driver's airbag. According to the dealership, the airbag was replaced on aug. 27, 2015. To date I haven't received a second letter from Toyota explaining the solution to the recall, and I've called them and been provided with no information. I'm calling Toyota again today. On sept. 2, I learned from leith Toyota that my defective Takata airbag was replaced by another potentially defective Takata airbag. This is the solution? This was what Toyota told the dealership to do. An article released in sept. 2015 motor trend magazine details the same continuing problem with current Takata airbags being manufactured. …
My 2005 RAV4 is part of Toyota's recall action 15v-284. Leith Toyota has replaced my defective Takata inflator with yet another defective Takata inflator. There doesn't appear to be an engineering solution to their exploding airbag problem. According to page 6 of the July 9, 2015 letter that Toyota sent to NHTSA, and I quote, "Toyota's other recall action, 15v-284, involves driver's inflators in a relatively small number of vehicles. Inflators from a supplier other than Takata have been secured, and we expect to be able to launch recall repairs first in the hah areas, followed by the rest of the nation toward the end of this year". Toyota has not satisfied this recall according to the terms it provided to the NHTSA. I was forced to return the rental car I was provided with and am having to get rides in to work and renting a car on the weekends. My car needs to be fixed properly! …
I received a recall letter on July 7, 2015 concerning the Takata driver's airbag recall. A local dealership put me in a rental car the next day. On Thursday, July 27, 2015, there was a message on my home phone that the part had been received and my car was repaired. As of sept. 1, 2015, when I enter my VIN # on your database, my recall status is listed as: recall incomplete. This information was updated today. Has my car been repaired? I also haven't received a letter from Toyota notifying me when a remedy is ready as is stated in the interim notice. Is there a remedy yet? I called the Toyota customer experience center (phone number in interim letter) on sat., aug. 29, 2015 and wasn't provided with any additional information.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430,…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured May 13, 2003, to October 25, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to…
Remedy: Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag, free of charge.
Air bags
On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the specific SRS air bag. The recall began on April 6, 2006. Owners May contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371, Scion at 1-866-548-1851, or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Airbag complaints in other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2005 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has 59 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Toyota RAV4, 42% of the model year's 141 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2005 Toyota RAV4 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-741 (inflator module, Oct 17, 2019); NHTSA recall 15V-284 (inflator module, May 13, 2015); NHTSA recall 06V-096 (air bags, Apr 3, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Toyota RAV4 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 109,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 7 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.