2007 Toyota RAV4 Airbag Problems

99 owners have reported air bags problems with the 2007 Toyota RAV4 to NHTSA — 10% of all 1,004 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 87,000 miles. That ranks #2 of 30 RAV4 model years for airbag complaints (a typical year has 15). 2 related recalls have been issued.

99complaints
87ktypical miles
2related recalls
17crashes
2fires
25injuries

Which parts fail

  • Side/window
    6
  • Frontal
    4
  • Frontal › Driver clockspring/spiral cassette
    1

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

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    68%
  • 25k–50k
    1013%
  • 50k–75k
    1519%
  • 75k–100k
    1823%
  • 100k–150k
    2229%
  • 150k+
    68%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for a rear brake replacement. After the mechanic replaced both of the rear brakes and front outer tie rod, the mechanic remained outside of the vehicle but leaned in and depressed on the brake pedal when both of the driver and passenger curtain air bags inadvertently deployed. The driver-side curtain air bag deployment caused bruising to the mechanic's back. However, no medical attention was received. The driver-side seat belt was inoperable after the air bags deployed but was replaced by the independent mechanic. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that they inspected the air bags on 10/27/2014. However, no repair was performed at the time. The vehicle was not repaired. …

189,000 miles · Jul 2021 · 1 injury

Other people keep using my Bluetooth from my Toyota RAV4 2007. I don't even use it anymore. I found out because my android vehicle app keeps activating. Also, I live in a apartment complex, and notice when I look out my window, people walk by and slow down and stop right in front of my car and start messing with their phone. It appears they are hacking into the Bluetooth. I've also had much financial theft from my bank account.. including I paid for my auto insurance months ago, now I go on the AZ MDV and it's saying that my car is not insured! I'm a domestic violence victim..Its causing safety issues for me..I'm really upset. Also, your website is saying it's September 8, 2025. My phone is saying it's September 7th 2025. I don't know what to do!?!? Someone is causing me a lot of mental anquish. …

Sep 2025

Unknown I just strongly feel like I'm not getting the information on purpose..it has caused me much stress. I'm really upset. I've not once received any communication from you since I bought this vehicle 2nd hand. In 2018.. And to make matters worse, I've had my vehicle plates stolen 3 separate times including my cell phone number ( had to change it) and my driver license number was changed. I'm not having any help from my state DMV. Please help me.

May 2025

Last year around December the passenger side airbag started separating from the cover it is in. I contacted toyota told was nit in recall list . Also called dealer they said to contact toyota. You can pop it back in but afraid airbag may explode open

Dec 2023

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Toyota RAV4. While driving 65 MPH, the contact was involved in a crash and the air bags failed to deploy. In addition, the instrument panel lights illuminated, indicating that the air bags deployed. The contact sustained neck, back, and hip injuries that did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 103,000.

103,000 miles · Dec 2015 · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2007 Toyota RAV4. While driving 60 MPH, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained neck, hip, and back injuries that did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.

104,000 miles · Dec 2015 · crash · 1 injury

I had a front end crash when driving 60-65 MPH on I-94 on feb 4 2016, skidded on ice near alexandria mn, and collided near fence. The airbag did not deploy. No injuries. State patrol report filed-case #716900207. Country insurance claim-[phone]. It was declared a total loss. Toyota is not giving me a proper response, just gave their case #:case #1602060045.

115,000 miles · Feb 2016 · crash

I was driving on a dirt road around 25-30 MPH when my drivers side curtain shield airbag (csa) deployed unexpectedly. Previous to deploying, the seatbelt had suddenly locked into place. I leaned back to get the seatbelt to release, and as I tried to lean forward to see if it had, the airbag suddenly and unexpectedly deployed. I stopped the vehicle and looked around the car for damage from a collision and observed none. I also did not feel or sense a collision happening. I believed this issue May be related to a Toyota airbag recall, prompting me to contact them. Toyota did an inspection and read the electronic data recorder for the vehicle. Upon completion they told me that the edr had sensed a collision on the left rear of the vehicle, causing the airbag to deploy. I have a copy of the edr, though no means to read it or verify if this is correct. …

138,000 miles · Dec 2019

Left front input seal has leaked fluid twice now. First time was 9/25/2012 @ 56,516 miles. Second time was on 1/12/2016 @ 101,753 miles. My independent auto repair service, coram precision auto of coram, ny went to Toyota to get the seal needed to fix the leak both times and asked Toyota parts counter if they knew of a recall and they said no. Then they asked why they had so many seals in stock if there had been no recalls. I am on this website and don't see any recalls either but I wonder if any complaints have been filed. Note: I have several recalls for my Toyota RAV4 for gas pedal and now for the 'rear differential coupling' which extends my warrantee until 2017 from Toyota and from NHTSA for my drivers side air bag in 2014 but can't find anything on this wed site. Please follow up with me on the seal problem and if the airbag needs to be replaced. …

57,000 miles · Jan 2016

My teenage son lost control of my 2007 Toyota RAV4 and crashed into a tree. I believe the car hit the tree at an angle on the passenger side headlight area. He has been charged with speeding, but I don't know exactly how fast he was going. Three of his friends were in the car, all wearing seat belts. The front seat passenger suffered a serious closed head injury, broken leg and arm, and a punctured lung. The driver had a broken clavicle and the driver's side backseat passenger broke his pelvis. The driver and passenger front airbags deployed, but the passenger side curtain and torso airbags did not deploy, which I suspect caused the front passenger to be more seriously injured. The car is demolished from the passenger headlight area to the back passenger door. The car has never been wrecked before and no airbags have ever deployed before.

Side/window · 50,000 miles · Apr 2010 · crash · 4 injuries

Related recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 14V-168 · Apr 9, 2014 · 1,486,413 vehicles

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, 2008-2010 Highlander, and 2009-2010 Tacoma, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and General Motors Pontiac Vibe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable…

Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota vehicle owners, and General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Toyota sent owners an interim notification letter in May 2014 to advise owners of the recall.

Air bags › Side/window

NHTSA recall 11V-245 · Apr 21, 2011 · 307,848 vehicles

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 highlander, highlander hybrid, and model year 2007-2008 rav4 vehicles. In the curtain shield airbag (csa) system, there are two sensors in the airbag sensor assembly which are designed to detect vehicle roll angle.

Remedy: Toyota will replace the airbag sensor assembly with a new one containing improved roll rate sensors, free of charge. Toyota intends to send an interim owner notification to owners early to mid-May, 2011 when sufficient…

Airbag complaints in other RAV4 years

’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’2545131411322104759579958132820221312151920164555125108122
Airbag complaints per model year, Toyota RAV4.

Frequently asked questions

How common are airbag problems on the 2007 Toyota RAV4?

NHTSA has 99 complaints about the air bags of the 2007 Toyota RAV4, 10% of the model year's 1,004 complaints. The component named most often is side/window (6 mentions).

Is there a recall for 2007 Toyota RAV4 airbag problems?

Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-168 (inflator module, Apr 9, 2014); NHTSA recall 11V-245 (side/window, Apr 21, 2011). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

At what mileage do 2007 Toyota RAV4 airbag problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 87,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 17 crashes, 2 fires and 25 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.