Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking space the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and accelerated forward crashing into a parked van. During the incident, the airbags did not deploy. No injuries were reported and no police report was taken. the vehicle was later towed to a collision center and repaired. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the same failure had occurred after the husband stopped at a red light. During the incident, the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward and crashed into the rear of a second vehicle. No injuries were reported and no police report was taken. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failures. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 85,000.
I bought my RAV4 in May 2018, and it currently has just under 100,000 miles. My local mechanic says he "was kneeling on the driver's seat while reinstalling the center console after replacing the e-brake cable, when the side curtain air bags deployed!" He is frantic as this has never happened before, and his shop insurance won't cover the replacement costs. I know that insurance companies tend to "total" cars after air bags have deployed. Have you ever heard of such an incident with the recalled 2011 RAV4 air bags?
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Toyota RAV4. While driving 5 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. As a result, the contact crashed into a tree and the air bags failed to deploy. Neither the contact nor the passengers sustained any injuries. A police report was not filed. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Toyota RAV4. While driving 10 MPH and making a left turn, a deer crashed into the vehicle. The hood was damaged and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact was not injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer collision lot where the hood was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.
Traveling 30 MPH southbound on interstate. Car's engine self accelerated. Pumped brakes to slow down. Car continued to self-accelerate and braking was ineffectual and I ran into back of an 18 wheeler flat bed truck.
Side curtain airbag failed to deploy in side-impact crash. Passenger suffered significant concussion and broken ribs.
Our 2011 RAV4 was totaled in December 2013 when a BMW 5 series crashed into us while my wife was making a left turn. The impact was to the front tire on the passenger side and it was so severe, the entire wheel assembly was ripped out of the transmission and ended compressed against the passenger door; however incredibly none of the airbags deployed. My son, who was sitting in the front was unharmed, however my daughter in the back was sitting behind the driver seat and flew across the car smashing violently against the rear passenger door, loosing consciousness. As she woke up she vomited and per recommendation of the emergency crew on the scene, we took her to the er. I have written several Toyota groups about this incident and they have not even acknowledged my request. …
We received safety recall notices NHTSA 16v-096 and 15v-577 stating we will be notified when a remedy is available. I have contacted the local dealership and was told I would be contacted when the parts came in (they had to be ordered). I have contacted the Toyota customer service center who said that would check into the matter as too much time has elapsed in this repair process and they would also contact me. Neither the dealer or corporate has followed trough with the repair parts or repairs. I still cannot get the recalled repairs completed. I don't trust corporate Toyota or their dealership in their handling of these recalls. I demand that nhysa investigate and report to me their findings.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Toyota RAV4. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the brakes failed to respond when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle accelerated independently and crashed into a building. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for repair. The front bumper, the passenger side headlight, and the front grill were replaced. The technician was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 37,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Toyota RAV4. The contact crashed into a vehicle that failed to yield the right of way. The contact stated the air bag failed to protect him when the impact was harder than normal and created a smoke that smelled like fire. The driver and passenger side air bags deployed, causing the passenger internal bruising and a cracked rib. The contact received injuries to the chest, which caused breathing difficulties. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure and current mileages were 18,000.
Related recalls
Air bags › Side/window
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2011 rav4 vehicles, manufactured from November 24, 2011, through December 19, 2011. In the curtain shield airbags, propellant with the incorrect specification was used for the initiator assembled in the airbag inflator.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the vehicle identification number to identify the curtain shield assemblies and replace the assemblies as necessary with new ones free of charge.
NHTSA investigations
Autoliv Air Bag Propellant Mixture
The summary for this investigation, labeled EQ12-002 Autoliv Closing Resume, can be found attached separately to this resume.This EQ is closed.
Airbag complaints in other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2011 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Toyota RAV4, 7% of the model year's 287 complaints. The component named most often is sensor › occupant classification (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Toyota RAV4 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 12V-029 (side/window, Feb 1, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 Toyota RAV4 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles, and 43% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 11 crashes, 1 fire and 11 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.