Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2024 | 12 | 7% | 10,000 miles |
| 2023 | 8 | 5% | 58,000 miles |
| 2022 | 10 | 7% | 36,000 miles |
| 2021 | 125 | 32% | 30,000 miles |
| 2020 | 55 | 9% | 47,000 miles |
| 2019 | 45 | 5% | 8,000 miles |
| 2018 | 16 | 5% | 17,000 miles |
| 2017 | 20 | 7% | 17,000 miles |
| 2016 | 19 | 8% | 35,000 miles |
| 2015 | 15 | 5% | 24,000 miles |
| 2014 | 12 | 6% | 20,000 miles |
| 2013 | 13 | 5% | 25,000 miles |
| 2012 | 22 | 8% | 30,000 miles |
| 2011 | 20 | 7% | 44,000 miles |
| 2010 | 28 | 7% | 56,000 miles |
| 2009 | 13 | 4% | 57,000 miles |
| 2008 | 58 | 10% | 80,000 miles |
| 2007 | 99 | 10% | 87,000 miles |
| 2006 | 57 | 8% | 90,000 miles |
| 2005 | 59 | 42% | 109,000 miles |
| 2004 | 47 | 31% | 100,000 miles |
| 2003 | 10 | 3% | 50,000 miles |
| 2002 | 22 | 4% | 38,000 miles |
| 2001 | 13 | 4% | 90,000 miles |
| 2000 | 1 | 3% | 169,000 miles |
| 1999 | 14 | 23% | 105,000 miles |
| 1998 | 13 | 17% | 160,000 miles |
| 1997 | 5 | 9% | — |
| 1996 | 4 | 9% | 99,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact's daughter owns a 2024 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at approximately 35 MPH, she had crossed an intersection when she was crashed into by another vehicle making a U-turn from a cross street. The other vehicle's front end crashed into the driver's side tire and front door. The contact stated that the force of the crash had fractured the left front axle and pushed the tire into the engine compartment. The contact stated that the frame was bent and the driver's door was difficult to open. The contact stated that the side air bags had not deployed and that the seat belts on the driver's side and the passenger side could not be unbuckled. The contact stated that his daughter had sustained injuries to her left shoulder, left arm, and leg as well as head and neck injuries. …
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH into a parking space, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration three times and crashed into a guard pipe. No warning light was illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. The front passenger's side seat belt was loose and failed to restrain the contact's husband in his seat. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt failed to retract after the crash. The contact and her husband did not sustain any injuries, and no medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but had not yet been diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that an engineer would inspect the Event Data Recorder (EDR) in three months. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated the front passenger's side Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor failed to detect an occupant seated in the passenger's seat and was deactivated on the instrument panel. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure; however, the vehicle had not been taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched and found information on NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V519000 (Air Bags) and associated the failure with the recall. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 57,500
Sudden surge and acceleration upon parking. I had brakes depressed pulling into a parking space when the vehicle felt like it jumped and quickly accelerated. It veered left missing the parked van in front of me but crashing into the parked Honda Accord two spots over and one in front. It crashed into the back tire and fender area of the passenger side of the Honda pushing it completely out of its spot and sideways. My vehicle kept going even though pushing the brakes to stop. I had to force it into park to stop. The car's air bags deployed but my Toyota's airbags nor crash warning system worked.
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that a sudden complete stop on a major roadway was necessary due to a turtle crossing, and the vehicle in front was at a complete stop and exited the vehicle in their attempt to remove the turtle from the road. A third vehicle coming from the rear failed to slow down and was driving at 55 MPH, crashed into the rear of the contact. As a result, the contact rear-ended the vehicle in front, which was unoccupied due to the attempt of a turtle removal from the roadway. The contact mentioned that the seat belt did not retract during the impact. No air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed to Copart Collision Center pending the insurance company's inspection of the vehicle. The contact stated that she sustained a head injury that required medical attention. A police report was filed, but the police report number was unknown. …
The contact owned a 2022 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that when he was making a left turn at a light, he was involved in a front-end collision. No warning lights were illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy, and the contact stated that he required medical attention for a fractured sternum. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 2,800.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35-40 MPH with traffic ahead slowing down, the vehicle registered the traffic information as an immediate stop ahead and the braking system engaged along with the contact depressing the brake pedal to slow the vehicle down. Upon coming to a stop, a pick-up truck rear-ended the vehicle 3 - 4 times. No air bags deployed. The driver's front seat belt failed to retract during the impact to safely secure the driver. The contact sustained injuries to her knees, shoulders, and arms. The front passenger sustained bruises from the seat belt. …
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact was traveling at approximately 50 MPH directly behind a van in the same lane of traffic. The van suddenly made an emergency avoidance maneuver to bypass a stationary vehicle completely stopped in the lane. Despite the attempt, the van rear-ended the stopped vehicle. The contact immediately initiated an evasive maneuver to avoid the sudden collision occurring ahead. However, due to proximity and immediate lane obstruction, the contact was unable to avoid an impact and struck the vehicle. The severe front-end impact resulted in catastrophic damage to the contact's vehicle before it came to a complete stop. The airbags failed to deploy, and no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop. A police report was filed. …
Related recalls (10)
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Rav4, Rav4 Hybrid, and Rav4 Prime vehicles. The front passenger seat may have been assembled with interference between internal parts that may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor to incorrectly detect the occupant.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the front passenger seat, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Air bags › Frontal
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Toyota Avalon and 2020 Avalon Hybrid, RAV4, and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 1998-2000 RAV4, 1998-1999 RAV4 EV and Celica and 1997-1998 Supra vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and owners will have the option to self-inspect, or have a dealer inspect the steering wheel on their vehicle to determine if their vehicle may be equipped with an affected inflator.
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.
Show 5 more recalls
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 › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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
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.
Air bags › Side/window
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…
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota RAV4 years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2021 (125), 2007 (99), 2005 (59), 2008 (58) and 2006 (57) model years. Airbag complaints make up 32% of all complaints for the 2021.
Is there a recall for Toyota RAV4 airbag problems?
Yes — 10 recalls, including 23V-865 (occupant classification, Dec 20, 2023); 22V-519 (front passenger, Jul 21, 2022); 20V-734 (frontal, Nov 25, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Toyota RAV4 airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles; 43% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (53 mentions), followed by the side/window (18).
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.