10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,300 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #12

Sep 202019

RAV4

  • 162,000 miles
Daughter was driving 65mph on interstate when large truck in front of her dropped their drive shaft. She tried to straddle the object due to no shoulder and another vehicle in next lane. Report stated it rupture gas tank and loss ability to steer vehicle sending get into and through guardrail. Totalled everyone front end of vehicle. No airbags deployed. She suffered significant concussion and whiplash.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #11

May 012019

RAV4

  • miles
Front passenger seatbelt light is always flashing without anyone in the passenger seat. I saw on this website that 2009-2012 Toyota Rav4 had a recall in 2013 for occupant sensing system calibration. I called Toyota and they said hay my VIN number was not included in the recall but why am I having that problem now?! he description in that recall says that the airbags won't deploy or will deploy improperly in the case of an accident. I believe that I'm having the same problem.

- Willimantic, CT, USA

problem #10

Feb 202017

RAV4

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Rav4. While driving approximately 45 mph, the contact swerved to avoid a vehicle. The vehicle drifted to the left and crashed into a tree. The air bag deployed. Upon deployment, the air bag burst open and released a metal bracket. The contact received leg, abdominal, arm, neck, back, head, ankle, and kidney injuries. Medical attention was needed. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was not diagnosed. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- Merritt Island, FL, USA

problem #9

Oct 172016

RAV4 4-cyl

  • miles
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Rav4. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 16V096000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 4/27/2017

- Simi Valley, CA, USA

problem #8

Sep 152016

RAV4

  • 105,040 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Rav4. While driving 45 mph, the contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105,040.

- Crowley, LA, USA

problem #7

Feb 092015

RAV4

  • miles
Both airbag lights came on.

- Danvers , MA, USA

problem #6

Dec 122014

RAV4

  • 57,668 miles
I was driving and the air bag inadvertently went off, exploding in my face. The vehicle filled with smoke, dust, and debris. Because I could not see (airbag in my face and smoke/debris in the vehicle), I crashed into the vehicle in front of me.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #5

Jan 162014

RAV4 6-cyl

  • 27,788 miles
Extensive rodent damage to wiring harness, passenger air bag, heat/ac ducts, headliner, carpeting front & rear, instrument panel, and many more misc. Parts. Repair costs - $10,257.91 because Toyota chose to make this car with a smaller carbon footprint using edible products (soy foam, rice husks, etc.) in place of petroleum for much of the plastic parts. This material is now attractive to rodents and they designed the air inlet to the heater without a screen which allows rodents entry to the vehicle. It becomes a safety issue because the air bag was damaged enough to require replacement. My Toyota has become the incredible edible car.

- Cadillac , MI, USA

problem #4

Nov 082012

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 57,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while applying the brakes at 45 mph, the brakes failed to respond, causing him to crash into a telephone pole. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was thrown into the windshield and sustained numerous severe to moderate injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the front end would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified and advised the contact that a field representative would be dispatched the following day to further inspect the vehicle. One month later, the representative still had not performed the inspection. The manufacturer stated that since the repairs had already begun, they would not be able to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 57,000. Updated 10/28/2014 updated 7/14/2015

- Lester, WV, USA

problem #3

Feb 252013

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 46,100 miles
My daughter was driving the rav 4 and had to swerve off the road to avoid a car. She hit a telephone pole, but the air bags did not deploy. There was quite a bit of front end damage, but at no time did the air bags deploy.

- West Chester, OH, USA

problem #2

May 242012

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Rav4. The contact crashed into a tree and the air bags did not deploy. The contact was able to exit the vehicle and once she was safely outside, the air bags then deployed. The contact was unable to recall the specific events of the crash and had struck her head on the steering wheel upon impact. The vehicle sustained front end damages and was towed to an auto body shop. The police were notified and a police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 50,000. Updated 06/07/12 updated 06/11/12

- Hamilton, MA, USA

problem #1

Apr 082010

RAV4 4WD 4-cyl

  • 18,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Rav4. While driving approximately 5 mph, the contact depressed the brake pedal and upon release, the vehicle suddenly accelerated causing a crash. None of the air bags deployed and the contact was injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed but had not been inspected when the complaint was filed. The current and failure mileages were approximately 18,000. Updated 06/10/10 updated 08/06/10

- Brookline, MA, USA