10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 15 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 16 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 72,065 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota rav 4. the contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the air bags deployed without any warning. The driver did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was later taken to a dealer. The vehicle was pending a diagnosis. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were approximately 155,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- Galt, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the air bag warning lamp was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the spiral cable was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 93,000.
- Barre, VT, USA
Console airbag sensor warning light came on while driving on a highway and stays on. Coincidently this airbag warning light issue came about after having taken car into a Toyota dealership around Sept 2012 for a recall. The recall had something do with faulty roll-over sensor for the side curtain airbag systems. Took the car to a Toyota dealership. After dtc check, the cause turned out to be a shorted spiral cable assembly unit for the SRS driver airbag. Replacement job required two hours of labor by tech, costing $210, $307 part and "supplies and waste disposal" fee of $25.88. According to internet search, it is seems there have been cases of defective spiral cable unit for Toyota rav 4 causing SRS airbag system to go into "inactive" mode therefore leaving drivers/passengers without any protection and thereby creating life threatening scenario. Therefore, there is clear and strong need for the NHTSA to contact Toyota corporation to initiate a recall action targeting the spiral cable assembly unit (84306-22010). In recent past, "Toyota is recalling 495,000 certain 2005 to early 2009 model year Toyota Tacoma vehicles sold in the U.S. no other vehicles are involved in this recall".
- Bay St. Louis, MS, USA
Airbag light turned on after a recent recall that done by Toyota dealership. This is critical safety issue on the Rav4, which Toyota is not willing fix as part of a recall.
- Buena Park, CA, USA
My airbag light came on and I took it in. They could not fix the problem even after the recall on the airbags were fixed. The light remain on. The attendant told me that the car would be alright and don't worry about the light. Six months later I took it in again and they said it would be $447 to repair. They did not have the part and would have to order it. I took in again about seven to eight months later I ask them to check it again to make sure it was alright to travel in which I travel alot. The guy never told me that with this kind of problem the airbags will not deploy if I have an accident. I call Toyota and told them I have been riding around with a dangerous car and no one there took the time to tell me it is a problem and my family was in danger. I feel I should not have to pay for something they told me it was safe to drive. Please advise me of what to do next. I only deal with keith pierson Toyota jacksonville Florida.
- Middleburg, FL, USA
Took my 07 rav 4 sport in to dealership for airbag sensor recall on 10-26-12. This was accomplished. The airbag icon had been staying on constantly since 10-21-12. Still on after recall work was done. Told by service dept. What by now is a familiar story. The problem would not be pursued without a diagnostic test at $87.50 which would be applied to the cost of parts and labor. How generous is that" also told spiral cable most likely the problem. So unless I am missing something it works out to hand dealership a blank check or take your chances airbag may or may not deploy as designed. Now if the recalled sensor wasn't designed to fail and it will be covered even if warranty has expired what's so different about a faulty spiral cable failing after warranty has expired? I am going to take a wild guess here and suggest Toyota has someone tasked to read these complaints to stay informed of Toyota owner sentiment. So this is for you! how many incidents with or without injuries or worse have to happen before Toyota does the right thing and corrects the airbag issues and quits hiding behind the expired warranty excuse? Toyota did not become a key player in the auto industry by behaving like this.what has changed" next step take it viral using all available media!
- Chesapeake, VA, USA
Air bag sensor light illuminated approx 6 weeks back. I called the dealership and they said a vehicle recall had been issued for my vehicle, due to the air bag curtain sensor. Took vehicle to dealership; recall work was done. Less than 1 mile driving, the light came back on. Took vehicle back and after 3-4 hours of troubleshooting I was told that the spiral/coil cable behind the steering wheel was at fault and parts and labor would come to $530. Did an internet search on '07-08 Rav4, and was surprised to find more problems with the spiral/coil cable than with the curtain sensor. In several cases, owners had taken the vehicle in for the recall and were told the same I was (needed a new spiral/coil cable). After reading all the deployments of Rav4 airbags while the vehicle is not moving nor impacted; I have no confidence that the airbag system is reliable. Is there a larger issue with the airbags?
- Maricopa, AZ, USA
I was driving down forest ave in brockton, MA, the driver side door stated smoking, I quickly turned the engine off, got me and my son out of the car and called the fire department who disconnected the battery and suggested that I got it towed to a repair shop. So I did, to copland toyoyta where it was troubleshoot to a master switch ass. It was repaired and I had to pay $580.70 because they said its not covered by warranty.
- Brockton, MA, USA
The air bag warning light went on and I took it to the dealer - they said it was the spiral cable for the driver's side front air bag which needed to be replaced for over $500. This was after the car had already been the subject of another airbag-related recall.
- Menlo Park, CA, USA
My wife was driving a 2007 rva 4 limited when the car ahead of her suddenly stopped. Speed was 25 to 30 mph in stop and go traffic. She braked and collided with the car ahead of her. My wife was able to catch herself and was sitting up right when the air bags deployed. There was a delay in the airbags by several seconds after the front collision. Soon after the airbags deployed, thick black smoke came up through the steering column. My wife evacuated the car and within five minutes the car was totally engulfed in flames. I am concerned on the delay in airbag deployment and the fire and speed at which it spread. We loved our rav but have a concern about buying any Toyota product.
- Spokane, WA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. While parked, the contact noticed that the air bag light illuminated on the instrument panel. The air bag warning light was constantly illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 11V245000 (air bags:side/window) that may be related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100,500. The VIN was unavailable.
- Phoenix, AZ, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that that the air bag warning lamp illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the spiral cable for the air bag circuit malfunction and the spiral cable would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 70,000.
- Westminster, SC, USA
SRS warning light comes on when car is put in gear and remains on. The Toyota dealership technician stated the code indicated by computer analysis is B1801. Spiral cable and air bag sensor need to be replaced for a cost of $933.31 parts, labor and tax. It seems this problem is occurring with some frequency, evident from prior complaints and comments on automotive websites, and that Toyota technicians are aware of it.
- Morgantown, WV, USA
My air bag sensor light came on approximately at 128,824 miles. Just after my extended warranty ran out. Diagnostic test indicated that the spiral cable in the steering column has failed. Part number is 84306-22010. According to the service rep at the dealership, this failure in not an unknown problem. Parts are $272 and labor will be $150+ tax. After doing some research, this is a common problem with several Toyota models.according to Toyota when I called there have been recalls on the other models but have not been enough complaints against the Rav4 to issue a recall. So what is it going to take to get this thing recalled" I am fortunate enough to be able to have the money at this time, but am wondering how many people that cannot afford this repair are driving Toyota's around with an inoperative air bag"
- Oakland, TN, USA
On 11/15/2011 I was driving my 2007 Toyota rav 4 and I ran over a wood on the roadway. My passenger curtain side airbag deployed almost causing me to lose control of my auto. I brought my auto to my insurance claim department ( travers) and I got a inspection and quoted a price of $2959.98. My auto has no damage to it other then the airbag deployment. I got it fixed and a few days later I receive a letter from Toyota stating they have a recall on the curtain side airbag and that they were deploying because of the sensors. My insurance company has been trying to have Toyota accept responsible for this but Toyota says because I got it fixed before they could look it, they will not accept responsible and I am out of luck.I would like Toyota to claim responsible for the airbag deployment because they sent me the recall notice for the same airbag that I had the problem with.
- Wantagh, NY, USA
Spiral cable failure in steering column causing airbag malfunction indicator light. Toyota charging to repair when clearly they are having problems in many Rav4's with this issue. This should be a safety recall. $500+ for repair.
- Fresno, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota rav 4. the contact was driving 51 mph when the driver side curtain air bag deployed without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who advised that they would contact her at a later date. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was unknown.
- Fernandina Beach, FL, USA
2007 Toyota Rav4 was waiting to turn left when it was impacted by a 2004 Ford F-150 on the front/left side lifting and turning the vehicle clockwise hitting 1st a 2000 Ford mustang with the front/right side and then hitting the right front door against a 2008 Nissan quest. None of the airbags on the Toyota Rav4 deployed.
- Sarasota, FL, USA
Quoted from Toyota service invoice " air bag light on: 140603 B1801 stored air bag light on. Found open circuit in spiral cable rec replacing " ( $530).
- Middletown, CT, USA
- Whitewater, KS, USA