10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
11 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,666 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 #19

Feb 292024

RAV4

  • miles
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?

- Winchendon, MA, USA

problem #18

Oct 232023

RAV4

  • miles
Side curtain airbag failed to deploy in side-impact crash. Passenger suffered significant concussion and broken ribs.

- Spokane, WA, USA

problem #17

Jun 222022

RAV4

  • 85,000 miles
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.

- Grandville, VT, USA

problem #16

Jun 012018

RAV4

  • 180,000 miles
Airbag light has been on entire ownership along with seatbelt light flashing for passenger seatbelt. Whether buckled or unbuckled. Or even when nobody is in the front passenger seat. Constant issue whether stationary, in motion, and on highways/city streets.

- Sellersburg, IN, USA

problem #15

Jul 042019

RAV4

  • 80,000 miles
My vehicle was traveling 35+ miles per hous when I inadvertently hit the vehicle in front of me who had slowed significantly to 25 mph or less. Both vehicles suffered severe damages as seen in photos

- Newberg, OR, USA

problem #14

Dec 282018

RAV4

  • 50,000 miles
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.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #13

Dec 142018

RAV4

  • 72,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. While driving, the passenger side air bag indicator failed to illuminate while the passenger seat was occupied. In addition, the seat belt indicator illuminated while the passenger side seat belt was buckled. The vehicle was taken to lugoff Toyota (878 us-1, lugoff, SC 29078) where it was diagnosed that the seat occupant computer needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.

- Camden, SC, USA

problem #12

Nov 142017

RAV4

  • miles
Takata airbag recall

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #11

Feb 012016

RAV4

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact received a manufacturer recall notice concerning the air bags. The parts had not been supplied by the manufacturer to the dealer for over a year. The dealer kept stating that they would call, but the contact had not received a response. The contact was not experiencing a failure. The VIN and NHTSA campaign number were not available.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

problem #10

Dec 052016

RAV4

  • 21,000 miles
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.

- Seffner, FL, USA

problem #9

Oct 122016

RAV4

  • 54,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. On several occasions, the rear seat belt seized. The contact also stated that the front passenger side air bag warning indicator illuminated while a passenger was seated in the front passenger seat. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V096000 (seat belts). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #8

Sep 302013

RAV4

  • 15,000 miles
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.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #7

Jan 252015

RAV4

  • 15,000 miles
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.

- Oakdale, PA, USA

problem #6

Aug 202014

RAV4

  • 37,000 miles
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.

- Joppa , MD, USA

problem #5

Dec 182013

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 44,000 miles
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. I am entitled for a 100% refund on the er expenses and my daughter should be placed on a watch list, as any repercussion out of these types of accidents show up years afterwards. When she develops a back or neck condition as a result of this vehicle not functioning as engineered and promoted, Toyota should cover all expenses related to their lack of quality; which is evident since the acceleration issues and the more recent (and precisely) massive air bag recall.

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

problem #4

May 172013

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 19,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the front air bag failed to deploy after the front driver's side fender was crashed into by another vehicle. The contact sustained injuries to the right shoulder, elbow, neck and a stressed collar bone. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 19,000.

- Chloe, WV, USA

problem #3

Jul 112012

RAV4

  • 6,645 miles
I would like to notify the incident, on July 11th 2012 I was driving on I-40 w highway at 65 mph speed, the rava 4 vehicle side air bag (driver side) compartment opened but air bags not deployed, it's look like a manufacturer assembly issue, I would like to share this incident with you, this may lead serious injury or accident on road ways. My observations : no path holes, no accident, it happened just like that. I took my vehicle to Toyota dealer, the dealer replaced side air bag panel with new one.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #2

May 282012

RAV4 4-cyl

  • miles
According to our insured, the insured had pulled into his driveway, and the vehicle had a sudden acceleration, causing the vehicle to run into the house, damaging the wall, the sliding door and the typhoon shutters.

- Hagatna, GU, USA

problem #1

Apr 292012

RAV4

  • 18,000 miles
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.

- Goffstown, NH, USA