2009 Toyota Rav4 Airbags Problems
12 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Airbags Recalls (1)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Owner Complaints (12)
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.
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.
TL* 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.
TL* 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 *JS
TL* 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.
BOTH AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON. *TR
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. *TR
TL* 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*LJ UPDATED 7/14/2015*JS
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. *TR
TL* 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*LJ UPDATED 06/11/12
TL*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 *BF UPDATED 08/06/10*JB
I WAS INVOLVED IN A MULTI-CAR COLLISION. MY DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE ALTHOUGH THOSE IN THE OTHER CARS DID. THIS RESULTED IN MORE SERIOUS INJURY TO ME THAN SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED. *TR