2011 Toyota Rav4 Airbags Problems
18 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Airbags Recalls (2)
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.
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. IN THIS CONDITION, THE INFLATOR MAY NOT PERFORM PROPERLY, CAUSING ONE OR BOTH CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY.
Fix: 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. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 8, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Owner Complaints (18)
Your car's side curtain airbags deployed unexpectedly while a mechanic was working inside the vehicle, even though there was no crash. The mechanic was kneeling on the driver's seat reinstalling the center console after replacing the emergency brake cable when the airbags suddenly inflated. This unexpected deployment is concerning because it suggests the airbag system may be oversensitive or malfunctioning. The repair will likely require replacement of the deployed side curtain airbags and a diagnostic inspection of the airbag control module and sensors to determine why they activated without impact.
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Your car's side curtain airbag failed to deploy during a side-impact crash, resulting in serious injuries to a passenger. This is a critical safety system failure that should be investigated immediately to determine why the airbag did not protect the occupant as designed.
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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.
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.
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
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. *DT
TL* 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.
TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL
TL* 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.
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.
TL* 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.
TL* 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.
TL* 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.
TL* 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.
TL* 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. *TR
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. *TR
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. *TR
TL* 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.