RoadVitals

2009 Toyota RAV4 Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Sep 30, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 327 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
9
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Toyota RAV4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsBody & structureFuel system
Filed Sep 30, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

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.

NHTSA ID
11265257
Incident
Sep 20, 2019
Mileage
162,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 23, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11257309
Incident
May 1, 2019
Airbags
Filed Mar 1, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

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.

NHTSA ID
10957768
Incident
Feb 20, 2017
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 27, 2017

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

NHTSA ID
10957363
Incident
Oct 17, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 21, 2016
Crash reported

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.

NHTSA ID
10908410
Incident
Sep 15, 2016
Mileage
105,040 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 31, 2015

BOTH AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10702774
Incident
Feb 9, 2015
AirbagsBody & structureEngine
Filed Jan 31, 2015
Crash reported

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

NHTSA ID
10680189
Incident
Dec 12, 2014
Mileage
57,668 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Feb 1, 2014

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10562506
Incident
Jan 16, 2014
Mileage
27,788 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Apr 30, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10510119
Incident
Nov 8, 2012
Mileage
57,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 26, 2013
Crash reported

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

NHTSA ID
10500123
Incident
Feb 25, 2013
Mileage
46,100 mi
Airbags
Filed May 25, 2012
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10459633
Incident
May 24, 2012
Mileage
50,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Apr 8, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
10324542
Incident
Apr 8, 2010
Mileage
18,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 30, 2009
Crash reported

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

NHTSA ID
10285819
Incident
Sep 9, 2009

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .