2011 Toyota RAV4 Airbags Problems

Airbag light is on

NHTSA ID

11750162

Incident

Jul 11, 2026

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?

NHTSA ID

11574877

Incident

Feb 29, 2024

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

NHTSA ID

11552442

Incident

Oct 23, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11508747

Incident

Jun 22, 2022

Mileage

85,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11322182

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

180,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11234036

Incident

Jul 4, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11164251

Incident

Dec 28, 2018

Mileage

50,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11162947

Incident

Dec 14, 2018

Mileage

72,000 mi

TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL

NHTSA ID

11046036

Incident

Nov 14, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID

10971942

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID

10929851

Incident

Dec 5, 2016

Mileage

21,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10915702

Incident

Oct 12, 2016

Mileage

54,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10860077

Incident

Sep 30, 2013

Mileage

15,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10681099

Incident

Jan 25, 2015

Mileage

15,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10629084

Incident

Aug 20, 2014

Mileage

37,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587904

Incident

Dec 18, 2013

Mileage

44,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10516225

Incident

May 17, 2013

Mileage

19,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10469226

Incident

Jul 11, 2012

Mileage

6,645 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10465931

Incident

May 28, 2012

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.

NHTSA ID

10457369

Incident

Apr 29, 2012

Mileage

18,000 mi