2017 Toyota RAV4 Airbags Problems

This vehicle has twice had the same issue where the sunroof drain lines become clogged or dislocated and the water fills the liner in the front driver and passenger seats resulting in flooding in the compartment and mold damage throughout the interior. the mole spore are transmitted throughout the interior. The water damaged the airbags and the electrical harness in the dash of the car resulting in the dashboard electrical system shutting off and restarting spontaneously while driving. The leaks were repairs and the interior replaces in october 2023 and the same incident has recurred in august 2026. The claims adjuster recommends that the entire wiring harness, airbags, and carpets, seats and liners be replaced for health and safety of passengers.

NHTSA ID

11755337

Incident

Aug 1, 2026

When the passenger front airbag deployed in an accident, a coil about 3 inches long and an inch wide was ejected from the airbag compartment and info the face of the occupant. Minor injuries sustained but was near the eye. The coil became embedded in the skin and the coil had to be removed.

NHTSA ID

11560489

Incident

Dec 15, 2023

Related to a car accident when getting hit in the front my air bags didn’t deploy . Only the driver side was hit pretty bad . Another car accident related to a tree branch no air bag deploy . I was told that you have to be hit in a certain way to deploy the air bags . Hearing that makes me switch from a Toyota to a Kia . I have my toddler .

NHTSA ID

11553312

Incident

Oct 13, 2020

Side Airbag failure: (all air bags didn't deploy) As I was making a left hand turn, My vehicle was hit in my drivers rear quarter, just behind the gas cap. The impact spun the car over 90 degrees, causing me to hit the left side of my head against the side drivers window, causing a concussion and cervical strain. No airbags in the vehicle were deployed, yet the car was totaled. The car that hit me was traveling at a high rate of speed and the impact totally destroyed that vehicles front end displacing the engine. In my opinion the airbags malfunctioned due to the water damage caused by the rail leaks common to that vehicle (which I had the dealer fix previously). If the airbag in question was operational I would not have hit my head. (yes, I was wearing my seatbelt.)

NHTSA ID

11537736

Incident

Jul 30, 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the contact struck a sign on the side of the road causing front-end damages to the vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. The contact suffered a major injury to the chest from the seat belt and back pains where she was taken to the hospital and had to seek physical therapy. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer that stated that the damages were not severe for the air bags senor to deploy. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,408.

NHTSA ID

11532765

Incident

Oct 22, 2019

Mileage

48,408 mi

We owned 2 Toyota cars, highlander and RAV4( this is our second RAV4), we bought both time new, the first one after one year has some break and noise issues and my wife did not like it and we traded and got 2017 RAV4, from her experience, she did not wanted Toyota but different car, though I told her that it has longevity and she should get another Toyota and she agreed and gotten RAV4 2017 new car. However, this RAV4 cars have issues and my wife was right and I was wrong and will never buy RAV4 again. Today, in Portland, there is rain and raining and that small snow also now start melting with the rain, I parked my wife car in our driveway and went in, after lunch came back to drive, saw water was dripping, immediately looked for the sun roof locks, it was completed closed, reach my hand to the place where is the leak is coming, its from headliner areas by driver side where sun visor located. This is 2017 RAV4 with 26k mileage, I drop the car by the dealer where did we bought this car, their tech will be back on Monday, I cannot wait what they have to say for this obvious defect from the factories, I read more about it and there are a lot of this issues with RAV4 and needs factory attention for recall. MY MAIN CONCERN IS NOW: The real danger with this roof leak is not so much cosmetic , the real danger is damage to the airbags over the door and corrosion to the wiring harness, it should warrant recall!!

NHTSA ID

11498767

Incident

Dec 24, 2022

I have attached a letter that I wrote Toyota but did not mail. Vechicle is a 2017 Rav Hybrid. We bought it in CA April 2021 and it had 28230 miles. Car went to Renton WA in August, 2021. Vechicle was serviced a couple of times, but in October 2022, dealer gave us a bill for $9700 due to a faulty wire halter. The Toyota people said the car is out of warranty. Please read the letter with lots more details. Thanks.

NHTSA ID

11496822

Incident

Oct 5, 2022

While traveling around 40 mph on a roadway another vehicle ran a stop sign approximately 2 feet in front of my vehicle. This vehicle came onto the roadway from a side road at a sustained speed with no braking. I swerved to avoid impact and went over an embankment. The vehicle sustained extensive damage to the front and underneath. It is a total loss. The airbags did not deploy during the accident. There were also serious injuries to the driver and passenger. The driver sustained a broken neck in 4 places. The passenger sustained massive hematomas, a fractured arm, and 7 fractured ribs in the chest and separated sternum. There were no warning lights or messages displayed. An inspection has not been performed on the airbag system. The vehicle is currently located at the insurance company's salvage yard.

NHTSA ID

11480603

Incident

Aug 11, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ON A GREEN LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE WAS CONTACTED FOR THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT FROM UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SOUGHT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION SHOP BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. T MOSES TOYOTA (1433 MACCORKLE AVE, SAINT ALBANS, WV 25177, (304) 727-7777) WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE HOWEVER, INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE NHTSA AND THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,240.

NHTSA ID

11394421

Incident

Jan 20, 2021

Mileage

68,240 mi

2017 RAV 4 STRUCK A CONCRETE LIGHT POST IN PARKING LOT. CAR WAS MOVING FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, IMPACTED DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND FENDER. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO COLLISION ALARM SOUNDED. ENTIRE FRONT PANEL DESTROYED, MAJOR ELECTRICAL SENSOR DAMAGE, DRIVER'S DOOR UNABLE TO OPEN. HOOD DAMAGED. SUSPENSION BENT. DRIVER SUFFERED MAJOR BRUISING AND CHEST PAIN. BOTH ELBOWS IMPACTED SOMETHING IN COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ID

11321413

Incident

Apr 15, 2020

Mileage

18,500 mi

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IN A LEFT HAND TURN LANE. A VEHICLE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ACCIDENTALLY DROVE HEAD FIRST INTO MY CAR. MY PASSENGER AND I HAD SEAT BELTS ON. THE APPROXIMATE SPEED OF THE OTHER CAR WAS GREATER THAN 10 MILES PER HOUR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DESPITE CONSIDERABLE FRONT END DAMAGE. A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD SAYS "SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. VISIT YOUR DEALER". I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. I HAVE READ THAT IF A VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND THE SEAT BELTS ARE ON IT MAY NOT ACTIVATE. THAT IS OK - JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS THE INTENT.

NHTSA ID

11309946

Incident

Feb 12, 2020

Mileage

15 mi

THE AIRBAGS ARE OFF AND I CANT TURN IT ON, EVERY WEEK TURN IT ON THE LIGTH FLAT TIRE AND THE TIRE ARE GOOD INCLUIDING EXTRA TIRE, AND MY BRAKES ARE DOING A EXTRANGE NOISE I CHECKED THE BRAKES AND ARE GOOD.

NHTSA ID

11290777

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER AND HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S ARMS AND RIBS WERE BRUISED AND HIS NECK SNAPPED BACK AND WAS SWOLLEN. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED; HOWEVER, X-RAYS WERE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A DOCTOR. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DEEMED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. *BF*JB 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID

11193611

Incident

Dec 31, 2018

Mileage

23,000 mi

I WAS IN A CRASH, SIDE IMPACT, PRETTY BAD. INJURED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT MY HEAD AND SHOULDER AGAINST THE SIDE ON THE INTERIOR OF MY VEHICLE. TRAVELING ON FREEWAY 50-60MPH, HEARD SCREECHING BEHIND DRIVERS SIDE OF ME... HEARD CRASH THEN I WAS IMPACTED ON DRIVERSIDE AND EVENTUALLY REAR PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO BE AIRBORNE AND LAND UPRIGHT. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED!

NHTSA ID

11132299

Incident

Sep 28, 2018

Mileage

23,000 mi

MY WIFE DROVE HER CAR (2017 TOYOTA RAV4 , PURCHASED ON NOV 17TH,2016) INTO MY NEIGHBOR 'S MAILBOX AND A SMALL TREE NEXT TO THE MAILBOX IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA ON THE MORNING OF JUN 22TH,2018.PLEASE FIND ATTACHED PICTURE AND YOU WILL FIND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY UNDER THE SITUATION LIKE PICTURE SHOWS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY . ALSO, I WANT TO CONFIRM IS ANY RECALLS FOR THIS MODEL? THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT 33971 SUMMERSET DRIVE,SOLON,OH.NOBODY HURT BUT THE CAR LOOKS REALLY TERRIBLE.

NHTSA ID

11103823

Incident

Jun 22, 2018

Mileage

17,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 50 MPH CRASH ON THE FREEWAY WHERE ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR SPUN AND THE FRONT END WAS HIT AGAIN CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND THE FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA ID

11094062

Incident

May 13, 2018

Mileage

12,000 mi

SRS AIRBAG MALFUNCTION

NHTSA ID

11060875

Incident

Jan 6, 2018

Mileage

6,259 mi

THE CAR SUDDENLY SHOWED A YELLOW WARNING ALERT THAT THE VEHICLE AIRBAG IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND LOOK FOR THE NEAREST DEALER. WE WENT TO THE DEALER AND ON THE CUTOMER STATEMENT OF PROBLEM TOYOTA PUT MALFUNCTION ILLUMINATED PASSENGER SEATBUCKLE SWITH CORRECTION TAKEN WAS ORDER SEAT BELT BUCKLE FRONT SEAT

NHTSA ID

11032207

Incident

Oct 7, 2017

Mileage

3,615 mi

WHILE PULLING INTO TO A PARKING SPACE,MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED THE CURB CAUSING THE CAR TO HIT A TREE,CAUSING ALL AIR BAGS TO GO OFF. I WAS ASKED IF I HIT THE GAS INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. THIS HAPPENED SO FAST THAT I SUPPOSE ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE BUT I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED. IS THERE A WAY THAT THEY CAN TELL WHAT HAPPENEED?

NHTSA ID

11005357

Incident

Jul 8, 2017

Mileage

3,700 mi

THE LIGHT FOR "SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" WILL INTERMITTENTLY GO ON WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OR COUNTRY ROADS. THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF ONLY ONCE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF.

NHTSA ID

10966689

Incident

Mar 18, 2017

Mileage

950 mi