FaultScore

1998 Toyota RAV4 airbag problems

13 of the 92 complaints about the 1998 Toyota RAV4 are about the airbag system — 14% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 132,500 miles.

F

13

Complaints

10

Crashes

0

Fires

7

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 7 53.8%
AIR Bags 5 38.5%
Sensor/Control Module 1 7.7%

Airbags across every Toyota RAV4 year

1998 13 1.6%
1999 14 1.7%
2001 13 1.6%
2002 23 2.8%
2003 11 1.3%
2004 48 5.8%
2005 59 7.1%
2006 58 7.0%
2007 101 12.2%
2008 62 7.5%
2009 13 1.6%
2010 28 3.4%
2011 23 2.8%
2012 22 2.6%
2013 13 1.6%
2014 12 1.4%
2015 16 1.9%
2016 18 2.2%
2017 20 2.4%
2018 16 1.9%
2019 46 5.5%
2020 55 6.6%
2021 125 15.0%
2022 10 1.2%
2024 12 1.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Redondo Beach, CA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THEIR VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SUSTAINED A BLACK EYE, SEVERAL LEG BRUISES AND HAD TO GET 7 STITCHES IN HER HEAD. THE PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT SUSTAINED TWO BROKEN RIBS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #11403564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Clackamas, OR

AIR BAGS

MY VEHICLE IS BEING RECALLED FOR TAKADA AIR BAGS.

NHTSA complaint #11374940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tucson, AZ

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 RAV 4. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THROUGH LOCAL EMISSIONS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V033000 (AIR BAGS). THE VIN TOOL CONFIRMS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SUBJECTED TO THE RECALL. NEITHER A DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11311119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 105,000 miles Chagrin Falls, OH Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A TRACTOR TRAILER. WHILE SWITCHING LANES, THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL, CRASH INTO THE TRACTOR TRAILER AND THEN INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EACH OF THE THREE PASSENGERS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS HOWEVER NONE OF THEM LOCKED ON IMPACT, CAUSING INJURY TO EACH OF THE THREE PASSENGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER REPAIRED NOR INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

NHTSA complaint #10462724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clifton, NJ Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT TRAVELING 45 MPH, NEITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED IN ACCIDENT, VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A COMPLETE LOSS. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #560045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sleepy Hollow, NY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS DID NOT PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN THIS CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #875297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chester, SC Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WENT DOWN INTO AN EMBANKMENT, HIT SEVERAL LARGE WOODEN POLES, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #869166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hudson, OH Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN AND HIT A TREE ON DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND BROKE CONSUMER'S FOREARM. CONSUMER FELT THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED AT THAT SPEED.

NHTSA complaint #864991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carson, MS Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR WAS SCRATCHED. DISTRICT MANAGER KEPT MAKING UNSCHEDULED VISITS.

NHTSA complaint #863995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT ABOUT 40 MPH. THE DRIVER / PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #848412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Buena Park, CA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

AIR BAG LIGHT FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #606507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fountana, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES AND WAS IMPACTED BY A HEAD-ON COLLISION OF A 75 CHEVROLET NOVA. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, SHREDDING THE STEERING WHEEL COVER, INJURING THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED DURING THIS CRASH.

NHTSA complaint #827007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ostrander, OH Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND THE AIRBAG S DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #822033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Toyota RAV4 problems

← Full 1998 Toyota RAV4 report