FaultScore

2003 Toyota RAV4 airbag problems

11 of the 392 complaints about the 2003 Toyota RAV4 are about the airbag system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 50,000 miles.

F

11

Complaints

9

Crashes

0

Fires

5

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 6 54.5%
AIR Bags 4 36.4%
Side/Window 1 9.1%

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.

at 125,000 miles LOS Angeles, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

MY WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY OCT /16/2018 A CHEVY VAN SEVERELY CRASH INTO THE REAR OF MY 2003 RAV4 ,AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED .SHOULDN'T THE AIRBAGS HAVE DEPLOYED?WHAT SHOULD I DO?

NHTSA complaint #11142305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mount Airy, GA

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA complaint #11065936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Chevy Chase, MD Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS AT 35 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND SEIZED. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT HAVE DEPLOYED BECAUSE THE AIRBAG SENSORS WERE LOCATED ON THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000. THE VIN INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10418396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,080 miles Independence, MO Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE TOYOTA 2003 RAV4 ROLLING OVER AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS HAD OPENED FRONT OR SKIRT ABOVE THE HEAD FOR ROLL OVER.

NHTSA complaint #10311537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,080 miles Independence, MO Crash

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE TOYOTA 2003 RAV4 ROLLING OVER AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS HAD OPENED FRONT OR SKIRT ABOVE THE HEAD FOR ROLL OVER.

NHTSA complaint #10311537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Long Beach, CA

AIR BAGS

INSTRUCTIONS SAY A 12 YR. OLD OR UNDER SHOULD SIT IN THE BACK SEAT DUE TO THE FACT AN AIRBAG COULD KILL THE CHILD. HOWEVER, WE ARE ONLY 5 FEET 2 INCHES WHICH IS THE SIZE OF A 12 YR OLD. SHOULDN'T OUR AIRBAGS BE DISCONNECTED??

NHTSA complaint #10244302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fullerton, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING BACK FROM HER SECOND HOME ON THE 60 FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED AND CAME UP UPON STOPPED TRAFFIC. SHE APPLIED HER BRAKES HARD BUT RAN INTO THE BACK OF ONE VEHICLE WHICH WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE LANE AND THEN MY MOTHER CONTINUED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. IN NEITHER OF THE 2 SEPARATE COLLISIONS DID ANY OF THE AIRBAGS IN HER 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 DEPLOY. BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT SHE BROKE HER NECK BETWEEN C5 AND C6 IN HER SPINAL COLUMN AND HAS BEEN IN THE ICU UNIT OF THE LOCAL HOSPITAL EVER SINCE.

NHTSA complaint #10220150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,200 miles Castle Hayne, NC Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHETR VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAINT THE DRIVER, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #10115015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,000 miles Castle Hayne, NC Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHEN THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 25 MPH THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, NOR DID THE SEAT BELT RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #10111538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 21,094 miles Dublin, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10105120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Cloud, FL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10015828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Toyota RAV4 problems

← Full 2003 Toyota RAV4 report