13 of the
397 complaints about the 2009 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
57,000 miles.
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 complaint #11265257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Willimantic, CT
AIR BAGS
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 complaint #11257309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesMerritt Island, FLCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
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 complaint #10957768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Simi Valley, CA
AIR BAGS
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
NHTSA complaint #10957363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,040 milesCrowley, LACrash
AIR BAGS
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 complaint #10908410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Danvers, MA
AIR BAGS
BOTH AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON.
NHTSA complaint #10702774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,668 milesLAS Cruces, NMCrash
AIR BAGS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10680189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 27,788 milesCadillac, MI
AIR BAGS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10562506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,000 milesLester, WVCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
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
NHTSA complaint #10510119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,100 milesWest Chester, OHCrash
AIR BAGS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10500123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesHamilton, MACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
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 complaint #10459633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,000 milesBrookline, MACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
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
NHTSA complaint #10324542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MDCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10285819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.