FaultScore

2014 Toyota RAV4 airbag problems

12 of the 279 complaints about the 2014 Toyota RAV4 are about the airbag system — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 20,000 miles.

F

12

Complaints

12

Crashes

0

Fires

7

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 12 100.0%

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.

Lakeland, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

Request for Investigation – 2014 Toyota RAV4 Airbag Non-Deployment On [XXX], at approximately [XXX]., the vehicle was involved in a traffic collision in Lakeland, Florida. The vehicle sustained a significant impact to the driver’s-side front area. Despite the nature and location of the collision, the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbags did not deploy. Law enforcement responded to the scene and completed Police Report. Emergency medical services also responded, and the driver was transported from the scene by ambulance due to injuries sustained in the collision. The primary concern is whether the airbag system, including the crash sensors and SRS components, functioned as designed during this crash. Based on the impact, I am seeking an investigation into whether the non-deployment of the airbags was the result of a defect or malfunction. I respectfully request that NHTSA review this incident, document it within its vehicle safety database, and determine whether similar complaints involving 2014 Toyota RAV4 vehicles exist that may indicate a broader safety concern warranting further investigation. Supporting documentation, including photographs of the vehicle damage, the police report, and any other relevant records, can be provided upon request. Thank you for your attention to this important vehicle safety matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11754652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plano, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I was in a car accident and the side and steering airbags deployed. While the main steering airbag deflated successfully following the accident, the driver's side door side airbag never deflated. Once I was trying to get out of the car and had the door open, this meant it was much harder and took longer to get out as I had to slide out from underneath it. Because I wasn't able to get out quickly, I remained in a car in direct line of traffic with my driver's side door where it would have been hit first putting me in more danger.

NHTSA complaint #11721674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fresh Meadows, NY Crash

AIR BAGS

My 2014 Toyota RAV4 had an accident (front end collision) No air bags deploy

NHTSA complaint #11440729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,098 miles Flushing, NY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED AFTER A CRASH THAT LEFT THE CAR CONSIDERED A 'TOTAL LOSS'. THE CAR HIT A POLE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. CAUSING DRIVER TO INJURE FINGER AND MISS TIME FROM WORK.

NHTSA complaint #11366198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles Modesto, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

MY SISTER ACCIDENTALLY RAN INTO THE BACK OF A BOX TRUCK ON 7/2/2020 AND THE KNEE AIRBAG IN HER TOYOTA 2014 RAV4 DEPLOYED. THE AIRBAG OR COVER CAUSED MAJOR GASHES IN HER LEG AND SHE IS NOW IN THE HOSPITAL AND WILL NEED TO HAVE SKIN GRAFTS. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT THAT IS NOT YET READY. I AM ATTACHING PICTURES OF THE LEG. I HAVE NEVER SEEN DAMAGE LIKE THIS CAUSED BY AIRBAG AND WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME TYPE OF ISSUES WITH KNEE AIRBAGS?

NHTSA complaint #11337736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 32,000 miles Staten Island, NY Crash

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BODY REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $4,700. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE ACCELERATION MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #11162919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,577 miles Alexandria, VA Crash

AIR BAGS

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. BEFORE STARTING WORK, MY WIFE WAS ATTEMPTING TO SLOWLY PARK OUR 2014 RAV4 AT LESS THAN 2 MPH IN AN EMPTY PARKING SPACE IN THE PUBLIC PARKING LOT WHERE SHE WORKS WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN REACHING A FINAL SPEED OF 21 MPH IN THE SPAN OF APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 SECONDS. DURING THESE 2 TO 3 SECONDS THE VEHICLE TRAVELED A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 27 FEET FROM THE EMPTY PARKING SPACE, RUNNING OVER THE PARKING SPACE CONCRETE CURBS AND HIT A PARKED VEHICLE ON THE RAV4 RIGHT AND THEN RAN INTO A TREE, WHICH WAS THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE APPLIED THE SERVICE BRAKE TO TRY TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT THIS EFFORT DID NOT PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. AFTER HITTING THE TREE MY WIFE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND PUSHED A BUTTON TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER HITTING THE TREE AT 21 MPH. WE NOTIFIED TOYOTA OF THE PROBLEMS REGARDING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, SERVICE BRAKE AND THE NON-DEPLOYED AIR BAGS. TOYOTA OPENED A CASE AND SENT AN INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE RAV4. WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THEY FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY TYPE OF MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. WE ARE NOT DRIVING THE 2014 RAV4 DUE TO THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. VEHICLE SAFETY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,577 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10807599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Royal Palm Beach, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

CAR 1 CUT IN FRONT OF CAR 2, CAR 3 (OURS) STOPPED 1 CAR LENGTH AWAY, WHEN STARTED TO DRIVE PAST THE CRASH SUDDENLY CAR 4 SLAMMED INTO CAR 3 (OURS) AND PUSHED MY WIFE'S CAR INTO CAR 2 AND CAR 2 INTO CAR 1 AGAIN. AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, SEAT BELT LOCKED AND EMS HAD TO GET MY WIFE OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON I95 HEADING SOUTH JUST PASSING EXIT 60 HYPOLUXO DR AT ABOUT 45MPH WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP. SHE WAS GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY CAR 4....UPDATED 11/05/15 *BF

NHTSA complaint #10787567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,400 miles Haysville, KS Crash

AIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING ON AN OVERPASS AND WAS ABOUT TO TURN ONTO AN ON RAMP TO ENTER INTERSTATE 70 IN LIMON COLORADO AND I STRUCK A VEHICLE ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF BOTH OUR CARS. AND MY AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. I HIT THE STEERING COLUMN WITH MY RIGHT ARM AND LEFT SIDE OF MY CHEST AND STOMACH.

NHTSA complaint #10748492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,300 miles Ladera Ranch, CA Crash

AIR BAGS

AT APPROXIMATELY 8:20 AM ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 16TH, 2015, I WAS PULLING INTO AN EMPTY PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX AFTER DROPPING MY 6 YEAR-OLD AT SCHOOL. THIS WAS A ROUTINE AS I DO THIS EVERY MORNING. HOWEVER, AS I WAS SLOWING THE CAR DOWN PREPARING TO PARK (5-10 MPH), THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED (APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH) AND RAN OVER THE SIDEWALK, BUSHES AND INTO THE SIDE OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX. DESPITE MY ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. IN THE PROCESS I RAN THROUGH THE SIDE OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX WALL AND FRONT GATE, NEARLY GOING RIGHT THROUGH MY FRONT DOOR AND LIVING ROOM WHERE MY 6 MONTH OLD AND WIFE WERE PLAYING. I HAD TO PLACE THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF. THAT STOPPED THE CAR. I THEN TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND REVERSED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DONE TO THE SIDE OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX AND MY VEHICLE. SHOULD BE NOTED, THAT DESPITE THE IMPACT, NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. AT THE MOMENT, MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS ME AT FAULT. I HAVE FILED WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY ARE HAVING A SPECIALIST INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR. AND HOPE THAT THIS IS INVESTIGATED FURTHER. HAD I NOT TURNED OFF MY CAR, I WOULD HAVE SURELY GONE THROUGH MY FRONT DOOR AND INTO MY LIVING ROOM, POTENTIALLY HURTING MY 6 MONTH OLD AND WIFE.

NHTSA complaint #10676497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denham Springs, LA Crash 4 injured

AIR BAGS

ON BUSINESS AND VACATION, COMING FROM LA TO ATLANTA...I WAS DRIVING SPEED LIMIT IN FAR LEFT LANE, ON INTERSTATE, IN LAGRANGE ,GA, A TRUCK COMING ONTO THE INTERSTATE MERGING FROM FAR RIGHT LOSS CONTROL BECAUSE SHE WAS SPEEDING AND THE ROADS WERE SLICK FROM A LIGHT RAIN, SHE FISHTAILED FROM THE FAR RIGHT , CROSSING THE RIGHT LANE AND COMING HEAD ON IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC , HITTING MY RENTAL VEHICLE..RAV 4. HIT US HEAD ON...THE AIRBAGS POPPED OUT EVERYWHERE, BLOCKING ESCAPE EXITS, WE THOUGHT THE TRUCK WOULD CATCH AFIRE, BECAUSE OF SMOKE SMELL, WE TRIED TO GET OUT, ALL DOORS ON THE LEFT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPEN, ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T HIT IN ANY WAY, HAD TO CRAWL OVER SEATS AND UNDER AIRBAGS TO ESCAPE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. EVEN THE HATCH BACK DOOR AT REAR OF VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPEN AT ALL. WE JUST BARELY ESCAPED WITH OUR LIVES,AND INJURIES, BECAUSE IF WE DIDN'T PUSH THE RIGHT SIDE DOORS WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED.

NHTSA complaint #10640943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boynton Beach, FL Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS

RAV 4 TRAVELING ON ROADWAY WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK ITS RIGHT FRONT FENDER AND FRONT DOOR IN T-BONE IMPACT. FORCE OF IMPACT WAS ENOUGH TO MOVE RAV 4 TO THE LEFT 2.5 LANES. RIGHT SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10614535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2014 Toyota RAV4 problems

← Full 2014 Toyota RAV4 report