FaultScore

2018 Toyota RAV4 airbag problems

16 of the 443 complaints about the 2018 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 17,000 miles.

F

16

Complaints

12

Crashes

0

Fires

7

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 16 100.0%

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.

Methuen, MA

AIR BAGS

While I am driving my Toyota RAV4, the car will suddenly shut off and I can restart it and keep driving as the month is going on. The incidents are happening more often and now the dashboard is going black. I’ve had a couple of warning signs on the dashboard. I brought the car to Toyota and Pep Boys. Both of them checked the electrical systems and everything looks good according to their testing.

NHTSA complaint #11748370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Los Angeles, CA Crash

AIR BAGS

We were part of a 4 car collision on the freeway. A Ford Expedition that was slammed into then slammed into our RAV. The airbags never deployed and an error code came up saying fail for airbags.

NHTSA complaint #11745520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Virginia Beach, VA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

3/4/2026 5:10 pm Vehicle (2018 RAV4) was sitting in backed up traffic waiting to exist highway and was hit from behind by a sedan travelling at 65+ mph, pushed into a pickup truck in front, then deflected left into a guardrail. SO, three separate impacts with extensive damage to the entire rear of the car, the front end, and right front quarter. Two occupants in the car, driver and front passenger, no airbags deployed. Driver's head contacted the steerring wheel (back eye, cut lip, swelling on forehead and around eye, headache), and legs and arms of driver and passenger contacted other portions of the interior of the vehicle and experienced severe whiplash, but no broken bones per initial ER xrays and scans. Vehicle towed and is currently available for inspection.

NHTSA complaint #11722494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Atlanta, GA

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a clicking and humming sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The sound also occurred while starting the vehicle. The vehicle failed to start without a jumpstart. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The tire pressure sensor warning light remained illuminated with the tire pressure at the correct air pressure. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The dealer did not diagnose the vehicle for additional failures. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA complaint #11653441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

San Antonio, TX Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

Airbags malfunctioned "SRS Airbag System Malfunction Visit Your Dealer" error message after head on collision. No warning lights before crash. Car is transferred ownership to progressive.

NHTSA complaint #11561017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Delray Beach, FL

AIR BAGS

little red blinking light

NHTSA complaint #11481646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sammamish, WA Crash

AIR BAGS

We had a car accident on I-84 in Oregon, westbound, was hit on the driver side rear area which caused us to spin around. We were hit by a semi truck on the driver side rear. We ended up perpendicular to the concrete median (this is a highway with two lanes on either side) which is what stopped us. The semi truck also sustained damage to their passenger side front wheel and had to be towed. Our car had to be towed. None of the airbags went off. The back window of the RAV4 hybrid was gone. There was damage to the front passenger side, front, rear driver side, rear of car. Sheriff and Oregon state patrol came, both vehicles towed. Contacted Toyota who says they are going to retrieve event data recorder box to investigate. We have a police crash report case #.

NHTSA complaint #11480104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rancho Cucamonga, CA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

Had an accident and the air bags did not deploy on April 08, 2022. Me and my son got injured. The impact was strong, and my vehicle was dragged about 300' feet on the street and the other vehicles air bags deployed.

NHTSA complaint #11460591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chuckey, TN

AIR BAGS

Car moved onto gravel shoulder and side curtain airbags deployed. Was no accident or damage done to car, was also driving under 5 mph.

NHTSA complaint #11444821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carlsbad, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

Vehicle sustained total loss due to unexplained deployment of side airbags when collision was limited to the front. Toyota was asked to check and their response did not address my concerns about the unnecessary deployment. I had expressed concern about the pre-collision warning/emergency braking systems in e-mails with my Toyota dealership well in advance of the accident. It appeared to not be triggered although they said it was working. The files/photos are on another device. I can supply upon request.

NHTSA complaint #11436562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moore, OK Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

I was turning into a parking spot at my doctor's office when my car engine revved up and sped through the doctor's office nearly hitting my doctor and another patient. My airbags did not deploy. I had my foot on the brake but it did not stop the car. The automatic emergency braking system and forward collision warning did not work. My car had to be towed and is now waiting to see if it can be fixed but with the safety features that I paid extra for, I'm not sure that I would even buy a new one of this particular model. I came very close to killing my doctor and that patient!

NHTSA complaint #11430371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

06/04/21...I Had a Hit & Run Head On Collision(Side Swipe), As I Was Swerving To Avoid Oncoming Traffic & Get A Handle Of the Vehicle, No Warning Lights Came On. I Hit a Wall. My Front Nor Side Airbags Deployed. It What was A Very Forceful Hit From The Other Vehicle & Hitting The Wall. The Vehicle Is Being Inspected By My Insurance Adjuster Tomorrow.

NHTSA complaint #11420037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,200 miles Machipongo, VA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 TOYOTA RAV-4. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD WHILE TURNING INTO THE LEFT LANE COLLIDING INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE CURTIN AIR BAG AND DRIVER FRONT AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT HAD A FRACTURED A FINGER ON HER RIGHT HAND, CHEST CONTUSIONS AND RIGHT KNEE BRUISE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTAL LOSS HOWEVER THE EVALUATION WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA complaint #11405343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 37,000 miles Chino, CA Crash

AIR BAGS

ON A STREET TURNING LEFT ON GREEN YIELDING TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IN MOTION OF TURNING AND THE OTHER CAR WHO WAS COMING HEAD ON OVER 80MPH CLIPPING MY FRONT END MAKING MY CAR SPIN 360 DEGREES AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #11353747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 17,000 miles Blue Springs, MO Crash

AIR BAGS

I HIT A DEER TRAVELING AT 60MPH+ WHILE TRAVELING ON I-470. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, I DID SEE AN ERROR ON THE STATUS DISPLAY OF A SAFETY SYSTEM FAILURE. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND THE FRONT SENSOR WAS CRUSHED IN THE COLLISION AND AMAZED THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A FUNCTIONAL FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE AND COULD RISK THE SAFETY OF OCCUPANTS. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE IF NEEDED.

NHTSA complaint #11320662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles Islip Terrace, NY Crash

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKING SPACE; FOOT ON BRAKE. WENT TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND IT ACCELERATED INTO THE GLASS / BUILDING I WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #11173003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2018 Toyota RAV4 problems

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