NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
19 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Aug 30, 2026
Air Bags
"The red master warning triangle and an 'SRS Airbag System Malfunction' message illuminated unexpectedly on the dashboard of my 2016 Toyota Rav4 XLE under normal driving conditions. I contacted a certified Toyota dealership, and they confirmed that this dashboard warning indicates the vehicle's airbag system is completely disab…
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"The red master warning triangle and an 'SRS Airbag System Malfunction' message illuminated unexpectedly on the dashboard of my 2016 Toyota Rav4 XLE under normal driving conditions. I contacted a certified Toyota dealership, and they confirmed that this dashboard warning indicates the vehicle's airbag system is completely disabled, leaving the occupants without airbag protection in the event of a collision. However, the dealership stated they will not cover the cost to diagnose or repair the system because there is not yet an active safety recall for this specific VIN. I am filing this complaint to formally report this critical safety defect. A premature failure of the vehicle's primary safety restraint system is an immediate and severe safety hazard that warrants a formal NHTSA investigation and a mandatory recall."
NHTSA ODI #11760710
Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2026
Air Bags
Air bags malfunction. There is a warning ⚠️ pop up message on my dashboard that says, Air bags malfunction contact manufacturer dealer. This is clearly a safety issue and it should be part of a recall or a recall needs to be started with this issue.
NHTSA ODI #11708783
170,000 miles · Sep 18, 2025
Air BagsCrashInjury
The contact owned a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 30-40 MPH and attempting to change lanes, the contact looked through the sideview mirrors and then looked forward. The contact noticed that the vehicle in front of the vehicle had stopped. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not stop in…
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The contact owned a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 30-40 MPH and attempting to change lanes, the contact looked through the sideview mirrors and then looked forward. The contact noticed that the vehicle in front of the vehicle had stopped. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not stop in time and rear-ended the other vehicle. The contact's dog was occupying the front passenger's side seat and was not wearing a seat belt. The contact stated that it was a fender-bender; however, the driver's side and passenger's side curtain air bags deployed in addition to the front air bags, causing the vehicle to be totaled. The contact stated that the front driver's side air bag deployed and hit the contact's face, and the contact's eyeglasses caused a bruise on the contact's eyebrow. The contact also sustained a bloody nose and soreness on the forehead. The contact sustained bruises from the shoulder to the elbow after being hit by the driver's side curtain air bag. A police officer called medical personnel, who took the contact's blood pressure, checked the contact's injuries, and confirmed that an ambulance was not needed. The contact had not sought medical assistance. The contact stated that the hood of the vehicle opened and closed upon impact, and one of the coolant hoses was leaking. The trunk of the other vehicle opened and closed upon impact, and the other vehicle sustained minor damage to the fender. The other vehicle was drivable, and the other driver did not sustain injuries. A police report was filed, but the police report information was not available. The vehicle was towed and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The dealer and Pedersen Toyota(4455 S College Ave Fort Collins, CO 80525) were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
NHTSA ODI #11688062
Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2024
Air BagsCrashInjury
involved in a multi car accident at the intersection of [XXX] , and [XXX] bound on ramp at [XXX] and the other two parties involed air bags deployed . I t boned the car traveling on [XXX] that had ran the intersection red light after the incrdent i was facing acroos all lanes of traffic and a car traveling the same direction …
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involved in a multi car accident at the intersection of [XXX] , and [XXX] bound on ramp at [XXX] and the other two parties involed air bags deployed . I t boned the car traveling on [XXX] that had ran the intersection red light after the incrdent i was facing acroos all lanes of traffic and a car traveling the same direction hit me in the passenger front door and no air bags deployed in my 2016 toyota rav 4 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #11591980
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2023
Air BagsUnknown Or Other
My sunroof is leaking for the fourth time. The first time it ruined the curtain airbags on the driver side. It started leaking again today and I am wondering if the airbags will be damaged again.
NHTSA ODI #11531169
100,000 miles · Feb 16, 2023
Air BagsCrashInjury
The contact owned a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic, a GMC Denali crashed into the rear of her vehicle, which caused her vehicle to crash into the rear of a GMC Arcadia. There were no warning lights that were illuminated. The contact sustained injuries to her lower back, arm, upper back, brui…
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The contact owned a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic, a GMC Denali crashed into the rear of her vehicle, which caused her vehicle to crash into the rear of a GMC Arcadia. There were no warning lights that were illuminated. The contact sustained injuries to her lower back, arm, upper back, bruises, neck, and head, and medical attention was provided. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #11507691
Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2022
Air BagsCrashInjury
The friend of the contact's son owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while his son's friend was driving at 10-15 MPH and making a turn with his son in the passenger seat, another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. The front passenger air bags and the passenger curtain air bags deployed brutall…
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The friend of the contact's son owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while his son's friend was driving at 10-15 MPH and making a turn with his son in the passenger seat, another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. The front passenger air bags and the passenger curtain air bags deployed brutally and violently hit the contact's son face, chest and head. The contact's son was transported to the hospital with the assistance of emergency units. The contact's son sustained three dislocated front upper teeth and root, two dislocated front lower teeth and lesions on the lips. Additionally the contact's son sustained injuries on the neck, face, head, chest and pelvis. There was no further information provided. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA ODI #11455671
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2021
Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury
I was driving on the entrance road to a major highway, and as I approached the curve in the road and pressed on the brakes to decelerate, the vehicle began to shake, and as I pressed the brakes harder to slow down, they did not engage, the front wheels became locked in the position of the curving road at an angle and the vehicl…
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I was driving on the entrance road to a major highway, and as I approached the curve in the road and pressed on the brakes to decelerate, the vehicle began to shake, and as I pressed the brakes harder to slow down, they did not engage, the front wheels became locked in the position of the curving road at an angle and the vehicle went off road at approx 45mph down an embankment and into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle is totaled and although there were no fatalities minor injuries did occur since the airbags did not keep the passenger nor driver from hitting there head on the windows and door jam, and the steering wheel.
NHTSA ODI #11438895
4,905 miles · Apr 28, 2020
Air BagsCrash
HIT A DEER HEAD ON GOING ROUGHLY 70 MPH, AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF AND RADIATOR AND SENSOR GOT PUSHED INTO THE CAR. WAS ON THE HIGHWAY JUST OUTSIDE OF GILLETE, WY WHEN IT OCCURED.
NHTSA ODI #11322500
90,000 miles · Dec 13, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HAD TO QUICKLY VEER OUT OF THE WAY TO AVOID STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, HE CRASHED INTO A TREE AT 42 MPH. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND SHOULDER, AND ALSO HAD WHIPLASH. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED BY A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HAD TO QUICKLY VEER OUT OF THE WAY TO AVOID STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, HE CRASHED INTO A TREE AT 42 MPH. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND SHOULDER, AND ALSO HAD WHIPLASH. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS EXTENSIVE, PRIMARILY IN THE FRONT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE TO A BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER HIRED AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEERING FIRM THAT TOOK THE INFORMATION FROM THE VEHICLE'S BLACK BOX. THEIR FINDINGS STATED THAT ALL OF THE SENSORS WERE WORKING AND THE VEHICLE'S SPEED WAS 42 MPH. THE REASON THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WAS "INSUFFICIENT DECELERATION". THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *LN *TR *DT *DL
NHTSA ODI #11288810
Official recalls
3Nov 1, 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
Apr 22, 2016
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment:other:labels
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.
Tires
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.
Apr 7, 2016
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 30, 2015, to February 3, 2016, 2016 Lexus RX350 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2015, to February 8, 2016, and 2016 Lexus ES350 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2016, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 30, 2015, to February 3, 2016, 2016 Lexus RX350 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2015, to February 8, 2016, and 2016 Lexus ES350 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2016, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 30, 2015, to February 3, 2016, 2016 Lexus RX350 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2015, to February 8, 2016, and 2016 Lexus ES350 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2016, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE21005 · Battery Hold Down Bracket Thermal Events
Opened Feb 25, 2021 · Closed Aug 12, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to understand the contributing factors and frequency of vehicle fires originating from the battery region of the engine compartment in Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles on 25 February 2021. At the time of opening, ODI attributed eleven allegations and additional EWR events to this PE. PE21005 focused on replacement batteries installed in the subject vehicles. No reported fire event identified in PE21005 involved the originally supplied 12V battery. The reported fires took place in vehicles known to contain aftermarket batteries or whose age exceeded the expected life of the original equipment battery. ODI identified battery dimensioning as it relates to the battery retention system (hold down bracket, radiator support bolt, J-hook, and battery tray) as the main factor set in the contact between the battery hold down bracket contacting the positive terminal of the 12V battery. The subject vehicles carried over the same battery tray and retention system from the prior generation (MY2006 – MY2012) of RAV4 vehicles. However, the subject vehicles were equipped with a dimensionally smaller battery (Group 35) than the prior generation (Group 24F). The smaller- length measurement in the Group 35 battery size in a battery tray originally designed to fit a Group 24F battery contributed to increased potential for battery movement which was exacerbated by the diversity in aftermarket battery configuration and irregularities intrinsic to battery replacement procedures. Battery movement coupled with the proximity of the B+ terminal on the battery and the grounded electrically conductive hold down bracket set the stage for a short to ground leading to an engine stall (if in operation) followed by a vehicle fire. This investigation was not able to classify the installation status, battery size, or cause of every allegation due to the fire event causing damage to the area, inaccessible vehicle, modification to the battery retention system after the event, and/or inconclusive photographic evidence. Toyota's investigation of the issue identified aftermarket battery catalogs that listed an improper battery replacement size (Group 26R) that would nevertheless fit into the subject vehicles whose battery retention system is incapable of reliably restraining a Group 26R battery. On 18 November 2021, Toyota initiated a consumer advisory campaign (21TG01) to the subject vehicle owners, notifying them of the correct size battery and offering a free inspection of the battery and retention hardware, a caution label to affix to the hold down bracket, and a discounted replacement 12V battery. This investigation with Toyota established three broad categories to characterize the battery retention system state of a given vehicle: "correct", "minor mis-installation", and "major mis-installation". - The "correct" terminology references the front bolt, bracket, and J-hook installed in a position not in contact with the positive battery terminal and the front bolt torqued to 17 Nm and the J-hook engaged with the tray hole and torqued to 4.9 Nm. - A "minor mis-installation" would describe the three retention components installed in the prescribed location, however not to the correct torque values. - The "major mis-installation" condition would constitute a retention component missing or disconnected from the system. Toyota's own testing used five exemplar batteries installed on a subject vehicle in each battery categorization resulted in: - Contact between the B+ terminal and hold down bracket in "major mis-installations" - Movement of the battery in "minor mis-installations" - No observable motion in "correct" installations. ODI conducted its own evaluation of the Toyota- specified replacement battery and 5 aftermarket Group 35 batteries. The six batteries tested conformed to the Group 35 Battery Council International (BCI) standard on overall dimensional tolerance and terminal location. That standard does not define the edge shape or material of battery casing. Physical interaction between the hold down bracket and the battery case and the friction between the casing material and the battery tray resulted in a large variability in movement forces required to incite movement when the battery was installed in the "correct" condition. Resulting in movement at an induced lateral load between 0.6 G and 1.91 G equivalent force across each battery. This force is higher than a typical vehicle could exert in a steady state turn and would only experience loads through brief shock or impulses. Multiple shock or impulse loads across time would contribute to a delay between the replacement battery installation and the fire event. Likelihood of a fire event increases as the installation method degraded from the "correct", to "minor mis-installation", and then to "major mis-installation". Protruding vent caps atop some of the batteries tested aided in restricting battery movement relative to the hold down. An absence of vent caps permitted additional movement. Following several discussions and vehicle inspections with ODI during this investigation, on 01 November 2023, Toyota filed a safety recall (NHTSA 23V-734) of 1,853,568 MY 2013 through MY 2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles to reduce the risk of a vehicle fire with redesigned battery retention components. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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