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2021 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 258.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 72 of 385 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 125 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

46 crash reports7 fire reports29 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

125 reports
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14,000 miles · May 6, 2024
Air BagsCrashInjury

The contact owns a 2021 TOYOTA RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, and attempting to stop the vehicle to let other vehicle enter they respective residence, an unexpected truck crashed into the rear area of the vehicle. The contact stated the impact pulled the vehicle forward which led him to cra…

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The contact owns a 2021 TOYOTA RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, and attempting to stop the vehicle to let other vehicle enter they respective residence, an unexpected truck crashed into the rear area of the vehicle. The contact stated the impact pulled the vehicle forward which led him to crash the other vehicle in front of his. The contact stated the airbags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a neck, knees and back injuries which required medical attention. The contact stated the injuries led him being disabled from work since eight months. The vehicle was towed by the police and repaired by the the insurance. A police report was filed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts are not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure, however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.

NHTSA ODI #11587234

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2024
Air Bags

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufa…

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The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI #11585813

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2024
Air Bags

I was parked with the car running and an alert came on the dashboard that states SRS Airbag System Malfunction Visit your dealer. Toyota stated that my car is not part of their airbag recall. I believe my car should be included in the recall.

NHTSA ODI #11582409

12,000 miles · Apr 1, 2024
Air BagsCrashInjury

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that he was stopped on a residential street waiting for a person to return their vehicle out of a driveway when his vehicle was crashed from behind by another vehicle. The contact stated that the impact of the crash moved his vehicle and he crashed into the rear end of anot…

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The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that he was stopped on a residential street waiting for a person to return their vehicle out of a driveway when his vehicle was crashed from behind by another vehicle. The contact stated that the impact of the crash moved his vehicle and he crashed into the rear end of another vehicle that was in front. The contact stated that the air bags did not inflate and that he hit his chest on the steering wheel. The contact stated that his knees hit the bottom of the dashboard. The contact stated that he sustained bruising to his chest and had fractured the knee cap of his left leg as well as injury to his neck. The contact was transported to an emergency room by ambulance. The contact stated that the police were on the scene and had written a report. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to a collision repair facility and that the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that he was advised by the repair facility that his vehicle did not have either a passenger or driver's side air bag. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #11580481

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2024
Air Bags

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue an…

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The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI #11578552

56,000 miles · Mar 18, 2024
Air BagsCrashInjury

The contact owned a 2021 Toyota RAV-4. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle collided with a deer, and the front driver-side and knee air bags were deployed along with the front passenger-side air bag. The contact stated that the air bags were deployed with excessive force. The contact was un…

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The contact owned a 2021 Toyota RAV-4. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle collided with a deer, and the front driver-side and knee air bags were deployed along with the front passenger-side air bag. The contact stated that the air bags were deployed with excessive force. The contact was unaware of any warning lights before the collision. The driver sustained a left leg injury with bruising. The contact stated that she declined transportation by ambulance but did visit a walk-in clinic. The front passenger was not injured. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was deemed a total loss. The failure was not diagnosed by the dealer. The contact stated that while cleaning the vehicle an unknown part was found on the front passenger side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the part was greasy and had an inner spinning mechanism, the contact believes the part detached from the knee air bag causing leg injury. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000.

NHTSA ODI #11578106

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2024
Air BagsCrashInjury

There was a stalled vehicle in a traffic lane. The vehicle ahead of me was a large that hit the stalled vehicle. I couldn’t see what he hit but he came to a dead stop and I couldn’t avoid him. My problem is that the airbag under the dashboard on the driver side hit my shin with such force that it caused an abrasion that di…

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There was a stalled vehicle in a traffic lane. The vehicle ahead of me was a large that hit the stalled vehicle. I couldn’t see what he hit but he came to a dead stop and I couldn’t avoid him. My problem is that the airbag under the dashboard on the driver side hit my shin with such force that it caused an abrasion that didn’t seem bad at first but developed into a wound requiring a large hematoma and surgery to remove it and to have skin graft.

NHTSA ODI #11573991

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2024
Air Bags

Received a recall alert on February 8, 2024 indicating that my vehicle may have a passenger airbag that may not deploy as intended, increasing risk of injury. Toyota indicated that they do not have a remedy for this recall and that their estimate would be available in the 3rd quarter of 2024. I was at the dealership on 2/13 …

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Received a recall alert on February 8, 2024 indicating that my vehicle may have a passenger airbag that may not deploy as intended, increasing risk of injury. Toyota indicated that they do not have a remedy for this recall and that their estimate would be available in the 3rd quarter of 2024. I was at the dealership on 2/13 and asked if they could check the sensor for the airbag but I was told they could not at this time and I would have to wait until Toyota releases the remedy. I drive loved ones in my passenger seat. I now carry the risk on my own of injurying my passengers? This is very unacceptable knowing that they are putting risks of injuries to people.

NHTSA ODI #11571957

15,000 miles · Feb 14, 2024
Air BagsCrashInjury

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact was involved in an accident. The contact's vehicle was crashed into by an oncoming vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle had crashed into the front driver's side and the entire front of the vehicle was damaged.…

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The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact was involved in an accident. The contact's vehicle was crashed into by an oncoming vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle had crashed into the front driver's side and the entire front of the vehicle was damaged. The contact stated that the driver's and passenger's front air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that only the driver's and passenger's side air bags were deployed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries and was transported to the local hospital by the paramedics. The vehicle had not been inspected by the insurance adjuster. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised that the liability team would be handling the case. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

NHTSA ODI #11571835

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2024
Air Bags

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI #11570752

Official recalls

1

23V865000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Dec 20, 2023

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Toyota RAV4 problems