Problems · by component

2006 Toyota RAV4 air bags problems

57 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Toyota RAV4 cite air bags, 8% of all 704 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
57
8% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“MY RAV4--VIN: [XXX]--HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG CONNECTOR. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON, IT DEACTIVATES ALL OF THE AIRBAGS. IT HAS BECOME PERMANENTLY ON IN RECENT DAYS. IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN I START MY VEHICLE AND THE AUTOMATIC CHECK UP, THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS LIGHTING UP. THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD BE ON WHEN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. IT WILL KEEP ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE. THE ERROR CODE FOUND BY MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC IS B1821. BUT MY MECHANIC CAN NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM. EVEN REPLACING THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT MAY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO MY MECHANICS. IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE CONNECTOR. I HAVE ASKED TOYOTA TO FIX THIS FOR FREE. TOYOTA REFUSED. *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2019Air bags, SeatsODI 11185913
“THE SIDE AIRBAG CONNECTOR FAILED TO WORK SPORADICALLY. WHEN IT FAILED TO PASS THE ONBOARD TEST, THE WHOLE AIRBAG SYSTEM STOPS WORKING, WHICH BECOMES A SAFETY HAZARD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2019Air bagsODI 11184482
“"TAKATA RECALL", I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH MY VEHICLE FRONT END COLLIDED WITH A TREE. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND UPPER SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK CAUSING INJURY TO MY FACE. I WAS ON A CITY STREET IN MOTION. I WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 24, 2017Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 11048239
“WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAGS HAD BEEN DEACTIVATED.PULLED OFF OF ROAD IMMEDIATELY AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF.AFTER WAITING APRX. 5 MIN. PROCEEDED TO RESTART ENGINE AND LIGHT WENT OUT.AS I RETURNED TO THE ROAD AFTER 2 MIN. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND HAS REMAINED ON.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2017Air bagsODI 11032271
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE IT DIMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,800.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 4, 2016Air bagsODI 10839954
“ABOUT 8/13/15, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. ON 8/20/15, I HAD A DEALER DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE IS NOT WORKING AND MY AIRBAG WILL MOST LIKELY NOT DEPLOY IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I WENT ONLINE TO SEE WHAT THE SPIRAL CABLE IS MANY RECALL NOTICES FOR MY MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR BEGAN TO SHOW UP IN THE SEARCH ENGINE. THE WAY THAT THE SERVICE PERSON DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO ME IS EXACTLY WHAT IS DOCUMENTED IN THE RECALL NOTICES, BUT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. I HAVE TALKED WITH BOTH THE DEALER AND A HAVE GOTTEN TO A SUPERVISOR AT TOYOTA, BUT AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK WHETHER THEY ARE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED IN MANY CHAT ROOMS THAT MANY OTHER RAV4 OWNERS HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL. WHEN I LOOK AT DOCUMENTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THERE IS A DOCUMENT FROM TOYOTA CALLED PART 573, DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT. ON THIS DOCUMENT THE VIN NUMBERS THAT ARE AFFECTED ARE LISTED. MY VIN SEEMS TO FIT, AND I AM NOT SURE WHY MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I AM DOCUMENTING MY ISSUES IN THE HOPES THAT OTHERS WILL TOO AND THE RECALL WILL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MY CAR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2015Air bagsODI 10759708

Showing 6 of 57 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Remedy pending

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, 2008-2010 Highlander, and 2009-2010 Tacoma, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and General Motors Pontiac Vibe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a Flexible Flat Cable (FFC). Due to the shape and location of the FFC's retainer, the FFC could become damaged when the steering wheel is turned.

Air bagsReported Apr 9, 2014NHTSA 14V168000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.