Problems · by component

2010 Toyota RAV4 air bags problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Toyota RAV4 cite air bags, 7% of all 400 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
28
7% of all complaints
Crashes
15
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TOYOTA FOUND OCCUPANT ECU NEEDED REPLACEMENT INTERNAL FAILURE. SIMPLY THE SEATBELT LIGHT AND AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. . AIR BAG SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF AND IS NOT PROTECTING PASSENGER IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2019Air bags, Seat belts, SeatsODI 11193652
“SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING BACKED OUT OF A MECHANIC'S GARAGE AFTER ROUTINE BRAKE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT STORY IF MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE IN THE CAR AND DRIVING WHILE THIS OCCURRED. AS OF THIS WRITING, I HAVE OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA (CORPORATE) AS INSURANCE HAS APPRAISED THE DAMAGE AT OVER $11,000 MAKING THIS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM TOYOTA REGARDING THE CLAIM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2018Air bagsODI 11121251
“DECEMBER 8, 2017, IN 2010 RAV4, ABOUT 27 MPH HEADING FORWARD, HIT HEAD-ON, (CITY STREET) 12TH ST. NW, ALBUQUERQUE. OTHER DRIVER DUI (BLEW 2.6 ABOUT 1 HR LATER), WRONG-WAY IN MY LANE, DROVE SILVERADO, SEEMED TO SPEED UP UPON IMPACT, ATTEMPTED TO KEEP GOING BUT SILVERADO HOOKED INTO BRAKED RAV. MY CAR WAS PUSHED BACKWARD ABOUT 40 FT., ACCORDING TO POLICE OFFICERS. SHOCKING SOUND AND FEELING UPON IMPACT. MY AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT DEFLATE--INSTEAD, IT EXPLODED. HAVE HAD BREATHING PROBLEMS SINCE, EXACERBATION OF ASTHMA, BURNING FEELING IN EARS, OTHER SYMPTOMS. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE AIR BAG WAS SUPPOSED TO DEFLATE. ADJUSTER AGREES IT EXPLODED, BUT DOES NOT KNOW IF HE HAS A PHOTO OF THE EXPLODED AIR BAG. HE WILL LOOK THROUGH HIS PHOTOS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2018Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11063082
“TAKATA RECALL, MY REAR SWERVED AS I MOVED RIGHT TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION, MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL SO HARD THAT I BROKE 6 RIBS INCLUDING MY STERNUM BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER THE IMPACT , I ALSO SAW ANOTHER RECALL THAT WAS ANNOUNCED 2 OR 3 DAYS AFTER MY ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS WHICH WAS THE REAR SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT I REPORTED THIS TO NHTSA AND WAS GIVEN A REFERENCE NUMBER10937800, PLEASE KEEP ME UPDATED THIS IS HORRIBLE THAT THESE PEOPLE KNOWINGLY PUT FAULTY PARTS ON A VEHICLE, I AM STILL AFRAID TO DRIVE I FELT MY CAR SHAKING AND BLAMED IT ON THE ROADS, THE WIND, ANYTHING BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE SOMEONE WOULD SELL A VEHICLE KNOWING IT WAS NOT SAFE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 3, 2017Suspension, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11052118
“2010 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR RECALL NOTICE 16V-596. *LD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION ON RECALL PROCESS CAN BE EXPEDITED UPDATED 7/7/17*JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 7, 2017Air bagsODI 11001033
“WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STATE HIGHWAY SCRT 31 AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COLLISION OR ANY OTHER FACTOR THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS DEPOLOYMENT. THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE BAG CAUSED RINGING IN THE DRIVER'S EAR AND POTENTIAL EAR DRUM DAMAGE. DOCTOR'S EXAM IS SCHEDULED. UPDATED 05/16/17*LJ UPDATED 08/09/2017*JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2017Air bagsODI 10968527

Showing 6 of 28 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: sensor

Free remedy

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Air bagsReported Jan 16, 2013NHTSA 13V014000
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.