The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact was traveling at approximately 50 MPH directly behind a van in the same lane of traffic. The van suddenly made an emergency avoidance maneuver to bypass a stationary vehicle completely stopped in the lane. Despite the attempt, the van rear-ended the stopped vehicle. The contact immediately initiated an evasive maneuver to avoid the sudden collision occurring ahead. However, due to proximity and immediate lane obstruction, the contact was unable to avoid an impact and struck the vehicle. The severe front-end impact resulted in catastrophic damage to the contact's vehicle before it came to a complete stop. The airbags failed to deploy, and no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop. A police report was filed. The driver and her pet were the only occupants of the vehicle, and the contact was the only injured passenger. The contact sustained moderate chest pain, but no medical assistance was received. A police report was filed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.
2021 Toyota RAV4: airbags did not deploy in a crash
16 of the 390 complaints about the 2021 Toyota RAV4 describe airbags did not deploy in a crash.
- owner complaints
- 16
- of this car's complaints
- 4%
- typical mileage
- 15,000
- recalls
- 1
Airbags did not deploy in a crash by model year
What owners say
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving on the freeway at approximately 35 MPH, another vehicle approaching from the opposite direction attempted to make a left turn and collided with the contact's vehicle. The point of impact was the front driver's side wheel well and side bumper area, with additional damage noted on the front passenger side bumper. No warning lights illuminated. The other vehicle was driving at an undisclosed speed and sustained damage to its front-end frame. There was no property damage reported. Both vehicles came to a stop in the roadway at the intersection of [XXX] and [XXX] in San Jose, California. The contact's vehicle remained drivable and was driven to the residence; towing was not required. The airbags did not deploy. The driver sustained injuries, including a fractured vertebra and a fractured sternum, and received medical treatment. The driver believes that the injuries may have been prevented if the airbags had deployed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number 23V865000 (Air Bags). The failure mileage was unavailable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Airbags did not deploy after head on collision.
The contact called on behalf of her daughter who owned a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that her daughter was involved in a crash while driving on a main road at 35 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the passenger side of her vehicle at an unknown speed. No property damage was reported. The vehicles came to a stop upon impact. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact stated that only her daughter was injured, and she was seated in the driver's seat. Nobody outside of the vehicle was injured. The contact's daughter sustained injuries to her neck, shoulders, back, and head, medical treatment was needed for the injuries. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 19,000.
The contact owned a 2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS). The contact stated that while her son was driving down a hill at 25 MPH, the vehicle was rear-ended when the other vehicle's brakes failed to stop as intended. As a result, the contact's vehicle was pushed into oncoming traffic. The contact's son veered to the left, then crashed into a plastic barrier, and from the impact the vehicle came to a stop. The driver-side and passenger-side air bags did not deploy. The air bag warning light illuminated. The contact and her son went to Urgent Care. The contact suffered injuries to her jaw and back and had a concussion. The contact's son suffered injuries to his neck and back. A police report was filed. The contact's husband drove the vehicle to the residence and later to the collision shop. The insurance company was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,900.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35-40 MPH with traffic ahead slowing down, the vehicle registered the traffic information as an immediate stop ahead and the braking system engaged along with the contact depressing the brake pedal to slow the vehicle down. Upon coming to a stop, a pick-up truck rear-ended the vehicle 3 - 4 times. No air bags deployed. The driver's front seat belt failed to retract during the impact to safely secure the driver. The contact sustained injuries to her knees, shoulders, and arms. The front passenger sustained bruises from the seat belt. The rear passenger sustained head and back injuries. All 3 occupants received medical attention via ambulance to the Emergency Room. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed due to it being undrivable. The insurance company was currently inspecting the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owned a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 35-40 MPH, another vehicle unexpectedly cut in front of the vehicle. The contact's wife veered to the right to avoid the other vehicle, and the front driver's side of the vehicle crashed into an electric pole. The air bags failed to deploy, causing the contact's wife to hit her forehead against the steering wheel. The contact's wife was temporarily unconscious. The contact stated that the front driver's side door failed to open. A bystander assisted the contact's wife to exit the vehicle through the rear driver's side door. The contact's wife sustained back pain, right elbow pain, neck pain, a lacerated lower lip, and pain all over the body. The contact arrived at the scene and transported his wife to the hospital, where she received medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled by the insurance company. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.
I was at a complete stop and was rear ended. The person who hit me was going over 45mph, and the impact caused me to hit the car in front of me, which crushed my car at both ends. My (driver) airbag did not deploy, and my head struck the steering wheel. It is available for inspection, and has not been confirmed by a dealer - it is at the insurance company’s tow lot. The police officer at the scene was surprised that my airbag did not deploy. There were no warning lights, messages, or any other indication that anything was malfunctioning/in need of service.
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 the federal safety agency 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.
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.
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.
The contact's wife owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH in an intersection, a Ford F-150 was crashed into head-on. The vehicle's front end collided with the Ford vehicle but the air bags did not deploy. The Ford vehicle did a 180 during the impact and its air bags deployed. The contact sustained 2 herniated discs in the 212 and L1 that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center where it was diagnosed that the front air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but a callback was not completed The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 23V865000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2021 Toyota RAV4 no deployment
Is airbags did not deploy in a crash a common problem on the 2021 Toyota RAV4?
16 of 390 owner complaints about the 2021 Toyota RAV4 (4%) mention airbags did not deploy in a crash. The model year with the most reports is 2002.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2021 Toyota RAV4?
There is 1 recall and 2 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2021 Toyota RAV4
Sunroof shattered 32Adaptive cruise 12Airbag light 9Check engine light 9Jerking 9Key fob 9Lane assist 8Fire or smoke 7Headlights 7Windshield crack 7Door locks 6Wipers 6Fuel gauge 5Overheating 5Stalling 5
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