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Air bagsPart report

2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Air bags Problems

Complaints
5about this part
Share
5%of 99 total for the year
Median mileage
—not reported
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the air bags of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime, 5% of the 99 complaints for this model year. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“During snowy but manageable conditions, the brake system on my 2021 RAV4 Prime SE failed to respond, and the vehicle did not decelerate when I pressed the brake pedal. A “Pre-Collision System Malfunction” warning appeared shortly before impact. I was unable to steer away despite attempting an evasive turn. The vehicle collided with the car in front of me, and the airbags did not deploy. I was driving at a reduced speed due to snow. The vehicle ahead (a BMW SUV) began slowing. …”

NHTSA complaint #11703035, filed 2025-12

“My 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime had traction control, braking issues and failure to warn in the event of a possible forward collision. On a few occasions the brakes seem to just slide and the car would keep moving. Last week I was in an accident and the emergency braking system, the forward collision warning system and all the air bags failed. The California Highway Patrol was surprised that even though the estimation collision speed was 60 mph the air bags did not deploy. …”

NHTSA complaint #11590033, filed 2024-05

“Upon entering a light controlled intersection at a relatively slow speed (probably less than 20 mph} on wet pavement, an oncoming car suddenly made a left turn directly in front of me. I applied the applied the breaks hard and slid into the passenger side of the turning vehicle. The ABS system did not function. The air bag did not deploy. At the moment of the collision my speed was reduced and I do not know the threshold for airbags to deploy, but this was a direct front end collision. I was able to brace myself and was not injured. …”

NHTSA complaint #11634802, filed 2025-01

“My RAV4 PRIME was in stop and go traffic. Brakes did not switch from regen braking to physical brakes. Slammed on the brakes several times, they did not slow the car enough. Eventually the brakes locked up as the RAV4 rear ended the car in front. Pushing that car into the one in front of it, and that one in front of that, and that one in front of that. Causing damage to three other cars. Two other people are claiming medical, the driver went to the ER. Air bags did not deploy. Taking to the repair shop. They were shocked that the air bags didn't go off given the the condition of the frame. …”

NHTSA complaint #11464100, filed 2022-05

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202312%
202215%
202155%

Other parts of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime

Electrical system
37 complaints
Other or unknown
26 complaints
Fuel system
18 complaints
Brakes
16 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
10 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
5 complaints
Vehicle speed control
4 complaints
Engine
3 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaints
Lane departure
2 complaints
Back-over prevention (rear camera)
1 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology