2002 Toyota RAV4 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 22about this part
- Share
- 4%of 527 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 38,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 22 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Toyota RAV4, 4% of the 527 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 38,000 miles. 20 of these say a crash was involved and 11 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Takata recall. I had a head on collision last june, 2015 and my air bags did not deploy which caused me extensive injuries and my vehicle was totaled. I had to be taken to the hospital and remained a patient. None of my airbags deployed. If any of the airbags would have deployed then I probably would not have severely injured.”
NHTSA complaint #10874455, filed 2016-06, 33,000 miles“I was driving my 2002 Toyota RAV4. Suv on june 26, 2015. A lady talking on her cell phone went through a stop sign and hit my car head on. Me and my passenger sustained several injuries. My vehicle caught on fire and we could not get out of the car (the doors were jambed) finally with some help we were able to get out of my vehicle. I hurt my head, chest, stomach, right leg cut, right knee joint damaged and left arm and hand seriously injured. …”
NHTSA complaint #10734964, filed 2015-07, 43,000 miles“I was driving my Toyota and my wife was a passenger. All of a sudden, a lady ran a stop sign and swerved and hit us head-on. We could not get out of my vehicle, the doors were jammed and the vehicle was on fire. The fire dept. And police came and quickly put the fire out and pried the front doors open. None of the airbags in my vehicle deployed. I incurred severe injuries to my head, chest, neck and left arm. My Toyota was totaled and the other driver was cited for the wreck. …”
NHTSA complaint #10871965, filed 2016-06, 33,000 miles“Takata recall: I was involved in a head-0n collision and my air bags did not deflate like they were supposed to. The other vehicle that hit me, their airbags deflated. I was going approximately 45 MPH and the impact pushed everything back from the front end of my vehicle, which blocked the doors so that we could not get out of the vehicle. The accident was the other parties fault and she was cited for the accident. I received several injuries which resulted with me being in the hospital for several days. …”
NHTSA complaint #10812000, filed 2015-12, 33,000 miles“Air bag on my 2002 Toyota rav 4 did not deploy when my vehicle rear ended a truck my speed was 40-45 mile per hour. Toyota representative said the airbag was not designed to deploy unless I was in danger of serious injury. A fractured sternum is not serious enough for it to deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10239390, filed 2008-08, 112,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
- 10190460Mar 17, 2021Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
- 10132410Jul 20, 2017TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 20, 2017 Rev1: Applicability has been updated to exclude 2007 ? 2017 model year Avanza vehicles. Some hazardous material treatment and handling…
- 10131961Jan 14, 2014Toyota vehicles are equipped with Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury…
- 10132055Nov 4, 2013Beginning in 1998, Toyota introduced side airbags as optional equipment. Toyota does NOT recommend replacement of original seat covers with non-Toyota leather or other seat cover…
- 10133915Jan 3, 2013Toyota vehicles are equipped with SRS, including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury in a collision. If a customer…
- 10042555Sep 6, 2011Toyota: information provided for replacing the seat covers for vehicles equipped with side airbags.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 2% |
| 2024 | 12 | 7% |
| 2023 | 8 | 5% |
| 2022 | 10 | 7% |
| 2021 | 125 | 32% |
| 2020 | 55 | 9% |
| 2019 | 45 | 5% |
| 2018 | 16 | 5% |
| 2017 | 20 | 7% |
| 2016 | 19 | 8% |
| 2015 | 15 | 5% |
| 2014 | 12 | 6% |
| 2013 | 13 | 5% |
| 2012 | 22 | 8% |
| 2011 | 20 | 7% |
| 2010 | 28 | 7% |
| 2009 | 13 | 4% |
| 2008 | 58 | 10% |
| 2007 | 99 | 10% |
| 2006 | 57 | 8% |
| 2005 | 59 | 42% |
| 2004 | 47 | 31% |
| 2003 | 10 | 3% |
| 2002 | 22 | 4% |
| 2001 | 13 | 4% |
| 2000 | 1 | 3% |
| 1999 | 14 | 23% |
| 1998 | 13 | 17% |
| 1997 | 5 | 9% |
| 1996 | 4 | 9% |
Other parts of the 2002 Toyota RAV4
376 complaintsElectrical system
92 complaintsEngine cooling
41 complaintsVehicle speed control
36 complaintsOther or unknown
23 complaintsEngine
22 complaintsElectronic stability control
16 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsBrakes
5 complaintsEquipment
5 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Toyota RAV4
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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