2012 Toyota RAV4 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 22about this part
- Share
- 8%of 260 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 30,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 22 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Toyota RAV4, 8% of the 260 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 30,000 miles. 14 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The airbag light remains on. I have been informed that this means that in case of a vehicle crash my airbags will not deploy. My VIN is not part of the recall, yet I am experiencing the same problem as other rav 4 owners that have VIN numbers within the recall. The Toyota dealership wants to charge me $88.00 per half hour to diagnose the problem. That's not fair to me.”
NHTSA complaint #11151726, filed 2018-11, 93,500 miles“While attempting to roll the vehicle forward to clear a doorway, the vehicle jumped forward about 6 feet. At that time I pulled my foot off the gas and pushed the brake pedal to the floor. The vehicle stopped momentarily, then began to accelerate picking up speed rapidly as evidenced by the revving of the engine. I continued to pump the brake since holding it to the floor was doing nothing. …”
NHTSA complaint #10494883, filed 2013-01, 5,012 miles“On june10th. I had a majoir accident in which both my wife & myself suffered fractured sternums & fractured ribs. What happened was that I pulled into a lot in princeton, n.j. & after stopping to set my GPS, I just tapped the accelerator & the car shot forward, as if shot out of a cannon. While stopped I put the car in reverse & the car shot backwards in the same manner, thereby striking a wall. Now I went forward like a rocket, with no time to hit the brake, thereby going headfirst into a parked construction truck.”
NHTSA complaint #11343888, filed 2020-08, 167,000 miles“My Toyota RAV4 was involved in an accident where it was struck on the passenger door causing my car to roll on its side, deploying the curtain airbags but the side airbags were never deployed causing additional injuries to the occupants.”
NHTSA complaint #10644662, filed 2014-10, 16,500 miles“I had a seizure while driving down a road, stopped by a palm tree. It hit the car on the right front. Unfortunately, the air bag did not deploy, perhaps for going to slow or not. I will say that the palm tree stopped the car. I was moving forward, and the vehicle was stopped by the tree. I fractured my shoulder. I dislocated my shoulder, and bruised several ribs. I was transported to the hospital in an ambulance. I was in a hospital for five days, surgery took place there. I was unable to work for two and a half months.”
NHTSA complaint #10594576, filed 2014-05, 12,000 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…
- 10227898Nov 23, 2022TSB: Some 2005 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this…
- 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…
- 10131852Mar 8, 2017Dealer Letter: Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have not yet had campaign repairs completed.
- 10131851Mar 8, 2017Region Letter: Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have not yet had campaign repairs completed.
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 2012 Toyota RAV4
59 complaintsVehicle speed control
49 complaintsBrakes
39 complaintsElectrical system
30 complaintsSeat belts
30 complaintsOther or unknown
28 complaintsEngine
22 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
19 complaintsBody and structure
15 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsElectronic stability control
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 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