2016 Toyota RAV4 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 19about this part
- Share
- 8%of 240 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 25,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 19 complaints about the air bags of the 2016 Toyota RAV4, 8% of the 240 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 25,000 miles. 15 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 air bag lights comes on and off from the dash all the time, I went to a dealership and they told me that there is nothing they cam do about it because the light wasn't on when I went there but I think they could at least take a look at it but they didn't care, it's a safety problem and they should be more careful with these kind of problem”
NHTSA complaint #11280463, filed 2019-11, 50,000 miles“Takata recall, I was involved in a rear ended collision on a highway while stopped causing my car to rearend the car in front of me. The airbags did not deploy and said malfunction on the dashboard. There was $19000 in damage, I asked for the seatbelts and airbags to be replaced because I was afraid to drive the car and feel safe. They would not do it because they said the computer was able to reset. I specifically asked over and over as I could not feel safe, no one would listen so I ended up trading the car that was 7 months old in and taking a loss to feel safe. …”
NHTSA complaint #11113645, filed 2018-07, 8,500 miles“On december 5, 2016 I was involved in an accident. My vehicle was struck in the left front fender by another vehicle. Impact was direct as the other vehicle struck mine at a ninety degree angle causing extensive damage to the fender and left front wheel assembly. Impact forced my vehicle off the highway and into a concrete pillar supporting a steel lightpole. I was travelling about 30 MPH at time of impact with the concrete pillar. Sudden impact caused the rear of my vehicle to leave the ground. This was the direct response to the sudden stop. Air bags did not deploy. …”
NHTSA complaint #10936651, filed 2016-12, 7,700 miles“Hit a deer head on going roughly 70 MPH, airbags didn't go off and radiator and sensor got pushed into the car. Was on the highway just outside of gillete, wy when it occured.”
NHTSA complaint #11322500, filed 2020-04, 4,905 miles“I was driving on the entrance road to a major highway, and as I approached the curve in the road and pressed on the brakes to decelerate, the vehicle began to shake, and as I pressed the brakes harder to slow down, they did not engage, the front wheels became locked in the position of the curving road at an angle and the vehicle went off road at approx 45mph down an embankment and into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. …”
NHTSA complaint #11438895, filed 2021-11Related 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…
- 10224102Jun 3, 2022TSB: Some 2016 ? 2018 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with Entune? Audio (version 01013E), Entune? Audio Plus (version 010156 or 01015C), or Entune? Premium Audio (versions…
- 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…
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 2016 Toyota RAV4
59 complaintsBrakes
46 complaintsOther or unknown
33 complaintsExterior lighting
28 complaintsEngine
25 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaintsBody and structure
15 complaintsVehicle speed control
12 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
11 complaintsSteering
10 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsElectronic stability control
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 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