2021 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 387 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2021 reports, 47 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 49 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationDec 20, 2023
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.
An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 23V865000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
125 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Sep 21, 2025
The manufacturer has failed to provide a remedy in a timely manner. Toyota said a remedy would be ready October 2024. A year later, and there's no fix and no update to the remedy status.
Air bags, Sep 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure related to the recall. The manufacturer was not contacted.
Air bags, Seats, Aug 27, 2025
I've spoken with Toyota and confirmed that there is a chance my passenger airbag will not deploy. They have no remedy, and the expected date of resolution has been expired for 10 months. Their only recommended action is to not have a passenger ride in my vehicle!
Air bags, Aug 22, 2025
According to the recall which was first stated on 12/20/23, as of today, 8/22/25 Toyota has not provided a remedy and my car is not safe to carry a passenger!
Air bags, Aug 20, 2025, crash
Airbags did not deploy after head on collision.
Air bags, Aug 19, 2025
My 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (VIN: [your VIN]) has an open safety recall 23V865 for the passenger airbag. Toyota has not provided a remedy yet, and the vehicle is unsafe to transport a front passenger. Toyota estimated a fix by Q3 2024, but as of now no remedy is available. I am concerned about the ongoing safety risk and delay.
Air bags, Jul 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Air bags, Jul 22, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Jul 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000(Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. An unknown dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the recall parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Jul 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA 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 were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Jul 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Jun 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 40,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Jun 9, 2025
Toyota has failed to provide a solution to a small sensor recall for my vehicle for nearly two years. That is an unacceptable delay for something so simple as a sensor.
Air bags, Jun 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Seat belts, Jun 3, 2025
UNKNOWN - My car system starting alerting me as if I had no seatbelt on (which I did) and said SRS Airbag Malfunction.
Air bags, Jun 3, 2025
It's been 2 years now and the dealer and Toyota are saying there are no parts available.
Air bags, May 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Apr 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Apr 24, 2025, crash
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.
Air bags, Apr 17, 2025
Was told there’s a recall on my 2021 RAV4 TRD by the dealer about 2 years now on the passenger airbag. They say they have not figured out how to fix it. I am concerned about my safety driving my car with this recall. I don’t want to do next ?
Air bags, Mar 26, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated while operating the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted. The failure mileage was 40,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Seat belts, Mar 25, 2025, crash
Driving straight on side road. Vehicle entered road by attempting a left turn onto road without yielding to me. I swerved to the left and slammed on the breaks but was t boned by their vehicle. Airbags didn’t deploy and we got a message on dashboard indicating faulty airbag. Also upon impact our seatbelts were released.
Air bags, Mar 23, 2025
A safety recall was issued 15 months ago, yet no remedy has been made available. This prolonged delay poses a significant risk to passenger safety and the well-being of all occupants within the vehicle. In accordance with NHTSA guidelines regarding timely recall resolutions, a formal complaint has been filed due to the lack of a solution within a reasonable timeframe. Recall Details: Recall Date: December 20, 2023 Manufacturer Recall Number: 23TB15 NHTSA Recall Number: 23V865 Recall Status: Incomplete – Remedy Not Yet Available
Air bags, Mar 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Mar 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that parts were not available. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.