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, Dec 11, 2024
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 contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the remedy was not available till June 2025. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Dec 8, 2024
Toyota said a remedy for the recall would be available Q3 2024. It is now December and nothing has been done. The passenger seat has been without a functional airbag all year and continues to be unsafe.
Air bags, Nov 25, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer 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, Nov 25, 2024
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, Nov 25, 2024
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, Nov 18, 2024
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 a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Nov 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact received a 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Nov 10, 2024
There is a risk in driving this vehicle as there is a safety recall open on this vehicle. As per the status on nhtsa website it says that remedy will be available in Q3 2024 and that is already passed but there is no fix. When reached to the manufacturer they are unable to provide more info. Also this vehicle was sold to me by Toyota dealership as a used car without disclosing this safety issue. Now when reaching to dealership they are stating that nothing can be done. I have family with young kids and we use this car everyday. I am concerned about safety of my family. Hence, I am raising this complaint against the manufacturer to get this issue fixed asap.
Air bags, Nov 4, 2024
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 contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Oct 31, 2024
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 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, Oct 31, 2024
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 contact also stated that the OCS sensor warning light was illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was 8,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Oct 29, 2024
I got a recall about the airbag but the dealership said remedy is not available yet and im trying to ship out my car overseas
Air bags, Oct 28, 2024
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 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, Oct 23, 2024
The front passenger seat is unusable as the OCS sensor has turned off the airbags for that seat. Every time the car is started, or begins driving after sitting idle for a couple of minutes, it will beep and alarm constantly for several minutes, warning me of the passenger airbag. It is a serous distraction, and now prevents me from transporting a passenger. This has been going on since June 2024, and dealer refuses to look at car due to recall. I was even willing to pay myself to make the repair. No one will touch it. The remedy was originally set for the summer time, then end of 3rd quarter 2024. Now, it’s almost a month after the end of the 3rd quarter. Thank you for your time in reviewing this.
Air bags, Oct 21, 2024
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, Oct 14, 2024
There is a recall on our passenger side air bag - NHTSARecall #23V-865. Toyota recall#23TA15 Bellingham Toyota verified this - and we have an indicator/problem light that is on. I am very upset becuase we were told a fix would be available in 3rd qtr 2024 and now it is 4th qtr 2024. When I called Toyota headquarters, they have no answer as to when there will be a fix. They offered a loaner - however they prohibit the use of that loaner in Canada. Additionally, we would have to pay the cost of a rental up front and then submit receipts later for reimb but they CAN't guarantee reimb. We are very low income and so we cannot front that money, NOR take a chance that it would not be reimbursed. We live right on the US/Canadian border and we go to Canada a lot to visit family - two of which are currently in the hospital/his mom and my sister. My husband is a quadriplegic and we only have this one vehicle to go back and forth with our 2 daughters. There is nowhere near enough room with his wheelchair/walker for when we all want to travel. Additionally, when it's just him and me, he can't hear me speaking to him when he has to sit in the back seat all the time. At this point, we would like Toyota to take our current vehicle back in a trade and provide us with a new car that has none of these problems.
Air bags, Seat belts, Oct 11, 2024, crash
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 contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35-40 MPH with traffic ahead slowing down, the vehicle registered the traffic information as an immediate stop ahead and the braking system engaged along with the contact depressing the brake pedal to slow the vehicle down. Upon coming to a stop, a pick-up truck rear-ended the vehicle 3 - 4 times. No air bags deployed. The driver's front seat belt failed to retract during the impact to safely secure the driver. The contact sustained injuries to her knees, shoulders, and arms. The front passenger sustained bruises from the seat belt. The rear passenger sustained head and back injuries. All 3 occupants received medical attention via ambulance to the Emergency Room. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed due to it being undrivable. The insurance company was currently inspecting the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Sep 16, 2024, crash
The contact owned a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 35-40 MPH, another vehicle unexpectedly cut in front of the vehicle. The contact's wife veered to the right to avoid the other vehicle, and the front driver's side of the vehicle crashed into an electric pole. The air bags failed to deploy, causing the contact's wife to hit her forehead against the steering wheel. The contact's wife was temporarily unconscious. The contact stated that the front driver's side door failed to open. A bystander assisted the contact's wife to exit the vehicle through the rear driver's side door. The contact's wife sustained back pain, right elbow pain, neck pain, a lacerated lower lip, and pain all over the body. The contact arrived at the scene and transported his wife to the hospital, where she received medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled by the insurance company. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.
Air bags, Seat belts, Sep 14, 2024
On Saturday [XXX], I was driving my car when the seatbelt light started beeping as well as a warning on the dash saying there was an airbag malfunction. I immediately took my car into the Toyota dealership in Roseville, California and Monday I was notified that this was part of the recall for defective airbags, I was also told that there was no fix currently and there wouldn’t be one until March 2026. they said the delay was due to the fact that the problem with high humidity so they were taking care of cars in high humidity areas first and California would be later. Until then they said they would keep my car and give me a loaner which turned out to be a regular RAV rather than the hybrid which I own. I told them that was unacceptable that I bought the car for the hybrid feature and they said they didn’t have any hybrids available. I certainly hope I get a hybrid to drive for a year and 7 months! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Air bags, Aug 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. 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 not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 43,956. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Jul 27, 2024
Undated Interim Safety Recall from Toyota, 23TB15. It has been open for months and originally said remedy available in third quarter 2024. Now we are being told that it will be a phased response and that those of us in zone 9, Western States including Colorado, will not start until March of 2026. Apparently their position is just don't use passenger seat, which is totally absurd.
Air bags, Jul 10, 2024
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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Jun 24, 2024
Manufacturer Recall Number23TB15 NHTSA Recall Number23V865 There is currently a recall on the airbags for my vehicle. An alert popped up on my dash saying there is a error with the airbags. When I went to take it to the dealership, they refused to check if the sensor was related to the airbag recall for free. They said they would check it out, but if the sensor wasn't related to the recall then I would be charge just for inspecting it. I don't understand why they would not check it for free regardless since there is a recall out on the car.
Air bags, Jun 16, 2024, crash
I was at a complete stop and was rear ended. The person who hit me was going over 45mph, and the impact caused me to hit the car in front of me, which crushed my car at both ends. My (driver) airbag did not deploy, and my head struck the steering wheel. It is available for inspection, and has not been confirmed by a dealer - it is at the insurance company’s tow lot. The police officer at the scene was surprised that my airbag did not deploy. There were no warning lights, messages, or any other indication that anything was malfunctioning/in need of service.
Air bags, May 21, 2024
The driver side mirror hit a mailbox and all of the skirt air bags were deployed. Why was this? This should not have happened I need an explanation as to why my air bags deployed with a side mirror hit. The mirror is still attached to the car the glass was just cracked.