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2001 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota RAV4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 258.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

236 reports with mileage · 73 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 190 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

13 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2024
Air Bags

My Rav4 is 23 years old and has 76K miles on it. Does it have Takata airbags? If so, I want them replaced. I plan on driving my car until I die and I don't want the airbags to take me out. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11568806

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL - I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2001 RAV 4 WITH 224,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR IS PRIMARILY USED IN NEVADA IN THE RENO/LAKE TAHOE AREA AND ALSO IN SEATTLE WA. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EXPLODING AIR BAG. PLEASE ADVISE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND HOW SOON THE AIR BAGS …

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TAKATA RECALL - I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2001 RAV 4 WITH 224,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR IS PRIMARILY USED IN NEVADA IN THE RENO/LAKE TAHOE AREA AND ALSO IN SEATTLE WA. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EXPLODING AIR BAG. PLEASE ADVISE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND HOW SOON THE AIR BAGS CAN BE REPLACED! FROM ALL I READ THESE CARS SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY! PLEASE RESPOND SO I CAN PROTECT MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ODI #10872625

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL I DRIVE MY 2001 RAV4 THAT I INHERITED FROM MY MOTHER. THE CAR IS 15 YEARS OLD BUT ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT. I AM FEARFUL ABOUT THE AIRBAG EXPLODING SINCE I PLAN TO DRIVE THIS CAR FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS. I WANT THE AIRBAG REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10863809

114,000 miles · Apr 6, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF. 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 . I HAVE LIVED IN THE STATE OF HAWAII FOR THE LAST 9 YEARS. AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE THE HUMIDITY IS HIGH HERE . SINCE TOYOTA DOES NOT APPEAR TO WANT TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG IN MY VEHICLE SHOULD I DISCONNECT THE AIRBAG SO IT DOES NOT INFLATE AND INJURE OR KILL ME??

NHTSA ODI #10853930

90,000 miles · Feb 23, 2010
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrash

I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY TO WORK AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING WHEN I PRESSED MY BRAKES TO STOP ( I BARELY PRESSED THEM) AND MY BRAKES LOCKED AND I COULDN'T STOP. I TRIED TO PRESS A COUPLE OF TIMES AND EVEN PUMPED THEM. I TRIED TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER AND MY STEERING LOCKED. I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH BEFORE I TRIED STOPPING, AND …

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I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY TO WORK AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING WHEN I PRESSED MY BRAKES TO STOP ( I BARELY PRESSED THEM) AND MY BRAKES LOCKED AND I COULDN'T STOP. I TRIED TO PRESS A COUPLE OF TIMES AND EVEN PUMPED THEM. I TRIED TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER AND MY STEERING LOCKED. I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH BEFORE I TRIED STOPPING, AND WAS NEVER ABLE TO STOP, AND WHEN I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY FRONT END WAS SMASHED END AND MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE LADY I HIT HAD JUST A DENT IN HER BUMPER. I DIDN'T HAVE MAJOR INJURIES BUT I HAD SOME BRUISING AND A KNOT ON MY KNEE. I NEVER WENT GET CHECKED OUT BUT I STILL HAVE PAIN SOMETIMES IN MY NECK AND BACK. THE POLICE DID FILE A REPORT AND EVEN THOUGH THE LADY I HIT TOLD THE OFFICER THAT I WASN'T CLOSE TO HER AND HAD PLENTY ENOUGH TIME TO STOP HE GAVE ME A TICKET FOR FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE. IT TOOK ME WAY LONGER THAN 4 SECONDS TO HIT HER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10313278

12,200 miles · Nov 27, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT, I WAS DRIVING A 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. AI WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF ME, I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND MISSED THE DEER, HOWEVER I HIT A GUARDRAIL ON THE RIGHT SIDE, OVERCOMPENCIATED ACROSS ROAD STRAIGHT UP A BANK, APPROX 20 FT. THE ACR TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND ROLLED OVER TWICE DOWN …

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I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT, I WAS DRIVING A 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. AI WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF ME, I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND MISSED THE DEER, HOWEVER I HIT A GUARDRAIL ON THE RIGHT SIDE, OVERCOMPENCIATED ACROSS ROAD STRAIGHT UP A BANK, APPROX 20 FT. THE ACR TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND ROLLED OVER TWICE DOWN THE BANK. SINCE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I SUFFERED A DEEP LACERATION TO RIGHT SIDE OF HEAD AND THE GEAR SHIFT FRACTURED 4-7 RIBS. THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER NEARBY WHO SAW THE WHOLE THING, HE STATED HE CLOCKED ME AT 35MPH, AND STATED ALSO IN THE POLICE REPORT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IF YOU CAN HELP ME IN THIS MATTER I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL. RESPECTFULLY--BILLY JACK HARRELL *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210083

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2004
Air BagsCrash

FRONTAL CRASH TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10054348

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2003
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10039760

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

THE CUSTOMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER HIT HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES. *AK *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10031808

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2002
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING BETWEEN 30-40MPH. CONSUMER STATED THAT OWNER'S MANUAL CLEARLY STATED THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD DEPLOY AT 15MPH IN A FRONTAL COLLISION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8013812

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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