2014 Toyota RAV4

Request for Investigation – 2014 Toyota RAV4 Airbag Non-Deployment On [XXX], at approximately [XXX]., the vehicle was involved in a traffic collision in Lakeland, Florida. The vehicle sustained a significant impact to the driver’s-side front area. Despite the nature and location of the collision, the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbags did not deploy. Law enforcement responded to the scene and completed Police Report. Emergency medical services also responded, and the driver was transported from the scene by ambulance due to injuries sustained in the collision. The primary concern is whether the airbag system, including the crash sensors and SRS components, functioned as designed during this crash. Based on the impact, I am seeking an investigation into whether the non-deployment of the airbags was the result of a defect or malfunction. I respectfully request that NHTSA review this incident, document it within its vehicle safety database, and determine whether similar complaints involving 2014 Toyota RAV4 vehicles exist that may indicate a broader safety concern warranting further investigation. Supporting documentation, including photographs of the vehicle damage, the police report, and any other relevant records, can be provided upon request. Thank you for your attention to this important vehicle safety matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that during a rainstorm, rainwater leaked into the cabin of the vehicle from the A, B, C, and D pillars and the ceiling control center. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced several times due to the failure, but the failure reoccurred. Additionally, the rear passenger side carpet was previously replaced due to excessive water entering the vehicle. The contact was concerned that the leaks were near the curtain air bag housing and might cause the air bags to malfunction. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000.

In reference to Toyota Motor North America - Customer Support Program ZKG. My Toyota vehicle has experienced paint peeling on the exterior metal body panels. I have applied to receive coverage from Toyota for the paint peeling as part of the ZKG Program. Toyota has denied my request for coverage and did not provide me with notice of the ZKG Program. The paint color of my vehicle is the original factory applied Blizzard Pearl (070) paint color. The vehicle experienced noticeable paint peeling around 9.5-10 years from the Date of First Use of the vehicle. I reported the paint peeling to my local Toyota dealer service center around 5 months after the car was ten years past the Date of First Use. Because the ZKG program coverage had expired by the time I had reported the paint peeling, the Toyota dealer service center referred me to the Toyota Brand Engagement Center. The Toyota Brand Engagement Center denied my request for coverage because the vehicle was reported shortly after the Duration of Coverage. I did not receive notice of the Customer Support Program ZKG from Toyota. I became the owner of this vehicle three years before that the program notification was sent out, but the Toyota Brand Engagement Center representative and a Resolution Specialist both indicated that notices were sent to the previous owner. I purchased the vehicle directly from a Toyota dealership using Toyota financing. The paint peeling did not start until very close to time of coverage expiration for my vehicle. I was unaware that I would be required to report the paint peeling issue to Toyota by a certain date as I was never made aware of the Customer Support Program ZKG from Toyota.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the paint on the hood, the front driver-side door, and the rear passenger-side door was peeling. No warning light was illuminated. The VIN was included in an unknown manufacturer's customer program related to the paint issue. The vehicle was taken to an auto body shop where it was diagnosed that certain areas of the vehicle needed to be repainted. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure still occurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

In reference to Toyota Motor North America - Customer Support Program ZKG. My Toyota vehicle has experienced paint peeling on the exterior metal body panels. I have applied to receive coverage from Toyota for the paint peeling as part of the ZKG Program. Toyota has denied my request for coverage and did not provide me with notice of the ZKG Program. The paint color of my vehicle is the original factory applied Blizzard Pearl (070) paint color. The vehicle experienced noticeable paint peeling around 9.5-10 years past the Date of First Use of the vehicle. I reported the paint peeling to my local Toyota dealer service center around two (2) weeks after the car was ten (10) years past the Date of First Use. Because the ZKG program coverage had expired by the time I had reported the paint peeling, the Toyota dealer service center referred me to the Toyota Brand Engagement Center. The Toyota Brand Engagement Center denied my request for coverage because the vehicle was reported shortly after the Duration of Coverage. I did not receive notice of the Customer Support Program ZKG from Toyota. I became the owner of this vehicle in the same year that the program notification was sent out. The paint peeling did not start until very close to time of coverage expiration for my vehicle. I was unaware that I would be required to report the paint peeling issue to Toyota by a certain date as I was never made aware of the Customer Support Program ZKG from Toyota.

Power lift rear hatch shocks. It's no longer available for inspection because I had the parts replaced on Aug. 24, 2022. Date of first incident UNKNOWN. Before the pandemic began, the rear hatch became inconsistent on opening and closing. When I took it to the dealership, they would reset it. I also took it on 2 occasions to another dealership with the same results. In a day or in a few days, it wouldn't open or close. I was doing grocery pick up so it could have been a hazard not only to me but to the grocery store staff. I couldn't rely on it. I'm a senior citizen. 50% of the reason I bought the SUV was for the power lift hatch. I could have injured my shoulders or my back trying to force it open or closed. Or I could have been injured loading and unloading groceries onto the floorboards behind the front seats. On Aug. 23, 2022 I spoke with the Service Advisor at the dealership and said I need it to be repaired. Do you have the parts? They did the repair the next day. These parts didn't have lamps or messages that were available to the driver. I don't know if there were any for the service technicians. Service Advisor said they have replaced power lift rear hatch shocks on other vehicles.

WE EXPERIENCED THE CLASSICALLY DESCRIBED SUNROOF EXPLOSION (A.K.A. SPONTANEOUS SUNROOF BREAKAGE) THAT SOUNDED LIKE A LARGE OBJECT CRASHED INTO OUR 2014 TOYOTA RAV4, OR AN OR AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED RIGHT OVER OUR HEADS. MY GIRLFRIEND IMMEDIATELY ASKED 'WAS IT A BLOW OUT', AND I RESPONDED NO BECAUSE THANKFULLY, I HAD 100% CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT SWERVE OR BRAKE OR FEEL ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES BUT, APPARENTLY LET OFF THE GAS AND WAS SLOWING DOWN. THEN, THE DRIVER OF A PICK-UP TRUCK OVERPASSING US ON THE RIGHT GAVE US DIRTY LOOKS AND WAVED TO US LIKE WE NEEDED TO PULL OVER. WE EXITED ON THE NEXT EXIT (S. ACADIANA THROUGHWAY). THE SUNROOF VISOR WAS THANKFULLY CLOSED, AND UPON OPENING IT UP WE NOTICED THE CONVEX CRATER-LIKE SHATTERED SUNROOF, AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT WHEREUPON WE TOO NOTICED THE EXCESSIVE NOISE DUE TO WIND CONTACTING THE OPENING. THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD, WITH A CONVEX, VOLCANO-LIKE CRATER, AND THOUSANDS OF STRESS CRACKS WITH HUNDREDS OF LITTLE GLASS SHARDS EVERYWHERE AROUND THE OPENING. THIS OCCURRED IN THE CENTER, WITH ABOUT OF THE TOTAL SUNROOF SURFACE AREA MISSING (EJECTED). THIS OCCURRED ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 TRAVELLING ROUGHLY 65MPH ALONG I-10 IN BATON ROUGE, LEFT-HAND LANE, WESTBOUND NEAR THE MERGER OF I-12, DURING LIGHT RAIN, NO VEHICLES IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME, SMOOTH SURFACES, NO CONSTRUCTION IN VICINITY, WITH NO OVERHEAD LAMPS OR OVERPASSES. WIDE OPEN DIVIDED HIGHWAY. TEMPERATURE WAS 76F, PER CAR.