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2021 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2021 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

Limited mileage data: 72 of 385 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 125 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

46 crash reports7 fire reports29 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2025
Air BagsSeat Belts

UNKNOWN - My car system starting alerting me as if I had no seatbelt on (which I did) and said SRS Airbag Malfunction.

NHTSA ODI #11664728

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2025
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrash

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.

NHTSA ODI #11650617

30,000 miles · Jan 21, 2025
Air BagsSeat Belts

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side seat belt warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the passenger’s seat was not occupied by a passenger or object, but the warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campai…

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The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side seat belt warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the passenger’s seat was not occupied by a passenger or object, but the warning light was illuminated. 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 had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI #11637370

34,777 miles · Jan 14, 2025
Air BagsSeat Belts

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 air bag and seat belt warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a…

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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 air bag and seat belt warning lights were illuminated. 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 failure. The failure mileage was approximately 34,777. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI #11635824

60,000 miles · Oct 11, 2024
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

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 approximate…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11619361

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2024
Air BagsSeat Belts

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 t…

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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)

NHTSA ODI #11614545

58,000 miles · Aug 5, 2024
Seat Belts

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while attempting to latch the seat belt, the buckle failed to latch securely, after which the contact observed that the seat belt buckle assembly was jammed. The seat belt warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the seat …

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The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while attempting to latch the seat belt, the buckle failed to latch securely, after which the contact observed that the seat belt buckle assembly was jammed. The seat belt warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the seat belt buckle assembly was stuck in the locked position and was unable to be released. The contact was informed that the seat belt assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #11606461

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2023
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

No safety devices worked during accident that cause by another vehicle driver who ran red light. Neither air bags deployed, nor safety belt worked properly during an accident. Due to these mal functions of safety devices, my wife on the passenger seat hit the dashboard badly. She was wearing the seat belt properly which was rele…

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No safety devices worked during accident that cause by another vehicle driver who ran red light. Neither air bags deployed, nor safety belt worked properly during an accident. Due to these mal functions of safety devices, my wife on the passenger seat hit the dashboard badly. She was wearing the seat belt properly which was released later by the ER personal at the accident location to transfer to an ambulance.

NHTSA ODI #11501549

Official recalls

1

23V865000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Dec 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

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.

Go deeper into Toyota RAV4 problems