51 complaints reported

2006 Toyota RAV4 Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
51
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
2

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jun 2013

I'M PRETTY SURE THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT OF MY 2006 RAV4 IS NOT A MATTER OF WEAR AN TEAR. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON 2006-2008 RAVS4 WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEM. YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THIS, BUT IS HARDLY DIFFICULT TO FIND A WAY TO GET IN CONTACT WITH TOYOTA MOTORS, IT SEEMED THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO HEAR FROM THE TOYOTA OWNER?S PROBLEMS. MOREOVER, I EXPLAINED THEM THE AIRBAGS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES SPORADICALLY AT APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES AT 45 MILES/HOUR AND NOW REMAINS ON WITH NO APPARENT REASON, I DROVE MY CAR TO THE DEALER TRYING TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED BY TOYOTA, BUT THEY DOESN'T ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY DUE THAT THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AFTER 3 YEAR OR 60,000 MILES OF WARRANTY. I HAVE NOTICED THEY HAVE AN AIR BAGS RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR 2007 AND NEWER RAVS4, SO IT DOES SEEM SUSPICIOUS AT FIRST GLANCE BECAUSE 2006 IS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH MANY OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED AND FILED COMPLAINTS AGAINST TOYOTA DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. REALISTICALLY THIS IS A SAFETY MATTER, SO 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2013
May 2013

LATE NOVEMBER 2013 AT 75,000 MILES AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO COME IN INTERMITTENTLY, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AT 75,300. DEALER NOTIFIED, NO EXISTING RECALL ON 2006. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2012
Apr 2013

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO DEALER SAYS CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THEY CAN DETERMINE IF THAT IS THE PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2012
Apr 2013

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON SHORTLY AFTER VEHICLE (2006 TOYOTA RAV4) WAS STARTED ON 3/1/13, BEFORE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 77690 MILES. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT (3/4/13). TOLD THAT AIR BAG SPIRAL CABLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. (NO EXPLANATION GIVEN ON WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CURRENT.) PART NEEDS TO BE SPECIAL ORDERED AT A $280.22 COST WITH $99 SERVICE CHARGE PLUS TAX. ADVISED AGAINST TAKING TO INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP AS IT MAY NOT STOP THE WARNING LIGHT FROM GOING ON. VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY CRASHES OR DRIVEN IN A TURBULENT WAY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2013
Mar 2013

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IN MY 2006 RAV 4 HAS ACTIVATED. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH. THE REPAIR IS $500-$600 AND CAN ONLY BE PERFORMED BY A TOYOTA DEALER--A MONOPOLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL OF THE TOYOTA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL I CAN AFFORD THE FIX. ON A TEACHER'S SALARY, THIS HAS IMPEDED MY ABILITY TO GET TO MY JOB SAFELY. THE CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE AND SHOULD NOT BE DEFECTIVE OR PUTTING LIVES AT RISK. I BEG YOU TO REVIEW THIS ISSUE IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Feb 2013
Feb 2013

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER CHECKING THE OWNERS MANUAL WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL DEALER. THEY EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE CLOCK IN THE AIR BAG MECHANISM AND NEEDED REPLACED OR THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND WELL MAINTAINED. I THINK A TOYOTA RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND INVOLVES MANY TOYOTA RAV-4 VEHICLES. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WANTS 600 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD IT BUT MY WIFE DEPENDS ON THE VEHICLE, AND TO INSURE HER SAFETY, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FIND THE MONEY TO GET THE WORK DONE. HELP !! HOW ABOUT A RECALL ??? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2013
Feb 2013

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY AT FIRST, NOW STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. NOTICED IT WOULD COME ON AT FIRST WHILE CORNERING, BELIEVE IT TO BE RELATED TO THE WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN FOR THE AIR BAGS. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON THIS MODEL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2012
Jan 2013

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK CAR TO MY DEALER (FOR REPAIR OF ANOTHER PROBLEM) ON 9/22/11. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE CONTROLLING THE DRIVER AIRBAG WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT IT WOULD BE ABOUT $500 OR MORE TO REPAIR. I TOLD THEN THAT I FELT THAT IT SHOULD BE TOYOTA'S PROBLEM TO REPAIR SINCE IT WAS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD SHOULD I BECOME INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA'S, ESPECIALLY RAV 4'S. THIS SHOULD REALLY BE A RECALL PRIORITY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Feb 2011
Dec 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Dec 2012
Nov 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,647.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Dec 2012
Oct 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER SOME TIME, THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE WIRING IN THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN, WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V245000 (AIR BAGS) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDED THE 2006 MODEL VEHICLES, ONLY THE 2007-2008 MODELS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 11/14/12*LJ UPDATED 11/15/12*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2011
Oct 2012

THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK MY CAR INTO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THE TOLD ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG SPIRAL CABLE AND IT WOULD COST $486 TO FIX. THEY ALSO SAID THAT MY AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED BECAUSE OF THIS SO WOULD NOT GO OFF IN THE EVENT OF A WRECK. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN 2006 RAV4 MODELS. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST TOYOTA, I BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO FIX AS IT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW AND AFFECTS OUR SAFETY EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE CAR. I PERSONALLY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIX THIS, I CAN'T AFFORD IT, AND I DO NOT THINK WE SHOULD EVEN BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAYING FOR THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE. AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2012
Sep 2012

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Aug 2012
Jul 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE AIR BAG SPIRAL CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2012
Jun 2012

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. MECHANIC SAYS THE CLOCKSPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $600. FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING IN 2005-2009 TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUPS IS THE SUBJECT OF AN EXISTING RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V092000); BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Aug 2012
Apr 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2012
Feb 2011

2006 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER STATES AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS NOT WORKED FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS.*TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A SPIRAL CABLE WAS NEEDED AT A COST OF $404.56 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2011
Oct 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A SPIRAL CABLE AND A STEERING SHAFT IN ORDER TO FIX THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,828 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,900.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2010
May 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED IT TO DEPLOY; HOWEVER, HE CONFIRMED THAT IT COULD BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Apr 2010
Feb 2010

AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPT EVENTUALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE "SPIRAL CABLE "IN THE STEERING COLUMN. "DIAGNOSIS "AND REPAIR COST OVER $700.00. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2010
Oct 2008 Crash Injury

I WAS HEADING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND STRUCK AN ONCOMING VEHICLE, WHICH FAILED TO YIELD TO ME. I STRUCK HIM IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SECTION OF A FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET BUT IS WAITING FOR THE OTHER INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2008
Feb 2008 Crash Injury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2008
Feb 2008 Crash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER STRUCK A CONCRETE POST AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE WEATHER WAS RAINY, WINDY, AND VERY COLD. THE DRIVER SUFFERED CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE AND DIED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS MAJOR FAILURES AND SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2007
Feb 2007

TOYOTA RAV4, 2006 FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THAT POSITION. SHE WEIGHS ABOUT 85 POUNDS. IN TESTING OTHER VEHICLE MAKES, WE FOUND IN ABOUT TEN OF 12 OTHER MAKES, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM TURNS ON. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY DEALER HAS BEEN VARIED AND WITHOUT DETAIL. NO DISCLAIMER IS PROVIDED TO THE BUYER ABOUT THIS SITUATION,SIMILAR TO THAT ABOUT CHILD SEATS. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE CONSUMER IS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE SITUATION SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE PASSENGER WOULD ENJOY THE ADDED PROTECTION OF ALL THE INCLUDED AIR BAGS. IS IT UP TO THE CONSUMER TO GO TO THE TROUBLE OF SEARCHING OUT (AS WE DID) THE VEHICLE WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE PROTECTION ADVERTISED? WHAT ARE THE REGULATIONS WITH THIS SYSTEM? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2006
Dec 2006

!. FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG NOT ACTIVATED WHEN AN ADULT (MY WIFE) WEIGHING 90 POUNDS IS SEATED IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. 2. NO INSIDE RELEASE FOR REAR HATCH. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2006

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2006 Toyota RAV4 has 51 Air Bags complaints on file. 3 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.