YearToAvoid

2005 Toyota RAV4 Airbags Problems

NHTSA has 59 owner complaints about airbag problems in the 2005 Toyota RAV4, 42% of all 141 complaints for this model year. That is #3 highest airbag complaint count among 21 RAV4 model years. These complaints report 9 crashes and 7 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 91,000 miles.

Airbags complaints
59
42% of 141
Crashes reported
9
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
7
Median mileage
91,000 mi
Related recalls
3

When 2005 Toyota RAV4 airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 26, 2006, latest Aug 11, 2025.

2005 Toyota RAV4 airbags complaints: complaints filed per month13Dec 2006Jun 2015Oct 2015Feb 2016Jun 2016Dec 2016May 2018
59 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2006 to Aug 2025; peak Sep 2015 (13).

Airbags recalls for the 2005 Toyota RAV4

  1. NHTSA 19V741000Oct 17, 2019Airbags928,220 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.

  2. NHTSA 15V284000May 13, 2015Airbags159,700 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured May 13, 2003, to October 25, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag, free of charge. Owners were mailed an interim notice June 17, 2015. The recall began on August 21, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

  3. NHTSA 06V096000Apr 3, 2006Airbags133 vehicles

    Air bags

    On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. In this condition, the expansion force of the gas may be insufficient to properly inflate the air bag when the SRS system is activated during a crash.

    Risk: This may increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the involved seating position in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the specific SRS air bag. The recall began on april 6, 2006. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371, scion at 1-866-548-1851, or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.

Airbags complaints by RAV4 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200559 (42%)
  2. 200657 (8%)
  3. 200799 (10%)
  4. 200858 (10%)
  5. 200913 (4%)
  6. 201028 (7%)
  7. 201120 (7%)
  8. 201222 (8%)
  9. 201313 (5%)
  10. 201412 (6%)
  11. 201515 (5%)
  12. 201619 (8%)
  13. 201720 (7%)
  14. 201816 (5%)
  15. 201945 (5%)
  16. 202055 (9%)
  17. 2021125 (32%)
  18. 202210 (7%)
  19. 20238 (5%)
  20. 202412 (7%)
  21. 20251 (1%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Toyota RAV4 have airbag problems?
NHTSA has 59 owner complaints about the airbag in the 2005 Toyota RAV4, 42% of all complaints for this model year, including 9 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 91,000 miles.
Which Toyota RAV4 year has the most airbag complaints?
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 has the most airbag complaints (125), compared with 59 for the 2005.
Is there a airbag recall for the 2005 Toyota RAV4?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2005 Toyota RAV4 concern the airbag: 19V741000, 15V284000, and 06V096000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.