There are 8 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 1997 Toyota RAV4in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHILE DRIVING AND APPROACHING A STEEP HILL AT 35 MPH, AND UPON GOING DOWN A HILL, VEHICLE FISH TAILED OUT OF CONTROL. HITTING A MEDIAN STRIP. CONSUMER HAD TO SWERVE RIGHT, AND WENT INTO A TAIL SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE SEAT BELT EITHER RELEASED OR BROKE. THE ROOF CAVED IN. ALL THE WINDOWS BROKE. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG SYSTEM DURING COLLISION WHICH RESULTED IN HEAD, CHEST AND NECK INJURIES. INJURIES MAY NOT HAVE OCCURED IF AIRBAG'S WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. *YC
SOMEONE HIT THE DRIVER FROM BEHIND AND VEERED INTO NEXT LANE WHERE ANOTHER CAR HIT THE DRIVER AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY,RESULTING IN AN INJURY. *AK
UPON BEING BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CAR SPUN INTO A TRAFFIC ISLAND ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. SEA TBELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND DRIVER WA STHROWN TOWARDS PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE DRIVER'S HEAD STRUCK THE POST/DOOR FRAME OR ROOF, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION, TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH. THE SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO HOLD THE OCCUPANT, FORCING THE DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT, ALSO THE BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP, AND THE BELTS BECAME VERY LOOSE, THE SEAT BELT WERE FULLY EXTENDED, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER.*AK
CONSUMER REQUESTS ASSISTANCE IN DISCONNECTING PASSENGER AIRBAG DUE TO SMALL CHILD RIDING IN THE FRONT SEAT.
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS IN WHICH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. THE FINAL ACCIDENT WAS A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT AT 40 MPH IN WHICH DRIVER WAS HURT. CAUSE OF PROBLEM UNKNOWN. *AK
MIDDLE/REAR SEAT BELT TIGHTENS.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026