2021 Toyota RAV4 Complaints

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 07/16/2026

The sunroof exploded spontaneously while I was driving. It sounded like a gunshot. There were no other vehicles around, so it wasn't caused by a stray rock. It was only 73 degrees, so I don't think it was heat related.

AIR BAGS — Filed 12/20/2023

I have been unable to get my vehicle inspected and repaired by a dealer despite months of waiting and asking two different Toyota dealers to order the necessary part or parts. This recall has been in place for years. For several years I was told it was only being done in certain states and that New Mexico would be last on list due to climate. Probably six months ago the message changed from Toyota and it was now ok in every state. Only problem is still no parts according to dealer. Last contact was on June 2, 2026 with the second dealer to order part. No call back and no contact. First effort was in Santa Fe NM where car was purchased new in 2021at Toyota dealer. Last effort over a month ago was at Albuquerque Larry Miller Toyota. So safety recall for faulty air bag sensor on my wife's side of car has been in place about 900 days without parts to fix a potentially deadly problem. VERY DANGEROUS

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 06/23/2025

What component or system failed, and is it available for inspection? The roof/water sealing system failed, allowing water to enter the vehicle interior. It is available for inspection upon request. How was safety put at risk? Water intrusion through the roof caused visible mold growth, interior deterioration, and a severe foul odor. The mold and contamination inside the vehicle is causing constant illness to the occupant, creating a serious ongoing health and safety hazard. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center? The vehicle was brought to a service center for inspection, however they refused to inspect it. The problem has not been formally confirmed. Has the vehicle been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance, or others? The vehicle was taken in for inspection but the dealer/service center declined to inspect it. No manufacturer, police, or insurance inspection has taken place. Were there warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to failure? When did they first appear? No warning lamps or messages appeared. The symptoms that developed include: Water entering through the roof Visible mold growth Interior deterioration Severe foul odor described as "rotten rat" smell Occupant experiencing constant illness due to exposure

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES — Filed 06/19/2026

The front driver-side door lock and opener (actuator) stopped working using the key fob and needs to be manually locked from the inside. When I try to access the door after manually locking driver side and using my key fob for the remaining 3 locks, the unit won't automatically open. This causes a safety risk considering I need to access the driver's side back or front passenger side to open the door. According to what I've read this is a known issue.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES — Filed 03/01/2026

Passenger front door actuator\lock mechanism does not lock/unlock the door. There have been numerous lawsuits and yet NO RECALL for this very dangerous known problem. Please advise if there is any assistance from Toyota available to cure this defect that is well known to exist. I can be reached @ [XXX]. Thank you in advance for your assistance, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

AIR BAGS — Filed 05/22/2026

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact was traveling at approximately 50 MPH directly behind a van in the same lane of traffic. The van suddenly made an emergency avoidance maneuver to bypass a stationary vehicle completely stopped in the lane. Despite the attempt, the van rear-ended the stopped vehicle. The contact immediately initiated an evasive maneuver to avoid the sudden collision occurring ahead. However, due to proximity and immediate lane obstruction, the contact was unable to avoid an impact and struck the vehicle. The severe front-end impact resulted in catastrophic damage to the contact's vehicle before it came to a complete stop. The airbags failed to deploy, and no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop. A police report was filed. The driver and her pet were the only occupants of the vehicle, and the contact was the only injured passenger. The contact sustained moderate chest pain, but no medical assistance was received. A police report was filed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.

VISIBILITY/WIPER — Filed 06/02/2026

was driving on 4 lane hwy and it was raining and my wipers stopped working mid-way on windshield, I had to find a safe place to pull off road and inspect the problem i tried turning car off and back on and wipers would still not work. I drove another 3 miles or so to the Toyota dealership luckily with no accident which made me feel very unsafe without my wipers. They told me i would have to leave car for them to take panel off to find the cause of failure and provided a loaner after i refused an Uber.

AIR BAGS — Filed 12/27/2023

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 23V865000 (Airbags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was/was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was/was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.  The VIN was invalid./The VIN was not available.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER — Filed 05/26/2026

Water sloshing around inside the passenger door after rain or car wash. If you pull at the seal a little bit, water pours out. This has happened a few times now in the last year of owning the car. The rear seatbelt sensor also goes off randomly, when no one is sitting in the back seat.

POWER TRAIN,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES — Filed 05/01/2026

Gear shift makes noise when moving it, as in you can actually hear the gears/electrical equipment moving and making noise when going from park to drive. The keyless entry when the fob is near, just doesn't work well from the drivers side... I can stand there trying to allow it to unlock and it just locks again or wont unlock the passenger door even if allowing it extra time to.