TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Toyota RAV4 airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Toyota RAV4 have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 24,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 RAV4 | 19 |
| 2012 RAV4 | 21 |
| 2013 RAV4 | 12 |
| 2014 RAV4 | 9 |
| 2015 RAV4 (this page) | 13 |
| 2016 RAV4 | 18 |
| 2017 RAV4 | 17 |
| 2018 RAV4 | 14 |
| 2019 RAV4 | 28 |
11crashes
1fire
10injuries
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TSB: Some 2005 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This service bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare the interior of the vehicle prior to an odor remediation being performed, as well as contact information for an approved vendor who will arrange the remediation, and instructions on how to prepare the interior of the vehicle for reassembly once the remediation has been completed. Refer to all model and
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: Some 2013 ? 2015 model year RAV4 vehicles may exhibit a brief shudder intermittently while driving under light loads between approximately 25 and 50 mph. The torque converter and Engine Control Module/ECM (SAE term: Powertrain Control Module/PCM) logic have been modified to reduce the possibility of this condition from occurring. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DP: In these vehicles, Toyota has received some reports where vehicles may exhibit a brief intermittent shudder during torque converter flex lock up. This shudder may be observed while driving under light throttle conditions between approximately 25 ? 50 mph. Although the Torque Converter is covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever occurs first), we at Toyota care about the customers? ownership experience. Toyota is now extending the warranty coverage for repairs related to Torque Converter Shudder.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Eleven of the 13 complaints describe airbag non-deployment during collisions. These cover a range of impact types: T-bone crashes at intersections, head-on collisions at 48–50 mph, side-impact crashes with fenders torn off, and low-speed parking-lot incidents. In nearly every case, the impact was severe enough to total the vehicle or cause injury; yet the airbags remained stowed. One owner was hit head-on after a sideswipe and had no front or side airbags deploy. Another was struck on the driver side at an intersection hard enough to total the car, yet expected the side airbag to activate and did not. One owner's vehicle caught fire; the fire destroyed the airbags along with most of the car. Mileage ranges from 6,000 to 79,000 miles. Dealers either could not diagnose the failures or made no attempt. Manufacturers were contacted in only one case and promised investigation; in other cases, owners did not report the failure.
A separate complaint describes a registration database issue: the owner's 2015 RAV4 was not listed under the new owner's name more than a year after purchase, preventing the recall safety notice from reaching them—they only learned of it through news reports.
Same Toyota RAV4 airbags reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag non-deployment in multiple impact scenarios
Multiple owners report airbags failing to deploy during significant collisions including T-bones, head-on impacts, and side-impact crashes. Impact speeds ranged from low-speed parking lot incidents to 50 mph highway collisions. In several cases, the vehicles were totaled yet no airbags deployed.
When: Various mileage: 79,000 miles (complaint #2), 6,000 miles (complaint #4), 24,000 miles (complaint #7), unknown mileage for others
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy during T-bone collision at intersection; Airbags do not deploy during head-on collision at 48 mph after sideswipe; Airbags do not deploy during 50 mph frontal impact; Airbags do not deploy during low-speed parking lot collision; Airbags do not deploy during unintended acceleration crash; Airbags do not deploy during side-impact collision; No front or side airbags deploy during high-impact crashes
Repairs/costs cited: Complaint #4: dealer unable to diagnose the failure. Complaint #8: dealer stated airbags know when a situation is life-threatening. Most vehicles not repaired; two towed to independent shops or towing facilities with no confirmed repairs completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Complaint #2: manufacturer notified and stated they would investigate the failure. Complaint #4: manufacturer not made aware. Complaint #5: manufacturer not notified. Complaint #7: neither dealer nor manufacturer contacted.
Takata recall database registration issue
Owner reported vehicle not appearing in Toyota's database under current owner's name due to incomplete title transfer record, preventing receipt of recall safety notice. Owner had to manually contact Toyota customer assistance and provide VIN and vehicle information to update database. Owner raised concern that other recalled vehicles may not be properly tracked.
When: Over 1 year after purchase from Premier Toyota in Amherst, Ohio
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle not registered under current owner name in Toyota database; Did not receive recall safety notice by mail; Database not updated after vehicle title transfer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall acknowledged. Toyota customer assistance updated database manually after owner contact.
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2015 Toyota RAV4?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2015 Toyota RAV4?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 6,000 and 36,000 miles, with the median around 24,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,000; a quarter make it past 36,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Toyota/RAV4.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.