Home · 2015 Toyota RAV4 Phev · Complaints

What 302 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Toyota RAV4 Phev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (302)Crash / fire / injury (80)Electrical system (84)Steering (45)Engine (37)Brakes (31)Body & structure (30)Transmission & drivetrain (25)Speed control (21)Airbags (15)Fuel system (13)Visibility & wipers (8)

15 of 302 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters

Dec 12, 2022AirbagsCrash1 injury

On November 4 2022 I was involved in a car accident The opposing driver hit me nearly head on but to the right on the drivers side. Crushed the left front tire and axle The car is totaled My air bags did not go off. Front side or otherwise. My life was put in serious danger, I am lucky to be alive; suffering chest back and knee pains due to the strong impact. I had the officer note and hospital note that the car bags did not go off. The opposing insurance made note of the air bags not going off. Unknown if there were warning lights. I am the only driver of that car and original owner. I am in Puerto Rico now and the local dealer in San Juan has not returned phone call.

NHTSA ODI 11497103

Jun 28, 2021AirbagsCrash1 injury

The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH through an intersection, another vehicle had run a red light and hit the vehicle's passenger side. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact's son was injured as a result of the accident but did not seek medical attention at the scene. The contact took his son to a local hospital after the accident where he was treated for a fractured right collar bone and fractured right sternum. A police report was not filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle away from the scene and took the vehicle to an independent body shop for a diagnostic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that they would investigate the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

NHTSA ODI 11422599

Jan 10, 2021Electrical systemAirbagsBody & structureCrash

I WAS ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM A STOP SIGN AND COLLIDED WITH A BLACK CAR AT NIGHT THAT DID NOT HAVE IT'S HEADLIGHTS ON. THEIR AIR BAG DEPLOYED, - MINE DID NOT. CITY OF RALEIGH, NC. STREETS.

NHTSA ODI 11387408

May 16, 2019AirbagsBody & structureCrash

FRONT END COLLISION- DIRECT HIT-2015 TOYOTO RAVE 4 -AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.CAR A HIT CAR B, CAR A GOING 50, HIT CAR B GOING 15 MPH. CAR B TOTALED

NHTSA ODI 11207960

Jun 12, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. IT WAS MY TURN TO GO, I PROCEEDED TO GO STRAIGHT WHEN ANOTHER CAR RAN THE STOP LIGHT AND I WAS T-BONED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEN A DRIVER RAN A LIGHT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE SIDE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IF THE HIS WAS BAD ENOUGH TO TOTAL THE CAR. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THE AIR BAGS KNOW WHEN IT IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI 11101312

Feb 24, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

HEAD ON COLLISION AT 48MPH AFTER BEING SIDESWIPED. NEITHER FRONT OR SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11074646

Jan 8, 2018AirbagsSpeed controlCrash3 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO EXPRESS TOWING'S FACILITY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ODI 11061200

Dec 10, 2017AirbagsBody & structureCrash1 injury

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A 'RED' LIGHT AND HIT IT ON THE RIGHT FENDER. FENDER CAME OFF. OTHER VEHICLE HAD FRONT SMASHED IN AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE TOYOTA. DRIVER WAS WEARING SEATBELT, BUT LACK OF AIRBAG CAUSED DRIVERS ARM AND CHEST TO HIT STEERING WHEEL AND LEGS TO HIT OTHER COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ODI 11053796

Oct 1, 2017AirbagsCrash1 injury

WHEN I GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T COME OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11030741

Feb 15, 2017AirbagsSpeed controlBrakesCrash

AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING LOT, I PRESSED THE BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN I MOVED MY GEARSHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION, MY CAR JUMPED THE CURB AND DROVE INTO MY EXTERIOR WALL. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE CAR THEN STARTED DRIVING BACKWARDS AT AN ACCELERATING SPEED. AFTER JUMPING BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT, I CRASHED INTO A CAR PARKED BEHIND ME, WHICH MADE THE CAR FINALLY STOP. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING EITHER COLLISION. BY THE END, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TOTALED.

NHTSA ODI 10954930

Jul 7, 2016SteeringAirbagsSpeed controlBrakesCrash3 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE MERGING INTO THE RIGHT LANE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY VEERED LEFT AND ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DRIVER DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED TWICE DOWN A SHORT INCLINE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES AND SCRATCHES TO THEIR ELBOWS. THE REAR PASSENGER SUFFERED A CONCUSSION, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 10883451

May 10, 2016AirbagsBrakesCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH DOWN AN INCLINE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED TWICE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ODI 10864263

Mar 6, 2016AirbagsBody & structureEngineFire

THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN PHILADELPHIA AT A LOW SPEED WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE QUICKLY WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND DESTROYED MOST OF THE CAR, INCLUDING THE ENGINE, DASHBOARD, FRONT SEATS, WINDSHIELD, WINDOWS, FRONT TIRES WHICH EXPLODED, AND AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ODI 10840172

Jan 5, 2016AirbagsSpeed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ENTERING AN ON-RAMP, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FENDER AND PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10818191

May 26, 2015Airbags

I CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT THE TOYOTA AIR BAG RECALL(TAKATA) THEY PROVIDED MY WITH A RENTAL VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED THAT I CALL THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. WHEN I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT REGISTERED TO MY NAME AS IT WAS STILL IN THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S NAME ACCORDING TO THEIR DATA BASE. THIS IS MY CONCERN. I HAD TO TELL TOYOTA CORPORATION THE TYPE AND YEAR OF VEHICLE THAT I HAD AS WELL AS THE VIN NUMBER AND SHE "UPDATED" THE DATA BASE. MY CONCERN IS FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT DRIVE TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT ARE PART OF THIS RECALL BUT ARE NOT IN THEIR DATA BASE. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE OVER 1 YEAR AGO AND IT SHOULD BE IN THEIR DATA BASE. I DID NOT RECEIVE A LETTER FROM THE TOYOTA CORPORATION ABOUT THE AIR BAG AS I READ THE PAPER AND FOLLOWED WHAT THE NHTSA SAID FOR OWNERS OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES TO DO. IF I WOULD HAVE NOT CALLED TOYOTA THEY WOULD NOT HAVE HAD MY INFORMATION ON MY CAR TO SEND ME A RECALL SAFETY NOTICE. I AM CONCERNED FOR THE OTHER OWNERS OF VEHICLES RECALLED BY TOYOTA THAT ARE NOT UPDATED IN THEIR DATA BASE WITH THE NEW OWNER'S INFORMATION. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A PREMIER TOYOTA IN AMHERST, OHIO. I AM NOT SURE HOW THESE DATA BASES ARE UPDATED, IF OHIO SENDS THE LICENSE INFORMATION TO TOYOTA OR INDIVIDUAL CAR COMPANIES SEND IN THE INFORMATION ON THE UPDATES. IT IS AN ISSUE I THINK NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ODI 10721527

Working with the data? Download all 302 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 20, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 Toyota RAV4 Phev verdict →