2011 Toyota RAV4: Recall Alert

By Suzanne Kane

Suzanne Kane

Contributing Writer BIO

Suzanne Kane is an editor at High Gear Media focusing on covering the latest product and other auto-related information for Family Car Guide... More

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2,708 views Feb 6, 2012

2011 Toyota RAV4

2011 Toyota RAV4

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Toyota is conducting a voluntary safety recall of certain 2011 model year RAV4 compact SUVs over concerns about a defect in curtain shield airbags.

A notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) site lists the potential number of affected units at 427. Affected vehicles were built from November 24, 2011 through December 19, 2011.

The problem

At issue is the fact that in the curtain shield airbags, also called side curtain airbags, propellant with the incorrect specification was used for the initiator assembled in the airbag inflator. The possible consequence of this condition is that the inflator may fail to perform properly, causing one or both curtain shield airbags not to deploy in the event of a crash. This airbag deployment failure increases the risk of injuries to occupants of the vehicle.

What Toyota will do

Toyota will notify known owners of 2011 RAV4 SUVs affected in the campaign and instruct them to bring their vehicles to a Toyota dealer. The dealer will then check the vehicle identification number (VIN) to identify the curtain shield assemblies (side curtain airbags) to be replaced and replace one or both of them, as applicable, with new ones at no charge. The Toyota safety recall is expected to begin in early March 2012.

In the meantime, owners of 2011 Toyota RAV4 SUVs with any questions or concerns may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Alternatively, owners of vehicles involved in the campaign may contact the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to http://www.safercar.gov.  Reference the NHTSA campaign ID No. 12V029000.

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