2021 Toyota RAV4 seats & seat belts problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Aug 10, 2026ILSeats & Seat Belts

   The driver’s seat adjustment mechanism failed and the seat became stuck, unable to move forward or backward. We initially went to a Toyota dealership and told them we believed the issue was a broken gear in the seat rail assembly. The dealership stated they needed to complete their own diagnostic assessment before proceeding, which would cost approximately $275 and add delay, despite already being told the likely cause. We instead took the vehicle to an independent mechanic,…

   NHTSA complaint #11756026 · source
2. Filed Jul 31, 2026CASeats & Seat BeltsVisibility & Wipers

   The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver’s seat became stuck. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure reoccurred on several occasions. The contact stated that water was leaking into the vehicle from the front driver’s and passenger sides, causing puddles of water in the front driver’s and passenger’s seats with an abnormal odor. The contact stated that the leak was near the bolts and screws.…

   NHTSA complaint #11753992 · source
3. Filed May 2, 2026KSSeats & Seat Belts

   The plastic gears that make the seat move back and forth have failed so I can’t adjust the drivers seat to a proper position. We have 2 drivers of almost a foot different in height. There is a plastic gears that runs against a metal gear. Seat is unusable.

   NHTSA complaint #11735282 · source
4. Filed Apr 29, 2026SCSeats & Seat Belts

   - The seat has cheap plastic parts that move the power seat forward and backward, and once malfunction you have to change either the whole seat or the drivers seat track adjuster assembly and both of them expensive. - The seat was built poorly which cause lower and upper back pain.

   NHTSA complaint #11734483 · source
5. Filed Apr 22, 2026TXSeats & Seat Belts

   I have a 2021 TYTA RAV4 HYBRID XLE PREMIUM AWD, the driver seat is very slow moving forward and backwards twisting and preventing to fully go forward and backwards. I need to get out and in of my vehicle. So I have to move in back and forth to get out and move it forward to see over the dash board. I am concerned it makes a load noise. What if it fails to move. This is a critical danger to me the driver. I have passengers to consider. This is absolutely unsafe. This is…

   NHTSA complaint #11733025 · source
6. Filed Sep 17, 2025TNSeats & Seat Belts

   My driver seat suddenly stopped working correctly when trying to move the seat forward or backward. It would make this lagging noise and feel like it was jumping. We had to keep the seat in the position that would be safe for me to sit in and operate the car effectively, but needed to get it fixed because my partner could not sit in the same position and operate the vehicle safely from that position. Took my car to the dealership and they found the track on the right side of…

   NHTSA complaint #11687825 · source
7. Filed Aug 27, 2025COAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts

   I've spoken with Toyota and confirmed that there is a chance my passenger airbag will not deploy. They have no remedy, and the expected date of resolution has been expired for 10 months. Their only recommended action is to not have a passenger ride in my vehicle!

   NHTSA complaint #11683339 · source
8. Filed Aug 26, 2025ILSeats & Seat Belts

   Driver's side electronic seat malfunctioning and stopped working not allowing the seat to go forward or backward for the driver. The car only has 24,337 miles on it as of 08/26/2025. I purchased the car from Green Toyota in Springfield, Illinois in 2021. The dealership tells me the seat and tracks all have to be replaced at a cost of over $2,100.00.

   NHTSA complaint #11683182 · source
9. Filed Aug 13, 2025GASeats & Seat Belts

   The seat stops moving forward and back on one side. This issue is caused by a gear that is prone to breaking in models 2019-2024 on the RAV4. As a result, you can't move your seat forward or backward, and it could get stuck. This is a risk because people need to be able to adjust the car seat to fit inside the car properly. If the seat becomes stuck or wedged in the wrong position, it could cause the airbags to deploy incorrectly for the person sitting in the seat. This…

   NHTSA complaint #11680407 · source
10. Filed Jul 7, 2025ARSeats & Seat Belts

    Driver seat locked in full forward position and could not be adjusted for larger driver. Seat track failed and had to be replaced at a cost of $2400. This occurred after only 76,000 miles of use.

    NHTSA complaint #11671679 · source
11. Filed May 28, 2025TXSeats & Seat Belts

    Front drivers seat no longer capable of moving backwards and forwards. One of the rails will not move, causing the seat to rotate left and right and will not move back and forward. This is a hazard as it now no longer is safe for my Wife or I to drive. It is too far back for my wife and too far forward for me. The car is not that old and has not had that many times moving the chair that the expected failure is acceptable.

    NHTSA complaint #11663426 · source
12. Filed Mar 25, 2025UTCrashTowedAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts

    Driving straight on side road. Vehicle entered road by attempting a left turn onto road without yielding to me. I swerved to the left and slammed on the breaks but was t boned by their vehicle. Airbags didn’t deploy and we got a message on dashboard indicating faulty airbag. Also upon impact our seatbelts were released.

    NHTSA complaint #11650617 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology