Toyota RAV4 Unsafe?

I discovered this at thecarlounge.net in one of the posts. This comes from Euro NCAP, which tests cars for safety in Europe. Read this excerpt.

In the first frontal test, the airbags fired late owing to disconnection of a satellite airbag sensor early in the impact. Toyota re-routed the wiring to the sensor and modified the software in the control unit so that the airbags fired earlier in the event of a disconnection. Euro NCAP allowed Toyota to re-test the modified car. In the repeat test, the airbags fired as intended despite damage to the wiring harness. Toyota have informed Euro NCAP that they do not intend to apply these modifications to cars already sold. The driver's knees bottomed out the knee airbag and contacted the support bracket.

This means that Toyota RAV4s might have airbag problems. It looks like Toyota doesn't want to fix this possible problem.

In the end the RAV4 got 4 out of 5 stars in both adult and child safety. This could also be an isolated problem.


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MercBasher - 8/3/2006 12:04:00 PM

+2 Boost

Why did it still receive 4 out of 5 if there are problems?

BMWRocks - 8/3/2006 1:13:15 PM

+1 Boost

All the Rav4 owners should be informed of this issue. Toyota needs to be sued, they need to fix there cars especially if it has to with safety. How does this car get 4 out of 5 when many Rav4 already sold have this problem?

Rupert - 8/3/2006 2:56:12 PM

+1 Boost

it gets 4 out of 5 because after mods it was good, like the x5 which went from 4 to 5 after a seatbelt reminder and a slight change in design.
and you can't sue them for the car not protecting you, they don't really have to. would you sue a quadbike maker if you crashed, or an old car for not protecting you?

woood - 8/4/2006 11:28:46 PM

+1 Boost

I totally agree with huu76. Recall now rather than later to avoid further potential legal problems.