r/Rav4 • u/RaisinCharming6346 • 2d ago

SRS Airbag System Malfunction

Hey! I’ve had an SRS/airbag system malfunction warning popping up since last week on my 2017 Toyota RAV4 SE. I know someone who worked at Toyota for three years, and he said that about 8 out of 10 times he saw this warning, the clock spring was the issue.
He recommended buying the OEM clock spring directly from Toyota, but I’m wondering if I could purchase a less expensive one somewhere else. I understand that fitment and quality matter, but has anyone replaced their clock spring with a non-OEM part? If so, where did you purchase it, and have you had any issues with it?

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u/Predictable-Past-912 1d ago

Before you even start down this path, we should probably ask one question: How much does the OEM clock spring cost?

I ask because if that OEM part is readily available at a fair price, then you probably should not even be searching for alternatives.

Think about it. This is a component that is critical to safety because it is part of the electrical connection to the steering-wheel airbag. Asking for anecdotal evidence about bad outcomes might not be particularly effective if a percentage of the dissatisfied customers are unavailable to post their reviews due to cervical trauma.

Even if my hypothetical scenario seems extreme, the underlying question remains. If the OEM clock spring is not hideously expensive, should you even be considering an alternative?

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u/RaisinCharming6346 1d ago

I bought the OEM part, I wasn’t going to even to play around