2016 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 239 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 18th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 33 involved a crash and 12 involved a fire. 27 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, 12v/24v/48v batteryNov 1, 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
Campaign 23V734000 on NHTSA.gov
TiresApr 22, 2016
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
SET will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.
Campaign 16V236000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slipApr 7, 2016
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 30, 2015, to February 3, 2016, 2016 Lexus RX350 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2015, to February 8, 2016, and 2016 Lexus ES350 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2016, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.
Campaign 16V198000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
58 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 5, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED WITHIN TWO SECONDS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GETTEL TOYOTA OF LAKEWOOD (941-567-1080, LOCATED AT 5959 E. STATE RD 64, BRADENTON, FL 34208) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.
Electrical system, Sep 24, 2018
2016 TOYOTA RAV4 XLE. CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER PURCHASE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. *LD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, BY THE DEALER, THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTENING. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT AGREE. *JS
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jan 18, 2018, crash
IT WAS A COLD DAY IN MASSACHUSETTS. I WARMED UP THE CAR IN THE MORNING FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE STARTING TO DRIVE TO WORK. I GOT ONTO THE MASSACHUSETTS PIKE AND AFTER A COUPLE EXITS OF CRUISING AT 60 HIT STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. AT ONE OF THE ENTRANCES AND WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO A STOP IN THE TRAFFIC MY CAR FLASHED THE BATTERY CRITICAL CHARGING ERROR FOR A SPLIT SECOND BEFORE SAYING EVERYTHING NEEDED TO BE RESTARTED BY PUTTING THE CAR INTO PARK. AFTER THAT, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT ON HAZARDS UNTIL ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER OF TRYING TO GET THE POWER BACK ON DID THE CAR START UP. WITHIN THAT TIME A DRIVER BEHIND ME DECIDED TO HIT ME IN THE REAR. ON RESTART THE CAR DIDN'T SHOW THE FAULT BUT UPON LOOKING UP THE BATTERY CRITICAL CHARGING FAILURE IT STATES TO NOT DRIVE THE CAR AND TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE IT TO A SHOP. THE SHOP CANNOT FIND THE CODE DUE TO IT BEING WIPED MAKING SOLVING THE ISSUE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.
Electrical system, Sep 26, 2017
THIS OCCURRED A FEW WEEKS AFTER ISSUE # 11022546 OCCURRED AND SEEMS TO BE A RELATED ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. WHILE WAITING FOR A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT TO TURN GREEN, (THIS TIME) THE ENGINE DID NOT STOP BUT THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY AND RADIO SCREEN WENT COMPLETELY BLACK AND AFTER ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS ALL POWER RETURNED TO DASH AND RADIO.
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 10, 2017
WHILE WAITING FOR RED LIGHT ON A LOCAL STREET (THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT IN A STOPPED FOOT ON THE BRAKE POSITION) THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND DASHBOARD DISPLAY MESSAGE APPEARED STATING "CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE".
Electrical system, Nov 14, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STRUCK A CURB WHILE DRIVING AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS NO LONGER IN ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE UPDATED AND REALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE ADDITIONAL FAILURES THAT WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Electrical system, Aug 31, 2016
MY 2016 TOYOTA RAV 4 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT A RODENT CHEWED THE WIRES AND THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR 2080. ALSO THAT THE WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY 7 MONTHS OLD AND THEY KNOW IT'S DO TO FAULTY WIRES OR USING SOY PRODUCTS.
Steering, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Jun 28, 2016
TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED-AT ALL TIMES OF INCIDENCES THIS VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. SAFETY ISSUE!!! 1. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE MARCH 26, 2016, TO COMMUTE TO NEW JOB. 2. HIGHWAY-WARNING 1 ON APX 4/4 MONDAY (9 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE) "CHECK TOYOTA PARK ASSIST HAVE VEHICLE CHECKED BY A DEALER" THE CAUSE WAS SNOW ON SENSORS....SINCE WE ARE IN MONTANA THERE WILL BE SNOW ON SENSORS AT LEAST 8 MONTHS A YEAR. 4. HIGHWAY-WARNING 2 ON APX 4/18/16 "AWD SYSTEM MALFFUNCTION 2 WHEELDRIVE MODE ENGAGED DEALER SAID LOOSE GAS CAP CAUSED THIS. 5. HIWAY-APX 4/12/16-4/14/16 I WAS PASSING A DOUBLE CAR HAULER. THE CAR HAULER WAS GOING ABOUT 50-60 ON INCLINE AROUND A CORNER. I WAS GOING 80 (SPEED LIMIT) WITH 2 VEHICLES BEHIND ME AT THE SAME SPEED. WE WERE ALL PASSING THE CAR HAULER. ALL OF A SUDDEN WARNING SOUNDS IN FRONT OF CAR WENT OFF AND CAR BRAKED TO ALMOST AN IMMEDIATE STOP THEN ALARMS IN BACK OF CARS WERE GOING OFF BECAUSE THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE COMING UP ON MY REAR. I PRESSED THE GAS AND THE BRAKE AND NOTHING, TURNED THE WHEEL TOWARD LEFT AND CAR STARTED TO GO. I AM FEARFUL OF THIS VEHICLE. I AM A WIDOW AND AM AFRAID TO PUT MY CHILDREN IN IT. I PARKED THE CAR AFTER THIS INCIDENT AND CONTACTED TOYOTA MANUFACTURER. THEY REJECTED REPURCHASE. I HAD BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH DEALER (OVER 20 LOGGED CALLS AND ALMOST 100 TEXTS) THEY OFFERED TO TRADE VEHICLE AT $28K FOR A VEHICLE THAT WAS 2 WEEKS OLD. I OWED $34K ON IT. THAT IS A LOSS OF $6000 IN 2 WEEKS ON A VEHICLE WITH SAFETY ISSUES. THE CAR HAD 63 MILES ON IT WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT, I DROVE FROM DEALERSHIP TO HOME WHICH WAS 225+ MILES. THEN I COMMUTED FROM HOME TO NEW JOB FROM (80 MILES EACH WAY TO WORK) FROM MARCH 28-APRIL 18=16 WORK DAYS AND 1 OR 2 OVERTIME DAYS/VISIT FRIENDS (3,168 MILES) I AM AT ABOUT 3,300 MILES NOW.