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
239 reports, newest first.
Service brakes, Jul 15, 2016
WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, WHETHER IT IS WARMED UP OR RIGHT AFTER STARTING TO DRIVE THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKE PETAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO SLOWING OR STOPPING OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS IN ROUTINE TRAFFIC AND ALSO WITH A SUDDEN STOP.
Tires, Jul 13, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE RADIAL TIRES, SIZE: P225/65R/17 (NA). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TIRE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE MODEL WAS DEFECTIVE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,900.
Other or unspecified, Jul 5, 2016
THE MIRRORS HAVE A SMALL 'BLIND SPOT' MIRROR THAT IS POORLY LOCATED. TO HAVE THE MIRROR POSITIONED TO SEE THE NEIGHBORING LANES THE MAIN MIRROR SHOWS ALMOST 1/2 OF IT'S AREA OF THE VEHICLE. TO POSITION THE MAIN MIRROR TO PROPERLY SHOW THE AREA NEAR AND BEHIND THE VEHICLE THE BLIND SPOT MIRRORS SHOW AN AREA THAT IS IRRELEVANT.
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.
Service brakes, Jun 23, 2016, crash
WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD AND STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I NEVER TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE.
Vehicle speed control, Jun 20, 2016
THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 2016 RAV4 LE AWD WITH 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS VERY ERRATIC. AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-70 MPH) IT IS FINE ON A FLAT ROAD, BUT AT THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE WILL DOWNSHIFT TO FIFTH, THEN SLAM INTO FOURTH GEAR WITH THE ENGINE RPMS GOING UP TO OVER 4000. IT WILL THEN EITHER STAY DOWNSHIFTED OR CONSTANTLY SHIFT UP AND DOWN UNTIL I AM WELL OVER THE TOP OF THE HILL. THE DEALER SAID THEY ALL DO THAT, SO IT'S NORMAL. I'VE STOPPED USING THE CRUISE BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION DAMAGE FROM THE HARSH SHIFTING AND HIGH RPMS, BUT IT ALSO IS VERY DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER WHICH MAKES IT A SAFETY ISSUE. I'VE COMPLAINED TO "ASK TOYOTA" CUSTOMER SERVICE TWICE. THEY JUST SAY THEY'LL PASS ALONG MY COMPLAINT TO THE PROPER DEPARTMENT.
Exterior lighting, Jun 7, 2016
PURCH 2016 TOYOTA AWD RAV4 1 WK AGO. NEVER TRIED LIGHTS B4 PURCH AS WAS DAYLIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING W/DARK GOING TO WORK I USED THE HEADLIGHTS TO FIND OUT YOU CANT SEE W/THEM. I HAVE NEVER HAD HEADLIGHTS I COULDNT SEE WITH. ON DIM: BEAMS SHORT FOOTAGE IN FRONT OF VEHICLE & THE FIELD OF VISION IS DARK W/LINE OF DARKNESS ABOVE BEAM & YOU CANNOT SEE ANY FUTHER. LIKE YOU ARE IN A BIG BLACK TUNNEL. YOU DONT HAVE A FIELD OF VISION ON THE FRONT & SIDES OF THE VEHICLE AT ALL! THE DRIVER COULD POSSABLY HIT SOMETHING OR A PEDESTRIAN, ETC.DUE TO IMPROPER VISION LIGHTING. I HAD TO STOP & ROLL DOWN THE DRIVERS WINDOW SO I COULD MAKE SURE I WAS TURNING LEFT CORRECTLY ON THE ROAD TO MY HOME AT NIGHT. I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY WITH NO STREET LIGHTS. HIGH BEAM: BEAM UP AT THE TREE TOPS IN FRONT OF YOU CRIS CROSSED. WITH THESE HEADLIGHTS YOU HAVE NO FIELD OF VISION! I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE AFTER DARK BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE AT ALL! I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED & THEY STATE CANT ADJUST THEM BUT THEY DID TRY TO. VISION WAS/IS STILL BAD. I TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF MIGHT KNOW HOW TO ADJUST & THEY STATED SAME THING. THEY CHECKED THE LIGHTS, STATED LIGHTS WERE IN TOYOTA'S SPECS & IS LITTLE ROOM FOR ADJUSTMENT. I TRIED USING AGAIN THIS MORNING & STILL BAD FIELD OF VISION. I CALLED & ASKED DEALERSHIP TO FILE OFFICIAL COMPLAINT W/TOYOTA CONCERNING THE BAD FIELD OF VISION OF THESE HEADLIGHTS, DUE TO BEING AFRAID I MIGHT HIT SOMETHING I CANT SEE & BE KILLED OR INJURED OR HIT SOMEONE ELSE I CANT SEE & INJURE OR KILL THEM. THE PROBLEM W/HEADLIGHTS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATLLY BEFORE THIS HAPPENS W/ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY HAVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS ALL THE TIME. BOUGHT AS RETIREMENT VEHICLE COSTING $30,000.00 & CANT SEE TO DRIVE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT MY RECOURSE IS. PLEASE HELP ME IF YOU CAN BEFORE MAJOR MISHAP! THANKS
Air bags, Jun 3, 2016, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Service brakes, May 9, 2016
I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE JANUARY 2016. RECENTLY, I HEARD A NOISE AS I APPLY A BRAKE. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO EXAMINE THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THE BRAKES ARE DOING FINE. BUT THE NOISE HAS BECOME EVEN LOUDER. I ASKED ONE OF MY FRIENDS WHO BOUGHT THE SAME CAR AS MINE, A COUPLE MONTH BEFORE ME. HE TOLD ME HE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS CAR TOO. ALSO, HE HAD ALSO ENCOUNTERED WITH AN EMPTY BRAKE FLUID TANKER AFTER HE SAW A BRAKE MALFUNCTION SIGNAL ON HIS DASHBOARD. FOLLOWING, MY FRIEND AND I STARTED TO SHOP AROUND OTHER FRIENDS WHO HAVE THE SAME CAR WITH MODEL YEAR 2014-2016. FIVE OUT OF THE SEVEN DRIVERS WE QUESTIONED HAD TOLD US THAT THEY HAD ALREADY REPLACED THEIR BRAKES AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE THEY EVEN DRIVE THEIR CARS[TOYOTA RAV4 2014-2015] FOR A YEAR/<10,000. I THINK CONSUMERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THESE SITUATIONS BEFORE DECIDING TO BUY THESE PRODUCTS ESPECIALLY AS BRAKES NEED TO MEET THE HIGHEST SAFETY STANDARDS.
Structure, Apr 18, 2016
THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. NO ROCK WAS SEEN BEFORE IT HAPPENED AND THE GLASS WAS CURVED OUTWARD WHEN WE STOPPED TO LOOK AT IT. FORTUNATELY, THE VISOR/COVER WAS BELOW IT SO THE GLASS SHARDS DID NOT SPRAY INTO OUR FACES. IT SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND WE HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO HAVE THE SUNROOF REPLACED. IT WOULD BE WISE TO ALWAYS DRIVE WITH THE SUNROOF COVER OVER THE GLASS TO PROTECT YOURSELF.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 15, 2016
MY 2016 RAV4 LE COMES WITH A SIDE VIEW MIRROR THAT HAS A BUILT IN NON-ADJUSTABLE BLIND SPOT MIRROR. THIS BLIND SPOT MIRROR DOES NOT SHOW THE BLIND SPOT AREA. IT SHOWS AN AREA TWO LANES AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. PAGE 154 OF THE RAV4 OWNERS MANUAL ERRONEOUSLY INDICATES THIS ADDITIONAL MIRROR IS A BLIND SPOT MIRROR AND HAS A DIAGRAM ERRONEOUSLY SHOWING HOW IT FUNCTIONS.THE BLIND SPOT MIRROR IS MISLEADING AND DANGEROUS. I DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED TO GET APPROVAL FROM THE TOYOTA CORP. TO REPLACE THE GLASS MIRROR INSERT. TOYOTA CORP REFUSED MY REQUEST AND TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. ATTACHED IS A SEQUENCE OF THREE PICTURES SHOWING HOW THE BLIND SPOT MIRROR DOESN'T SHOW AN APPROACHING VEHICLE UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. THIS IS PARTICULARLY CONFUSING AND DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. YOU GET TO SEE HEADLIGHTS FROM TWO LANES OVER AND NOT THE HEADLIGHTS ACTUALLY APPROACHING YOU. A TOYOTA PERSON TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE $8000 MORE EXPENSIVE 2016 RAV4 WHICH IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WITH SENSORS. THIS IS A BAD WAY TO MAKE MONEY. ALL I WANT IS FOR TOYOTA TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE INTERCHANGEABLE GLASS MIRROR INSERTS USED ON PREVIOUS YEAR RAV4 VEHICLES AND TO STOP INSTALLING THE DANGEROUS SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WITH BUILT IN NON-ADJUSTABLE BLIND SPOT MIRRORS. THE VISION IS POOR ON THE RAV4 AND TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE REASONABLY PRICED THE SENSORS AND VISION ITEMS FOR ALL MODELS INSTEAD OF ONLY MAKING THESE SAFETY ITEMS AVAILABLE ON VEHICLES LOADED WITH HIGH PRICE FEATURES. TOYOTA NEEDS TO PUT SAFETY FIRST. I HAVE HIGH REGARD FOR TOYOTA AND PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED THREE TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT WERE EXTREMELY GOOD AND LASTED A LONG TIME. THEY ALL HAD GREAT VISIBILITY. THE RAV4 COULD HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED WITH MUCH BETTER VISION.
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Apr 8, 2016, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD WHILE THE CONTACT'S FATHER WAS GENTLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT'S FATHER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND STRUCK A GATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER FATHER HAD TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE WAS DETECTED. THE FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500.
Steering, Mar 26, 2016
NOTICED THE BRANDNEW 2016 RAV4 XLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT STRONGLY AFTER 3 DAYS OWNING THE CAR WITH 200 MILES. WENT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND DID 2 ALIGNMENTS AND CROSS TIRE ROTATION. THE SERVICE ADMITS THE PULLS AND CLAIM THEY FIXED IT THE 1ST TIME. HOWEVER ACTUALLY NOTHING IS CHANGED. STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT, NOT ANY BETTER. COME BACK AGAIN AND THE SAME TECHNICIAN TRIED TO ALIGN AND ROTATE AGAIN. WE TESTED DRIVE AND STILL FOUND IT. THE DEALER'S LEAD TECHNICIAN MENTIONED HE DID EVERYTHING HE CAN BUT STILL CANNOT FIX IT. HE OPENED A CASE TO TOYOTA CORP TO INVESTIGATE. ME AND THE TECHNICIAN TOGETHER DROVE ANOTHER IDENTICAL NEW RAV4 (WITH SAME MSRP) AND BOTH OF US DO NOT FIND THE PULLS ON THIS ONE. SO THE PROBLEM IS JUST WITH THE ONE I PURCHASED. THIS ADDS A LOT OF STRESS AND DISTRACTION AS IT NEEDS CONSTANT ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE EXTRA DISTRACTION. IT IS NOT A NORMAL PULL. IT PULLS HEAVILY AND EVEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL A LITTLE BIT LEFT, WITHIN 3 SECONDS THE CAR WILL GO TO THE RIGHT ON EVERY LANE OF ALL TYPES OF ROAD, CONSISTANTLY. I OWNED SEVERAL OTHER TOYOTA (SOME ARE 1 YEAR NEW) AND NONE OF THEM HAS THIS ISSUE. (THIS IS AFTER ALL REALIGNMENT!!!) VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS BRAND NEW CAR AND INTRODUCES A LOT OF HASSLES AFTER SPENDING 27K ON IT!!! BECAUSE TIRE/ALIGNMENT ARE NOT THE ISSUES I EXPECT SOME DEFECTIVE PARTS, HOWEVER THE DEALER SAY THEY CANNOT FIX IT...
Visibility/wiper, Feb 4, 2016
MY CAR WAS 4 DAYS OLD. I WAS DRIVING IN THE POURING RAIN, ON A HIGHWAY GOING 55-60MPH, WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES AHEAD OF ME OR ON THE SIDE OF ME. MY SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED! THE SUNROOF WAS IN THE CLOSED POSITION AT THE TIME BUT THE CLOTH COVER WAS OPEN. LUCKILY IT EXPLODED OUTWARD BUT SOME TINY SLIVERS OF GLASS DID COVER THE INSIDE.