What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2016 Toyota RAV4

Typical pattern

14.4% of complaints about the 2016 Toyota RAV4 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2016 vehicle — around the middle of the 199 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (59 complaints), typically at 8.2 yr or about 52,000 miles.

Complaints
299
Median age at failure
4.3 yr
Median mileage
20,000 n=186
Crash / fire / tow
24.1% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
59 reports · 52,000 mi
8.2 yr
23.7%
Service brakes
44 reports · 22,000 mi
2.8 yr
31.8%
Other
33 reports · 15,000 mi
4.8 yr
6.1%
Exterior lighting
28 reports · 17,000 mi
3.8 yr
0%
Engine
25 reports · 14,600 mi
6.0 yr
40%
Air bags
19 reports · 35,000 mi
4.2 yr
78.9%
Structure
15 reports · 14,600 mi
3.7 yr
26.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

23V734000 2023-11-01
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery

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.

16V236000 2016-04-22
Tires

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.

16V198000 2016-04-07
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

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 M

Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Service brakes 3,500 mi 7 mo in service crash / fire / tow
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.
Service brakes 760 mi 9 mo in service crash / fire / tow
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.
Service brakes 49 mi 10 mo in service
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.
Structure 3,000 mi 7 mo in service
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.

Other RAV4 model years

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