2016 Toyota RAV4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
239 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
20,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 151 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 58 of 239 complaints (24.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 58 | 24.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 47 | 19.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 4.6% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 58 |
| Service Brakes | 44 |
| Unknown Or Other | 33 |
| Exterior Lighting | 28 |
| Engine | 25 |
| Air Bags | 19 |
| Structure:Body | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
Electrical System: 58; Service Brakes: 44; Unknown Or Other: 33; Exterior Lighting: 28; Engine: 25; Air Bags: 19; Structure:Body: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 81 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 36 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 81; 25,000 to 49,999: 36; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (81). 88 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 34 |
| 2017 | 32 |
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2019 | 24 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2024 | 28 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 8 |
2016: 34; 2017: 32; 2018: 25; 2019: 24; 2020: 18; 2021: 20; 2022: 17; 2023: 15; 2024: 28; 2025: 18; 2026: 8
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 58 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 47 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10854436 · 2016-04-08 (April 8, 2016)
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. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10854436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10863917 · 2016-05-09 (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 W…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10863917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10925945 · 2016-11-14 (November 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 NOTIFI…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10925945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11029869 · 2017-09-26 (September 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11029869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10875460 · 2016-06-20 (June 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 HAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10875460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10910663 · 2016-09-29 (September 29, 2016)
VEHICLE HAS WHISTLE OR WHINING NOISE ON ACCELERATION AT 55-70 MPH. (PREVIOUSLY THE VEHICLE MADE THIS NOISE AT LOWER SPEEDS AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED (REPAIR ORDER WAS OPENED ON 6/1 AND CLOSED ON 6/9/2016). AS STATED ABOVE THE VEHICLE NOW WHINES/WHISTLES AT 55-70 MPH. APPARENTLY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10910663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10851724 · 2016-03-26 (March 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…
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10851724 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11114964 · 2018-07-31 (July 31, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND SIDESWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WHERE IT WAS AWAITING INSPECTION. A DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11114964 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10928126 · 2016-11-27 (November 27, 2016)
THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 8/30/16 AND INVOLVED A SUDDEN TOTAL AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER IN TRAFFIC AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. VEHICLE INVOLVED WAS A SIX MONTH OLD 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH 5300 MILES. INCIDENT OCCURRED IN SOUTHBOUND LANES OF I-65 BETWEEN LAFAYETTE AND LEBANON, IN. WHILE MOVING AT 60 MPH IN A VERY HEAVY RAINSTORM. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING STRUCK BY FOLLOWING TRAFFIC AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER IN AVON, IN. AFTER EXAMINING MY V…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10928126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11022994 · 2017-09-13 (September 13, 2017)
ENGINE STALLS FOR A FEW SECONDS ON HILLS
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11022994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11083143 · 2018-04-03 (April 3, 2018)
I USED TO TAKE FULL TANK GAS EVERYDAY SINCE BOUGHT THE CAR . AFTER DRIVING 1 YEAR MY OIL TANK GIVING ME PROBLEM. MY ENGINE WAS SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AUTOMATICALLY AND 3 SIGN CAME UP. I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND IT WAS WORKING GOOD AND AFTER A WHILE IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN. I WENT TO MY DEALER ABOUT 5 MONTH AGO AND TOLD THEM THE STORY. THEY DIAGNOSE MY CAR AND FOUND NOTHING SO I TOOK MY CAR BACK FROM DEALER SHOP. NEXT DAY SAME PROBLEM HAPPENS AND I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER. . THIS TIME THEY FOUND MY BATTERIES ALMOST FINISHED AND I HAVE PROBLEM WITH MY A…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11083143 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11447537 · 2022-01-14 (January 14, 2022)
The contact’s daughter owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idle, the warning message “System Failure” illuminated and the vehicle shuddered, shut off, and lost electrical power. The contact’s daughter shifted into Park. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed the failure as a loose vacuum hose and retched fuel system. The dealer secured the vacuum hose; however, the failure reoccurred while she was at a complete stop. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed the failure as a contaminated cha…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11447537 at NHTSA ↗