2016 Toyota RAV4: recalls, complaints & known problems

Every safety recall and owner complaint on record for the 2016 Toyota RAV4, straight from the U.S. government's NHTSA database — so you know what you're buying before you message the seller.

High caution

Serious warning signs on record for this year — proceed carefully.

3Safety recalls
233Owner complaints
3Problem patterns
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Safety recalls

3 recalls on record. Recall repairs are free at the dealer — ask if they were done.

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, an
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 Ca
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,

Most-reported problems

Recurring failures owners filed with NHTSA for this model year:

Stalling / loss of power while driving — 11 owner complaints
Brake problems — 5 owner complaints
No-start / starting problems — 3 owner complaints

Complaints by area

Which parts of the car owners complain about most:

Electrical System
55
Service Brakes
45
Unknown Or Other
33
Exterior Lighting
28
Engine
23
Air Bags
18

Is 2016 the bad year? Complaints by model year

Sometimes the same car one year newer or older has a far cleaner record. Complaint volume across the Toyota RAV4 years we track (click a year for its full report):

2013
254
2014
194
2015
302
2016 ◀ this
233
2017
301
2018
327
2019
867
2020
624
2021
375

Newer years have had less time on the road to accumulate complaints.

Frequently asked

How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota RAV4 have?

The 2016 Toyota RAV4 has 3 NHTSA safety recalls on record. Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers — always ask the seller whether the recall work was completed.

How reliable is the 2016 Toyota RAV4?

NHTSA has 233 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Toyota RAV4. The most-reported issues are stalling / loss of power while driving, brake problems, no-start / starting problems. Compare it against nearby model years above.

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Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA.gov). Informational only — not mechanical or purchase advice. Always inspect the vehicle and test drive before buying.