2016 Toyota Rav4 Safety Report
2016 TOYOTA RAV4 Safety Analysis
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Toyota Rav4
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Toyota Rav4. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (231) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 0 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Electrical System | Compare electrical system issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2017 | Compare against the 2017 Toyota Rav4 with 298 complaints and 3 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Toyota Rav4 before buying across this generation. |
Toyota Rav4 Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Toyota Rav4 years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Toyota Rav4 | 298 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Toyota Rav4 | 299 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Toyota Rav4 | 319 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Toyota Rav4 | 849 | 7 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Toyota Rav4 | 608 | 6 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Toyota Rav4 | 348 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2016 Toyota Rav4 Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Toyota Rav4, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Electrical System
34 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Toyota onlyService Brakes
29 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Toyota onlyUnknown Or Other
24 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Toyota onlyExterior Lighting
24 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Exterior Lighting issues Toyota onlyAir Bags
14 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Toyota onlyStructure
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Structure issues Toyota onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Toyota Rav4
Reliability Score
The 2016 Toyota Rav4 receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
Known Issues for the 2016 Toyota Rav4
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Toyota Rav4:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Recall Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles due to potential battery issues. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Air Bag Malfunction Air bags have malfunctioned, causing dashboard warnings in some vehicles. |
High | Occasional | 0-100k miles |
| Odometer Fraud Mileage discrepancies have been reported, indicating odometer fraud. |
Low | Occasional | 0-100k miles |
| Liftgate Failure The liftgate has failed to close properly in some vehicles, posing a safety risk. |
Medium | Occasional | 0-100k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Toyota Rav4:
Issues with the electrical system, including battery problems, are the most common.
Recall Details for the 2016 Toyota Rav4
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Toyota Rav4 by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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 f...
Summary: 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....
Consequence: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: 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 Stab...
Consequence: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Toyota Rav4
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Toyota Rav4 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 4 reported injuries or fatalities.
Air bags malfunction. There is a warning ️ pop up message on my dashboard that says, Air bags malfunction contact manufacturer dealer. This is clearly a safety issue and it should be part of a recall or a recall needs to be started with this issue.
I called for a jumpstart for my truck after it cut off while I was turning onto a parking lot I hit a bump and it just cut off. I had to turn the truck completely off then start it again, after it started I made it completely onto the lot and parked it. When I went to start it again it wouldn’t turn over or startup. I used my State Farm app to request for a jumpstart or possible tow 2/23/25. On 3/...
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Toyota Rav4. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was purchased from a private seller. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 98,000. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and a Carfax report indicated that in November 2025, the mileage was reported at 170,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the liftgate failed to properly close while pressing the electrical buttons on both the key fob and the two liftgate buttons located inside or outside the vehicle. The contact stated that the liftgate had to be closed manually to securely close the liftgate. The contact stated that after her daughter had loaded groceries inside vehicle, ...
The contact owned a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 30-40 MPH and attempting to change lanes, the contact looked through the sideview mirrors and then looked forward. The contact noticed that the vehicle in front of the vehicle had stopped. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not stop in time and rear-ended the other vehicle. The contact's dog was occupyin...
Rear seat belt passenger side would not unlatch, trapping the passenger. This was and is the only time we have ever used this seat belt.It took two people to help get her thru the upper part of seat belt,had to exit over the top of back seat passenger. This life saving mechanism was and is unsafe and could of caused death if in the event of accident with fire. We have Owned two other Toyota's. Ne...
The contact leased a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list because the contact no longer had the vehicle. The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted.
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not ...
UNKNOWN - UNABLE TO COMPLETE REPAIR IN VEHICLE’S CURRENT LOCATION. This car is currently being stored in England and requires shipment back to the United States per my lienholder and military orders. Because of the recall that is currently open, the government’s provided shipment service (Mildenhall VPC) refuses to ship the vehicle unless I can get this repair performed locally. I’ve contacted nu...
While shopping at the grocery store, I experienced an incident upon leaving the parking lot. After reaching my first red light, I noticed smoke rapidly billowing from under the hood of my vehicle. My husband, who was driving behind me, immediately saw the smoke and instructed me to pull over. Once I stopped, he asked me to pop the hood. Upon opening it, he urgently removed his shirt to try and ext...
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had no...
The contact owned a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer was not contacted; however, the manufacturer was contacted.
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer w...
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the battery warning light was illuminated, and the battery was replaced at the local independent mechanic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted; however, the part to do the recall repair wa...
Headlights and taillights are fogging/hazing up to where they dimmed out the lights when turned on making is somewhat difficult to see or others behind me to see me.
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not ...
shudder in the torque converter of certain 2013–2018 Toyota RAV4 models. The shudder could occur while driving at light throttle between 25–50 miles per hour.
I had a significant car accident in 2020 and luckily only broke my thumb. I was rear ended. The car I had at the time was a brand new Toyota Rav4, which luckily did have side airbags and they deployed appropriately. However, I have since had the opportunity to drive other vehicles and would like to ensure the safety of myself and others on the road whether the car be foreign or domestic. Please se...
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that after driving and parking the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact opened the hood and saw smoke. The contact stated that the battery had melted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was inspected at the residence. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numb...
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confir...
Showing 20 of 231 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2016 Toyota Rav4
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
Opened 2021-02-25 · Closed 2024-08-12
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to understand the contributing factors and frequency of vehicle fires originating from the battery region of the engine compartment in Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles on 25 February 2021. At the time of opening, ODI attributed eleven allegations and additional EWR events to this PE. PE21005 focused on replacement batteries installed in the subject vehicles. No reported fire event identified in PE21005 i...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Toyota Rav4
Has the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 have?
The 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 has 231 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. 27 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4?
The 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 involve electrical system (34 complaints), service brakes (29 complaints), unknown or other (24 complaints). Other affected components include exterior lighting, air bags, structure.
How many crash reports does the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 have?
There are no crash reports associated with the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 in the NHTSA database.
How many fire reports does the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 have?
There are no fire reports for the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4?
27 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 TOYOTA RAV4?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 231 complaints, 3 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 are: 1. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (34 complaints), 2. SERVICE BRAKES (29 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (24 complaints), 4. EXTERIOR LIGHTING (24 complaints), 5. AIR BAGS (14 complaints). ELECTRICAL SYSTEM is the single most-reported problem area with 34 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 TOYOTA RAV4?
Be cautious of electrical system issues and air bag malfunctions. Check for recalls and ensure the odometer is accurate. The 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 has 231 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4?
The 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 231 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 0 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Battery Recall and Air Bag Malfunction.
What are the known issues with the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4?
Known issues with the 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 include: Battery Recall, Air Bag Malfunction, Odometer Fraud, Liftgate Failure. These are based on patterns found across 231 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
Yes, there are recalls for battery and electrical system issues.
What should I do if I receive a notification about a recall?
Contact the manufacturer or dealer to schedule a repair as soon as possible.
Can I trust the odometer reading on a used 2016 Toyota RAV4?
Be wary of odometer fraud; verify the reading with a professional.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of electrical system issues and air bag malfunctions. Check for recalls and ensure the odometer is accurate.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Toyota Rav4
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Toyota Rav4. The data includes 231 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 27 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16